from the beginning: does it matter which version of the Bible I read?
- Tayler Meade
- Jan 20, 2024
- 2 min read
the most common question I’ve been asked in my DM's is which version of the Bible should I read? because it’s such a frequently asked question, I thought it would be good to begin our series here!
the Bible is such an important book, so understanding what versions you’re reading is SO IMPORTANT! to answer this question fully, we’re going to begin with some Bible history! the Bible was initially written in the Hebrew language and was compiled through the writings of 40 different authors. the Old Testament was translated into Greek for the Greek-speaking Jews around 130 B.C. and the date it was officially compiled is anywhere from 200-400 A.D. this is the Bible we know today. and finally, the ENTIRE Bible was first translated into Latin. so, as you can probably guess just from the three language jumps, some things were probably differences in each translation. there aren’t exact words for some Hebrew or Greek words, so scholars helped fill those in with words that their language had without sacrificing accuracy!
that brings me to translation. the Bible we know today has been translated into over 700 languages, and certain parts of it have been translated into over 3,000 languages! In the English translation alone, we’ve been given access to over 450 versions!! WOW!
in Christian culture, we often hear, don’t read “XYZ”; it’s inaccurate, or don’t read “XYZ”; it leaves verses out. i’ve listened to a few of these myself and had to do some heavy prayer, thought, and research over this. while all opinions can be different, one thing holds true: God wouldn’t allow something to be printed or given out to His followers that would go against or change His Word or ideals within. those who have were struck down by God (ex. King Uzziah).
I cannot talk about all 450 English translations, but I will speak of these central ideas: word-for-word and thought-per-thought. I have attached a chart to help out as well!
word-for-word translations, are the literal equivalent of the original translations. they attempt to keep the original wording and sentence structure without sacrificing clarity (chart). these include; KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB, etc. thought-per-thought translations strive for clarity by translating it into our grammar and syntax without sacrificing accuracy (chart). these include NLT, ICB, NCV, etc. NIV, on the other hand, sits in the middle of both! it keeps the original wording but also allows us to understand it easily! in my opinion, the easiest one to read is an NIV! I recommend you keep a true word-per-word so you can study through both!!
so, to answer the question…. no! it’s all about discernment and prayer! if you feel convicted not to read a particular translation, LISTEN! overall, what matters is that you’re taking those steps and reading🕊️
if you’re in the market for a Bible and you don’t know where to start, I hope you were able to find clarity here! if you ever have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to comment down below or DM me personally!! I have also attached some articles for extra resources and explanations/ examples I couldn’t fit here!
https://www.thecharaproject.com/choosing-a-bible-version#:~:text=A%20more%20literal%20Bible%20translation,as%20the%20CSB%20or%20NIV.
Comments