A reader recently asked: “You frequently post a photo of a Bible on your blogs. Is that your study Bible? What Bible do you use?”
The Bible usually pictured is my personal Bible, the New International Version (NIV, 1986). I grew up with the King James Bible (KJV), which was the standard in most churches. In university, I discovered the New American Standard Bible (NASB, the one pictured in this blog), which I trust as a very accurate translation. I switched to the NIV for teaching quite a few years ago, as it is more readable and was becoming the standard in many churches.
Unfortunately, in 2011, the publishers revised the NIV and made it more politically correct and less accurate. I still take my old (pre-2011) NIV Bible to my Baptist church (they use the NIV there mostly). However, in my personal study, I use Bible Gateway, which is a free online app and which allows me to use and compare many translations.
I never learned Hebrew and Greek except for a brief smattering in my one year in seminary, and therefore I rely on the work of other Bible scholars. As aids to my study, I still use the one-volume New Bible Commentary and one-volume New Bible Dictionary and Strong’s Concordance, which I picked up in that one year of seminary training at Regent College in Vancouver. The Concordance is especially useful in getting at the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Over the years, I have also assembled a complete set of Barclay’s New Testament commentaries. While he is unorthodox on a number of issues, Barclay’s knowledge of Greek words and ancient history is unparalleled. I wish there was something similar for the Old Testament. There are other commentaries and guides on my bookshelves which I also consult from time to time.
And, of course, I study with prayer, asking God to help me understand His Word. I often ponder, meditate, and ask questions about what a particular passage might mean and how it might be applied to my life. I write down what I am learning to help me remember and to share with other people. I do not claim to be an expert Bible scholar, but I have been a persistent inquirer. As every Christian should, I have studied the Bible consistently throughout my life and have tried to carry out its precepts. Looking back, I am blessed to think about all that God has taught me. Looking forward, I realize I have barely scratched the surface of the riches of God’s Word.
Christians Read 
Can you lead or someone lead a bible study using NASB?
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Of course. I have done it in the past. It is very accurate and relatively easy to read. One of the questions to ask is whether everyone else in the group has a copy of that translation. Whatever translation is used, it is always helpful to consult commentaries and a concordance to try to get closer to the meaning of the original languages.
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Please kindly lead another one in British Columbia. I would join. A quick google search of “NASB Bible Study Vancouver” has failed me. Regards. I think this is a sign, maybe. Stumbling on a relatively recent article of yours, and your happening to reside in British Columbia, as do I.
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The translation does not matter that much. All translations are an attempt to convey the meaning of the original. There must be a number of churches near you that offer Bible studies.
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