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Baptists’ Bible Use

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by rlvaughn, Jun 6, 2018.

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  1. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    In the Why has the KJV been so popular? thread, before it was closed, there was a brief mention of which Bible translation Baptist people most favor, with one response that it is the New International Version. I am curious of a few things in this regard.
    • Are there any formal surveys/polls on which Bible Baptists prefer?
    • Any informal surveys/polls on which Bible Baptists prefer?
    • What Bible version, in your experience, do you find the Baptists you know prefer?
    • If polled, is there any difference between which Bible is preferred by pastors versus laypeople?
    • What about “use” versus “preference”? For example, I know someone who just bought a new Bible to use because it is the Bible used by her pastor. It is not the Bible she prefers, but it will be the Bible she uses.
    I realize that many Baptists use more than one Bible translation/version. In these questions, though, I am thinking of which Bible Baptists use/prefer as their primary Bible. Also, I am primarily thinking of English Bibles, though if someone knows about this topic in another language, that could be interesting as well.
     
    #1 rlvaughn, Jun 6, 2018
  2. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    In my experience, most of the conservative Baptists I've been around use the KJV. Many with Scofield notes. Some of the more evangelical minded use NIV and experiment with various other translations. I am KJV mainly but use modern translations as commentaries. I'm using the NET Bible with notes for my yearly read through this time around. And plan (Lord willing) to use the NLT next year.
    I found this study.
    Most pastors use the NIV, KJV Bibles, study suggests
     
    #2 1689Dave, Jun 6, 2018
  3. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Thanks. I see that is from 2004 and done for Lifeway.
    Looks like the breakdown for Baptist preachers shows the shift to the NIV is more Southern Baptist:
    I also found this:
    Poll Reveals King James Bible's Enduring Popularity
     
    #3 rlvaughn, Jun 6, 2018
    • Informative Informative x 1
  4. atpollard

    atpollard Well-Known Member

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    #4 atpollard, Jun 6, 2018
  5. McCree79

    McCree79 Well-Known Member
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    Nor sure who the polled for this. I haven't been in a church that was 31% KJV in a long time. I would say hands down, I see most people in church carrying the NIV. Of course this may just be a regional (So.IL & WKY) thing. I see more NLT bibles than KJV as well

    Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
     
    #5 McCree79, Jun 6, 2018
  6. atpollard

    atpollard Well-Known Member

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    I think the poll asked people what version they read, so the really sad part is the discrepancy may indicate how many people "carry" a Bible but don't "read" it except to follow along at church. :(

    I can easily imagine that a phone poll would reveal that older Christians are more likely to both regularly read the Bible and prefer the KJV.
     
    #6 atpollard, Jun 6, 2018
  7. McCree79

    McCree79 Well-Known Member
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    Good point
    Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
     
    #7 McCree79, Jun 6, 2018
  8. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Think SBC might favor the Csb now, as that is their standard version, and think other conservative Baptists tend to favor more formal versions, such as Nas/Nkjv, and also the Esv. The 1984 Niv was very popular, but the 2011 revision not so much.
     
    #8 Yeshua1, Jun 6, 2018
  9. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    So sad...
    Why would an adult who has newly become a believer decide to read a 400 year old version?
    Is is proper to make a new believer learn KingJameish? ​

    Rob
     
    #9 Deacon, Jun 6, 2018
    • Winner Winner x 1
  10. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    My usage:

    NKJV, NIV, KJV.
     
    #10 HankD, Jun 6, 2018
  11. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    I think that could be a possibility. Since many of us move mainly in our own regions (and/or our own "cliques"), it can be hard to know what is current in other regions, and among other denominational groups of Baptists.
     
    #11 rlvaughn, Jun 6, 2018
  12. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    I would say, if we consider all Baptists, over all, then the KJV would probably inch past whatever is in second place.

    This is mostly due to the large number of KJVO independent (and even some SBC) baptist churches.

    This is probably also bolstered by the growing popularity of the ESV in SBC churches which would cut into the NIV numbers just as the NKJV would cut, in a lesser extent, into the KJV numbers.

    In the latest data I have access to the ESV has passed the NKJV in overall sales, and the CSV has been pushed almost to the bottom of the list.

    What none of these polls seem to take into consideration is the large and growing number of people who access their bibles via electronic format (IPhone, IPad, Kindle, etc.) and the fact that one of the most popular of the ebibles, the WEB, is not available in paper and ink in anything other than paperback (except a NT and Psalms in hardback).
     
    #12 TCassidy, Jun 6, 2018
  13. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Is that a Baptist gift of tongues?
     
    #13 Yeshua1, Jun 6, 2018
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  14. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Think the big push will be in the Csb version among certain Baptists..
     
    #14 Yeshua1, Jun 6, 2018
  15. Rob_BW

    Rob_BW Well-Known Member
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    I do wonder what effect pew bibles have on overall sales numbers.
     
    #15 Rob_BW, Jun 6, 2018
  16. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    That's a good point. If I buy a bible I buy one bible. If the church buys pew bibles they buy a thousand bibles. And I, and just about everybody else, still carries their bible of choice to church, which may or may not be the same as the pew bible.
     
    #16 TCassidy, Jun 6, 2018
  17. McCree79

    McCree79 Well-Known Member
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    #17 McCree79, Jun 6, 2018
  18. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    My sense is that the NIV is the all-round most popular Bible version in English here and abroad.

    I would guess that the NLT would come in second of all translations for physical personal use.
     
    #18 Rippon, Jun 6, 2018
  19. Rob_BW

    Rob_BW Well-Known Member
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    And then you also have things like these: https://www.amazon.com/CSB-Outreach-Bible-Case-24/dp/1433650606

    A few months ago Lifeway sent out a flyer with a "free csb" coupon, and they jumped up to 2nd or 3rd place that month, iirc.

    Edited to add: February
    Christian Book Expo: ECPA Bible Translations Bestsellers, February 2018
     
    #19 Rob_BW, Jun 6, 2018
  20. Rob_BW

    Rob_BW Well-Known Member
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    Brother Robert, you'll have to forgive me. You're trying to discuss Bible use and I'm just questioning the statistics.
    :Biggrin
     
    #20 Rob_BW, Jun 6, 2018
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