Which Bible Version is Most Accurate?
Choosing a Reliable Biblical Text
Ideally everyone would be able to read Hebrew, Greek and a little Aramaic. However, there are many versions to choose from and lexicons to refer to.
So where do the Respective Versions Register on the Scale?
The King James, New King James, American Standard and Revised version fit on the more literal word for word side, whilst the New International Version lies somewhere in the middle. The Good News Bible resides nearer the phrase for phrase accounts. Finally, the Living Bible and in particular the Message lean even more heavily toward paraphrase versions.
Do Not Add or Take Away
There are five places in Scripture where it is written not to add or take away from the word of God (Deut 4:2, 12:32, Proverbs 30:6-7, Matt 5:17-18 & Rev 22:18). Some of the phrase for phrase translations attempt to be more readable though they omit verses, key words and in doing so sometimes alter the meaning of prophecies.
In Isaiah 14:12, many new versions state "How you have fallen from heaven, o morning star"whereas literal versions read "how you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning." The problem is that Jesus is the Bright Morning Star (see Rev 22:16). Furthermore, because of these statements the Mormon church teaches that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers and the Freemasons teach the same when the candidate reaches the higher degrees.
Similarly, in John 3:16 it is more accurate to read Jesus is the "only begotten Son" instead of "one and only son." Jesus was begotten not created.
Some versions omit the last verses of Mark as they were apparently not included in the Codex Vaticanus or Sinaiticus. Nonetheless they are found in many other manuscripts and were also quoted by the early church Fathers.
William Tyndale’s Influence
Furthermore, Bible study can be confusing with such a range of versions being read within a small group. We are indebted to William Tyndale and others involved in translating the Textus Receptus (received text) into English from which we have the Authorized Version. (King James Version)
Tyndale, a gifted linguist and scholar also produced his version which is accurate, readable and uses slightly less complicated language than the King James Version. In his time, the scriptures were only available in Latin meaning only a minority could read them. Therefore his desire was that the ploughman should know more of the scriptures than the priest.
Although there are many texts that contribute towards Biblical scholarship, the three main ones in question here are the Textus Receptus, Codex Sinaiticus and the Codex Vaticanus. Most of the word for word translations are derived from the Textus Receptus. Those from the phrase for phrase translations are derived from the latter two -- the Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus. Also, the latter two documents don't always agree with each other.
Choosing a Bible
Before purchasing a Bible it is prudent to check the panel of scholars contributing. Many versions are the product of Protestant and Catholic scholarship or from ecumenical agendas. Surely those who are involved in interpretive work should actually believe in the inerrancy of scripture, though sadly many do not.
For accuracy and faithfulness to the text the King James, the New King James or the Amplified Bible are excellent. Failing that the New American Standard or the Revised version are not quite as accurate word for word but significantly more accurate than the Good News or Living Bible.
You Shall to the Word of God
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