Which Bible Do You Trust, and Why?

[UltraBudgie]

Yes, but, my NIV has footnote "d44  Some late manuscripts enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you."

I used to have the 1963 25th edition of Nestle–Aland Novum Testamentum Græce. But I sold it in 1993 once I realized that I wasn't in fact going to learn Greek with any proficiency. But for the longest time I had an interlinear Tischendorf. I don't remember when or where I lost that.

I don't much care for Textus Receptus because Erasmus himself admits to additions based on pressure from other people.

Thank you; this is exactly the type of in-depth, considered comparison of source texts and process that I feel adds depth and insight to scriptural study. It opens so many doors to understanding the history of the Church!

[quintessentone]

Lately I’ve been reading the NASB, but I’ve also got a copy of the 1611 KJV — the real deal, with the old spellings and the Apocrypha still included. It’s tough to read sometimes, but there’s something about the language that feels more grounded, like you’re stepping into history instead of just reading about it. I’ve got a few modern KJVs too, and I’ve noticed how much they’ve changed over time — little word swaps that end up changing the whole meaning of a verse.
I keep hearing people say the Geneva Bible is the only one they trust, which got me wondering how much of our belief is shaped by the version we happen to read. Every translation comes through the hands (and theology) of someone — and sometimes I wonder if we’ve lost parts of the message in all that rewriting and rewording.

Jesus Himself quoted books that don’t even appear in most Protestant Bibles — and He referenced Enoch (Mark 14:62 / comparing with Enoch 62:5-7) — which sent me down a rabbit hole of reading older texts and alternate translations. It’s strange to think how much of what we now call Scripture has been filtered, cut, or rearranged over the centuries. People forget that our Savior read from scrolls we don’t even have in the modern canon.

So I’m curious what everyone else here reads, studies, or trusts. Do you stick with one version, or do you cross-compare? And do you think the “missing books” actually matter to our understanding of the Gospel — or did God allow only what we needed to survive in the canon?

I cross-compare and but I have always questioned scripture and the rituals required.

I am reading many other sources, such as the gospels that were rejected because a narrative needed to be installed for control of the illiterate people.

Mostly, when reading these materials, I look for the teachings of Jesus for consistency and meaning which may or may not have been twisted along the way.

[Roma]

Noah did not exist.   That is a fact.  We DO have proof he didn't exist.
Everything in the story has been disproven.  

The story of Abraham supposedly took place in 2,000 BC.
The story wasn't written down until 1000 BC - 1400 BC.
That's a thousand  years of oral storytelling ... 
There is ZERO chance that the story of Abraham actually happened as the bible says.
People can't even keep an oral story straight for a day, let alone a thousand years.

Abraham might have existed.   His lineage doesn't have to be intact like the story 
for him to have existed.   But the story surrounding him .... zero proof it happened and
almost zero chance the story got it right if he did exist.

You don't have proof, plain and simple.  Like others have said, there are stories of a great flood in every major religion and civilization to go along with the geophysical evidence all over the world.  All you're doing is trying to debunk an Old Testament story.

What then about the Anunaki and Nephilm?  Any proof?  Did David & Goliath not happen?  One explanation of the flood I've heard is it was not just due to the evil of man, it was because the Nephilm had multiplied and become cannibalistic.  God would not tolerate this and sent the rains.

Choose to believe or not.  It doesn't matter to me.

[3rdrockfrmsun]

Anyway, I was reading the Bible last night and just kind of sat with how much of it still hits different depending on where you’re at in life. It’s wild how verses you’ve read a hundred times can suddenly mean something new when you actually slow down and pay attention.

Might be a good reminder to actually read the text itself instead of arguing about it online.

[quintessentone]

Anyway, I was reading the Bible last night and just kind of sat with how much of it still hits different depending on where you’re at in life. It’s wild how verses you’ve read a hundred times can suddenly mean something new when you actually slow down and pay attention.

Might be a good reminder to actually read the text itself instead of arguing about it online.

Or reread it with a theologian mentality, like asking yourself "Is that just a made-up story to make a point?" "Would Jesus really agree with that?" "Why all the contradictions?" - you get me.

[UltraBudgie]

Might be a good reminder to actually read the text itself instead of arguing about it online.

Can't we do both?

Ecc 7:24-26:

That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.


Fun stuff! Go re-read Ecclesiastes, everyone.

[quintessentone]

Can't we do both?

Ecc 7:24-26:

That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.


Fun stuff! Go re-read Ecclesiastes, everyone.

I see they are woman blaming there instead of seeking wisdom. lol

[UltraBudgie]

I see they are woman blaming there instead of seeking wisdom. lol

Again, can't we do both?

[Roma]

Again, can't we do both?

In my experience I've found it's not wise to blame the woman.  

[quintessentone]

Again, can't we do both?

No, not in my world.