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Which Version of the Bible is the True One?

Certainly, this question has been asked ever since there was more than one version of the bible available. I've heard lots of different answers with plenty of information and arguments to back up a number of contending viewpoints. Clearly, there is no easy answer.

I'm aware of the scholarly viewpoints and considerations of several different versions, and for Bible scholars, my discussion may be a bit too simplistic. But for the sake of giving clarity, especially to those new to a discussion about different bibles, here are some things I have learned about the different versions of the Bible. For this discussion, I'll consider versions of the Bible which have been written in English.

Probably the most important question to ask is "Which is the correct version of the Bible for YOU?"

The one you have is the best one to read if it's the only one available. Reading the Bible can be a life changing event because the Word of God is powerful and changes us as well as the things around us. So, regardless of which version you have, if you only have one read that one.

You may first begin to explore who God is by going to church or picking up a Bible that you already have at home. As you listen to a preacher read something from the Bible at church, you may look up the verse to find that it reads a differently in your Bible. So what's up with that?

First of all, it is important to realize that there are different translations, versions, "amplifications", and paraphrased editions of the Bible. The most familiar version that most people have heard of is the King James. This was one of the first widely published editions available to people starting several generations ago. Some people find this version particularly difficult to read because of the old-style language.

Many people who are familiar with bible texts, and especially those who choose to "study" the Word of God, will certainly have a copy of this version in their library. The King James Version of the Bible is considered to be one of the most reliable word-for-word translations, maintaining much of the original meanings found in the Hebrew and Greek scriptures from which they are translated. Some of the other versions are translated more in a thought-for-thought manner in order to be more readable, but the translation may not be as precise.

Those from a Catholic tradition may be aware that some of the "books" found in a Catholic bible are "missing" from the King James Version.

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