One of the most frequent questions I am asked is what Bible translation do you use.  My personal preference is the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE 1977 version by THE LOCKMAN FOUNDATION.  I use the Charles Ryrie Study Bible 1978 published by Moody Bible Institute, but also study and read from other translations.  When I was younger and started reading the King James Version, we also had the Living Bible but that was a paraphrase and I really wanted more of a word for word translation but struggled to read, understand and comprehend the King James Version.  So at that time, the guidance and counsel of my pastor, youth pastor, and father who was also in ministry, was to use the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE.  I’ve been studying that same version ever since around 15 years of age.  I received two of the same identical Bibles as gifts, one in high school and another upon my ordination.  IT WAS THE SAME BIBLE!  I just felt like the Lord was guiding my steps to use that translation for my most serious study efforts as God was calling me to ministry.  I began preaching from that translation and I also felt it read with more reverence and dignity than other translations available that were easier to read, like the Living Bible or the NIV.

Today, there are many more modern translations and paraphrases available. Bible translations are either word for word (formal equivalence), thought for thought (functional or dynamic equivalence), or balance of those two (optimal equivalence).  There is also what we call a paraphrase.  Word for word translations include, KJV, NKJV, RSV, ESV and my preference NASB.  Thought for thought translations include NLT, GNT, CEB.  Balance includes NIV, CSB, NET.  Paraphrases include The Living Bible, Eugene Peterson’s The Message, and The Amplified.  I can tell you that most of my Pastor friends presently teach from the ESV.  I have tried it out some, but just fall back to my desire to stick with NASB.  It’s really just a personal preference.

There are so many translations being released now that it’s hard to keep up.  I was browsing a bookstore just yesterday in the Bible section looking at each one, and came across a brand new Barbour’s Simplified KJV.  I looked at that very carefully and liked how there were margins for notes on the side, it was larger print than normal, but it didn’t have the words of Jesus in red letters, which I really like a lot!  But that’s just because my original KJV had the words of Jesus in red letters and so did my NASB gift Bibles.  If you started with a Bible that doesn’t have the words of Jesus in red letters, that probably won’t matter to you.

There is no single one best translation.  You want to make sure it’s one you can read and understand.  I do recommend picking one version and sticking with it for the most part.  It may be best to use the same version your pastor uses, unless they use various versions.  And you may prefer to compare and contrast versions with what we call a parallel Bible.  This is where you can see multiple versions of the same verse side by side either online or in print.

Keep in mind that each translation has a different grade level of reading assigned.  So if reading is difficult, the New International Reader’s Version starts at the bottom of the grade scale level at 2.9  The KJV is 12 grade and my NASB is 11th grade.  The NKJV is 9th grade, the ESV is 8th grade, and so on.  There is a ton of information on this website and probably far more than what you might be interested in seeing, but there is a chart with grade levels for various translations.  Or, here is a little pamphlet you might be able to download or order to use for guiding your Bible translation decision.  Even within my NASB, there are various year revisions so that’s something to keep in mind as well.  My NASB is 1997, but there is also a 1995 NASB and a new 2020 NASB.  I’m getting old!  No use to change now!  (lol!)

I hope this helps!  I know it’s not easy!  If you think we have a ton of cereal choices to make at the grocery store, that’s nothing when it comes to Bible translations!  Pray! Ask God to guide you and show you what’s the best translation for you!  After all that, if you just want me to pick yours for you, HERE GOES!  READY?

Just use the ESV!  There ya go!  I made the decision for you!  This stands for English Standard Version.  While the NIV has been the top selling translation previously, it appears the ESV is gaining momentum fast and will overtake the NIV as the top selling translation in the future.  And again, many of my Pastor friends prefer the ESV.  It is an 8th grade reading level, word for word translation published in 2001.  Honestly, if I had just gotten saved yesterday and needed to go purchase a bible now, I would purchase the ESV.  I would take a hard look and compare the ESV Study Bible, the ESV MacArthur Study Bible, or the ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible.  See?  Even after you decide on Cheerios, you have pick from I think it’s like 22 different flavors of Cheerios.  I like honey nut with skim milk!  So there ya go!  Did that help?  I sure hope so!

One more thing, as you shop, consider print size and how that affects your eyes, and whether you want things like cross reference verses, study notes, devotions, introductions and an overview for each book or, if you only just want a plain Bible without any of that other stuff.  Also, do you want room in your bible to write your own notes?  Do want leather, paper back, hardback?  And, all of those factors affect the price.  The prices ranges from $12 to over $100.  So that’s always a factor as well.  I have purchased, use and have a lot of Bibles on my bookshelves.  If you or a family member is struggling with addiction, may I suggest THE NIV CELEBRATE RECOVERY BIBLE?  Here’s an NIV designed for busy mothers.  Men who are fighting lust need THE EVERY MAN’S BIBLE from new life ministries available in the NLT and the NIV.  You can see how in some cases what you’re dealing with in life and the stage of life and spiritual growth you’re in might effect your decision even more than which translation to use.  If you read or listen to the Bible on the BLESSED APP, you can chose your own translation by selecting your preference between KJV, ESV, NIV, HCSB, or NLT.

Ok, I think that’s enough.  I’ll stop now!  What was the question again?  Oh yes.  “What translation of the Bible should I use?”

Help me spread the word on this!  Tons of people, especially seekers and new believers are asking!  And if they ask you, now you can help them as well!