How Far I’ve Progressed on reading the NKJV, NASB (1995), the VOICE, and the Amplified Bible (Classic Edition)

Here’s something you may not know about me: I have yet to celebrate my tenth anniversary of becoming Christian (my conversion date was July 16, 2009). As a result, I’ve been reading several Bible translations from start to finish since then, but I’ve only made notes on one so far, and it was one that I hadn’t even heard of. I bought two copies of the New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV) for my first ever round of Bible notes (I was separated from one of them for almost a year), and I still have both with me in my room. I’ve already read the NKJV, and that was from 2011-2012. I’m reading the NASB (1995) and the Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) at the same time, but I’m not actually finished with either of them. I’ve also read many passages in the VOICE translation, but I’ve never actually read it thoroughly, nor have I read all the notes. Like I said on my previous post, I wish to be respectful towards everyone, for no one should be sinned against in a way that literally makes them fear for their lives.

Again, the NKJV is the only one of the four I’ve read from start to finish so far. The NRSV was a blind run, like when someone on YouTube posts a series of videos about a certain game they hadn’t ever played (they call it a blind playthrough). But I’ve read some passages from each of the translations; I’ve only finished one of them so far. I’ve read four Bible versions from front to back since becoming Christian in 2009, and the other three I will soon get started with will be versions 5-7. I’ve never been fluent in a foreign language, by the way (I live in the U.S.A.), so if you see me get lost in translation on something, that’s ok; we’re all learning new things every day. I’ve also never left the country before, even just to visit Mexico or something (I’m in Arizona). But if you’re reading this and don’t understand English, that’s ok, too; you can just change the translation to whatever language you understand best. I do hope to go through a translation in a language I’ve never been fluent in (which is literally everything but my native tongue), but I’m on the fence about putting notes about it on here.

Like I said, I’m learning as I go along, and I knew almost nothing about the Bible or even Jesus before I became Christian despite my church upbringing. Also, though it’s been over nine years since then and I’ve wanted to hear what other parts of the churches of the world were saying (along with the Holy Spirit’s word through someone), I’m not a Bible interpreting professional, so bear with me, now. For translation history, you can just look online, but be wary of how anything can be translated, for this world has lots of false prophets claiming to know everything (I know I don’t). If you see a phrase in the Old Testament such as “I create calamity” (see Isaiah 45:7), take note that the Hebrew is awkward with all such phrases when translated into anything we see in English today. Shoutouts to the people who worked on the HCSB translation when it was still being written! 🤩😊✔ And speaking of translations, the emoji you just saw, there’s an Emoji Bible, too, but I won’t cover through that now.

I forgot to mention that the Amplified Bible I have has some comments of its own, as well as some introductions to each book. I believe that, for the most part, it is reliable. If I disagree with something anyone says, I always share an opinion that I believe would be helpful, and, spoiler alert, you can find me doing that from time to time. But most of the notes on both the Amplified Bible and VOICE translations are pretty solid, yet I may or may not write on all of them. The NKJV and NASB (1995) Bible I have — those have no notes. And I don’t intend to write any comments on anything as if I had published them with the Bibles in any translation. I do not take credit for anyone else’s work. Also, you may even see me point out a translation error in something. Take note: no translation is perfect, no matter what the language. But if someone is trying to edit the Word as if the 66 books weren’t written correctly, they are publishing deception, and no one should experience that, for it can and probably will lead to ruin for even the most seasoned of Bible scholars. By the way, I am not a Bible scholar, either.

With all this out of the way, let’s begin with Genesis!