Which Bible Translation Should I Buy?
A wise man once said that "The best Bible translation is the one you read." In a sense, this is true. Whatever version motivates you to learn the truth of God is serving a purpose in your life.
But I would like to comment briefly on different translations of the Bible I have used, and which ones would be good choices for you and for your kids.
Kids 0-2
Baby's First Bible by Melody Carlson
This one has beautiful pictures and Bible stories put to simple rhymes.
Kids 3-5
The Preschoolers BibleThis Bible has good artwork, large type, and simple sentences. Colorful illustrations on each page.
Kids aged 3-8
The CEV Illustrated Bible
A beautiful children's Bible with the simple CEV translation and nice pictures.
Boys 8-12
My First Study Bible
This is different from other children's Bible storybooks because it's set up like a grown-up study Bible, with book introductions, notes to give more details, and questions at the end of each story to help kids understand the main points. And all these kid-sized features are accompanied by color illustrations on every page!
Girls 8-12
Young Women of Faith Bible NIV
Boys 8-12
The Boys NIV Bible
Teenage girls
True Images: The Bible for Teen Girls, Softcover NIV
This is for teen girls aged 13-16. It has
Book Introductions
24 full-color Tip-ins
52 Profiles of women in the Bible
120 "In Focus" articles for application
"Truth or Dare" challenges
"Love Notes from God"
Teenage Boys
Revolution: The Bible for Teen Guys, Softcover
This is a solid choice for the teenage guy in your family. This Bible includes
125 Battlelines interviews share solid insights from everyday, normal guys about sex, conflict, music, anger, addiction, popularity and more
12 full-color tip-ins give you 50 Ways to Be Radical for God, 100 Things Real Men Do, and other ideas to help you revolutionize all aspects of your life
100 Instant Messenger-style Challenge Notes paraphrase key Scriptures that call you onward and upward to all that God has for you
Over 200 Now or Never call-outs challenge you to discover God's truth on a variety of faith-related issues
100 Live the Adventure notes show you how to change your life and revolutionize your impact on others
50 Match-Ups capture the conflict between good guys and bad guys of the Bible. Cain vs. Abel, Ahab vs. Elijah, David vs. Saul . . . they've got moves you can learn from and moves to avoid
66 book introductions provide overviews for each book of the Bible to help you dive in and know what's going on
Also for teens, boys and girls
The NIV Teen Study Bible
This is still the teen study Bible of choice
Pastor Marc's favorite Bible translations for adults.
Easy reading translations:
1. The CEV - This is a 1990s translation written in simple English by Bible scholars AND English teachers. The translation team worked hard to make this a Bible that would sound good to the ear and would easy to follow. It is sometimes a tad too simplistic with the poetic parts of the Bible, and a bit too gender inclusive at times. It translates 'husband of but one wife' as 'faithful in marriage' in 1 Timothy 3:2
2. The New Living Translation - A 1990s revision of the Living Bible. It is pitched at an 8th grade reading level. It is a bit of a paraphrase, but not quite as much as the CEV. Does a better job at handling gender issues than the CEV, but not quite as easy to read.
3. The Good News Bible - TEV
This is the one that had the stick figure pictures in its paperback version "Good News for Modern Man." I like it. Easy to read.
Middle of the Road - Not too easy, not hard
1. NIV - This is the one I've been reading for twenty years. It is written in good quality, 1970's style 8th grade English, but it is also faithful to the spirit and meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. A good, reliable choice. I've memorized so much from it that it doesn't pay for me to switch now. Besides, it is the Peace Church translation of choice!
2. TNIV - This is a 21st century revision of the NIV. 93% is the same as the NIV, 7% is slightly different. Don't believe the negative hype from the southern Baptists and Focus on the Family: This is a good translation! Handles gender issues well.
Literal translations
The ESV - English Standard Version
This is an evangelical revision of the RSV. It is the most literal translation of the Bible available in print, and yet it still reads like good, 11th grade English. If you want something that respects the language AND poetry of the Bible while still being a good English reading Bible, this is a good choice.
Translation to Avoid
1. Avoid the New World Translation - Jehovah Witness Bible. Changes verses to fit their ideas.
2. The Message - A one man paraphrase that doesn't even sound like the Bible. Only good for people who would not be able to read a more formal Bible. Subject to the same quirks and idiosyncracies of other one man tour de forces.
3. NRSV - The mainline Protestant Bible that waters down the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament
4. RSV - See above on NRSV
5. The Amplified Bible - Too wordy - "Whoever believes in, trusts in, leans on or depends on me has everlasting life."
Others that are worth a read
1. King James Bible. If you like Shakespeare style 1600s English, this is a masterpiece.
2. New King James Version - A good translation, but based on the Antioch manuscripts rather than the more reliable Alexandrian manuscripts.
3. New Century Version - Tries too hard to be gender inclusive, otherwise, it is a decent, easy to read translation.
4. New American Bible - A good Catholic translation - 8th grade reading level.
I hope this helps. Remember, the best Bible is THE ONE YOU READ!
PM
posted by Marc Axelrod at 9:04 PM
4 Comments:
Thanks for this. It is intersting and useful to see what translations of the Bible other people find helpful or not helpful. I'm not sure I totally agree with your assessment of The Message, though I understand your concerns with it. I wouldn't use it as a primary reading/study Bible, but I do find it helpful at times in bringing across particular passages with more force. Peace
January 13, 2006 at 2:42 PM
Read this entry and I couldn't resist commenting on it. I'm sorry to say, but you simply miss the point of both the Message by Eugene Peterson and the NRSV. The Message was written by Peterson, who does not lack skill in languages or scholarly matters, in consultation with a number of very highly qualified scholars of both the NT and the OT. Of course it is "subject" to his interpretation, but this doesn't make it any less of a translation than, say the NIV or CEV. The main thing that matters is faithfulness to the original language, which I promise you does come through in Peterson's paraphrased version (despite the fact that you insist it "doesn't even sounds like the Bible"). Regarding the NRSV, what do mean "waters down the messianic prophecies?" Do you have any examples of this? Those who sat on the committee certainly could see more connections from the OT to the NT than most could. You act as though they sought out to cover up something. The main force of the NRSV is to bring out the gender equality in many passages, the very thing you (seem to) laud the NIV and TNIV for over and against Southern Baptists and Focus on the Family. Again, what matters is faithfulness to the original work in its original language. For this, the Message, the TNIV, and the NRSV all provide solid options.
May 12, 2006 at 12:09 PM
Hi Derek:
You have a point about the NRSV. I was thinking in particular of Psalm 2:11. where they translate the Hebrew text 'with trembling, kiss his feet,' rather than "Kiss the Son"
And I was also thinking of how they followed the old RSV by translating Betulah in Is 7:14 as 'young woman' rather than virgin.
But in retrospect, betulah means literally 'a young woman of marriagable age.' It would have been virtually axiomatic for an unmarried young woman to be a virgin, but at any rate, the 'young woman' translation is probably good enough.
I was also thinking of Psalm 22:16, which says 'my hands and feet have shrivelled' a curious translation, when the more normal translation would be 'they have pierced my hands and my feet,; or depending on the variant, yet less likely, 'they are tearing at my hands and my feet.
These instances are why I made the statement that the NRSV has watered down some of the messianic prophecies. The Is 7:14 translation is acceptable, yet controversial, but the others are unacceptable.
As for the Message, I tend to distrust one man tour de force's and prefer more dynamic equivalent/literal translations from a committee of scholars.
While I'm sure that Peterson has credentials, I found his Bible trying too hard to be contemporary at the expense of accuracy. For example, check Romans 1:26-27, he makes the problem seem like lust in general rather than homosexuality. And similarly, check 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, you would never know that homosexuality is one of the vices being condemned. He sacrifices too much accuracy and precision in favor of bowlderized readings.
Good thoughts and thanks for writing.
Marc
May 12, 2006 at 12:27 PM
While I don't ever use the message I did read one scholar who said it was actually a translation from the original language (with heavy dynamic equivalence almost on the level of paraphrase) rather than a straight paraphrase solely from English.
NRSV - a very solid translation and also a good one to pair in your Bible reading with the NIV to get a good feel for the underlying text.
New LIving - also a translation and not a paraphrase. This is a pretty easy read. I have found it pretty enjoyable.
Thanks for your thoughts.
November 4, 2006 at 7:18 PM
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