If you’ve seen me teach, you know I use an old school, huge, could-double-for-a-weapon size Bible. The kind that has a concordance, notes, history, and enough extras to sometimes push my checked luggage over the limit. If I take out my Bible, I can drop below 50 pounds.
Even hospital waiting rooms can be portals of praise.
Why do I still teach and travel with an antiquated book?
Because I believe in the power of Scripture to open our hearts and minds and spirits to God. Those sacred words transform lives—including my own—as we imbibe and integrate God’s truth. For me, Scripture is a portal to God.
I never want to worship the book, but the book makes me want to worship God.
That thick book serves as a physical reminder of the importance of Scripture. Those crinkly pages provide as an exclamation point that time spent in reading, listening, memorizing is time well spent. And I pray that those watching begin to hunger for God’s Word, too.
Can an iPad do that, too? Sure. But for me, I feel compelled to use a book.
People often ask which translation I recommend. The answer? Well…
As we enter Day 33 of the #LentChallenge, those who have downloaded The 40-Day Live Lent Challenge: A Color Method Study for Luke-Acts, may have noticed that today’s reading, Acts 17-18, came from the King James Version.
Lent Challenge: Luke & Acts
(NOTE: Click here to download a FREE one-page reading guide of Luke and Acts. or upgrade to the downloadable ebook called The 40-Day Live Lent Challenge: A Color Method Study for Luke-Acts for only $8.99. This 200-plus page booklet includes: a welcome letter, the reading plan, instructions on how to use the Color Bible Study Method, ideas on how to get the most from your study, creative artwork, and space to journal and doodle.)
I grew up on KJV. I memorized KJV as a child. I have much love for KJV. But can I be honest?
I struggled to read and understand.
Consider Acts 17:17: “Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.”
I had to read the sentence three times to grasp the meaning.
If you read it once and understood, you’re a rock star, awesome. I struggled.
I raise this issue because as we move through Acts 17-18, we watch Paul travelling through places like Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth and Ephesus, teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus (and arguing, too).
But sharing the Gospel is hard to receive if you can’t understand the words being used to explain the Gospel.
Fight Back With Joy
This lead to me to thinking that at this point in the Lent reading we need to acknowledge that Bible translations have different reading levels.
Here’s a list of translations and their suggested reading level:
• King James Version (KJV): 12th grade
• Revised Standard Version (RSV): 12th grade
• New American Standard Bible (NASB): 11th grade
• New Revised Standard Version (RNSV): 11th grade
• English Standard Version (ESV): 10th grade
• New International Version (NIV): 8th grade
• Holman Christian Standard Version (HCSV): 8th grade
• New King James Version (NKJV): 7th grade
• New Living Translation (NLT): 6th grade
• God’s Word (GW): 5th grade
• The Message (MSG): 5th grade
• New Century Version (NCV): 3rd grade
A larger number doesn’t equal better.
Just because a reading level is higher doesn’t mean that you’ve somehow arrived spiritually.
The absolute best Bible translation is the one you read and understand.
The one that keeps you wanting to read more.
The one that opens your heart to the beauty, the depths of Scripture.
The one that you sense the Holy Spirit using in your life.
If you are reading a Bible and struggling to understand or comprehend, consider switching translations.
Maybe it’s time to pick up a study Bible. Use a large print or audio Bible. Or grab a children’s Bible, which will give you an overview of the great big story of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in our world.
Which Bible translation have you found is best for you? Why?
“The absolute best Bible translation is the one you read and understand.”
Good point. One of the marvelous things about how God reveals himself in Scripture is that the message can be translated into any language. There is no sacred language that is best.
A good book to read about English translations, and how the differences we think exist between them are not so clear-cut is called by Dave Brunn. He concludes we English speakers can benefit from the variety of translations available to us.
Let us remember and work for those who still do not have one version in their language.
The answer is two-pronged for me: 1st — Can I understand what I read?? 2nd — If I am reading Scripture with a mixed group of people, can THEY understand what I’m reading?? I think it’s an equally important reason. I want what I daily use and study from to be the same text as I share with others as well. For instance, the ESV may be a nice “technical” translation that seems more familiar and even sounds like what other believe a Bible should sound like, but, honestly?? I have been embarrassed hearing others, college educated mind you, try to read aloud from it, and myself as well (former English major). For this reason, and many, many others, I use the NIV almost exclusively, consulting the NASB, NET, ESV, etc if I think I need to. I don’t enjoy The Message that well, and while I do love the NLT, not many in my area use it. We are a predominantly NIV area where I’m at. That’s why I use what I use.
Oh, and just to be fair, I used to prefer a Bible that sounded fancy just to be fancy . . . then I one day realized (after having children) that Jesus wasn’t fancy, and I sure didn’t need to try to be!
I am a Bible Translator. You all, especially the author, need to do some serious research. It is incorrect to answer the question “What is the best English translation of the Bible?” with the subjective answer; “What ever one I can read and understand better.”. This is a different question, “What English translation of the Bible can I read or understand best?” and does have a subjective answer (the question specifies “I”). While “What is the best English translation of the Bible?” has an objective answer. There are thousands of people whose whole lives have been devoted finding the millions of pieces of ancient Greek and Hebrew papyri, dating them, translating them, and mulling over different English word choices for Greek and Hebrew words. And you have the audacity to not do an research into the actual topic of biblical exegesis? If you are wondering, the absolute best English bible translation for accuracy is the NASB or an INTERLINEAR VERSION. And accuracy generally declines with readability as the translator has few word choices.
In regards to Gideon’s comment, I have poured hours and hours of myself into the study of translation, and I am astonished by your lack of grace and charity in assuming we haven’t studied such a weighty issue. I have consulted actual Bible translators and read many books on theory. I do not reach the same conclusion as you do, and there is nothing wrong with that. It’s a given for most of us reading this site that we can trust the main English versions of Scripture we have available, so then it really comes down to reading level. My college Bible professors were brilliant men who had an insatiable love and hunger for God’s Word and exemplified it in their life. I trust them, and I trust that the Holy Spirit continues to be faithful to His job of bringing to our remember ace everything Jesus taught us.
The New International Version has been my primary translation nearly my whole life. But then over the years I have found the benefits of using the ESV and The Message. The more literal words of the ESV and the contemporary paraphrase of The Message bring new insights into the passages for me. Thanks for this post, Margaret. It helps to better understand the breadth of the translation options.
I generally use several versions (ESV, NASB, HCSB and NIV) when I am in study. However, my long used, worn to the point of needing the cover replaced 1984 NIV is the one I hold closely to my heart. It has gone with me through adversity and joy and it is documented throughout of God’s faithfulness to ME. When I travel it is heavy! I usually take a smaller version but wish I had that marked up and well-read one I left at home. You have encouraged me to take the one that has become my right hand! Thanks.
LifeWay.com has a very helpful brochure in PDF format you can download at http://www.lifeway.com/n/Bibles?intcmp=GloNav-Bibles
It is their “Bible Selection Guide.” It has a great chart showing the different major Bible translations and how they relate to one another, starting from word-for-word (NASB) to thought-for-thought (NIV and GW) with The Message added as a paraphrase. (Young’s Literal Translation is not listed, but you can access that at Biblegateway.com.)
This is a very useful chart to help me understand how each translation treats the text I am studying.
I do not know Hebrew, Greek, or Hebrews, but I do borrow the brains of scholars who do. I usually start with the most literal translations into English, looking up individual words in Strong’s Concordance and Bible word study and dictionary resources. The various translations aid in getting a grasp of the deeper, richer meaning of the words and phrases.
The great things about Bible study is that “the word is alive and powerful”! (Hebrews 4:12) The more we take advantage of the resources we have available, the more the Holy Spirit can teach us.
Margaret.. I am enjoying your website updates and using your Lent guide to do art journaling.. I hope you continue to provide these resources for those who are hungry. I think it is a mistake to put a grade level next to these translations. They each have different purpose and God works through all the translations that are available. I agree that it is important to find the one that speaks to you.. that brings clarity and insights. I assume that is different for different people at each stage of their journey. Often simple is better and too many words can cause confusion.It is the Holy Spirit’s job to open up God’s word to us and He is not limited by man’s use of words.. Thanks for the opportunity to respond to your post.
My choice is the Holman translation. It was my choice to read through last year, and I am using it about half the time this year. I went to a Baptist high school, and the required King James version is in so many areas unreadable. I discovered a 1-Year Bible in NIV in 1992, and that was the first time I could read the Bible through. Since then I have read the Bible through in NLT and NASB and others (not King James version though).
Your own Bible translation must be the one that is accessible to you while still being accurate. Middle English is not accessible to me, the NIV first made God’s Word accessible and readable.
I absolutely love, love, love the NLT. I find that I can just pick it up and read and read and read. If I want to go deeper and study, I’ll look at the NASB and several other translations. But, the one translation that makes me want to snuggle up in my Father’s lap and listen to His Word in a way that I can understand, (like a child listening to her father) is the NLT
Typo: “I do not know Hebrew, Greek, or Hebrews…”
Should read: “I do not know Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic…”
Great input, Steve. Thank you!
Very interesting. Thanks for weighing in!
Thank you for your insight, Gideon. However, please be considerate of my audience.
Bless you, Cassandra!
I love reading about the different translations you all use currently and have used previously! Hugs!
There is something special with that one Bible that has been there through life with you! Love that you have a marked up one you simply cannot do without. Hugs!
What a great resource! Thank you for sharing, Timothy!
Thank you for your input, Alicia. This dialogue brings new insight, depth and resources to my blog, and I appreciate that! Hugs!
Wonderful thoughts! Thank you for sharing, James!
Woohoo! I’m so happy to hear that you have one that steals your attention and draws you closer to our Father! Hugs!
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