One of the most common questions I get asked is, What is your favorite Bible translation? Since I’m a bit of a “Bible junkie,” picking one is a bit of a challenge. However, I have narrowed it down to five! (BTW…There’s a really good reason behind each one.)
Here’s where we’re headed in this post…
- First…I’ll share a brief description of my five favorites.
- Second…I’ve posted an infographic with the “reading level” of the 15 most popular Bible translations. (Feel free to download and share.)
My 5 Favorite Bible Translations
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) – This is a new translation as of 2017. It has become my “go to” translation for almost all of my regular reading and study. The translation philosophy is called “Optimal Equivalence,” which is a middle ground between Dynamic Equivalence (thought-for-thought) and Formal Equivalence (word-for-word). When the meaning is clear, they stuck with word-for-word. When the meaning might be obscured, they used thought-for-thought. The result is a fantastic, accurate, readable translation. I also like the fact that their translation team was made up of over 100 scholars from 17 different denominations. (EXCITING NEWS: I have been given permission to record an audio Bible using the CSB! My goal is to have the New Testament completed by the end of 2017.) Here’s the one I have.
New International Version (NIV) – This is the translation I grew up with. It just “sounds right” in my head. The NIV is popular, so it’s easy to find, has lots of resources that go with it, and there is a high percentage that people you discuss the Bible with (which I highly recommend) will be using it too. NOTE: The main change they made in the 2011 update is to take passage that have male pronouns – but aren’t truly gender specific – and translated them with either gender-neutral pronouns or “brothers and sisters” instead of “brothers.” Here’s the one I have.
English Standard Version (ESV) – This is becoming more popular every year. It is a bit more “word-for-word” than the NIV. If you grew up on the King James Version, the Revised Standard Version, or the New American Standard Bible, then the ESV will probably “sound right” in your head the way the NIV does for me. Here’s the one I have.
New Living Translation (NLT) – Many people assume this is simply an update of the 1970’s paraphrase The Living Bible. Not true. This is a true translation. The folks at Tyndale have done a terrific job of creating a translation that is accurate, readable, and at a reading level (6th Grade) that helps you immerse yourself in the narrative. While it’s not my primary study Bible, it is always one of the translations I use for comparing multiple versions. NOTE: This is also the translation I recommend for those who want an English translation, but English is not their first language. Here’s the one I have.
The Message (MSG) – I’ve gotten some slack for recommending this, since it is more of a paraphrase than a translation. Hear me out! I do NOT recommend The Message as a study Bible, as your primary Bible, and definitely not if you are new to the Bible and this is the only one you’re buying. That said…it is a fantastic translation to give fresh insight and perspective. Put it this way: The Message is like sitting down with a friend (who happens to be a Biblical scholar who knows Greek!) and asking them to put a passage of Scripture in their own words. Their common language interpretation would in no way replace your Bible, but it would give you a fresh look. That’s how I use The Message. Here’s the one I have.
Reading Levels of the 15 Most Popular Bible Translations
I am 50 yrs old and I have always known the the KJV is the only GOD approved version. In scripture God stated that no one is to add or take out of his word, I do not know nor do I want know anything about those other book, The King James is the ONLY true word from God himself!!!!!
I’m so sorry you feel the way you do Fred. I will not get into a debate here in the comments, but the only reason I feel it is important to reply is so that anyone reading this would not think that I agree with you in any way. To say the “Kiing James is the only true word from God himself” makes it very clear that you haven’t looked into the Bible’s original languages (not English) as well as the method and purpose behind the KJV. (To put the Bible into common English so common Christians could read God’s Word themselves.) To be clear: The KJV is a wonderful and valid translation. I am not saying people shouldn’t read it. If you prefer the KJV…great! It’s simply not the ONLY wonderful and valid translation. I write this not to convince you, but to protect my readers. (NOTE: You can feel free to use the contact page to reach out to me directly, but if you choose to post any rebuttal here, it will be deleted. Thank you.)
The NLT is not a translation if you understand a translation to be a work that brings the whole meaning of each verse into the receptor language. On numerous occassions I have found the NLT leaves out meaning from the text.
I would strongly discourage anyone from using the NLT as a primary Bible or for anything other than a consulting text.
Hi David. I have no desire to start an argument here (nor will I continue it after this reply), but I couldn’t disagree more strongly with what you have written. The NLT is absolutely a translation. I have met the people at Tyndale, heard their heartbeat for this translation, and read it myself. Because it is written at a lower reading level (on purpose) than some other translations, does not negate its validity. I highly recommend that you – and ANYONE interested in exploring the rich intentionality behind the NLT translation should visit this link https://www.tyndale.com/nlt/translation-process/ and make their own decision. BTW…One of the reasons I wrote this post is because I believe we should ALL be looking at multiple translations (rather than only focusing on one). It helps with our thinking, keeps things fresh, and it’s way more fun!
Absolutely Keith Ferrin. Sometimes the NLT expresses the sense of the biblical text more accurately than a formal equivalent translation. Not always but a significant amount of times. But I’m not a NLT guy, I value the contributions of the full array of bible translations. (And why I read many translations.) I shake my head when I see bible translation wars going on. The conservative NIV was rocked by criticism of it’s most recent “gender inclusivity” revisions as though that was a capitulation to political correctness. Reading the NIV translator’s rationale for the changes made total sense that this was simply translating the bible more accurately. What a cantankerous lot evangelicals represent themselves as these days.
All I can say is “Amen.” Thanks Steven. Why we fight each other is a constant mystery…
It’s definitely a translation and not a paraphrase like TLB and The Message. I find the NLT to be an honest and transparent translation. The background info in the introduction and the quality of footnotes throughout the text leads me to believe this. I also believe the translation comes from a good committee, process, and publishing company. I’m a KJV guy who enjoys reading NLT and from my experience, NLT doesn’t go off any deep ends with word choices and sentence structures in their translation. It’s a great read. I love it.
When I was an undergraduate, I used the RSV and sometimes the KJV which I was familiar with as a child and I still love some of the phrases ‘consider the lilies of the field’. We also used the newly published NEB at school (showing my age here!) Currently I mainly use the NIV, followed by the NLT. I also dip into the MSG, using it more like a commentary, as you, Keith, suggested in an earlier post. I’ve also recently acquired The Passion Translation which I shall be treating similarly to the MSG as it is another very free paraphrase.
Thanks Sandra. I haven’t looked at the Passion Translation. I’ll have to check it out!
Hi Keith, you will love the Passion Translation. Currently it only contains New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Solomon.
It wasn’t until I read the Song of Solomon in this version that I really got a glimpse of God’s love for us. If you have the Bible App it’s available on there for free
Interesting! I’ll give it a look. Thanks Cherlyn.
I’m conservative as well as a college graduate so I only read the KJV. However I often go to the commentaries at BibleHub for help in understanding.