Using versions of the Bible other than the KJV

I wouldn’t think using an alternate translation would be a problem, especially to supplement a lesson when the KJV is unclear.

At BYU my New Testament prof had us use the New International Version. He said it retained much of the same meaning but in clearer English. I also find it interesting to compare English versions to Spanish versions; sometimes that gives an interesting flavor to the scripture.

I use the Blue Letter Bible App on my phone. It lets me read KJV and another version side by side. My preferred version is the Net Bible.

There shouldn’t be any reason you cannot use a different version for your lessons. Especially when you explain why.

I’m late to the party, but I agree with what others have said. The handbook says members “should” use the KJV. I have heard teachers and students in classes occasionally use other versions for clarification or another point of view. On a personal level, when I go to SS (which is not weekly) I am always reading along on my New Revised Standard Version app. I think I will check out the app suggested by AP. My Spanish speaking RM son says he frequently reads along in his Spanish Bible.

So, no, unless you have ultra dogmatics in your ward (highly possible where you live), you should be OK. You could always frame it by reading the KJV and then the other version to compare with an “I think this says the same thing in clearer English” line.

Katzpur,

Although the NEB isn’t in wide use, it’s a favorite of mine. It was the first non-KJV that I ever owned, and I like it because it still seems like a high language edition, without being difficult to understand. I studied it even while I was an all-in member of the Church. I still remember the epiphany of looking at the NEB Book of Job and realizing that it is written as a poem (with an introduction). It was literature not history.

My current preference, like DJ, is the NRSV. I have a printed version and it is the only form of scriptures I take to church. I’ve mentioned it and read from it while making comments during SS, when the KJV is particularly hard to understand.

I do like the lofty language of the KJV, but IMO, it’s a poor choice to use if our intent is to understand the original message. For one, it’s based on the Textus Receptus, which is well known to be deficient. But more importantly, to me, it makes God and Heaven seem distant and disconnected from us.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with mentioning an alternate translation, where the KJV is unclear, but there is no point, and it would be distracting, where the KJV is clear. When I’ve taught before, I use the KJV in all cases, unless I want to point out something that isn’t right or clear in the KJV.

Katzpur, I love that you brought this up. These verses are such a great example of the variances among bible translations. This is too subtle for a SS or RS lesson, but I want to bring this up for the people here.

In the KJV/NIV, the author of Ephesians implied that Christ had given the people leaders that if they followed, the Church would be successful.

KJV:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…

NIV:

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…

Yet, in the NEB, which you quoted, as well as the NRSV, he/she implied a subtle but much different meaning: that Christ gave the people spiritual gifts, and some people would use those gifts to become leaders and that together, the people would be successful.

NEB:

And these were His gifts; some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip God’s people for work in his service, to the building up of the body of Christ…

NRSV:

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…

In the KJV/NIV it’s top-down… in the NEB/NRSV it’s bottom-up.

In fact, if you look at these closely, the KJV is the worst. It basically says that God ordained leaders and THEY perform the work. The people are merely the recipients of the work of leaders. Leaders are the benefactors and followers are the beneficiaries.