How many versions are there of the bible?

Answer 1

There are many versions of The Bible. Some are actual translations and some are paraphrases.

Another answer The 'versions' are either copies of the original books or translations into other languages.

So, if you mean 'how many translations' then there are thousands. For a start, it has been translated from the original languages into over 2000 languages. Add to these the hundreds of different English language versions, and you will see that there are many thousands of translations.

However, each translation uses copies of the original manuscripts as the original manuscripts are now lost. However some of these manuscripts have very early dates (eg a fragmment of John's gospel dates from 100AD) and are likely to be identical with the original document. In these copies, there are slight variations, but the science of textual criticism ensures that the versions used are as close to the original documents as possible.

Incidentally there isn't a Bible BY King James as the previous answer suggests - King James I of England and VI of Scotland simply commissioned a team of translators to come up with a translation in the common tongue of that time.

------------------------------------

Another answer

There are 233 different English versions on the market.

The ESV & NASV, with the NKJV, & NIV, & the NWT(JW's), and all others, are not in any way, the most accurate.

Except for the AV1611, corrected spelling & brought up to date in 1769, which is the Bible we have today, all "new versions" are from two corrupt MSS, found in a trash can in a catholic monastery.

This has been documented, some research on your part, will show that.

The hype is "older MSS are better", "more accurate", "this verse should actually read as this new version", etc,etc.

If folks want a "modern version" without buying one, take a marker and go through a KJAV1611 Bible, and mark out what you think is not needed.

The originals were never in a "book" or Bible.

There is only one 'version' of the Jewish Tanach (Bible). Regardless of where you are in the world, the text will be identical to all other copies you may find. There are different language translations but the only real difference in those is the formality of word choice in the new language.

Although the Christian Old Testament is based on the Tanach, it was altered throughout to support the teachings of Christianity. There are many versions of the Christian Bible.

While there are a number of versions to the Bible. There are 8 primary versions found in history:

Septuagint - 250 A.D. Written in Greek

Vulgate- 400 A.D. First version of the Bible which is canonized at the Council of Carthage in 400 A.D. Written in Latin

Luther's German Bible- 1534 A.D.

King James Version- 1611 A.D. This is the most widely used versions however it has large number of errors given that none of the writers had a decent understanding of Hebrew.

Revised Standard Version- 1952 A.D. Literal translation into American English which used the earliest possible text

New International Version- 1960's & 70's A.D. This is a very good contemporary English version. Another good contemporary English version is New King James Version (NKJV)

The Youngs Literal Translation is as close to the originals as you can get, translated by Robert Young in 1898 A.D.

There are dozens of different English translations of the Bible. Each one chooses different translations of various words to express what the translation's authors felt were most important or most accurate, based on the documents they had at the time.

See the Related Links for more information. Originally there were about 11 of them. In England, circa 1800 there was mainly one source of biblical information available to the general public. Whenever questions would arise regarding biblical prophecy the people needed to go to the church elders who in turn would refer to their ' Book of Scriptures ' for answers. These inquisitions became somewhat burdensome to the church. In an effort to alleviate the many inquiries, King James wanted the people to have their own copy of the scriptures. He then commissioned scholars, scribes and elders to translate the scriptures in to different languages to accommodate the masses from which the King James Version, ' The Holy Bible ' was derived.

Answer 2

The Jewish people recognize only the Masoretic text. This is the Hebrew text, exact to the letter, which has been handed down over the centuries and which we use in study and in Torah-reading. Of course, different translations may result from this original, because there's no such thing as a perfect translation. How many translations are there? Thousands, if not more. The Bible is the world's all-time bestseller.