Bible Translations Why So Many Translations? Which Is Best?

Bible TranslationsBible Translations

Why So Many Translations? Which Is Best?


Why So Many Translations?Why So Many Translations?– The English language is evolvingThe English language is evolving– Differences in Differences in manuscriptmanuscript

philosophyphilosophy– Differences in Differences in translationtranslation philosophy philosophy– Bible sales can be a lucrative marketBible sales can be a lucrative market


Examples of changes in EnglishExamples of changes in English– ““meanmean”” vs. vs. ““unknownunknown”” Pr 22:29Pr 22:29

– ““suffersuffer”” vs. vs. ““permitpermit”” Mt 19:14Mt 19:14

– ““conversationconversation”” vs. vs. ““conductconduct”” Ph 1:27Ph 1:27

– ““preventprevent”” vs. vs. ““precedeprecede”” 1Th 4:151Th 4:15

– ““lettethletteth”” vs. vs. ““restrainsrestrains”” 2Th 2:72Th 2:7


Differences in manuscript philosophyDifferences in manuscript philosophy– Byzantine textual traditionByzantine textual tradition

Received Text (Textus Receptus)Received Text (Textus Receptus) KJV, NKJVKJV, NKJV

– Alexandrian textual traditionAlexandrian textual tradition Critical text (Westcott-Hort)Critical text (Westcott-Hort) ASV, RSV, NSV, NASB, NIV, NLT, ESVASV, RSV, NSV, NASB, NIV, NLT, ESV

– Majority textual traditionMajority textual tradition Based on consensus of majority of Greek textsBased on consensus of majority of Greek texts Similar to Received TextSimilar to Received Text


Differences in translation Differences in translation philosophyphilosophy– Word for word Word for word (KJV, NASB, NKJV, ESV)(KJV, NASB, NKJV, ESV)

– Thought for thought Thought for thought (NIV, NLT)(NIV, NLT)

– Paraphrase Paraphrase (TLB, GNB)(TLB, GNB)




Bible sales can be a lucrative Bible sales can be a lucrative marketmarket



Which Translation Should I Use?Which Translation Should I Use?– Many scholars Many scholars >> one man one man– Diverse groups Diverse groups >> one group one group– Word for word Word for word >> thought for thought thought for thought– Simple text Simple text >> study Bible study Bible– Readability (layout, font size) Readability (layout, font size)



Personal RecommendationsPersonal Recommendations– NKJV, ESV, NLTNKJV, ESV, NLT– Simple textSimple text– ReadableReadable– Quality bindingQuality binding

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Bible Translations Why So Many Translations? Which Is Best?