Get the "Down Low" on what's up with all the Bible translations
Bible Translations- Tom M (FSC Men's Ministry)
What is the Best Bible Translation to use? Since the 16th century, there have been around 900 translations into English alone! With so many translations it can be hard to choose between them.
What is more, it’s all but impossible to make a perfect one-to-one translation of any document without affecting the meaning. Biblical Greek and Hebrew have different grammar, terminology, and cultural idioms, that do not always have equivalents in English.
Below I will discuss some of the most reliable and popular versions. I will also note several versions to be wary of and some to steer clear of all together.
Almost every translation falls into one of three categories.
First is formal equivalency or word-for-word translations. These are the more literal translations that seek to match original languages word-for-word. Readability and clarity are not the primary focus. Translations in this category include the KJV, NKJV, ESV, and NASB.
A second category is dynamic equivalence or thought-for-thought translations. These versions emphasize reader comprehension. These versions focus on clarity of meaning and readability. Translations in this category include the NLT, NIV and CSB.
The third category is functional equivalence or paraphrase versions. These versions seek to provide the main ideas of the Bible rather than translation of the words. For this reason, paraphrased versions such as, The Message, are generally not considered official translations.
Word-for-Word Translations of the Bible
The New American Standard Bible (NASB) - The New American Standard Bible (NASB) holds the reputation for being the “most accurate” Bible translation in English. But, because the NASB is the most literal word-for-word translation it can be more difficult to read.
English Standard Version (ESV) - The ESV is an "essentially literal" translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the wording of the original text and each Bible writer's style while remaining readable. The ESV keeps close to the KJV retaining some of the best-loved passages in that translation. For some, the Calvinist theology that guided the translation is problematic and others may find the sentence structure hard to understand. All in all, a solid translation.
King James Version (KJV)/ New King James Version (NKJV)
First published in 1611 for James I of England, the KJV remains an extremely popular word-for-word Bible translation. While many people claim that the KJV is the only “true” translation, rarely are they actually in possession of the 1611 Authorized Version. Rather, they have the more readable 1769 version. The modern New King James Version has removed the confusing “thee’s” and “thou’s” and “-eth” verb endings, while remaining true to the texts and retaining the beauty of the language. The weaknesses of the New King James Version are (1) its use of the Hebrew and Greek texts available in the 16th century (Textus Receptus) instead of more modern manuscript compilations and (2) its commitment to “complete equivalence,” which can sometimes result in the concepts not being communicated adequately and remaining difficult to read.
Thought-for-Thought Translations of the Bible
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) - The CSB provides a highly accurate text for sermon preparation and serious study. Yet it doesn’t compromise readability and clarity for those who may be less familiar with the traditional (and sometimes difficult) vocabulary retained in other translations. The CSB is both highly literal to the original languages and highly readable, achieving an excellent balance of the two.
NOTE: This is the Translation used at Feather Sound Church.
New International Version (NIV) - The NIVs balance of accuracy and readability has established it as the most popular modern English Bible version. The NIV leans slightly toward a functional equivalence compared to other top translations. It should appeal to a wide variety of readers across ages, reading levels, and denominations. HOWEVER…a 2005 revision of the NIV, known as the Todays New International Version (TNIV), is a more gender-inclusive translation, resulting in the replacement of gender-specific words (e.g. man, woman, he, she, son, daughter) with gender-neutral words (e. g. person, they, child). The NIV published after 2011 includes many of the revisions found in the TNIV.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Another popular Bible translation is the NLT, which translates the Bible into plain English. The NLT version is a revision of The Living Bible, which is a “paraphrase” Bible. The revision sought to make a Bible translation, not a paraphrase, that preserved old texts while being easily understood by current readers. Since more people hear the Bible read aloud in church than read or study it, the translators intended to produce a version that is easy to remember and quote. The NLT is easy to read, but modernized metaphors often alter the meaning. New and young readers, and daily devotional readers seeking a new perspective may like the NLT. It is not, however, recommended for serious study.
Paraphrase Versions of the Bible
MSG (The Message) - The Message is a paraphrase by pastor and theologian Eugene Peterson. Peterson sought to capture the tone and informal style of contemporary speech to deliver a version of the Bible that reads like a story. It isn’t recommended (nor intended to be) anyone’s first or only Bible. It can be helpful to bring a fresh perspective to the ideas of Scripture, but it is a supplement, not replace, for more formal Bible translations.
CONCLUSION
Word For Word and Thought for though translations are both useful for studying God’s word. Each approach provides a different perspective which, taken together, can give a well-rounded understanding of the scriptures. Different translations are useful for different purposes. For example, a word-for-word translation is better for more in-depth word studies while a thought-for-thought translation may be better for everyday devotional reading.
Some questions to ask yourself regarding which translation to choose is:
How will I be using this translation?
Is this translation easy to read?
Will I understand this translation?
Will I be motivated to read this translation on a regular basis?
BEWARE!
New World Translation (NWT) - the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ translation.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE) problematic because, it has a Catholic version (including the Apocrypha), is “gender-inclusive,” and softens terms related to homosexuality.
BE AWARE
Catholic Bible Versions
Catholic Bible versions include the books in the Catholic biblical canon known as the Deuterocanonical or Apocrypha. Translations support Catholic theology. Here are some notable Catholic translations:
Douay-Rheims Bible
New American Bible (NAB) Not to be confused with the New American Standard Bible (NASB)!
The Jerusalem Bible (JB)
The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB)
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
==============================================================
RESOURCES
- Bible Search and Study Tools - Blue Letter Bible -Highly recommended!
-Why are there so many Bible translations, and which is the best? | GotQuestions.org
-BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages.: Versions
-https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-are-there-so-many-different-bible-translations.html
--CAUTION-This is Bart Ehrman’s site! (He is an atheist/agnostic) file:///D:/Bible studies/The Book of Books Research/Bible Translations Comparison_ Exploring the Versions of the Bible.pdf
-Metzger, Bruce M. The Bible in translation: Ancient and English versions. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001.
What is the Best Bible Translation to use? Since the 16th century, there have been around 900 translations into English alone! With so many translations it can be hard to choose between them.
What is more, it’s all but impossible to make a perfect one-to-one translation of any document without affecting the meaning. Biblical Greek and Hebrew have different grammar, terminology, and cultural idioms, that do not always have equivalents in English.
Below I will discuss some of the most reliable and popular versions. I will also note several versions to be wary of and some to steer clear of all together.
Almost every translation falls into one of three categories.
First is formal equivalency or word-for-word translations. These are the more literal translations that seek to match original languages word-for-word. Readability and clarity are not the primary focus. Translations in this category include the KJV, NKJV, ESV, and NASB.
A second category is dynamic equivalence or thought-for-thought translations. These versions emphasize reader comprehension. These versions focus on clarity of meaning and readability. Translations in this category include the NLT, NIV and CSB.
The third category is functional equivalence or paraphrase versions. These versions seek to provide the main ideas of the Bible rather than translation of the words. For this reason, paraphrased versions such as, The Message, are generally not considered official translations.
Word-for-Word Translations of the Bible
The New American Standard Bible (NASB) - The New American Standard Bible (NASB) holds the reputation for being the “most accurate” Bible translation in English. But, because the NASB is the most literal word-for-word translation it can be more difficult to read.
English Standard Version (ESV) - The ESV is an "essentially literal" translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the wording of the original text and each Bible writer's style while remaining readable. The ESV keeps close to the KJV retaining some of the best-loved passages in that translation. For some, the Calvinist theology that guided the translation is problematic and others may find the sentence structure hard to understand. All in all, a solid translation.
King James Version (KJV)/ New King James Version (NKJV)
First published in 1611 for James I of England, the KJV remains an extremely popular word-for-word Bible translation. While many people claim that the KJV is the only “true” translation, rarely are they actually in possession of the 1611 Authorized Version. Rather, they have the more readable 1769 version. The modern New King James Version has removed the confusing “thee’s” and “thou’s” and “-eth” verb endings, while remaining true to the texts and retaining the beauty of the language. The weaknesses of the New King James Version are (1) its use of the Hebrew and Greek texts available in the 16th century (Textus Receptus) instead of more modern manuscript compilations and (2) its commitment to “complete equivalence,” which can sometimes result in the concepts not being communicated adequately and remaining difficult to read.
Thought-for-Thought Translations of the Bible
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) - The CSB provides a highly accurate text for sermon preparation and serious study. Yet it doesn’t compromise readability and clarity for those who may be less familiar with the traditional (and sometimes difficult) vocabulary retained in other translations. The CSB is both highly literal to the original languages and highly readable, achieving an excellent balance of the two.
NOTE: This is the Translation used at Feather Sound Church.
New International Version (NIV) - The NIVs balance of accuracy and readability has established it as the most popular modern English Bible version. The NIV leans slightly toward a functional equivalence compared to other top translations. It should appeal to a wide variety of readers across ages, reading levels, and denominations. HOWEVER…a 2005 revision of the NIV, known as the Todays New International Version (TNIV), is a more gender-inclusive translation, resulting in the replacement of gender-specific words (e.g. man, woman, he, she, son, daughter) with gender-neutral words (e. g. person, they, child). The NIV published after 2011 includes many of the revisions found in the TNIV.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Another popular Bible translation is the NLT, which translates the Bible into plain English. The NLT version is a revision of The Living Bible, which is a “paraphrase” Bible. The revision sought to make a Bible translation, not a paraphrase, that preserved old texts while being easily understood by current readers. Since more people hear the Bible read aloud in church than read or study it, the translators intended to produce a version that is easy to remember and quote. The NLT is easy to read, but modernized metaphors often alter the meaning. New and young readers, and daily devotional readers seeking a new perspective may like the NLT. It is not, however, recommended for serious study.
Paraphrase Versions of the Bible
MSG (The Message) - The Message is a paraphrase by pastor and theologian Eugene Peterson. Peterson sought to capture the tone and informal style of contemporary speech to deliver a version of the Bible that reads like a story. It isn’t recommended (nor intended to be) anyone’s first or only Bible. It can be helpful to bring a fresh perspective to the ideas of Scripture, but it is a supplement, not replace, for more formal Bible translations.
CONCLUSION
Word For Word and Thought for though translations are both useful for studying God’s word. Each approach provides a different perspective which, taken together, can give a well-rounded understanding of the scriptures. Different translations are useful for different purposes. For example, a word-for-word translation is better for more in-depth word studies while a thought-for-thought translation may be better for everyday devotional reading.
Some questions to ask yourself regarding which translation to choose is:
How will I be using this translation?
Is this translation easy to read?
Will I understand this translation?
Will I be motivated to read this translation on a regular basis?
BEWARE!
New World Translation (NWT) - the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ translation.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE) problematic because, it has a Catholic version (including the Apocrypha), is “gender-inclusive,” and softens terms related to homosexuality.
BE AWARE
Catholic Bible Versions
Catholic Bible versions include the books in the Catholic biblical canon known as the Deuterocanonical or Apocrypha. Translations support Catholic theology. Here are some notable Catholic translations:
Douay-Rheims Bible
New American Bible (NAB) Not to be confused with the New American Standard Bible (NASB)!
The Jerusalem Bible (JB)
The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB)
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
==============================================================
RESOURCES
- Bible Search and Study Tools - Blue Letter Bible -Highly recommended!
-Why are there so many Bible translations, and which is the best? | GotQuestions.org
-BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages.: Versions
-https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-are-there-so-many-different-bible-translations.html
--CAUTION-This is Bart Ehrman’s site! (He is an atheist/agnostic) file:///D:/Bible studies/The Book of Books Research/Bible Translations Comparison_ Exploring the Versions of the Bible.pdf
-Metzger, Bruce M. The Bible in translation: Ancient and English versions. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001.
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