Translating the Scriptures is not a simple task. Often, there is not a single word in English that means exactly what a word means in Greek or Hebrew. Words have a range of meanings, and the range of meanings can be much different from one language to another. This requires a degree of interpretation on the part of the translator. Some translations have more interpretation than others.

There are two basic types of Bible translations: formal equivalent (literal, or word for word) and dynamic equivalent (thought for thought). Some versions attempt to bridge the two.

Formal Equivalence

Formal equivalence, also known as literal, or word-for-word, attempts to keep as close as possible to the original languages. The goal is to make a text that is more accurate to the original and still be readable in the English language. They have a high reading grade-level. A formal equivalent doesn’t work as well for idioms and expressions because sometimes the point gets lost in translation. However, formal equivalence is far better for serious study because of the accuracy of words and grammar.

Some basic literal translations include:

• KJV (King James Version)
• NKJV (New King James Version)
• NASB (New American Standard Bible)
• ESV (English Standard Version)
• NRSV (New Revised Standard Version)

Dynamic Equivalence

Dynamic equivalence, also known as functional equivalence, or thought-for-thought, attempts to translate the thought of the passage rather than the actual words. This allows more room for interpretation by the translators. The goal is to make a readable text, resulting in a lower reading grade-level. They can be better for expressions and idioms, but they’re not as good for word studies because the words and grammar may have been changed to make the text more readable.

Thought for thought translations include:

• NIV (New International Version)
• NLT (New Living Translation)
• NET (New English Translation)
• HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The NIV, NET, and HCSB attempt to combine elements of both types of translations. The HCSB attempts to remain as literal as possible by only using thought-for-though translation where necessary for clarification. Holman calls it an optimal equivalent.

Paraphrase

Another type of Bible, though not actually a translation, is the paraphrase. This includes The Message and the Living Bible. Paraphrases are not translations and are not based on manuscripts. An example of making a paraphrase might be taking the NIV and rephrasing it in your own words. There’s nothing wrong with reading a paraphrase, but I personally avoid them. I would not use them in place of an actual translation. They might be useful as commentaries.

Choosing a Bible Translation

No translation is perfect. The fact that it’s a translation requires there to be a degree of interpretation, and no one’s interpretation is perfect. Every translation ever published has gone through revisions to make them better and correct mistakes. I won’t say that every translation is good. Some are better than others.

A Bible translation should be chosen according to its purpose. Is the Bible for general reading or serious study?

Study

For Bible study I recommend a literal translation because of their accuracy. The KJV, NKJV, NASB, and ESV are all good choices. I use the KJV (just my personal preference). My next favorites are the NKJV and ESV because they retain accuracy and readability.

Reading

Many feel that the dynamic equivalence, such as NIV and NLT, are better suited for general reading. I also use a formal equivalence for reading. I even recommend reading the KJV for its literary style. I realize that not everyone enjoys the Shakespearean-style language, but I do believe it is worthy of study and reading considering its popularity and effect on the English language.

Translation Overview

This is a short summary of some of the major translations in use today, with a sample from 2 Timothy.

KJV

The KJV is celebrating its 400^th anniversary this year. There’s a good reason it’s been popular for that long. It’s had a major impact on the English language, and is very elegant in its style. It has gone through several revisions. Probably the most popular edition is the 1769. It is a literal translation and is the translation I use most for reading, memorization, and study.

2Ti 2:15 KJV Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2Ti 3:16-17 KJV All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

NKJV

The NKJV from Nelson publishers is an update to the KJV. It contains manuscript notes that show textual variations. While updating the text, other manuscripts were taken into consideration. It is also a literal translation and is the 2^nd translation I use for reading, memorization, and study.

2Ti 2:15 NKJ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2Ti 3:16-17 NKJ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

NRSV

The NRSV is an update of the RSV, which itself is an update to the KJV. The NRSV uses newer manuscript discoveries, but also uses exegetical insights and linguistic theories, which tend to make it less accurate because of theological bias. It is also a literal translation.

2Ti 2:15 NRSV Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

2Ti 3:16-17 NRSV All scripture is inspired by God and is^* useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

NASB

The NASB is an update to the ASV, which is also a revision of the KJV. The NASB is less archaic and more theologically conservative, but is so literal that it feels wooden. It is perhaps the most literal modern translation. It’s more literal than the KJV, which makes it good for study, but perhaps not as good for reading and memorization.

2Ti 2:15 NAS Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.

2Ti 3:16-17 NAS All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

ESV

The ESV is essentially a revision of the RSV, which retains its KJV heritage. It attempts to be a new translation, but still uses theological terms in the same way that the KJV does (such as justification, sanctification, etc.). It is more literal than the KJV and still maintains its literary excellence, making it a great choice for reading, memorization, and study. I use it along with my KJV and NKJV.

2Ti 2:15 ESV Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2Ti 3:16-17 ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

NIV

The NIV contains elements of word-for-word and thought-for-thought translation. It is probably the most popular translation today. Although translators have taken some liberties, it is conservative in its translation. It can sometimes be too simple, causing it to not be as accurate as it could have been. It is a good translation for reading and study, although I prefer a more literal translation for study.

2Ti 2:15 NIV Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2Ti 3:16-17 NIV All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

NLT

The NLT is a functional equivalent translation. The translators have gone to great lengths to convey the thoughts of the writers, and it is therefore highly interpretive by the translators. It is a useful translation for reading, but I would prefer a literal translation for study.

2Ti 2:15 NLT Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

2Ti 3:16-17 NLT All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

HCSB

The HCSB by Homan Publishers uses a translation theory they call ‘optimal equivalence’. They use a literal translation where possible, and use thought-for-thought where it is needed to clarify the text. It uses new manuscript discoveries and is a good choice for study and reading.

2Ti 2:15 HCSB Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

2Ti 3:16-17 HCSB All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

NET

The NET is a cross between formal and dynamic equivalence. It attempts to be the most accurate, the most readable, and elegant at the same time. It is a good choice for reading and study.

2Ti 2:15 NET Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.

2Ti 3:16-17 NET Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

Conclusion

There are many other translations in use today, but this is just a simple overview. I recommend owning (and using) more than one translation. I try to stay close to the literal side of translations. I use several translations including KJV, NKJV, ESV, NIV, and NLT, but the translations I use the most are the KJV, NKJV, and ESV. I recommend using a single translation for your main study and memorization and use other translations for reference. During study it is best to focus on one translation and refer to other translations as needed for clarification.

Avoid translations that were written by certain groups in order to prove their own doctrines. These translations are skewed toward theological biases even at the expense of accurate translation.

Choosing a Bible translation is an important part of your growth and devotion to God. I don’t recommend using what everybody else uses just because they use it. Read as many translations as you can and make educated choices. And once you’ve chosen- read, study, and hide the Word in your heart.

Translation

First of all… all Bibles in English are translations. The scriptures were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. No translation can be considered equal with the original languages. A Bible translation should be chosen according to its purpose. Is the Bible for general reading or serious study? Maybe you want a Bible that will perform both tasks well.

There are two basic types of Bible translations: formal equivalent (literal, or word for word) and dynamic equivalent (thought for thought).

Some basic literal translations include KJV, NKJV, NASB, and ESV.

Thought for thought translations include NIV and NLT.

The KJV, NKJV, NASB, and ESV versions are well suited for serious study since they are literal translations. The NIV and NLT are better suited to general reading than serious study. Since they are thought for thought translations they will not have the higher level of accuracy that literal translations do.

There is another type of Bible available: the paraphrase. Paraphrases include The Message and TLB. A paraphrase is when someone rewrites a text in their own words. Paraphrases should not be considered the Word of God and should be avoided.

I consider the topic of the best Bible translation to be a personal choice. If you believe that one version is the only version to use- that would be your personal conviction. You should not place that conviction upon others. Many people will tell you to stay away from modern translations. They forget that the KJV is a translation. It is my personal favorite translation, but it is a translation. The KJV is largely based on the work of William Tyndale. Tyndale’s goal was to offer a translation of the scriptures to the common reader of his day. William Tyndale would strive to do the same thing today. He would work to bring an English translation to the modern reader.

My basic guidelines are:

For reading, choose something you can enjoy reading that is as accurate as possible. NIV and NLT are good choices, but I still prefer a more literal translation even for reading. I read the KJV, NKJV, and ESV. I also occasionally read the NIV.

For study, choose the most literal you can feel comfortable with. I use KJV primarily. I also use NKJV and ESV. Many consider the ESV a more accurate rendering. I am simply more comfortable with King James.

Stay away from paraphrases.

For choosing one Bible for reading and study, stick with the literal translations.

Text

I prefer at least a 9 point font. My regular size Thompson has an 8 point font. 8 point is OK, especially if the text is bold enough on the page, but my Thompson’s text is a little too light for me. Red letter is another key area for reading Bibles. My Thompson’s red letters are more pink than red. That’s OK too if you like the text, but red letters make it more difficult to highlight and color code. I prefer red letter for reading and black letter for marking.

Notes

Many Bibles have notes already in them. These are the notes of someone else that has already done their Bible study. I do not recommend using these Bibles for personal study as they include the writer’s biases. They can be handy as a commentary if needed, and some of them have some useful dictionaries and word studies. In hard cover editions they are usually much cheaper than buying full volumes, but I still do not recommend them as a personal Study Bible.

Features

Good Bible study comes through the use of good study tools. Tools that I use the most are:

• Concordance
• Dictionary
• Topical list
• References

Study Bibles usually include some of these features and a few others:

• Introductions
• Outlines
• Biographical studies
• Harmony of the Gospels
• Essays and articles on doctrinal topics
• Devotional helps
• Maps
• Charts
• Self-pronouncing text
• Wide margins
• Ribbon marker (preferably 2)

A good Study Bible is a Bible that will give you the tools you need to do your own study- not gives you someone else’s study. A good Study Bible will give you the tools you need to come to your own conclusions. It will give you the tools you need to compare scripture with scripture.

Quality

The Bible you choose should be purchased with the idea that it’s going to get a long of use. For this reason you will want a Bible that will last. Some areas to pay attention to are:

• Binding
• Cover
• Paper

A good binding will be sewn and have good stitching. Smyth sewn is the process of sewing groups of paper together and then sewing the groups together. This allows the Bible to lay flat when open.

The cover should be leather or hard cover. Bonded leather is OK, but do not expect it to last even if the Bible is kept in a Bible case. Bonded leather is very cheap material and will not hold up to heavy use. The higher-end materials are not a requirement for a quality Bible, but the higher quality the cover the longer it will last. Even calfskin will last for many years.  Other choices are goatskin and Morocco leather. A good quality hard cover will also last many years, and is far less expensive than leather. Many of my Bibles are hard cover.

A good Study Bible will give you good paper to write on and enough room to do that writing. Text from the other side should only be slightly visible. There will be some visibility, but the paper shouldn’t be so thin that the text is distracting. A thicker paper is better for writing. Thin paper will allow your pens and pencils to bleed through and leave indentions in the page.

Reading verses Study

A good reading Bible is a Bible that has a readable text and some basic features such as references, maps, and concordance. A reading Bible can be used in Bible study. Just look for a good quality Bible with good text, good paper, and a little room for writing.

Recommendation

I recommend a wide margin Bible. Ideally it will have plenty of good quality paper for writing and really wide margins. Other helps are nice, but most tools, such as concordances and dictionaries, can be purchased separately.

If a wide margin Bible is not your preference then I recommend a Study Bible that is not filled with someone else’s notes. A good choice is the Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible. Thompson has plenty of topical chain references in the margins and doesn’t have any commentary. The topical chains allow the reader to compare scripture with scripture, which is my favorite type of study. Another Bible that I like is no longer being published, but if you can find it (I’ve seen several on eBay) I highly recommend the Dugan Topical Study Bible (also printed by Jubilee). This Bible contains the Bible printed twice- once in standard Biblical order and again with every verse under a specific topic. It also includes a Bible dictionary (the equivalent of a Smith’s Bible Dictionary) and a Cruden’s Concordance. I like this Bible better than Thompson. Another good choice would be a quality reading Bible.

My choice

I recently decided to purchase a new Bible. I went through several weeks of searching before I finally decided. My new Bible will hopefully last me 20 years or more, so I wanted a Bible that would promote good Bible study habits. I chose a wide margin in KJV. It is calfskin leather and has a 2.5 inch margin on the outside of each page. It’s the Note Taker’s Bible from LCBP for $55.

Before buying this Bible I considered a new Thompson and a Dugan (I found the Dugan on eBay). I also considered a hard cover wide margin from Henderson. A wide margin allows you to interact with the scriptures, which in my opinion promotes better Bible study.

Do you have a favorite Study Bible? What are some of your favorite features in a Study Bible?