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I'm interested in obtaining and reading a copy of the Bible (New and Old Testament). Problem is, I'm an atheist with next to zero knowledge of the various "types" (like King James, New American), and looking about the interwebs, I see a huge variety of bibles. I'm curious, what would be the best bible to read to understand allusions and the like? Is there any "core" bible?

I use the King James version.

What makes a King James bible different? (aside from being the bible commissioned by King James for the Anglican Church).

Because my religion views the King James version as the most accurate of the several versions out there.

Get a Rainbow Bible. You can get a KJV of one if you want.

I have the King James Bible.

On the problems withit. The original translation was in 1611, and revised in 1769 and in the intervening years, especially the last century there have become available many sources that were not available when it was done, especially in the fields of translation of ancient hebrew and greek.
So newer translations are much more accurate in the literal translation.
in 2005 Cambridge university press released it with modern language but for me it just doesn't feel right having a Bible that doesn't say Thou or Thee...

Buy a cheaper one initially. if it for general bedside readings or to flick through here and there that should suffice. I got mine from Borders.

The more expensive ones are for regular users and who like to make annotations or highlight, much more robust and you can even zip up cases to protect them. Again I got mine from Borders.

Please do not turn this into a flamewar/trollfest, even in jest.
Imagine that it is a serious issue with highly volitile and passionate people discussing it in a level headed and informative manner.

Post edited by Waaagh_Gonads

I suppose I should have been more specific. A rainbow bible is one that is color coded depending on what hte passage is about. If you have never read the bible before it can be helpful. I also believe they aren't that expensive.

@Ahtman,

The rainbow Bible sounds interesting. Is it a King James version that's color coded?

@RustyKnight: A Catholic edition will include books edited out of the Jewish Canon (at a time after the death of Jesus) and so not included in Protestant Bibles. The New American Bible is the standard text used in most US parishes currently. I would recommend this version if you are interested in the Bible for studying its religious or historical significance. You can find many editions of "study Bibles" (that have critical introductions and notes) in the NAB translation written for educated adults. I would recommend this copy.

From the standpoint of literary or linguistic importance, the King James Version is your best bet. It has been highly influential on the development of modern English. It is no longer used as the standard religious text for Anglicans, however, nor for serious exegetical scholarship.

Relapse wrote:Because my religion views the King James version as the most accurate of the several versions out there.

I have always wondered why LDS uses this text. Do you know, Relapse?

Get a CEV. Trust me on this, I worked at a Bible store and sold Bibles for commission at one point (no joke ). KJV is outdated and people have more sentimental value for it than anything. NIV sucks, New Living sucks, Message is the worst piece of crap ever, but the CEV reads like a college textbook and if there is any grey room in translation they have an asterisk and what else you could interpret it as at the bottom. It focuses on accuracy in translation over anything else. Other reccomendations include the Amplified, Dakes or NKJV for something different. Avoid the "dumbed down" ones though, they're terrible

Edit: And Manchu has it too. NAB is the best Catholic trans IMO.

Speaking as a fellow atheist:
The King James bible is the most well known English printing. Differences between Bible "styles" are mostly minor or cosmetic, though the differences may be enough to change the interpretation of a passage.

If you wish to become familiar with biblical allusions (or just have a handy reference), the King James printing is often more "black and white" than some of its counterparts and somewhat easier to comprehend overall.

The Bible is a relatively easy read if you don't get bogged down in the details (who begat whom) and view it instead as a series of allegories about the authors' understanding of what they believed to be religious truth. Many parts are not meant to be interpreted literally, but instead are meant to teach lessons about the nature of religion and faith.

EDIT-I personally prefer the CEV for the reasons Cannerus listed. As Manchu said, however,

From the standpoint of literary or linguistic importance, the King James Version is your best bet. It has been highly influential on the development of modern English. It is no longer used as the standard religious text for Anglicans, however, nor for serious exegetical scholarship.

The Rainbow Bibles I have seen have all been KJV (King James Version).

The current one has maps and the colour coding is very helpful, especially for readers new to the Bible.

It can be expensive ($60-70 US normally).

Relapse wrote:@Ahtman,

The rainbow Bible sounds interesting. Is it a King James version that's color coded?

I think they make it for different editions, including the KJV. Here is a link to a software version. Looking it up apparently the books are more expensive than I remember. On Amazon the new price was $175 (for KJV), though it could be found for around $50 as well.

Ahtman wrote:

Relapse wrote:@Ahtman,

The rainbow Bible sounds interesting. Is it a King James version that's color coded?

I think they make it for different editions, including the KJV. Here is a link to a software version. Looking it up apparently the books are more expensive than I remember. On Amazon the new price was $175 (for KJV), though it could be found for around $50 as well.

You could always get a torrent. *thunder begins to roll*

Because my religion views the King James version as the most accurate of the several versions out there.

If you don't mind me asking what religion is that? Last time I checked the most accurate versions were direct translations from Hebrew, and Aramaic. Anything translated from Greek manuscripts written 500+ years after the birth of Christ is bound to have problems.

Take John 8:7 for example.

Most people know the story, about the men that want to stone a prostitute and Jesus shows up just in time and says "He who is without sin should cast the first stone"

That whole story does not appear in any manuscripts until around 300-400 AD, and was written into the margins by a board scribe...


The whole KJB is rife with mistranslations and whole passages that do not appear in the original work. Also if you are going to take liberties in translation at least keep the book in verse... The original Aramaic was poem with rhyme and meter, much like the Qur'an (Koran), And lets face it if god is going to speak to man its going to be in some sort of beautiful verse....

The culture called for writing in poetry and song much of the time. I suppose it was a hobby for everyone back then since toy soldiers hadn't been made yet.

Clthomps wrote:

Because my religion views the King James version as the most accurate of the several versions out there.

If you don't mind me asking what religion is that?

Church of Latter Day Saints. (as noted above)

Manchu wrote:It is no longer used as the standard religious text for Anglicans, however, nor for serious exegetical scholarship.

You are correct sir. The Communion uses the New Revised Standard Version as the translation of choice, and that is also the copy that is most widely used for academic study and intrigue. I would not suggest using this version if you are new to the Bible RustyKnight. I would honestly say that the NKJV or the New American Standard Bible would be best. Even the English Standard Version would do well. I don't understand all the hate on the NIV, I enjoy it, and I keep a copy that I have had for some time now, and read it still on occasion. Also, remember this: Do NOT start in Genesis. The Pentateuch of Moses is very difficult to read, and will discourage you very quickly. My suggestion would be to start in the New Testament, in the Gospel According to St. Matthew.

Second JEB's point about not starting in Genesis. The Bible is not a text that you read from cover to cover in order like a novel. I'd also agree that Matthew is probably the best place to start. JEB's point highlights why I recommended getting the study Bible I provided the link to. It includes introductions that give brief overviews of the historical context and purpose of each book as well as summaries of up-to-date scholarship.

Manchu wrote:JEB's point highlights why I recommended getting the study Bible I provided the link to. It includes introductions that give brief overviews of the historical context and purpose of each book as well as summaries of up-to-date scholarship.

Does this Bible also include Papist nonsense?

Yeah, it leaves out all the 17th-century German and English politics.

Matthew? PSHAW. Luke is where it is at.

Luke is my favorite book. It's the most tender and compassionate account. For example, it's the only account of the Nativity. I suggested beginning with Matthew because it isn't as bare-boned as Mark, as winding as Luke, or as confusing and mystical as John. Plus, I think reading Matthew and then Luke is the best way to get the full effect of Luke's deep characterization of Jesus.

Manchu wrote:@RustyKnight: A Catholic edition will include books edited out of the Jewish Canon (at a time after the death of Jesus) and so not included in Protestant Bibles. The New American Bible is the standard text used in most US parishes currently. I would recommend this version if you are interested in the Bible for studying its religious or historical significance. You can find many editions of "study Bibles" (that have critical introductions and notes) in the NAB translation written for educated adults. I would recommend this copy.

From the standpoint of literary or linguistic importance, the King James Version is your best bet. It has been highly influential on the development of modern English. It is no longer used as the standard religious text for Anglicans, however, nor for serious exegetical scholarship.

Relapse wrote:Because my religion views the King James version as the most accurate of the several versions out there.

I have always wondered why LDS uses this text. Do you know, Relapse?

Have to agree with Manchu (great post IMO). I was raised on King James Version in a series of pretty conservative churches. However, when in college I did read from the NAB and found it more accessible. I also discovered at that time how Catholic bibles often have The Apocryphal books which I found interesting.

IIRC, Jehovah's Witnesses have their own translation (New World Translation IIRC) which contains passages that conflicts with passages in KJV. I believe some conservatives are also in process of writing another translation to support their particular beliefs. As pointed out elsewhere KJV has its own issues.

I also recommend the "rainbow" version of a bible if you can. A concordance also helps. A study bible makes it easier to cross reference various passages.

Easiest to read for newcomers that read English.
New International Version (NIV)
New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The one I like the best due the beauty of the language of 1611.
King James Version(KJV)

One thing I do recomend is that you get a bible with a concordance so that you can cross reference things. Thomson chain reference is good as well.

GG

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Catholic_Bible

I've looked for that edition, Malfred. None to be found!

http://www.biblegateway.com/

They have an online bible with many different versions available.

RustyKnight wrote:What makes a King James bible different? (aside from being the bible commissioned by King James for the Anglican Church).

The glory and majesty of the archaic version of English in which it is written.

If you were brought up on the KJV, modern bibles like New English sound like "Jill and John Go To Church."


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That said, I think there is value in having several different bibles in order to recognise the way the presentation can be changed.