Which Version of the Bible Should I Read?
/Picking the “right” Bible translation seems like a very daunting task for any new believer. We want to do faith right. We don’t want to mess up. And we really don’t want to get caught reading the wrong version.
It’s as if choosing the “right” version will guarantee our way into Heaven, and yet, thankfully this isn’t true.
Whether we search on Amazon or our local Christian Bookstore, the options for a Bible can be overwhelming.
We may have friends, family, or acquaintances with very clear opinions on the best version. Some that state the King James Version is THE only accurate version. Or, we may go to a church that reads from the English Standard Version or New International Version.
In a world filled with many versions/translations, how do we pick the right Bible?
Buena Pregunta! (Good Question!) If you don’t understand why we need to be reading the Bible, then make sure you read our first post on “Why You Should Read the Bible.”
Freedom of Choice
We have the freedom to choose which translation best suits us. No version is superior in every respect. Our knowledgebase, our preferences, and our goals all play a role in determining which versions to choose.
I know…. Not helpful. I just really want you to be confident in your decision and it starts with understanding that you have the freedom to choose which translations you use.
Yes, translations, because we shouldn’t rely solely on one version. I’ll explain more in a bit.
What’s the Difference?
Have you ever struggled with the question “If everything in the Bible is true, how can there be so many different versions?”
I know I have. We often hear how the Word of God, aka the Bible, is infallible (correct, trustworthy, certain). Yet, it was written and translated into multiple versions by humans… So how can it be infallible?
Here is what we need to understand, most research indicates that the original Old Testament books were written in Hebrew and Aramaic while the New Testament books were written in Greek.
So, the Word of God, written in its original form of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek is infallible.
As Christianity grew, there was a need for people to read and understand scripture for themselves, so the need for translation arose. We can go down a rabbit hole, but instead, we are going to keep this post surface level.
When translating the original texts, they realized it was much more complex than just translation. Why? Because language is complicated.
Resources to go deeper:
Verity Podcast by Phylicia Masonheimer
Why Are There So Many Different Versions of the Bible
How Not to Argue About Which Bible Translation Is Best
Language Is More Than Words
Language is more than just words. Think about how often things go without being said (aka idioms). Behind words are cultural values, assumptions, habits of kind, that aren’t translated well and can be missed if we don’t know any better.
Growing up, my father would recite Spanish sayings, and when we’d ask him what they meant he would say it couldn’t be translated in English. The reason being there was no exact translation that would keep the intended meaning. If he translated it literally, it would lose the entire meaning, much like idioms.
Consider the phrase “it’s raining cats and dogs” or ”kill two birds with one stone”. Could you imagine reading that in the Bible? How would we translate that so that the reader understood the meaning rather than the literal translation?
There are also cultural values and assumptions associated with words and phrases.
For example, when I say I’m from inner-city Cleveland. I say this not just for demographic purposes, but because there is a different culture in inner-city Cleveland (or any big city) than say, the burbs that surround Cleveland.
Another example would be when you classify someone as a homeschooler... usually, there’s a connotation of social awkwardness (I know this is a stereotype).
So you see, it gets very complicated to take a piece of work and translate it to a new language without explaining the intent.
It’s like trying to decide whether someone is mad at you over text messages, but on steroids.
We could translate word for word and let the reader figure it out, we could translate thought for thought so the reader can understand our intent, or we can paraphrase.
The Bible translations are exactly this! Some are translated word for word (also known as Formal Equivalence) to give you the best accurate picture of what was actually written, while others translate and interpret thought for thought (also known as Dynamic Equivalence) to help you understand the meaning behind the words, and then, you have paraphrase to explain the point or big picture.
Why do we Need Multiple Translations?
When reading a word for word translation, you may read the phrase “kill two birds with one stone” and think the author is literally talking about killing two birds with one stone, unless you have the background knowledge and understand this phrase is actually a common saying. A thought for thought translation would instead tell you the meaning rather than a literal translation- “achieving two things in a single action” to explain the idiom.
There are other limitations as well. Other languages such as Greek, have several words for something we only have one word for. The word love, in Greek (the original language of the New Testament) has many ways to say love….agape, philia, eros, and storge. Each word describes a different kind of love, whereas the English language only has one.
We use the same word to describe a romantic love to explain a friendship kind of love or love for a child. Yet, we can all agree that each of those loves are different.
Did I lose you yet? I hope not!
Bottom Line (or tl:dr for nonmilitary folks): Multiple translations primarily exist because of the complexity of language as well as different motives to meet specific needs.
Most Popular Bibles to Choose From
I still remember the day I picked out my first Bible. My Bible study leader took me to a Christian book store and told me to pick one out. I found the perfect one… it had a leather spine, cloth cover, and gold-edged pages. The gold is what sold me…. shallow I know. Thankfully, the version (ESV) served me really well.
If I could, I would take you to the store and help you pick out an ideal Bible, but since I can’t, I’ve outlined some background information to help you make that decision… It is about to get a bit nerdy, but it’s worth it. I’ve even included some of my favorite bibles that I currently use to help make it a bit easier.
King James Version - KJV
The KJV is the oldest bible in this list, dating back to the early 1600s. The history of this version is actually pretty fascinating. Needless to say, even the early church dealt with a lot of politics.
King James of England ordered the new translation because of his concerns with the Geneva Bible and as a result, for the first time ever, the Bible became accessible to many people!
The KJV is a word for word translation written in old English that can make it very difficult to understand. In many extreme Christian circles, people claim that this is the only legitimate version (false, see why here).
Besides the use of old English, the biggest objection to this translation is that new evidence has been discovered since the publication of the KJV that has updated more modern translations.
Reasons to Use KJV:
This version has stood the test of time and still is one of the more popular versions.
It’s one of the few versions written from a different set of manuscripts.
It’s written in very poetic form, which some say makes it easier to memorize.
Word for Word is perfect for in-depth study (if you understand Old English)
English Standard Version - ESV
The ESV is primarily a word for word translation, initially published in 2001 by a committee of over 100 people and revised in 2016. The goal of this translation was to translate as literally as possible while also keeping the sentence structure and idioms.
Reasons to Use ESV:
Written in modern English, making it easier to comprehend.
Written is a way that makes it perfect for preaching, reading out loud, and even memorizing.
Because it’s word for word, it is ideally suited for in-depth study, but still great for everyday reading
Besides my standard (gold paged) Bible, I currently use this ESV Study Bible for my in-depth studying.
New International Version - NIV
The New International Version was created from a committee of over 100 people from different denominations and countries. This translation is a good balance between word for word and thought for thought.
Interestingly, the NIV came about when a man named Howard Long tried sharing scripture with a non-Christian and realized that the KJV did not connect with the person. Inspired, he went on a 10 year journey to create a new Bible translation rather than starting from an already developed translation.
Reasons to Use NIV:
Provides more interpretation for difficult to understand passages
Written in modern, easy to understand English for the purpose of connecting with readers
Developed from original manuscripts rather than an already developed version
Christian Standard Bible - CSB
The Holman Christian Standard Bible came about ~20 years ago, by a committee of 100 scholars from 17 denominations. Biblical Scholars wanted to improve on this version so they set out to create the CSB, which made a few significant updates.
What’s unique about this Bible is the devotion to be both word for word while also explaining the difficult metaphors, etc… Because of this, the CSB utilizes notes more often than most versions.
Reasons to Use CSB:
The translation philosophy is a strong balance between word for word translation and readability in the modern English language
Provides a plethora of notes to aid in study
Developed by a very diverse committee
She Reads Truth has a great CSB version that I have enjoyed using.
Amplified Bible - AMP
The Amplified Bible, perhaps the most unique version I have used, is primarily a word for word translation that was revised from the American Standard Version in 1965. The goal was to “amplify” the text by adding in words to bring about clearer meaning, aka, bring the notes from the margin into the text.
These notes meant to clarify the text rather than be taken as God's true word.
If you were to read the AMP, you may be overwhelmed by the amount of parenthesis/added text, but this version is a great study tool rather than a reading Bible.
I personally use the AMP on the YouVersion Bible app when I need a specific verse cleared up.
Reasons to Use AMP:
Clarifies difficult terms and passages more than any other translation
Word for Word translation
Ideal for studying scripture rather than every day reading
New Living Translation - NLT
The New Living Translation is a thought for thought translation/interpretation, completed by 90 scholars from a variety of denominations. The translators tried to translate as simple yet literal as possible, which meant that difficult metaphors and terms were clarified.
The NLT is significantly easier to read than the KJV and oftentimes can help clarify when reading from any of the word for word translations (like ESV).
Reasons to Use NLT:
Crafted for public reading
Thought for thought takes much of the guesswork out of everyday reading.
Ideal for devotional time rather than deep study.
My first Study Bible was the NLT Chronological Life Application Study Bible.
The Message - Paraphrase
The Message, completed in 2002, was written as a personal paraphrase by Eugene H. Peterson. The goal of this translation was to help readers hear the Bible in a way that intrigued them right where they were. Peterson’s primary goal wasn’t to translate the Bible word for word but to capture the tone of the text in modern English. Ultimately, we should use this version to help clarify a message rather than as a primary means of studying the Bible.
Why?
The purpose of this translation was not to be studied but to be read and understood. Also, some scholars have issues with the way Peterson translated some of the verses. For this reason, it’s important that we don’t rely solely on this translation.
Remember - this is not a Study Bible, but rather "a reading Bible." Some individuals might not even call this version a translation...
Reasons to Use the MSG
Clarifies more literal translations such as KJV or ESV
Ideal for daily reading
Uses modern terminology to explain most of scripture.
“The One You Read”
During one of my late-night research sessions, I discovered the quote “Which Bible is the best? Perhaps the best answer is this: The one you’ll read.” I have no idea who said it, but it’s so very true.
We shouldn’t get hung up on reading the perfect Bible, but instead, focus on reading what we have. You can’t go wrong with any of the versions I listed above, or even a version I didn’t list.
Picking your Bible will come down to what you feel comfortable with and will actually use. After this, the next step is reading your Bible.
Are you ready?
