A Reader's Journey

----- Good New Bible (GNB) -----

My personal journey reading different English translations of Bible.
The first Bible I read was Good News Bible (GNB) also
known as Good News Translation (GNT) or Today's English Version (TEV).
It was not my personal Bible back then.

I borrowed it from someone.

I like the line drawings done by Ms Annie Vallotton.
Many still have the misconception that GNB is a paraphrased Bible,
in actual fact it is rightfully a Dynamics Equivalence (DE) Translation.

I have a copy of the GNB in TEV with Deutercanonicals edition.
Recently I found a 1976 edition published in UK.
I believe it does not contain inclusive language andit is an anglicised edition. 

Do I recommend it?
Yes to new believers in Christ and readers who learn English as second language.
It is a readable translation and theological sound in text.

But for serious study comparing with original languages and Textual Criticism,
this translation is not designed for such purposes.

Which was my first personal Bible?

----- New International Version (NIV) -----

The first Bible that I bought for myself is the New International Version (NIV).
It was a 1984 edition but it was not an anglicised edition.
In a way, the NIV84 brought me to the faith.

I decided to read the Bible formyself during my tertiary education in 1988.
I know very little about Bible and the different translations back then.
Reading King James Version (KJV) in early modern English is quite difficult for me.
The sales representative recommended NIV and I bought an economy text only edition.

Recently I found the 1978 Edition (NIV78),
the printing was 1979 published in UK (i.e. an anglicised edition).
I also have the following other editions of NIV.
- New International Version Inclusive Language Edition (NIVI)
i.e. It is a 1999 printing from UK,
- Today's New International Version (TNIV) and
- New International Version 2011 Edition (NIV11) 

I also have both NIV84 and NIV11 anglicised editions.

I am still looking for New International Reader's Version (NIrV).

So is NIV84 the best Bible?
No but I will recommend to get a copy
because NIV11 has officially replaced it and
it will go out of print soon.

Back in those days,there were not many translations in Singapore.
The available ones are KJV, NKJV, NASB (i.e. modified editions before 1995), NIV and GNB etc.
NIV was a feasible choice because it adopted a mixed
approach between Formal Equivalence (FE) and Dynamics Equivalence (DE) translations.

There were Christians who advocate KJV Onlyism back in the 80s.
Many early KJV Onlyists did not like NIV even in Singapore.
I had a Bible Study mentor who insisted that I use KJV Bible
and I have to politely asked him to visit a park and fly kite.  

I also know of someone who preferred KJV
in a Baptist church said something along these lines..
"Ah I see your NIV reads the verses this way BUT my KJV reads otherwise."
Maybe I should bring along my NET Bible in my next visit? 

So which translation did I buy and use after accepted the faith?

----- New King James Version (NKJV) ----- 

I just noticed my reading journey on Bibles moved
from Dynamics Equivalence (DE), Mid-range and then Formal Equivalence (FE).
Subsequently I moved from NIV84 to New King James Version (NKJV).

My main reason to use NKJV is to avoid the hassle of learning the archaic words.
Secondly I feel that it still retain certain literary style.
At least it sounds better reading NASB modified editions (i.e. before 1995 updates)
and it maintained a certain degree of accuracy.
Last but not least any variant readings from Nestle Aland or United Bible Societies (NU)
and Majority Texts (MT) are highlighted in the footnotes.
This is something KJB did not offer.

Using NKJV as a tool to communicate with KJV Onlyists can be a fun experience.
When KJV Onlyist said, "my KJV Bible reads the verses in this way..."
I used to respond to them,
"Really? Let see whether there is other variant reading(s) based on other manuscripts"
And we know they cannot comment further but remained silence.  

Which is my first Speciality Bible?

----- New English Translation (NET) -----