Customer Reviews

Updated NASB/NIV Parallel Bible

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Pros: These two versions are, in my opinion, the best two English versions of the Bible on the market--the NASB for close attention to the word-for-word aspect of the translation (like the KJV, but in modern English), and the NIV for still unsurpassed clarity without sacrificing accuracy. Having them side by side is a great help.

Cons: The text in this edition (and in the hardcover edition) is quite small. If you're under 30 maybe that's no big deal, but for some of us it is an issue. Also, look twice--this is BONDED leather; i.e., leather pieces stuck together with glue, and less valuable, durable, and comfortable to hold than 'genuine' leather.

Thanks to Zondervan for issuing this Bible! Like the prior reviewer, I think we should all read and study more than one translation. I primarily use the NAS translation and have since it came out. I really don't like the NIV translation, and remain surprised that it has proven so popular. And, no, I don't consider myself conservative at all, just accurate. Regardless, I bought this Bible for the ease of use with the most common translation alongside the one I prefer. I consult it often. It follows the same basic format as the 4-translation Zondervan that I own, only there are only two. This makes it a much smaller Bible, comparable to many regular-sized Bibles. I particularly appreciate this Bible for reading, though, because it isn't cluttered with lots of marginal notes or 'study aids'. It can just be read like one's favorite book. As usual, this Bible receives 4 stars instead of 5 because the construction quality is not the best, but is good. Legible type aids in reading, also. I'm glad I own it, and it is suitable in size to carry to church, unlike its big brother.

Apart from actually learning Hebrew and Greek (and Aramaic, a derivative of Hebrew), or knowing other foreign languages, a careful student of the Bible limited to English alone might come to better understand the Scriptures of his or her God by using different translations.

And it's usually best not to use translations with essentially the same philosophy of translation: for example, using two literal, word-for-word (formal equivalence) translations such as the New American Standard Bible and the English Standard Version or the King James Version (Authorised Version) and the New King James Version. Or using two thought-for-thought (dynamic equivalence) translations such as the New International Version and the Revised English Bible. This is because there probably won't be much difference in how the translation committees rendered a certain verse or passage (the issue of mainly which Greek NT manuscript family is relied upon for the translation notwithstanding at this point; there is not as much heated disagreement with the Hebrew manuscripts).

So it's best to use at least two different translations based on two divergent translation philosophies in your Bible studies; that is, it's probably best to use at a minimum two different translations, one based on formal equivalence and the other based on dynamic equivalence.

A good choice for conservative Christians might be the NASB and the NIV, respectively. This way, the Bible student can compare two very different translations based upon two very different translation philosophies, hopefully see a certain verse or passage from a different angle or in a different light, and thus better grasp the original meaning and intent, and so forth. Or at the least be less prone to error in interpretation by using two different translations as opposed to a single translation. Of course, if possible, it's still better to use three or perhaps even more translations; or, if you know another language, to incorporate a foreign Bible version into your studies; or, best of all, if you're able to spare the time and invest the effort, to learn Hebrew and/or Greek. But I would say that two translations in a single language should probably be the minimum when delving into more serious biblical studies.

By the way, I might get some flack for this, especially from those of the conservative Christian community of which I consider myself a part, but I think also adding the NRSV as a third translation might prove beneficial to your studies, since it's different enough from either the NASB or NIV. It's neither overly literal nor overly free, as the Living Bible is, but sort of in the middle, although more literal than the NIV, which is likewise sort of in the middle of the Bible translation spectrum. Yet the NRSV offers enough unique interpretations of the text that it might better elucidate your studies.

Now, here in a single Bible are both the NASB (1995) and the NIV laid out side by side for the student to compare. The Bible is bonded leather, not genuine, but it looks and feels quite nice. The spine seems sturdy and overall the Bible likewise seems quite durable. The NASB is presented verse by verse whereas the NIV is presented in paragraph format, with the NASB on the left-hand side and the NIV on the right-hand side of the page.

For roughly $40 (at least at this time), it's equivalent to purchasing a fairly decent edition of each translation on its own. Or purchasing a single study Bible. But since I personally think study Bibles are a bit overrated, the only decent one in recent memory being the Zodhiates Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible [update: and from what I've been hearing, the ESV Reformation Study Bible is quite good], as I like to get at the biblical text as much as possible without what I deem to be superfluous or distracting notes and annotations, etc., I would prefer spending $40 on this Bible than on perhaps most study Bibles currently available on the market. Plus, in my opinion the historical, archeological, geographical, theological, or other content usually included with many study Bibles is usually better done, and nearly always in more depth (for obvious reasons), in actual historical, archeological, geographical, theological, or other books, of which for the most part I would likewise prefer to invest my money in over and above a single study Bible.

Further, by purchasing the parallel Bible, you have the NASB and NIV side by side and don't need to hassle with finding the pages in two Bibles; you need only focus on turning the pages once, and presto! Two translations immediately at your fingertips. Very helpful, particularly in group Bible study sessions. And since both the NASB and NIV are respected in the conservative Christian community, with one or the other often used at a local church, you'll have both at your disposal in one book without the extra burden of lugging around two Bibles wherever you go, be it with Christian brothers or sisters at an informal setting, while visiting other churches, etc.

The NASB/NIV Parallel Bible is quite handy, and I would recommend it.

Update: Since writing this quick and dirty little review, I've come to highly appreciate the English Standard Version, and would definitely recommend taking a look at it as well. It's wonderfully faithful to the original biblical languages (being a conservative revision of the RSV) without compromising the beauty and richness of our own English language, as for example the NASB has been sometimes accused of in its "woodern and stilted" renderings of many passages.

I am thoroughly satisfied with this bible. I am making a transition from the NIV to the NASB and this is perfect. My church (and the majority of those I have been to) use the NIV so I can take this to church and other groups and still have my NASB with me too! I like the extra space on every page and it lends itself well to notes. Those with bad eyes might not fare so well since the type is fairly small. However, it is not a very thick bible as a result. It is about the size of a standard single translation.

I have been wanting a parallel Bible for quite a while. I originally wanted a version that contained the NKJ and NIV. I was never able to find it, but this to me is the next best thing. This is the first NAS I have owned, and I really am enjoying it. My only complaint would be the cover which is bonded leather. It does not have that rich feel to it.

Given as a gift to my wife. She thinks the comparison does a wonderful job of helping her understand more difficult passages.