What Is Your Ideal Parallel Bible ?

Johanine Decapla

There is a parallel edition with the Gospel of John in 10 versions. It is entitled the Johanine Decapla and was available at the BiblereadersMuseum web site. Below is the description of it at that site.


"This unique work contains 10 historical versions of the New Testament Book of John. This spans more than 500 years of history from 1382 through 1901. Included are the Wycliffe, Tyndale, Coverdale, Matthew, Great, Geneva, Bishops, Authorised, English Revised and American Standard Versions. "

 

paralell bibles

In English - NASBu, ESV, HCSB, NIV.

en español - SRV1960, LBLA, NVI, SSE.

both (ambos) SRV1960, HCSB

The only parallel I own, other than on e-sword, are is a KJV, SRV.

I see much more benifit in multi-lingual parallels, than multi-version paralelles of the same language.

 

Let's see...

HCSB
ESV
NASBu
NKJV

I would almost consider replacing either the ESV or the NASBu with the Message, just so I could have four different strands of translation (the literalness of ESV/NASBu, optimal equivalence of HCSB, alternate textual basis of NKJV, and the paraphrase of the Message).

 

Just got my new parallel Bible in the mail today... contains the NKJV, ESV, NLTse, and Message. I'm excited! Might be the best all-encompassing parallel Bible I've seen... the "Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible."

 

NKJV, NASB95, TNIV, and NLTse

 

I was hoping the HCSB would be included. In fact, I don't think it is present in any parallel Bibles yet. However, I do feel that the four translations in the Bible make for a good parallel Bible covering "all the bases."

 

My Evangelical Parallel New Testament edited by Kohlenberger includes the HCSB (but not the OT) and 7 others:
English Standard Version (ESV), Holman Christian Standard Bible, The Message, New Living Translation (first edition of the NLT), New International Version (NIV), Today's New International Version (TNIV), New King James (NKJV), and the New Century Version (NCV).

 

I'm looking at Christianbook.com paper catalog.

The Message can be had parallel to:
NIV
nKJV
NASB (un-numbered verses)

The Amplified Bible can be had parallel to:
KJV (unspecified edition)
NASB (unspecified edition)

Holman CSB can be had parallel to:

-NADA
-ZILCH
-ZED

 

To make it truly effective you would want to limit it to just 4 versions so when it is opened you would see 2 columns per page with each column being one version. Finally I think the 4 versions should include a time honored translation, an accurate rendition, an easier to read (but still essentially literal) one and then a universally accepted popular (dynamic)translation. With these guidelines that would result in:

1.) The KJV
2.) 1995 NAS
3.) ESV
4.) TNIV

I really believe this would be a very universally accepted parallel Bible for most evangelical Christians that like these sort of Bibles.

 

Basically what I was going to say.
The only think I would change is the TNIV for the NIV.

If I was going to use a 2 version parallel, it would be the ESV and the KJV.

THe ESV for my personal study and the KJV for use at Church.

 

BEcause I am not looking for either the TNIV or the NIV as a study Bible but merely as a reference because it is popular.
I believe the NIV is the most popular modern english version and perhaps even more so that the 1769 KJV.
If I was discussing something with a person using the NIV, I would want to have a copy of what they were using.

I know people who use the NIV but none than use the TNIV.

So basically that is my reason on that.As far as the others:

ESV for personal study.
KJV because that is what my church uses and it is hard to follow along if you have a different translation.
NASB because I listen to a program where the host uses the NASB and that would help me read along.

So it isn't a list of what I consider the 4 best translations, it is just what I would find most useful to me.

 

Yes, I have a few times.
When I visit the OPC church nearby they use the NKJV and I try to follow along with varying degrees of success.

What I would like to do is follow along with what they actually used and then compare other translations to it.

 

This one we are in agreement on. I prefer this method...it makes you really concentrate on what the text is saying.

 

I found just the opposite. I found that I spent more time trying to keep up and was mising out on what was said.
I have only done it a few times though so perhaps I could get used to it.

 

I'd buy that. But not at 3 inches thick like most. :laugh:

 

Uh, er, well -- electronic copies on your computer would have no 'thickness' and the display size is easily adjustable.

 

Assuming I had to limit it to 4, I'd go with KJV-NKJV-NASB-Darby.

Rob_L mentioned e-sword. I use it also. The older translations can be downloaded for free, plus several commentaries. I can change my parallel Bible whenever I want. Right now it is KJV1611-Geneva-Bishops-Douay (old versions are fun...).