Thinking about buying a bible? The real question isn’t where to buy a bible. You can buy bibles online, you can buy bibles at the bookstore. You can probably buy bibles through you local church. You can even buy a bible at Walmart. No, the question isn’t where to buy a bible. The real question is which version of the bible to buy.
With so many versions of the Bible one may wonder which one to choose. Knowing a bit about the versions and where and why they came about can help in making a decision as to which Bible to choose. This article discusses a few of the more popular versions of the Bible to aid you in your decision.
New International Version (NIV)
The New International Version (NIV) was started in 1965 when a multi-denominational, international group of scholars from many English-speaking nations gathered at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois. They decided that a new straightforward translation of the Bible in contemporary English was greatly needed. The NIV Bible was produced by more than one hundred scholars working from the best available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts.
It was completed in 1978. Within a decade it became the best-selling English version. It combines contemporary, literary English with traditional biblical vocabulary.
It is an ideal translation for both reading aloud and study purposes.
The NIV offers a balance between a word-for-word and thought-for-thought translation and is considered by many as a highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English.
King James Version (KJV)
In July of 1604, King James I of England appointed the best Bible scholars and linguists of his day, to the task of translating a new version of the Bible into English. The translation was by 47 scholars, all of whom were members of the Church of England. The New Testament was translated from Greek, the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew text, while the Apocrypha were translated from the Greek and Latin.
Upon completion, it was presented to King James I in 1611. It soon became the standard Bible for English-speaking Protestants. This translation is still recognized for the beauty of its language which dates from the time of William Shakespeare. It is sometimes referred to as the “Authorized Version”.
As time continued it became harder for people to understand the Old Elizabethan style English wording, so scholars started updating scriptures with more modern language. Many of the new versions of the Bible we have today are based on the King James Version.
New King James Version (NKJV)
In 1975, Thomas Nelson Publishers commissioned 130 of the most esteemed Bible scholars, church leaders, and lay Christians to produce an entirely new, modern translation of Scripture.
The New King James Version (NKJV) took seven years to complete and was released in 1982.
It updates the vocabulary and grammar of the King James Version, while preserving the classic style and beauty. Although it uses the same Hebrew and Greek texts as the original, it indicates where other manuscripts differ.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is a revision of the American Standard Bible of 1901. It was produced by 54 conservative Bible Protestant scholars and linguists. This translation was first completed in 1971. The New American Standard Bible is very literal in vocabulary and word order. The translators sought to be true to the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts and maintain grammatical integrity while providing an easy to understand, contemporary English version. It often is preferred by those who want an English version that reflects the grammar of the original. It is often considered the most accurate of all the English translations. It’s used for serious Bible study where accuracy is important.
The Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible is a paraphrased version of the King James Bible. It was put together by Kenneth N. Taylor and completed in 1971. It reads as a story book and was once immensely popular. While it is often criticized for adding too much commentary to the biblical text, it is a useful tool for introducing the Bible to people who are unfamiliar with it as well as easier for children to understand. Because it’s somewhat slanted with the author’s theology it is not the best bible for an accurate, serious study. It is however very easy to read and enjoyable for both children and adults.
New Living Translation (NLT)
In July of 1996, Tyndale House Publishers launched the New Living Translation (NLT). Using The Living Bible, as a base, a team of 90 Bible scholars from various theological backgrounds and denominations worked for seven years to complete it. They carefully compared each verse with the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures to produce a true translation that is accurate and easy to understand. The New Living Translation (NLT) is a translation of the Bible into modern English.
The New Living Translation was founded on the most recent scholarship with the goal of creating a clear, readable translation while remaining faithful to original texts. It seeks to preserve the freshness and readability of the original paraphrase while providing the accuracy and reliability The NLT is focused on producing clarity in the meaning of the text rather than creating a literal, word-for-word equivalence. It is a very readable translation that remains more faithful to the original texts than the Living Bible, while trying to keep the story book form and readability of the Living Bible.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The English Standard Version (ESV) was first published in 2001. It was developed by a translation team of more than 100 scholars with the goal of being a very accurate word for word translation, while still being very readable. The ESV is a highly accurate translation that closely reflects the original meaning of the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts in clear, readable, enduring English. Not only did the creators of the English Standard Version make every attempt to ensure accuracy, transparency, and clarity of the original texts, they also sought to retain the personal style of each writer of the Bible. The ESV combines word-for-word precision and accuracy with literary excellence, beauty, and readability.
