According to Pastor Kenneth Collins (2010) there are three bibles you'd expect to find in mainline churches. He states these include The King James Version (KJV), the "authorized" version that remains the preferred bible; The New American Standard Bible (NASB) used in independent churches that rely heavily on bible study during worship; and the modern English Version, called the Good News Translation (GNT), that’s used with moderate to liberal theological, social, and political thought.
In some churches, the only acceptable version is The King James Version, particularly for older church goers. However, It’s almost incomprehensible to anyone not at ease reading it. For the new Christian, it’s perplexing. The New American Standard Bible tried to produce an accurate translation that read more easily. It’s accurate and excellent for serious study. The Good News Translation was written so that people who didn’t go to church could understand it. It reads like a novel, particularly that of Old Testament history.
Many authors use several versions, probably to present a biblical verse which supports their opinion within the context of their discourse. I prefer to use a single version because consistency is far more valuable, in my opinion, than trying to make the Bible say what you want it it say. Regardless, the version used has to be done with painstaking care that balances style, readability, and accuracy.
With that in mind, I chose to use the New King James version (NKJV) because I have always loved the stylistic beauty of the King James version which the New King James version maintains. I recognize the weakness of the original version—of not having had access to more recent research. That was all resolved by the New King James version completed in 1982 after seven years of scholarly research. It remains true to the style of the King James, with a few changes to the more archaic phrases, but has the added benefit of more recent research.
I know that this selection my disturb some people, particularly those who think the "old" KJV to be the only Bible, but consider the comparison of it with the King James version using one of my favorite verses of Jeremiah 29:11. Below is that verse in different versions listed by original date of publication.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
King James Version, KJV, first published in 1611
Four revisions (latest 1769—mostly fonts, typos, spelling, and punctuation). Considered the only “authorized" bible, which contains some beautiful imagery.
For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you—an affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope.
Young's Literal Translation, YLT, first published in 1862
Two revisions (latest 1898). Though difficult to read, this literal translation conforms to the actual grammar and verb tenses of the original Greek and Hebrew.
For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
New American Standard Bible, NASB, full Bible first published in 1971
Five revisions (latest 1995—vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure).
A contemporary English Bible maintaining word-for-word translation with improved reliability while maintaining fidelity to original languages and latest finds.
I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.
Good News Translation, GNT, full Bible first published in 1976
One revision (1992—incorporates inclusive language). A clear modern translation whose focus on ease of understanding sometimes sacrifices poetry for clarity.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
New International Version, NIV, first published in 1978
Two revisions (latest 2011—dropping gender specific language). A middle of the road version that expresses the scriptures in broadly understood modern English.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
New King James Version, NKJV, full Bible first published 1982
No revisions. Retains the stylistic beauty and textual basis of the original King James updated to modern language and includes most recent research.
I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
The Message, MSG, first published in 1993
Two revisions (latest 2008). A reading Bible that facilitates easy and enjoyable reading and which tries to recapture the Bible in the words we use today.
For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
New Living Translation, NLT, first published in 1996
Two revisions (latest 2007). A thought-by-thought translation less accurate but easier understood on the presumption that more hear the Bible read aloud than study it.
I've included Young's Literal Translation because it's wise to compare scriptural passages from other versions with it. Compiled by Robert Young in 1862, it renders the syntax of the wording as close as possible to the original Greek and Hebrew. Young was attempting to make sure that translations not forget, as they often do, that punctuation and grammar can change meanings. In the preface to the second edition, he wrote:
… It is clear that verbal inspiration is as much overlooked as if it had no existence. The Word of God is made void by the traditions of men.
This translation may suffer from being published before some recent research was available (particularly in terms of word definitions), but it can lead to greater understanding when comparing the arrangements of words and phrases and verb tenses.
An analysis of the differences of this verse can be broken down into three phrases: 1) an acknowledgment of God's contemplation, 2) God's exact thinking, and 3) the consequences.
God's contemplation
The KJV, YLT, and NKJV indicate that God is thinking about us. All other versions specify what those thoughts are, that of His plans for us. This does not mean the word "thoughts" is wrong. It's the case of all thumbs are fingers, but not all fingers are thumbs. Plans are thoughts, but thoughts are not necessarily plans. So which is it? Thoughts in general or the more specific plans ... and does it really matter? In all translations, we know God had not abandoned His people.
God's exact thinking
Once again the KJV, YLT, and NKJV are consistent in their use of "peace and not evil." The others, however, are quite dissimilar.
NASB — welfare and not calamity
GNT — prosperity and not disaster
NIV — to prosper you and not to harm you
MSG — to take care of you, not to abandon you
NLT — for good and not for disaster
My take would be that the translations that seeks to make the text more readable are casting about, trying to find an appropriate word in modern English that approximates "peace and not evil." That, rather than more precise words from updated textual research. Otherwise, the more modern versions would all have the same words. This is where these modern "readable" translations fall apart, because who is to say what is the correct modern word to use in that context. The word "prosperity" is a big leap from "good" and "disaster" a big leap from "abandonment."
The consequences
KJV — an expected end
YLT — posterity and hope
NASB — future and a hope
NKJV — future and a hope
NLT — future and a hope
NIV — hope and a future
GNT — the future you hope for
MSG — the future you hope for
Here we begin to see a difference that may actually be a result of more recent research into linguistics resulting in a more accurate translation. The "expected end" of the KJV (which is quite vague) became "posterity and hope" by the time of the YLT translation in 1862. Posterity relates to future generations, so by then the translators were getting close to the actual meaning. By modern times that was translated simply as "a future."
The only disturbing thing here is that the GNT and MSG have altered "a future and a hope" into "the future you hope for," which produces a vastly different understanding. In their attempt to make the text more readable, they have altered the meaning … in my opinion.
Why the NIV felt the need to flip the two is beyond my abilities to understand.
It seems that each version has its own particular use. For personal Bible study, I lean toward the NASB with a pinch of YLT thrown in to promote comprehension. For reading to children our reading aloud to assemblies of people, I lean toward the NLT, GNT, or MSG. For a devotional such as this, where style and readability with accuracy is needed, I've leaned toward the NKJV.
I don't want to slight the NIV, which, though wildly popular, suffers from trying to be a compromise version between modern language and textual accuracy—incorporating the weaknesses of both. I also don't mean to slight the KJV which, in some ways, is still my favorite version because I grew up on it. I just feel that the most recent research in archaeology, linguistics, and textual studies needs to be acknowledged.
Source:
Collins, Rev. Kenneth in www.kencollins.com/bible-t2.htm#nasb
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