With so many different Bible translations on the market choosing a good one, to read and study, is one of the most important decisions a Christian can make. Since the words you will be reading in your Bible are the most important words ever spoken – by God Himself – we need to treat this subject seriously.
According to John MacArthur: “You can separate modern Bible translations into two basic groups—formal equivalency and dynamic equivalency. Formal equivalency attempts a word for word rendition, providing as literal a translation as possible. Dynamic equivalency is more like a paraphrase, trying to convey ideas thought by thought.”1
Formal equivalency translations have a low degree of interpretation since the translators are trying to convey the meaning of each particular word. Thus, by definition this type of translation is more accurate but less readable than dynamic equivalency translations. The opposite holds for a dynamic equivalency translation which tries to convey an idea-for-idea rendering of the original. This also by definition, requires more interpretation than a formal equivalency translation. But it does make the translation more readable but less accurate.
The key to choosing which type of translation is best is to try to find one that accurately represents what the Holy Spirit intended to say. Since many translations are the work of a committee of translators we need to feel comfortable that the committee has a high view of Scripture and does everything possible to take out the biases that so often get in the way of a pure translation.
As you might expect dynamic equivalency translations such as the New International Version (NIV), The Message (MSG), and The Living Bible (TLB) are very popular today. Most scholars consider the NIV the most reliable.
Concerning the NIV, John MacArthur comments: “The NIV was completed in 1978. Its translators did not attempt to translate strictly word for word, but aimed more for equivalent ideas. As a result, the NIV doesn’t follow the exact wording of the original Greek and Hebrew texts as closely as the King James Version and New American Standard Bible versions do. Nevertheless, it can be considered a faithful translation of the original texts, and its lucid readability makes it quite popular, especially for devotional reading.”2
The most popular English formal equivalency translations are the King James Version (KJV), the New King James Version (NKJV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the English Standard Version (ESV). These four are all solid choices for Bible study – with my own personal favorite and study Bible being the New King James Version.
Which choice to read and study is up to you. All of the above mentioned versions have strengths and weaknesses. What I like to do is read both the NKJV and NIV and if I feel further study is needed consult a good conservative commentary and Google on the internet the verse(s) in question to see how others comment.
The point is to choose a version that you are comfortable with and make daily Bible reading a cherished habit. And don’t forget to pray when you find a passage difficult to understand and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the meaning. And don’t feel uncomfortable to consult a valued mentor who you know is well-versed in the Scriptures for their interpretation. Finally, don’t forget that the Bible is a lifelong study book and the more you read and study it, with an open heart, the more, I believe, God will reveal to you from His Holy Word.