How to Select a Bible Version
by Pastor Mike Stine
While all Bible versions
are God’s Word, not all are equal. Some Bible translations are
taken as literally word for word from the original languages as
possible while other Bible versions try to capture the thought
of each sentence or paragraph instead of the meaning of each
word.
Why do we need so many
Bible versions in the first place? Or as some may ask, “Isn’t
the King James Version all we need?” The English language is
constantly evolving. How fast? Oxfordreference.com updated
5,500 entries in March since their previous update in January.
In short, words lose their meaning over time. The Bible
doesn’t change nor does the meaning of it, the English language
changes.
Dr. Lewis Foster, one of the
people who helped translate the NIV and the NKJV once said, “It
is necessary to continue making new translations and revising
old ones if people are to read the Word of God in their
contemporary languages. With the passage of time, words change
in meanings. For instance, in King James’ day the word ‘prevent’
could mean ‘come before’ but not necessarily in a hindering way.
So the translators in that day rendered 1 Thessalonians. 4:15,
‘For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which
are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep.’ But today the word ‘prevent’ has
lost that earlier meaning (come before), so it must be
translated differently to convey the proper meaning: ‘According
to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive,
who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not
‘precede’ those who have fallen asleep’ (NIV). ...To keep the
translation of God’s Word living it must be kept in the living
language the people are using.”
“Which Bible translation is
right for me?” depends greatly upon how you intend to use your
Bible. For starters, know what Bible version is read most often
in your church. It can be confusing if you are trying to follow
along with the preacher and he is reading a different version
than you are. Some churches only read the King James Version
and some are pretty adamant that this is the only version to be
used. Others use the NIV, NASB or any number of other
versions.
You may want one Bible to
take to church and another for your personal study at home.
Outside of your church are you going to use your Bible for in
depth study or do you want something that is more readable and
will give a more general picture? If you intend on
taking a word or phrase from a Bible verse and making a
theological argument from it, it is important that those words
are translated as literally as possible from the original
language. On the other hand, if you are reading to get the
general idea and it doesn’t matter if someone was paid six
drachmas or six coins, then a Bible that captures the intended
thought of the writer may be more suitable for you.
There are many Bibles along
the scale from very literal "word for word" to translations
which capture the ideas "thought for thought". Choosing a Bible
translation does not have to be an either/or decision. If you
are really interested in how translations differ, you can even
purchase a
parallel Bible. A parallel
Bible has two or four translations side by side in columns so
that you can see how the different versions translate verses.
For a list of Bible
translations from most literal word for word to ones translated
thought for though, see the
translation continuum. See here for
a description of the most common
Bible
versions.
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