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Bible Translations – Which One?
My hope is to assist you with picking a Bible that matches your needs. In my efforts I have put together a list of Bible Translations for your convenience.
The most important aspect you need to consider in picking a Bible Translation is the translation philosophy used, and what you are looking for. To assist you I have provided the Bible Translation Terminology that defines the classification and translation type.
• Formal Equivalence (“word-for-word”) translation tries to reflect the ancient language by representing each word with an exact equivalent; stressing an accurate translation of the words and structures of the original languages. Because the word order and form of biblical languages differs very much from our modern English language, it can result in an awkward reading.
• Dynamic Equivalence (“thought-for-thought”) translation does not attempt to preserve word correspondence but to translate meaning so that a rendering makes the same impact on readers today that an ancient text made on its readers then. The emphasis is towards the meaning and concepts of the original languages. A drawback is that accuracy can or will suffer because this type of translation neglects secondary meanings intended by the author.
• Optimal Equivalence recognizes that translations are not purely formal or dynamic. Exhaustive analysis determines each word’s original meaning and purpose, and the nearest equivalents are used to convey as much information and intent of the original text as possible. This type of translation is a bridge between the word-for-word and thought-for-thought approaches and its use can assure maximum transfer of the words and thoughts of the original text.
• A Paraphrase generally is not a translation but someone’s best interpretation of a text resulting in a rewording of an existing translation in the same language or simply a free translation. In the best attempt to interpret the text the Paraphrase will usually use contemporary images and vocabulary peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group to communicate to its audience.
Formal equivalence and functional equivalence are the two primary classifications, found on opposite ends of the translation spectrum. The different Bible Translations fall along this line with many having elements of the two primary classifications.
Below you will find a number of Bible Translations and how they relate or differ from one another. Which is best for you? You be the judge.
1) King James Version (KJV) – Formal Equivalence; based on Tyndale, Bishops Bible; released 1611, revised 1769; the Copyright Holder is the Public Domain; No Gender Adjustments; grade 11-12 Reading Level.
2) New American Standard Bible (NASB) – Formal Equivalence; based on American Standard Version; released 1971, revised 1995; the Copyright Holder is Lockman Foundation; No Gender Adjustments; grade 11 Reading Level.
3) New King James Version (NKJV) – Formal Equivalence; based on KJV; released 1982, no revision; the Copyright Holder is Thomas Nelson; No Gender Adjustments; grade 7-8 Reading Level.
4) New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) – Formal Equivalence; based on Revised Standard Version; released 1989, no revision; the Copyright Holder is National Council of Churches; Significant Gender Adjustments; grade 10-11 Reading Level.
5) English Standard Version (ESV) – Formal Equivalence; based on Revised Standard Version; released 2001, no revision; the Copyright Holder is Crossway; No Gender Adjustments; grade 7-8 Reading Level.
6) New International Version (NIV) – Dynamic Equivalence; Original Translation; released 1978, revised 1984; the Copyright Holder is International Bible Society; Minor Gender Adjustments; grade 7-8 Reading Level.
7) New Living Translation (NLT) – Dynamic Equivalence; Original Translation; released 1996, revised 2004; the Copyright Holder is Tyndale; Significant Gender Adjustments; grade 6-7 Reading Level.
8) New Century Version (NCV) – Dynamic Equivalence; Original Translation; released 1986, revised 1991; the Copyright Holder is Thomas Nelson; Significant Gender Adjustments; grade 5-6 Reading Level.
9) Contemporary English Version (CEV) – Dynamic Equivalence; Original Translation; released 1995, no revision; the Copyright Holder is American Bible Society; Significant Gender Adjustments; grade 5-6 Reading Level.
10) Good News Translation (GNT) – Dynamic Equivalence; Original Translation; released 1976, revised 1992; the Copyright Holder is American Bible Society; Minor Gender Adjustments; grade 5-6 Reading Level.
11) Today’s New International Version (TNIV) – Dynamic Equivalence; based on NIV; released 2005, no revision; the Copyright Holder is International Bible Society; Significant Gender Adjustments; grade n/a Reading Level.
12) Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) – Optimal Equivalence; Original Translation; released 2004, no revision; the Copyright Holder is Holman Bible Publishers; No Gender Adjustments; grade 7-8 Reading Level.
13) Message – Paraphrase; Original Translation; released 2002, no revision; the Copyright Holder is Eugene H. Peterson; Significant Gender Adjustments; grade 5-10 Reading Level (depending on passage).
14) The Amplified Bible (AMP) – Formal Equivalence (plus additional amplification of word meanings); Original Translation; released 1964, revised 1987; the Copyright Holder is Lockman Foundation and Zondervan Publishing House; No Gender Adjustments; grade 11-12 Reading Level.
I saved the Best for Last because The AMP Bible is my favorite which I read and study side-by-side with the KJV of the Bible. It is my best effort to understand the reading of the KJV of the Bible but on my left side you will always find my AMP Bible. I can’t live without It.
What has become important to me and what I have become dependent on is how the AMP Translation helps me to understand the hidden meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. I need the more detailed shades of meaning in Scripture and have become dependent and rely on the AMP for the additional amplification of word meanings. I highly recommend using the AMP Bible as primary Bible Translation or as a companion to another Bible Translation. I love my AMP Bible!
This concludes the list of Bible Translations and how they relate and differ from one another. My goal is to shed some light and provide some insight on what the real differences are of the many Bible Translations that are available, while assisting you in your pick or evaluation of the translation you already have.
I can’t over stress the importance of reading the Bible every day and studying the Bible every week. Make time for the Word and the Word will make time for you. Time is not on our side. Time is running short! Please Read and Study the Bible.
Important Facts about the Bible
You must trust the Bible completely and totally. There can be absolutely no room for doubt. Let me assure you that you can trust the Bible. How can I, you ask?
If the Bible had been written by one person at one time, one could understand how it would be unified in general thoughts and specific details. But consider these diversities in its origin:
1) It was written by 40 different authors.
2) It was written over a period of 1,600 years.
3) It was written in three languages: Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
4) Its writers came from many walks of life: prophet (Jeremiah), priest (Zechariah), shepherd (Amos), king (David), servant (Nehemiah), doctor (Luke), tax collector (Matthew), and Pharisee (Paul).
5) It was written on three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe.
6) A gap of more than 400 years separated the writing of the Old Testament from the New Testament.
In spite of this wide diversity, the Bible is one book. As branches, roots, trunk, and leaves are part of one tree, so the parts of the Bible make up a single unit. It agrees in doctrine, details of prophecy, what it says about Jesus Christ, and its offer of rescue to mankind. The Bible is a unified book made up of 66 books. It is a book you can trust! The text of the Bible is protected by God. And the supernatural protection of the text of the Bible is another reason for trusting it. This protection occurred in two forms: (a) its unity amid great diversity, and (b) the miraculous preservation of the text itself.
The Bible is the only book authored by God and thus the only book that shows us how to know Him, how to live, and how to receive eternal life. The Bible has proven itself to be a book of truth because it supports its claims with historical and geographical facts. Also it is important to grasp that the Bible prophets did not originate what they wrote. Rather, they recorded what was given to them by God. They were moved (literally “borne along”) by the Holy Spirit. Now, that doesn’t mean that their individual personality or style of writing was overpowered. It means that they were kept from having any error creep into what they wrote. They were moved by the Holy Spirit to record only what God wanted man to know. When the Bible mentions historical facts, alludes to science, or predicts the future, its accuracy gives evidence that it is a book you can trust. To reject the Bible, is to close one’s eyes to an overwhelming amount of evidence in its favor.
As time goes on, the questions of the critics are being answered by reliable scholarship and the findings of the archaeologist spade. And it may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference. But the clearest confirmation of the Bible’s reliability is the accuracy of its prophecy. Whenever the Bible speaks prophetically the accuracy of its predictions has been 100 percent. Hundreds of prophecies have been literally fulfilled. On this basis, we can also believe what the Bible has to say about things to come. The next prophecy to be fulfilled will be (1 Thess. 4:15-17).
Minister George Condry
(Jeremiah 3:15)
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