Darkness to Light Home Page

Additional Books and eBooks by the Director

Differences Between Bible Versions
Translation Principles, Greek Text-types, and KJV-onlyism

Book and eBook by Gary F. Zeolla,
the director of Darkness to Light ministry

Why do Bible versions differ? Why does the same verse read differently in different versions? Why do some versions contain words, phrases, and even entire verses that other versions omit? Which Bible versions are the most reliable? These and many other questions are answered in this book. Forty versions of the Bible are compared and evaluated.


Third Edition (April 2012)

 

Amazon:

Kindle Reading Device eBook: 589 KB. $3.99. Order and download from Amazon.

Paperback format: 328 pages (6"x9"). $12.95. Order from Amazon.

Hardback format: 328 pages (6"x9"). $20.75. Order from Amazon.

 

Lulu:

Acrobat Reader® (pdf) eBook: 10,798 KB. $4.50. Purchase and download from Lulu Publishing

ePUB for iPad and Nook: $4.25. Order and download from Lulu Publishing.

Paperback format: 328 pages (6"x9"). $12.95 Order from the publisher via their Web site Lulu Publishing.

Hardback format: 328 pages (6"x9"). $20.95. Order from the publisher via their Web site Lulu Publishing.

 

Notes:

Different formats and publishers might have different covers, but the content is the same in all of them.

The links to Amazon are advertising links, for which I receive a commission in addition to my royalty i


Note to readers of the Second Edition, what is new in the Third Edition is I brought it up to date in terms of the Bible versions I evaluate. Some of the versions mentioned in the second edition are no longer available while new ones have come out or have become popular. For instance, I’ve added more about the NLT, a chapter each on “The Message,” the HCSB, and “The Voice” and three chapters on the ESV. I’ve also corrected all of the typos in the second edition, and added bits of info here and there to bring various other things up to date.


Second Edition (June 2001)

This second edition has been superseded by the above third edition, but it is still available.

Paperback format: 330 pages (5"x8"). $12.95. Order from the publisher via their Web site AuthorHouse or by calling toll-free: 1-888-280-7715. Also available from Amazon .

Acrobat Reader® eBook: 1426 KB. $4.95. Purchase and download from AuthorHouse.


Readers

Download the free PDF Reader (Acrobat Reader®)

Purchase the Kindle Wireless Reading Device


Book Description
(Third Edition)

The subject of Bible versions can get very controversial among Christians, with sometimes rather heated feelings on all sides. There are those who say the King James Version is the only reliable version and that all other versions are "perversions." Then there are others who say it doesn't matter which Bible versions one uses, that they are all reliable in their own right.

This book takes a middle approach. It disagrees with the KJV-only advocates in recognizing there are some modern Bible versions that are just as, if not more reliable than the KJV. But this book also recognizes that there are significant differences between Bible versions and that not all versions are reliable.

Specifically, this book has three main standards when it comes to Bible versions:
1. The Hebrew and Greek texts should be translated as word for word as possible.
2. The translation should be as readable as possible, but without sacrificing accuracy.
3. The NT should be translated from the Textus Receptus or Majority Greek Text, rather than the more popular Critical Text.

Detailed explanations of why these standards are used are given in the book. Forty different Bible versions are evaluated as to how they fit these standards. In addition, this book contains an extended section critiquing the claims of "KJV-onlyists" (e.g. those who claim the King James Version is the only "real" Bible).

The material in this book is written as simply as possible so that the average layperson can understand the arguments. But appeal is made to the Hebrew and Greek texts as needed. And most of all, the heated rhetoric often seen in this debate is absent from this book. The material is presented in as straightforward and balanced manner as possible.

So if you find yourself caught in the middle of the Bible versions controversy, not sure which Bible version to use or why, or you simply want to understand the reasons for the differences between Bible versions, then this book is for you!


Contents
(Third Edition)

Bible Versions List
Preface

Translation Principles

1. My Bible Versions Experiences
2. Classification of Bible Versions – Part One
3. Classification of Bible Versions – Part Two
4. Five Different Translation Principles
5 Three Popular Bible Versions (KJV, NKJV, NIV)

Greek Text-types

6. Introduction to Textual Criticism
7. The Majority Text vs. the Critical Text – Part One
8. The Majority Text vs. the Critical Text – Part Two
9. Significant Textual Variants – MT vs. CT
10. Significant Textual Variants – TR vs. MT
11. Meaning of "Majority Text"

KJV Only-ism

12. Critique of KJV-only Arguments
13. Difficult Terms in the KJV
14. KJV-only Arguments Against the NKJV
15. Verse Evaluations: KJV vs. NKJV – Part One
16. Verse Evaluations: KJV vs. NKJV – Part Two

Various Versions

17. Review of the NAS95
18. Two NCC Bible Versions (RSV, NRSV)
19. Review of the New Living Translation
20  Review of the ESV – Part One
21  Review of the ESV – Part Two
22  Review of the ESV – Part Three
23  “The Lord’s Prayer” in The Message
24  Review of the HCSB
25  Review of The Voice
26  Recommended Versions: Sample Passages

Appendixes

1. Summary Outlines on Bible Versions
2. Additional Books by the Author
3. About Darkness to Light
4. Contacting the Author

Additional Books by the Director

Alphabetical List of Pages      Subject Index
General Information on Articles      Contact Information

Darkness to Light Home Page
www.zeolla.org/christian