At least once every months I have a conversation with someone about Bible translations. What’s the difference? Does it matter? What should I read? The short answer is: it doesn’t really matter, chances are you’ll be fine whatever you choose. But if that’s not good enough for you, there are several factors to consider, including how old the translation is, what sources it worked from, and how literal (formal) or loose (functional) you want your Bible to be. Whatever you’re looking for in a Bible translation, chances are there is a version for you.
Below I’ve listed some of my favorite Bible translations—as well as some that didn’t make the cut. Though I consider the background of each translation or its gender-inclusiveness, I weigh most heavily how the translation handles the formal/functional balance, its elegance, and the worth of the sources it works from. I’ve also included for each a quotation of John 3:16 so you can see some of the different nuances of each version. It should be noted, however, that because that verse is so famous, translators often try to make the verse sound as similar as possible to what we’re familiar with. For that reason, it’s usually smart to check out a less popular verse to see the real differences.
10. New Living Translation (NLT) – I have little incentive to use the NLT, but as a it’s becoming increasingly popular and its translation is fairly solid from what I can tell. Originally published in ‘96 as a revision of a less popular version, it has since been revised in 2007. It works on a reading level and is relatively functional—meaning, it’s designed to resemble modern language more than the Greek text. I like the NLT for its easy-to-read style without significant sacrifice of the original language.
For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
9. Common English Bible (CEB) – Released in 2011, the CEB was also designed to be easy to read and used by a variety of denominations. The translation committee worked around the Dale-Chall Readability Formula to produce a rendering of the Bible at the same reading level as a USA Today newspaper. Like the NLT, this version tries to use gender-neutral language where applicable.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.
8. New American Standard Bible (NASB) – A third of my life or more has been spent using the NASB; it’s one of the translations I’m most familiar with. Originally published in 1971 and revised in ‘95, it is considered one of the more literal translations as well as difficult to read (operating at an level). The version’s strict adherence to “grammatical correctness” makes the text wooden, and its ties to Southern Baptist theology are noticeable in scattered verses. Still, the NASB provides a close examination of the text for those preferring to avoid ancient languages and thus offers an excellent study option.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
7. New English Translation (NET) – This online Bible is designed to be free and accessible by all; it is also one of the more recently updated versions with a revision in 2017. The NET Bible is most notable for its tackling of the formal/functional balance by rendering a fairly readable text along with copious footnotes for in-depth and literal translations.
For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
6. New Jewish Publication Society of America Version (NJPS) – This translation is done completely by Jewish scholars, trying to best bring out the Jewish theology in the text without Christian overtones—though they are particularly strict in their translations of the Torah. As you might suspect, this version doesn’t have the New Testament, so I’ve included another popular verse for you:
When God began to create heaven and earth—the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water—God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
5. New International Version (NIV) – I have a love-hate relationship with this most popular of modern translations. Like many around my age, I grew up using this translation, and it’s probably the translation I see most often at Church or other settings. And for good reason: it, more than any other, comes the closest to striking the perfect balance between formality and functionality, adherence to the holy text and readability for us today. It does this by working from the best Greek and Hebrew texts, utilizing the skill of excellent scholars from various denominations, and employing a real strategy for bringing the word to modern eyes. However, in several ways, the NIV (or Zondervan, its publisher) has stumbled since its rise to power with the 1984 version (the one many of us grew up with and have old copies of). I think the clearest example of this is how the 2011 version (the one most available now) has lost its elegance and idiomatic style in pursuit of—I’m not really sure, maybe the appearance of being more scholarly. This isn’t as obvious reading John 3:16, for reasons mentioned above, so instead go read an example from one of my favorite passages and tell me which sounds better: Phil. 2:5-7 in the 1984 text or in the 2011 text.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
4. Christian Standard Bible (CSB) – This is a significantly less popular version than some on this list but has the potential to grow in the coming years. It’s a 2017 revision of the Holman Standard Bible (which almost made the list) and was actually compiled to reflect the latest in biblical studies and fix some of the stylistic shortcomings of the previous version. It does a comparable job as the NIV in striking the formal/functional balance (what the version itself calls “optimal equivalence”) while maintaining a level of eloquence in the text.
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
3. King James Version (KJV) – You know the King James. Maybe you call it the Authorized Version, but you know it. It’s old, and it uses a less than optimal textual foundation for its translating, but it’s beautiful and nostalgic and quite y the most important piece of literature in the English language.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2. New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) – The NRSV is the Bible of choice for most scholars, particularly those with interest in the Old Testament. It was translated by a truly cross-denominational committee (including Jews and Catholics and Orthodox Christians alike) and designed to be used for both study and liturgy. It doesn’t always sound like the most traditional text, but that is probably because it is trying to demonstrate the idiom and intent of the original authors. This translation also utilizes gender-neutral language where possible.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
1. English Standard Version (ESV) – Is this an anti-climatic winner? A few years ago, the ESV was considered new and cool as it was slowly supplanting the NIV in popularity. Now, people are more used to it, and that’s a good thing. The ESV is considered one of the more literal translations on this list, but it manages that achievement without expending readability or beauty. Through elegant translation and skillful word choice, the ESV manages to convey the original intent of the authors while still producing ful and lovely translation of Scripture.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
A few other notes for the curious:
- Amplified Bible (AMP) – The idea of including every nuance of the language in the translation is neat, but the execution is not only a little biased but rather poor. I’m not sure about the 2015 update, but the original is not working from the best source.
- Contemporary English Version (CEV) – Its aim of being an easy-to-read translation is good, but it doesn’t bring a whole lot else to the table.
- Good News Bible () – Again, its goal is to be readable by children or people new to English, but it’s a little out of date.
- God’s Word (GW) – I was excited when I first read the approach of this translation: to match the style of the original text, meaning where the Greek was difficult (e.g. Hebrews) the translation would be at a higher reading level, and where it was easier (e.g. John), it would be simpler. Upon actually looking into it, GW seems to be more akin to the other easy-to-read versions. If you are interested in this sort of approach, however, check out David Bentley Hart’s The New Testament: A Translation (2017)—it’s done much better.
- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) – This is a good Bible, if not a little conservative for my taste, but its revision, the CSB mentioned above, is better.
- The Message (MSG) – This is a commentary, not a Bible.
- New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) – If you want Catholic theology and are OK with subpar sources, this one’s not bad. As a bonus, its original version had J. R. R. Tolkien involved in its composition.
- New King James Version (NKJV) – This is one of my least favorite translations because it chooses to base its text on a less-than-stellar textual tradition despite being with availability to better texts.
- Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) – This is a super-literal translation, which may be valuable for some, but you can probably find a better alternative in the NASB or ESV.
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