In keeping with this blog’s call to lead a quiet life of stillness and faithfulness, I am launching a new mini-series: “Your Reading Shelf: Six Bibles for Making Sense of the Scriptures.” Bible Translations can be confusing. This series, Reading Shelf, explores 6 translations to bring clarity to your reading and study. I also hope you will be inspired to curate a personal collection of Bibles that allows you to read and internalize the scriptures with simplicity and confidence.
There is always a need for new translations of the Scriptures. As we discover older manuscripts, uncover deeper meanings behind Greek and Hebrew words and concepts, and as our own English language continues to evolve, the need to bring the goodness and good news of the scriptures to new generations in understandable, trustworthy, accessible, and relevant ways will always remain an essential task for translators.
I have found six translations that have become my favorites for meditation, reading, and studying.
Why Are More Bible Translations Needed?
In his helpful article Why Have There Been So Many Translations of the Bible?, Don Stewart notes several reasons for the ongoing development of new Bible translations. Language changes over time, words shift in meaning, and ambiguous phrases need clarity. New manuscript discoveries continue to sharpen our understanding, certain ancient terms and customs are now better understood, and taken together, these updates help us see that all faithful translations still communicate the same central message. Stewart writes, “The good news is that while translations of the Bible are constantly changing, the message remains the same. Thus, the fact that new translations are coming out all the time should not bother the Bible-believer.” I encourage you to read Don’s article on BlueLetterBible.
I also appreciated what Theologian N.T. Wright has said on translations. Wright has suggested that if the Scriptures are not translated in a way that can be understood by everyone, then it is not truly good news. This resonates with my own convictions about Bible translation, especially because I work in a context where many people have limited reading capacity, complicated histories with Scripture, or lower overall familiarity with the Bible. In settings like mine, transparent and accessible translations aren’t just helpful, they’re essential. As Wright points out, from the very first days of the church at Pentecost, the good news of Jesus was translated into the languages of everyday people through the power of the Holy Spirit, spreading like wildfire to the ends of the earth. That work of translation must continue today.
Clarity isn’t just helpful; it is an act of spiritual hospitality.
Many modern readers of the New Testament have grown overly familiar with the biblical text, losing sight of its wonder and the world-changing nature of its teachings about the life and role of Jesus. This is even true of those deeply familiar with it, and with high levels of comprehension and reading ability. The truth is that Hebrew and Greek words are often layered, colorful, and rich with nuance, far more than many of our English words can capture or explain in a word-for-word way. This is why translators continually struggle with how to convey these depths effectively: should they be more literal, finding the closest English equivalent, or more dynamic, capturing the sense and intent behind the text?
These attempts to convey the depths of the scriptures have led to various approaches to translating them. Some are much more effective, while others are paraphrases, retelling Scripture in ways that emphasize accessibility and flow over precision. Typically, literal and dynamic translations involve large teams of scholars who debate every word with academic rigor and accountability. Paraphrases, by contrast, tend to feature fewer checks and balances. As a general rule, I tend to stay closer to the literal and dynamic side. There are also debates on what leads to better public reading, comprehension, and memorable reading.
All six that I will recommend are on the Literal or Dynamic scale.
My Journey and Why I’m Starting This Series
Translations can be a touchy subject. People are passionate, sometimes even divided, about Bible versions. Like many in my generation who grew up in the church, I was raised primarily on the King James Version (KJV), which was often treated as the only true Bible. While the KJV is a good translation, this limited manuscript tradition presents several challenges: it includes verses that older manuscripts do not have, it uses language that was already outdated when the translation was finished, and its archaic wording has led to misunderstandings as the meaning of English words has morphed over the centuries.
Even as I was growing up, other translations existed, such as the American Standard Version (1901), the Revised Standard Version (1952), and the New King James Version (NKJV, 1982), yet the KJV still dominated the landscape of my upbringing. For a time, I barely knew those “other” Bibles existed, and I still occasionally quote the KJV. When the New International Version (NIV) was released in 1978 and gained traction with its 1984 edition, it offered something fresh and readable. The NIV became an early companion on my journey and remains a trustworthy friend.
The KJV (“King Jimmy,” as some affectionately call it) is indeed a solid, literal translation, but its associated camp has unfortunately become cult-like, often emerging for these types of conversations. All I can advise is to filter what they say and believe. Some genuinely believe the KJV can correct the Greek manuscripts, and honestly, we must acknowledge how absurd that claim is.
Our goal is not to win debates, but to simply read faithfully.
During my own spiritual journey, which I share more about in my “Sojourn” series, the King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), and New International Version (NIV) were the primary translations on my shelf. When I returned to the church and began serving in ministry, I discovered new translations, such as the God’s Word Translation (GW), that deeply shaped how I now study, teach, and meditate on Scripture.
Introducing My Six Bible Translations
I am starting a new blog series exploring some of the translations that have become standards for me. However, please note that this series is not about arguing which translation is “correct” or which philosophy of translation is most accurate, although I do have preferences and convictions. Numerous other resources have already done excellent work in this area. Wes Huff, Mark Ward, and Tim Wildsmith have all become popular resources on these matters, offering great videos, books, online resources, and ongoing conversations that explore those debates. In fact, if you are just beginning to think about Bible translations, I highly recommend Tim Wildsmith’s book on the topic, Bible Translations for Everyone: A Guide to Finding a Bible That’s Right for You. Wildsmith not only surveys the most popular translations and their histories but also explains the philosophies and wins and losses behind each of them.
In his book, Wildsmith also encourages readers to build their own “three Bibles,” a set of translations to cross-reference for trustworthy interpretation. I’ve built more than three over the years, but for the sake of this series, I’ll explore a few that I regularly use and recommend from both the literal and dynamic ends of the spectrum. I couldn’t build three, so I built six. In fact, I plan to explore those six in this series.
You are going to notice something. The KJV, NKJV, ESV, and NIV will not be the focus of this series. They are already part of my daily life and are widely familiar to many readers. Instead, in this series, I will explore the New English Translation (NET), the God’s Word Translation (GW), the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the New Testament for Everyone (NTFE). These are translations I have come to trust in my six for very specific reasons.
In this season of pastoral leadership, these six have become my go-to translations for study, teaching, and reflection. In each post, I’ll unpack the process, philosophy, readability, word choices, gender language, and more of a different translation, along with how I personally use it. I’m looking forward to walking through each of these together in the weeks ahead.
Five Foundational Truths About Bible Translations
If you take only one thing away from this blog series, I hope it is an introduction to the new translations that have become standards for me. You may not agree with my selections, and that’s okay, even though I don’t always agree with myself as time goes on. However, I encourage you to hold onto these five foundational truths as we discuss Bible translations.
- The first truth is this: the best translation is the one you read, reread, and put into practice. Remember that all Scripture is useful for teaching, convicting, rebuking, and growing.
- The second truth is that every translation carries traces of the translators’ theological assumptions, regardless of how much one believes it doesn’t. When a word has multiple possible meanings, which is rare but can slightly shift the context, translators must choose based on their interpretive lens. This is why I tend to favor interdenominational and multi-voiced translations over projects like the most insular ESV camp. While multi-voice teams can sometimes have their own drawbacks, which we will discuss, usually these biases do not detract significantly from the overall message. However, they can create slight differences.
- Third truth, it is always essential to read the Bible in more than one translation. This practice helps you find the original intent by viewing the text through the interpretive lens of several scholarly teams. I hope this series inspires you to build your own collection of three, five, or however many translations you read regularly.
- Truth number four, God reminds us that the Holy Spirit will recall all things that Jesus taught and said. Approach your Scripture reading with prayer, and trust the Holy Spirit to do exactly what Jesus said it would: guide you into truth.
- Fifth truth: Chill. Choose your translations based on your own convictions, not the expectations of others. Ask yourself: What is God saying to me? Read about the available translations and resources, use secondary sources that help you grasp the Greek, but when it comes to translations, sense where God is calling you to focus, and then simply read, read, read.
Read your convictions, not your culture.
Some Caution on Bible Translations
There are, however, a few translations I strongly recommend you avoid. Be deeply concerned with any translation produced by only one or two people, especially if a credible publisher or scholarly board does not review their work. You should also be cautious about versions that try too hard to be trendy, such as the “Gen Z” Bible, or lesser-known, often open-source Bibles that have led to highly questionable interpretive practices.
Beyond those, there are some popular versions that I believe followers of Jesus should approach with avoidance, most notably The Passion Translation (TPT). Its author makes unorthodox claims about receiving “hidden revelations,” including accounts of the “translator” visiting heaven and seeing hidden books of the Bible. The project entirely omits scholarly accountability. The translator has also faced controversy for allegedly misrepresenting his past work and credentials. Such methods stray far from faithful translation and should cause us to question not only the work itself, but the integrity of the translator and the publisher willing to release it.
This doesn’t mean I reject all paraphrases. In fact, I’ve occasionally used The Message with individuals who have limited reading ability or mental capacity, and it has successfully opened doors for understanding. However, the general rule remains: be very careful with paraphrases and those translations that demonstrate low accountability.
Let’s Talk
- Where have you struggled to understand the scriptures the most?
- What Bible translations have become your favorite to read personally, and why?
- What Bible translations have made you curious, but you have been hesitant to explore?
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