What Bible you should read first? NIV or KJV?

Check out the full video here:

In this video we explore how it's not all about the hype of the King James Version of the Bible, but instead it's all about actually getting to read the Bible, and the new international version of the Bible is a good version for that. Hope you enjoy!

[TJB-Side]

I'm not the best at reading, nor am I the most elegant or eloquent reader. However, I find that the KJV is the best version for me personally, and I've only been a believer for little over 2 years. Persist with it, pray to Lord Jesus for understanding, and the Holy Spirit will help guide you through it. It worked for me, and it will work for you too!
God bless.

[CharlesSeraphDrums]

Wrong, the KJV is written in Early Modern English:

Old English (from the Wessex Manuscript of 1175), Matthew 6:9-13, the Lord’s Prayer:

6:9 Eornestlice gebiddað eow þus. Fader ure þu þe ert on heofene. sye þin name gehalged.
6:10 to-becume þin rice. Gewurðe þin gewille. on eorðan swa swa on heofenan.
6:11 ure dayghwamlice hlaf syle us to dayg.
6:12 & forgyf us ure geltas swa swa we forgyfeð ure geltenden.
6:13 & ne læd þu us on costnunge. ac ales us of yfele soðlice.

Wyclyffe Bible of 1382 in Middle English:

6:9 And thus ye schulen preye, Oure fadir that art in heuenes, halewid be thi name;
6:10 thi kyngdoom come to; be thi wille don `in erthe as in heuene;
6:11 yyue to vs this dai oure `breed ouer othir substaunce;
6:12 and foryyue to vs oure dettis, as we foryyuen to oure dettouris; and lede vs not in to temptacioun,
6:13 but delyuere vs fro yuel.

KJV 1611:

6:9 After this maner therefore pray yee: Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name.
6:10 Thy kingdome come. Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in heauen.
6:11 Giue vs this day our daily bread.
6:12 And forgiue vs our debts, as we forgiue our debters.
6:13 And lead vs not into temptation, but deliuer vs from euill: For thine is the kingdome, and the power, and the glory, for euer, Amen.

KJV 1769 (which is the basis for modern printed editions):

6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Please, stop saying the KJV is Old English. It isn’t, Old English stopped being used almost 800 years ago.

[davidsussman]

The KJV is not written in Old English, which would be Beowulf. The KJV is Early Modern English. What the gentleman on screen means to say is that the KJV is written in a somewhat older style. Shakespeare is also Early Modern English. Chaucer would be Middle English.

[dirtypatwalsh]

I grew up with the NIV being the only Bible I have had since I was 16. I’m 53 now and have read the KJV (I love the style of English in it). But I still use my old 1979 NIV every day. Absolutely beautiful way it’s written. There are lots of good translations available and a few bad ones as well (Queen James Version, New World Translation, The Passion, and I’d include the ESV (Elect Special Version) as well).
The NIV holds true!🙏✝️❤️

[HeathKirby]

Other translations have left out certain scriptures or verses
The king James seems to have all of the ones that are left out

[.year.reign-fulfilled]

I read the hebrew, King James Version, and NIV side by side. NIV seems to be closer to what is written in hebrew so far.

[elizabethhood]

Last point... NIV a n.v d all else outside the KJV are not good because they change the original wording quite a bit which is huge... the order of words matters every detail matters, because the true stories in the Bible also contain prophetic significance as well which gets lost in the other Bible versions... know before you go.

[garyteeters-okhc]

The organ for believing is not the brains, for with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. That's reality

[elizabethhood]

Not saying that you can't learn Hebrew and Greek to read firsthand for your self, I am considering doing that myself now because of how much I love His word and know it is all of life and the only true life within its writing), but that seems a lot more effort than you seem to be willing to put into seeking after God. Change your heart first, then strive to enter the narrow gate and to keep on it's straight and narrow way, because the reality is that few there be who find it, Yahoshua the Messiah said so, ... if you a looking for an easier way, it is wide and you will find destruction at the end of it. Be truly converted to the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and learn to wrestle with God and then obey Him...

[philtheo]

CSB is another good option for someone reading the Bible for the first time. 😊

I recommend reading a different translation every couple of years. Similar to listening to different symphonies play Bach or Handel or Beethoven or Mozart. A person can listen to Bach played by different orchestras or symphonies around the world. It's still the same Bach no matter who plays Bach. But every orchestra or symphony will bring a slightly different perspective or rendition on the same Bach piece. Likewise different Bible translations bring a slightly different perspective on the original biblical text.

[JacksonGorilla]

I started at about 10 years old reading the KJV till about 16 years old. It isn't hard to understand really. There are dictionaries that can help someone expand their vocabulary, which isn't bad at all. I had a long hiatus from Christianity, and when I came back, I was reading the NKJV, ESV, and NASB 1995. It seems like many very recent updates/translations are getting watered down. I dont like where some of them are heading, so I am starting to stick with the older translations. At some point, I may even just go back to the KJV primarily.

[elizabethhood]

Sin is crouching at your door and it's desire is for you, but you must be over it, not it over you... this is what we all have to deal with as we are all born into this rebelliousness passed on from Adam and Eve to us from birth, however our God given conscience or left over Godly part of us testifies to us that our sin is sin and God is good He is worth struggling against sin and grappling with His word to obtain His actual blessing albeit through much struggle and shame, but a blessing is at the end of it though more struggles still to the end of this life to keep close to Him

[joanner]

As a dyslexic 9 year old I was told by a person at church I should read the kjv only, we certainly were not a kjv church either, but I really respected this lady so I really really tried but couldn't, I almost gave up but I discoverd a gnb on my Dad's book shelves and I could read that more easily than my school reading books. I loved the fact I was reading God's word for myself and read it all the way through before the time I was 11! Which given my low leval of reading at school greatly supprised my Dad. For personal reading I use the KJV, athough my husband decided that we use nkj when reading with the family. As weve seen that easier read versions can be useful for some people.

[kevinfancher]

I read NKJV, Jubilee and CEV.

I am now convinced that synonyms are the key to quicker epiphanies.

Grew up on KJV. So when a partial verse comes to mind. I quickly look up where it is and read 8 verses above and below it in all 3 translations.

I can fully endorse. Everyone that had studied the Bible more than me; has shown me patience and kindness.

If someone is not showing you patience and kindness... They are not actually reading and rereading their Bible.

[hiddencitypictures]

The KJV is Old Modern English. The difference between that and Old English is like the difference between Java and Javascript.

Old English is basically German. Middle English added some Scandanavian and is vaguely comprehensible once you read enough of it. Finally, Modern English had some French influence which is what makes it actually understandable.

[Way-hvxn]

You are native English. Do you really have problem understanding KJV English? I don't get it. I am an ESL. Even I can understand 99% of KJV English.

[Papal_Faith_Unfolded]

Whats funny is people who say the King James is the most accurate haven’t researched it. KJV was translated from later Greek manuscripts (Textus Receptus), not the earliest and most reliable ones now available. While its beautifully written, the actual most accurate word for word translations of the bible are the NRSV the NABRE. I’ve also read that the ESV is really good too. But the translation I usually give to people is the RSV.

[TruthfromBibleMinistry]

The problem is not with any particular translation but the many english translations that have come in the last 150 years; and some of the changes are more than word order or spelling. For example the removal of verses due to modern doubt and removal of Acts 8:37, Mark 16:9-20, Mark 9:29 (and fasting) Matthew 17:21 from NIV. There are many other verses omitted from the newer versions, that stood for many years.

The textual critics have these ideas, "Older is better" and "We are trying to reconstruct the text to its original form". When will be satisfied with just one version and quit seeking more and newer and "the most accurate" translations?

Since 1876 we have had the: RSV, DBY, ASV, EBR, CLV, AT, RSV2, NWT(JW), AMP, JB, NEB, MLB, TLB, NASB, GNB, NIV 1, 2 3, NKJV, LITV, NJB, NLV.

I have only listed 20 version of the bible in ~110 years- and THERE ARE MANY MORE. Do you see the problem here. Among all the versions, there are different wordings and verse omissions that were originally in the KJV and earlier versions.

Research the problems with the Codex Vaticanus and the Codex Sinaticus- the two versions all the modern versions are based on.

Gradually, as your get more and more versions, fully corrupted texts begin to emerge: NWT(JW bible), MSG Bible, The passion, NLT. Verses are removed, then degraded, then altered. To the outside world this is chaos. Within the church, this is very bad.

[RAILWAY_FILMS]

I would NOT start with KJV. sorry. it's too hard to understand. I am reading it right now for my THIRD time reading through. and it is so hard to understand. sometimes I wonder if I am wasting my time.

[edcarson]

The King James Holy Bible is the words of God .