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Just something of a survey for any Christian users on the site: what version of the Bible (if any) do you read or use in church?

Mostly "NIV Study Bible", though I often use the "New Living Translation - Life Application Bible". Each page is split, with study notes at the bottom explaining what things mean, or explaining their cultural relevance, etc, and there's sections throughout it on how to apply what you are reading to daily life. It also translates things like measurements and currencies into a modern day equivalent. Ie, converting into how many "dollars and cents" something cost, or how many "metres" long something was, instead of the orginial hebrew words and numbers. Of course, the original words are still there, in the study notes, for people who want to know that, but it means you instantly know exactly what it's talking about when you read it.

A few people here are using the New King James I think, but none there are using the original old style King James - the people I know have moved away from things that have thee's and thou's in them, and gone to modern language bibles.

im somewhat of a collector of "The Word". i have many copies. i usually carry a few on me incase people forget theres or dont have one. i just get away a New Century study bible. i have the old and new king james, i have an NIV and Message bibles. and i have atleast read some of the NLV bible. im curious, why do you ask?

nate

Im not Christian however I have some six odd bibles. Including the one you speak of Tsmpaul :D

The new testament?

Haha, October.    There are about forty-five billion and a half translations with "New" in the title....  For the record, I use the Authorized/King James Version.  Lately I've been using one that even maintains the 1611 spellings and such.  Actually, I think the thee's and thou's add clarity.  I mean, even in 1611, people were moving away from using them, and it seems to me that the translators only included them to distinguish between singular and plural forms of you.  Thee and thou are singular, and ye and you are plural.  That may seem a little nit-picky, but almost every language in the world other than English has a mode of distinguishing between singular and plural forms of address.  Here's an example of how this could be important:

New International Version: John 3:7---- "You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'"

Who must be born again: Nicodemus or everyone?

King James Version: John 3:7----Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The KJV answers this question.  Jesus now says, "I tell you that you all must be born again.

 

The reason I ask is because my historical fiction story, "Allegiance" (it's still kind of on the ground right now, but...), will likely include some biblical quotations by the characters, etc., and I wanted to see what versions everyone was familiar with.  Actually in the time period my story is set in, folks wouldn't be quoting an English language Bible anyway, but then it probably won't be set in an English speaking country to begin, and I don't exactly plan on writing the whole thing in another language....

Here's another interesting comparison using my favorite verse, Second Timothy 2:15:

Comparison of several versions of the Bible

King James Version	New King James Version	New International Version	New American Standard Version	The Message	New Living Translation	Contemporary English Bible	Amplified Bible
Verse 15	Verse 15	Verse 15	Verse 15	Approximate excerpt from page titled verses 14-18	Verse 15	Verse 15	Verse 15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.	Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.	Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.	Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.	Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.	Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.	Do your best to win God's approval as a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed and who teaches only the true message.	Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

Wow :P