Expert: Dean Gade - 10/10/2007

Question
I found out some new Bible translations. I agree that the King James 1611 Bible is very close to the original compared to other English Bibles. Is the Geneva Bible similar to KJV 1611 in therms of being pure and not perverted. Also, I found this new translation I am not familiar with, LITV (Green). Is it safe like the KJV 1611?

Answer
There are a number of good translations of the Bible in circulation now.  

All have some bias by the translators.  This bias of personal beliefs can show itself because the definitions of a complicated word in one language rarely means the same thing in another language.  These words can have more definitions, different definitions or less definitions along with the definition that they have in common.

There are no perfect translations. Serious students of the Bible ought to have the original language inter-linears along with an exhaustive concordance and a good Hebrew and Greek lexicon.

What are you looking for in a translation?  It sounds like you are looking for accuracy.  Then you would want to keep the KJV around.   I have found the best balance of accuracy AND ease of understanding is the NIV.  But I still rely on Nestle's "Novum Testamentum Graece" which is only in Koine Greek and has listed all variant manuscripts.

The Geneva Bible does has a bit of bias on the "Reformed" side but is otherwise much like the KJV.   The "Literal Translation" - LITV is also quite good but not well known and not well received by many.

Again, I would say that you ought to get an interlinear and some study helps like Strong's or Young's Exhaustive Concordances which also include the various meanings of the Greek and Hebrew.