How do I know what translation to pick for my Bible?
When I was in Bible College, one of my professors taught about a doctrine called the doctrine of preservation. The basic concept is that God has used humanity throughout history to preserve the integrity of the written Word of God.
I don’t know about you, but I have often wondered and studied the Bible to test its reliability. There isn’t a more tested and reliable set of manuscripts other than the Bible as far as ancient manuscripts go. If you are interested in learning more, here are a few resources:
New Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell. I found this book helpful and straightforward in its description of manuscript testing and the validity of God’s Word.
For other ideas on books to read about the reliability of the Bible, consider reading this blog post for suggestions.
I want to focus today on which translation to use and why? I have discovered that there are two basic approaches to consider when deciding on a translation:
Word-for-Word Translation: This is as it sounds. Each word in the original language is translated into its English counterpart. While this approach is most effective for translation, it can make for a more challenging read because grammar rules are very different in the languages of the Bible compared to English grammar rules.
Phrase-by-Phrase Translation: phrase-by-phrase is an approach that seeks to consider original meaning and readability. Instead of working word to word, these experts in language translate phrase by phrase.
As a church at True Hope Collister, we have decided to use the English Standard Version (ESV). It is a word-for-word translation but is intentional, making it a digestible read. I have enjoyed utilizing this translation as a way to live devoted to God’s Word.
In the past, we utilized the New International Version (NIV), 1984 edition. In 2011 they updated the NIV but took some liberties in translating some gender-specific terms into more gender-neutral terms. While this helped in many instances to identify when scripture was speaking about humanity vs. man and was viable in most cases, we felt this potentially could change the original meaning in a few instances and decided to make a switch. While I don’t use the 2011 version often, the 1984 NIV translation is a favorite of mine. As a side note, some of my favorite commentaries are the NIV Application Commentaries.
A few other word-for-word translations I like:
New American Standard Bible (NASB) - Most literal translation but can be clunky to read sometimes.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB) - This is a more recent version that I have just started using and find it very good.
Phrase by phrase translations are not bad. One of my all-time favorite translations to read is the New Living Translation (NLT). I use this in my personal and study time to give me a fresh way to word an idea.
What I have found helpful is to use a phrase-by-phrase translation coupled with a word-by-word translation. This technique allows me to see if meaning is the same and gives me a new way to phrase a verse to help my understanding and retention.
Many have also asked about the Message Bible. What I love about the Message is why it was written. Eugene Peterson was a scholar and expert in languages and a pastor. He wanted to make the Bible more memorable and accessible for his congregation. So when he spoke on a passage, he would go back to the original language and translate it into a more modern language. This is a beautiful picture of discipleship.
I love using the Message as a companion with my ESV, but I prefer to use it with another translation instead of by itself.
Let’s go back to the doctrine of preservation. God is sovereign, and that sovereignty is at work to protect one of the greatest gifts he has given to us in the Word of God. Because God has also given us the Holy Spirit, the actual author of the Word of God, that sovereignty is active and at play every time we read God’s Word. (Consider reading this article by John Piper for more information about the Bible and the Holy Spirit.).
We also learn that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth (John 16:12-14). The Holy Spirit will allow us to engage the written Word of God and discover, experience, and follow the path and plan God has for us. God is active through the Holy Spirit, which makes his Word alive and able to lead us to experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
If you are interested in engaging God’s Word and discovering the benefits of living devoted to it, consider joining us in The Bible Recap - a grace-filled journey in reading through God’s Word each year.