Bible Translations

Lots of people ask me what translation of the Bible I use when preaching.  For some this is a question of interest, for others it is a source of controversy (i.e. some people think only the King James Version (KJV) should be used in church).  So here is a long answer to a short question about Bible translations.

Why are there multiple translations?  First of all, there are more ancient Greek (the language of the New Testament) words than English words (i.e. - 3 Greek words for "love", but only 1 English word).  This makes translating even more difficult because translators have to decide how to best convey the meaning of the original Greek texts.  Second, the Bible was written in common language or "street" language Greek so sometimes the way the words translate do not give the full meaning or intention of the author.  For example, in our language if we said, "It's raining cats and dogs outside", what we mean is different from what we are actually saying.  Translators have to account for these type of variations and nuances as well.  Another variable is that the English language has changed over the years, demonstrated by the New King James Version (NKJV) which sought to "update" the KJV into a more readable and understandable form for readers and listeners.  Therefore, translators have to decide how to actually translate the Bible.  There are roughly 3 options available (besides a corrupt translation such as the Jehovah's Witness translation, the New World Translation, which tries to eliminate the truth that Jesus Christ is God).

Word-for-Word translations make a concentrated effort to precisely translation and interpret each word from Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic into English.  They strive for precision and exactness with the key word being ACCURACY. These translations are generally at a high school reading level and can lose some of the poetic beauty of the original languages.  There are three primary word-for-word translations:  New American Standard Bible (NASB); the King James or New King James Verision (KJV/NKJV); and the English Standard Version (ESV).  I generally use these as part of sermon preparation and research. 

Thought-for-Thought translations try to give the full meaning of the verse or passage and not just focus on the individual words.  The goal is to give the reader the same thought that the reader of the original languages would have enjoyed.  These type of translations are easier to read and understand.  The key word here is CLARITY.  The New International Version (NIV) and New Living Translation (NLT) are two well-known thought-for-thought translations. 

I prefer the NIV because it is a balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought.  The translators of the NIV uphold the inerrance of the Bible and have the stated goal of "accuracy & clarity."  They also wanted a translation that could be used for teaching and preaching.  Interestingly, the NIV is the most published translation and accounts for 30% of all Bible sales.  It was first published in 1978.

Paraphrase translations combine translation with commentary ... sort of like an editorialized news article or a news article that is not "fair and balanced" but biased.  These translations are easy to read and understand but we must remember that the translators' commentary and narrative is not divinely inspired and authorative as is the inspired and literal Word of God.  I use paraphrases for general reading and to get another perspective on a text.  These translations can help provide a general understanding of a text or passage.  It is wise to always read a word-for-word or thought-for-thought translation along with a paraphrase to avoid unintentionally compromising God's truths & teachings. Examples of paraphrases are The Message and The Living Bible (TLB).

Conclusion:  Personally, I own copies of all three types of translations and use them all in my study and devotional times.  While personal preferences do play a role in selecting a Bible translation, here are some general guidelines:

• For indepth Bible study, word-for-word or thought-for-thought translations tend to be better.


• Paraphrases are good for quick reading, getting a devotional thought, or helping to understand a passage better.


• For Scripture memory paraphrases should probably be avoided.


• You can even purchase a "parallel" Bible that has different translations side-by-side.  This is a great study tool!


• Someone new to Bible study might try the New Living Translation (NLT).


• My personal recommendations:  the ESV for indepth study and reference; the NIV for personal quiet times, Scripture memorization, and church services; the Message for quick reading and a general overview of a passage.