I started reading the bible last night... Matthew to be exact

Fantastic!

Glad to hear it. 

It's the New Jerusalem Bible... good or bad one to read?

Since no one has responded, I will take a crack at it.  I have never read that particular version, so I read some reviews on it.

It is the one used mostly by the Roman Catholic Church and includes a few extra books (known as the Apocrypha) in the Old Testament that are not in many other versions.  There are some variations on wording to be more inclusive (i.e. brothers and sisters, vs. brothers), but now where near the quantity in 'neutered' bibles.

If you progress to the point of bible study (which I would highly suggest, but that is down the road a bit), I think you'll find yourself reading a number of different translations.  You may ask "Why are there so many different translations?"  As you know, languages change over the years, words change meaning, words become antiquated.  For a beginner, reading older versions (such as the King James) can be very difficult, so bible scholars have updated the translations...some go back to the original language and 'start over', some take the other versions and just update the words.  For the most part they are accurate, but some have become way overzealous and tried to take all the gender out of the language, and in effect, 'neutered' it.  They may have had the best intentions, but they are changing the word of God which is not exactly a good idea.

I hope this helps...If my son or daughter came home to me and said "Hey, I really like reading the New Jerusalem Bible as opposed to "fill in the blank""  I would not have an issue with it.  That is my opinion.

Doc

There are no 'problems' with the New Jerusalem Bible that I am aware of. Since it is used mainly by Catholics I am not familiar with it.

  I have had no contact with this piticular bible Han, but if reading it encourages you to continue seeking the truth, then read on.

Ask all the questions that you wish, and I know that the members here will continue praying and seeking Gods help and suscess for you.

We all must start some place, if we desire to get some where.

Later

JTF

fair enough

back to fairness...
Liam Maughan lived near me, used to go to my school
Liam was 19 years old, with a fiancée and a new born baby he never got to meet
He was a soldier killed in Iraq 3 weeks before his regiment was due to be home
He has a little brother who is 11/12 and a family

I know its God's will and all that but yeah...

That is very sad.  Life can be cruel, life can be mean, there can exist all kinds of horrors in this world.

One thing that I find very interesting is you can find the strongest Christians in the most horrendous conditions.  The most fervently faithful people turn out to be the ones where the villiage has one Bible.

As you read your bible, think about something.  If every person on the face of the earth followed God's love, would there be war, murder, and other atrocities?  Would you even need to lock your doors?  Would that be the case if everyone loved God with all their heart, all their soul, and all their mind, and loved their neighbors as themselves?  (see Matthew 22: 34-40)  The world is in this situation because we failed God, not the other way around.  God has given us a gift through His Son so we can be considered righteous and live in harmony for eternity.

Doc

I'm not saying God has failed us or anything, it IS the other way around
I'm just saying... I dunno really.
What do you think happens to people who don't believe in God when they die?

Well, that is the biggest lie that the 'church' preaches today.

It's wasn't God's will that your friend be killed in Iraq.

Doc's post of life being cruel is more accurate.. we live in a fallen world, not everything that happens is God's will.

fair enough

Hi Han there are many versions that are available.  I was speaking to a friend about this tonight.  His comments were If you want a modern bible suitable for the youth of today there is the "Street Bible". This is a version that misses large chunks out but concentrates on the main facts. There is the New International Version which can be used a study Bible.  There is The Message- this is more like the Street Bible.  One that he uses is the New Living Translation which can be used for personal devotion - this one changes the meaning. e.g. He went and slept with his ancestors reads and he died and was buried with his ancestors.

Hope this helps

Jon

The bible  version I would recommend is the RSV (Revised Standard Version), that is the one I use and I find it to be faithful to what God wants us to know and easily understandable. I've had mine for 30 years. The newer bible versions have been corrupted by the publishers making them politically correct, but the RSV has stayed the same since I got my RSV.

I feel sorry for this generation because they are being MISLED by so many modern versions. Some leave out VERY important words ("Jesus", "sin". etc.) and some directly give the wrong impression of a loving kind God, BUT, much more important than the version is the KIND OF PERSON reading it.

If you are 'true blue', righteous as YOU understand righteous to be (live and let live), God will be able to teach you His truths (depths of God) because God's spirit will be able to relate to your spirit (Romans 8:16).

You are exactly where The Lord wants you to be right now in your walk with Him (asking questions and searching for truth). A month from now you will be exactly where The Lord wants you to be THEN. If you are serious/sincere, you will ALWAYS be exactly where The Lord intends that you be. "Doubting Thomas" (the disciple) had doubts and The Lord never got on his case.

The Lord understands that unbelief is a natural part of human nature that we have to overcome.

Mark 9:24
"help my unbelief".

Romans 11:23
"And even the others, if they do not persist in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again".

I haven't said it straight out before, but I write about things that haven't been understood for two thousand years. In order to learn the depths of God, you must be willing to believe that there have always been many lies and misunderstandings taught in the church of man. The "strong delusion" is not a FUTURE event, it has always been around.

Once you are prepared to DOUBT what is taught in "the church of man", then you will be ready to learn from God (and the version won't matter so much, HE will guide you into all truth).

In the following link, you can look up any word (like "unbelief") and any phrase/term (like "doctrine of Christ" or "figures of speech") and even different versions. You can even read whole chapters on one screen and compare in different versions.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=need+no+repentance&t=RSV&sf=5