22 Word Bible Version Poll Results!

October 7, 2009 in Uncategorized

Abraham Piper put up a post asking people what version of the Bible they use.

I have what some might call a penchant (and others might call a neurosis) for summarizing data. (Some say “That way lies madness” Not me!)

So when I see uncalculated and perfectly calculatable data, well, I want to make like a database programmer and calculate it. So I asked Abraham and he said ‘go for it’.

So here’s what I got – the list of Versions is below (*** Updated – And now a Pie Graph!) . See the original post for further details – some of the comments are quite interesting.

22 Word Version Poll Results – By The Numbers

Respondent Count:: Just Over 200*
Different versions listed:: 25
Percentage of respondents using ESV:: 75
Average number of versions used:: 1.88
Respondents using only 1 version:: 85
(Of these, 65 were ESV)
(And there were only 2 “King James Only” respondents**)
Most versions used by any one reader:: 7
Winner – Longest Version Usage Explanation:: Loyal Responsible Puppet/Father Reader Chris
Number of Versions I had never heard of before:: 16
Margin Of Error:: Plus Or Minus 30

Want more data? Let me know – I might be able to figure it out.

* As of 11:29, after nearly 27 hours of being posted

** I mean Literally, not Necessarily Philosophically, Obviously ****

*** This includes neither my, nor (apparently) Abraham’s preferences. But I’m generally an ESV guy.

**** I’m pretty sure this is Good Grammar under one of Abraham’s definitions.

Ver	Total
ESV	156
NAS	53
NIV	44
NKJV	26
NLT	23
KJV	22
Mes	10
NRSV	6
TNIV	6
HCSB	5
GreekNT	4
NET	4
AMP	3
YLT	2
WEB	2
NA27	2
BHS	2
NVI	1
Word	1
Voice	1
RSV	1
GNB	1
NCV	1
LBLA	1
REB	1

Andy Asks For It, Andy Gets It.

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17 comments

Comments feed for this article

October 7, 2009 at 1:31 pm

What version of the Bible do you read? - 22 Words

[...] Scott Jamison has posted the results from the first 200 [...]

October 7, 2009 at 1:38 pm

Andy

What’s a guy got to do to get himself a nice pie graph of all this?

October 7, 2009 at 2:13 pm

jamsco

You put up a comment requesting one.

October 7, 2009 at 2:20 pm

Joseph Louthan

Ah! I was working one myself
http://twitpic.com/kmhj4

October 7, 2009 at 2:21 pm

David M

I guess it doesn’t count for anything that my comment was exactly 22 words long? Oh, well. I didn’t figure I’d get anything special… though, I was hoping for a lollipop or a pat on the back.

October 7, 2009 at 2:28 pm

Andy

Thanks very much. That’s MUCH better.

October 7, 2009 at 2:31 pm

Andy

So here’s the real question: Why is the ESV the most popular translation for readers of Abraham’s blog?

Postulations: 1) Pastor John is a prim proponent of the ESV. Many of Abaraham’s readers are there through that channel (DB, BBC).

2) The ESV is the translation of choice for many of the New Reformed crowd, i.e. Mark Driscoll, John Piper (see postulation 1).

What do you think?

October 7, 2009 at 2:41 pm

JasonS

Do I see an ESV Only movement beginning?

October 7, 2009 at 2:42 pm

Joseph Louthan

Without question, I think, those go hand in hand.

To be honest I was into the NKJV even after listening to Piper, Driscoll, Chandler for over a year (about 5-7 sermons a week). I didn’t become a ESV convert until I started dating my now ex-girlfriend who used to be friends with a Calvinist. Fortunately, I did a full switch to ESV (blogs, quotes, memorization, etc.) right before the ESVSB was announced and haven’t looked back since.

October 7, 2009 at 2:45 pm

Joseph Louthan

JasonS: I would be shocked if there was a certain sect that devolved into ESVo crowd.

Have you ever spoken to staunch KJVo’er? Logic and intelligence is straight out the door.

Yet, we are beings with default modes of religion. I cannot be surprised by our own depravity.

October 7, 2009 at 2:48 pm

jamsco

Joseph, you were only 17 minutes behind me. But thanks for doing it. But Abraham tweeted it, so you have that going for you.

Everyone else, go see it, it’s in some ways more clear and readable than mine.

And yes, Andy, I think it’s the Piper – DG / BBC connection.

October 7, 2009 at 4:30 pm

Andy

I appreciate Joseph’s use of “other” on his graph. Very nice!

October 7, 2009 at 4:48 pm

'Guerite ~ BoldLion

I did post a comment in 22 words. I am in comment 150.
This is what I said:
I eat ESV Bible daily.
ESV and also ESV Study Bible
NASB ‘77 (rarely ‘95 but do have that in my Palm Pilot and in the book form)
NKJV
I do look up other translations if needed.

Hungry to eat His Word,
‘Guerite ~ BoldLion

As for ESV only, no, I am not an ESV only. I do use a lot of other translations. I work at the secular Bookstore (Books a Million) and specialize in Bible Section / Christian Living area at this store. I had run into KJV only just about daily and a lot of other customers like to get KJV, NIV and NLT. Today, I had one very rare customer that wanted to get ASV which we don’t carry or can’t special order that.

I am a John Piper’s fan, but I live in NC. Mostly for those who are Abraham Piper’s fan would normally pull for ESV since they read his blog. If everybody (the whole world) read his blog, the result would be very different.

My church, Christ Baptist Church of Wilson uses ESV and this is how I learned about it. Before that I was using NASB’77 or NKJV. I had fallen in love with ESV since I can understand it a lot better. I still use NASB’77 and sometime NKJV and rarely other translations.

Most important of all is that we are to eat His Word daily that is true to the original translation.

Hungry to eat His Word,
‘Guerite ~ BoldLion

October 7, 2009 at 5:21 pm

ED... (who blogs at Sincere Ignorance and Conscientious Stupidity)