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What Bible version does your Church use?

Just wondering what Bible version(s) your Church uses, and if you use the same version or a different one and why?

Our Pastor uses the NIV, and we have NKJV in the pews.

I use the NKJV because I like to use a different version than the Pastor uses just for variety.

Joe
 

InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Our church uses the ESV. I read the NIV because I find the ESV to be clunky in areas and lacking in clarity. I consult the NJKV on some verses for comparison purposes. I agree with your reason for using a different version than the pastor.
 

StefanM

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
It depends on who is preaching. We have three locations, and a single team of elders is over all of the locations. Each site has an elder serving as the lead pastor for that location, and there is an elder who serves as the primary leader or "directional pastor" for the church (all locations together) as a whole. Our church's founding pastor (who just transitioned to an outreach/missions focus--he was formerly the primary leader) is also on the preaching "docket," so to speak.

My location's lead pastor uses the ESV. The founding pastor uses the NASB. I believe the overall directional pastor uses the ESV, but he hasn't been in his position long enough for me to know if that's a regular thing or if he switches. My location is where the founding pastor usually preaches (it has been the "home base" of sorts--the original location), so most of the preaching is split between my location's lead pastor and the founding pastor. The new directional pastor used to be the lead pastor at one of the other two locations (his brother is now the lead pastor at that location), so that's his "home base" for the most part, although he does preach at each location from time to time.

I know that's probably as clear as mud, but suffice it to say that we don't really have a translation that we officially use, but the NASB and ESV seem to be the go-to translations.

At the moment, I'm using the ESV as my primary Bible, but I usually refer to both the NASB (somewhat more formal) and the CSB (somewhat more dynamic) in study. I occasionally consult the NKJV, especially for variant textual readings, as the notes are quite helpful.

At times I'll read the NLT if I'm looking for a smoother reading, especially if I'm fairly tired or if I'm reading extended narrative passages. Most of the time I would go with the CSB in these situations, though.

I'll sometimes consult the KJV if I'm reading an older commentary that refers to it, but I don't use it as a primary text.

I'll even look at the NRSV in some circumstances, but I know the bias issues that are involved there. It is my primary text if I need to look at something in the apocryphal books. I don't consider them Scripture, but sometimes they are helpful for reference, like any other extrabiblical text.

I know the ESV has editions with the apocryphal books in them, but I don't see the need to waste my money for another translation of non-inspired texts I already have in the NRSV. If I'm looking for another angle (very, very infrequently), I look at the KJV translation of them.

My primary use of the NRSV is whenever I'm wanting to have a quick snapshot of what a mainstream liberal interpretation of a text might be. A couple years ago or so, I picked up a used HarperCollins Study Bible (NRSV) for this purpose, but I'd definitely not use this one as a main text by any means!
 

OnlyaSinner

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Our pastor quotes from the KJV when preaching, and that's the version in the pews. He'll sometimes ask if someone has a different rendering of a verse/passage, most often on Sunday evening or Wednesday. I've read from the KJV for decades, so I'm up to speed on most of its anachronistic usage and I love the 17th century language, but I'm okay with any version in English made by those seeking to serve and glorify God and who have produced a product held to be reliable by those with far greater knowledge of the subject than I have.
 

agedman

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Pastor uses the ESV, I use the NASB and ESV with occasionally the NKJV.

I don't get into the others.

They are just too far removed from what I consider a truly faithful presentation.

I am not opposed to folks using them, it is just my own value of God's word for me does not extend to reading and studying those renderings.

But then, most of those using those other texts don't usually do much in the way of scholarly study, because the texts are not written for that purpose. The purpose of the renderings had a different focus.
 

robycop3

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Our church uses the NKJV, but out pastor will quote certain Scriptures from other versions, whichever he sees gives the best rendering of a particular Scripture. For instance, he quotes the 23rd Psalm from the KJV, & several passages of Revelation from the ESV.
 

Deacon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
The church offers the New International Version to visitors

The pastor preaches from the New American Standard but recently has been quoting the Phillips Paraphrase in his sermons.

I change versions often, currently I’m using the English Standard Version.

It’s so easy to switch and compare versions with an electronic bibles that I tend to use what the pastor preaches from and keep my version open in a frame too.

Rob
 

Shoostie

Active Member
The pastor preaches from the New American Standard but recently has been quoting the Phillips Paraphrase in his sermons.

I know this is probably not the place to debate Bible versions, but why would the pastor spend time quoting from a paraphrase? Why can't he just quote a tight translation, like the KJV or ESV, and explain what it means in his sermons?

Most translations butcher numerous verses, and paraphrases butcher every verse. In Phillips paraphrase, John 3:16, "For God loved the world so much..." John 3:16 says absolutely nothing about God's degree of love for the world.

Maybe your pastor is just trying to sound cool?
 

HeLives4me

New Member
Site Supporter
It's kind of confusing, The Pastor uses NASB, the Sunday school material is CSB, and I use NKJV or KJV..

Most of the time there is not much difference between NKJV and NASB.

I grew up at churches where we all had one translation...

VW
 

Sue Dixon

New Member
Our new pastor uses the ESV which I now have one of. Mainly I read the NKJV but also use the old NIV and a church I started going to for Sunday evening and Wedn evenings uses the NAS. The church with the new pastor only has Sunday morning Sunday school and church which is why I started with the other church with the evening Bible study.
 
It's kind of confusing, The Pastor uses NASB, the Sunday school material is CSB, and I use NKJV or KJV..


I grew up at churches where we all had one translation...

VW

It's kind of confusing, The Pastor uses NASB, the Sunday school material is CSB, and I use NKJV or KJV..

Most of the time there is not much difference between NKJV and NASB.

I grew up at churches where we all had one translation...

VW
I can remember when our whole church used the same translation . .
.
I also go back and forth between the NKJV and the KJV.
 

Scarlett O.

Moderator
Moderator
My pastor preaches from the King James. The pews have the NIV. He will now and again say, "This could have been translated a little better and said....."

And he will sometimes say, "How does another translation say this particular verse."
 

alexander284

Well-Known Member
I agree that it was much simpler when the pastors and teachers, the evangelists, and the pew Bibles were identical (as far as Bible versions/translations are concerned.
As far as which Bible is the one of choice, however, I imagine that ought to be thoroughly discussed among the pastors, teaching staff, evangelists, preachers, ministers, etc.
And I believe it is something that ought to be addressed directly during church services (e.g. the sermon, Sunday School, Bible studies, prayer meetings, meetings of the elders, etc.)
In my opinion, this would definitely benefit both current members (who need discipling) and newcomers (those who are attending the church for the first time as visitors, new believers, the newly baptized, etc.).
 
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