Which Bible Translation?
When I began this study in 2006 virtually everyone in our Church read the NIV (New International Version) bible translation therefore I also used the NIV in all my studies. Once I was a couple of years into this study I needed more than my Zondervan concordance and so I started using http://www.blueletterbible.org/ which has some fabulous search tools and is free. At that time they only had the KJV (King James Version) (they have several versions now) and so I started to incorporate the KJV into my studies. Around that same time I had also started to use www.BibleGateway.com which had around fifty different English translations but limited search tools. Another few years went by and in 2010 or there about I was introduced to www.Logos.com which is generally held to be the leading bible software available. Their bible software program allows for searches of up to twenty different English translations along with Greek and Hebrew help and support. At one of their training seminars they persuaded me to use the ESV (English Standard Version) because it is a more literal translation rather than the more dynamic NIV. I have used the ESV ever since. On numerous occasions in these studies I have used and quoted twenty or more translations in order to give an overview of theological opinion.
My opinion is that the original Hebrew and Greek texts are the true word of God and all translations, into which ever language, are just that. They are translations and open to error. Therefore when there is doubt, I now try to use numerous translations in order to offer a fair viewpoint. I understand that there are also different Hebrew and Greek texts which have slight differences, but trying to decide which is more accurate is more than I am able to decide. There are occasions when I have quoted several in order to make a point.
My opinion is that the original Hebrew and Greek texts are the true word of God and all translations, into which ever language, are just that. They are translations and open to error. Therefore when there is doubt, I now try to use numerous translations in order to offer a fair viewpoint. I understand that there are also different Hebrew and Greek texts which have slight differences, but trying to decide which is more accurate is more than I am able to decide. There are occasions when I have quoted several in order to make a point.
