There is probably a little truth in every one of these somewhat tongue-in-cheek stereotypes (except in the ones you don't like, of course). Not to support my point, but to handle accurately the word of truth which, by the way, wasn't written in English. Growing up in a denominational church, the Bible translation choice was the King James Version. Yet, the NASB, NIV, ESV. What, then, has motivated the vast majority of NT scholars to embrace the earliest MSS as better representing the original wording of the NT? I wonder which translation pastors preach from the most? NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)When pastors choose a Bible, what do they use? Yes you are right, we do need to read the version we have, but to suggest that all version are equal is sad for even a bathroom theologian. Commitment, Preaching, action, radical, weird, Bible Influence I have moved from the King James Version to the New King James. Bible, Holy Spirit, Guide, translation, Bible Influence Understanding Christianity FAQ exists to help people understand the Christian faith. I just can't reconcile this oxymoron in my mind even though I thoroughly understand why newer translators chose to leave this, along with many verses out which were in the KJV and in sacred writings by early fathers agreed and voted their inclusion. "was it really bay, or was it ocean?" By working with input from pastors and Bible scholars, by grappling with the latest discoveries about biblical languages and the biblical world, and by using cutting-edge research on English usage, the Committee on Bible Translation has updated the text to ensure that the New International Version of the Bible remains faithful to Howard Long . Top countries visitors come from (at least 2,500 views each) They are not always an easy read; therefore, at times they are difficult for the new believer or non-Christian to follow. I would agree that the translation that gets read is the best for that individual. In most cases, when studying a particular verse, I find that the manifold meaning of specific words is often hinted at in the Amplified. People need to stop trying to catch a Preacher in a lie about the Bible. Sometimes people want to get me in a debate about shortcomings of one translation over another, or try to convince me that God favors a particular translation (usually the KJV). Every English translation is in fact a translation, whether it is KJV, NIV, ESV or NASB. That is the translation Im reading now but my favorite is the Holman. I encourage you to use whichever Bible that exalts and magnifies Jesus Christ as Lord the most. Every year there are 100 million sold all around the world, and it easily tops bestseller lists. Because of its poetic nature, it was easy to memorize and then in our Charismatic small group, we even sang the Scripture choruses based on the King James Version. I sure hope that when one asked what the best bible translation is , that you hand them a handful of versions and let them read the same verse over and over :). Semantics gentleman regarding the value of the NIV. As I pray and search for where my Lord would have me pastor, I am AMAZED at the various churches that request right in the "looking for a pastor" ad that ONLY KJV is used by the congregation. The CSB now translates the term anthropos, a Greek word for "man," in a gender-neutral form 151 times, rendering it "human," "people," and "ones." The previous edition had done this on occasion;. Quite often in preaching, I will re-read a verse or passage from those more modern accounts to help the listener hear something from another angle. Posted on October 10, 2017, in Bible teaching, Books, Ministry and tagged Aramaic, Bible, Bible translation, Christian Standard Bible, church, CSB, English Standard Version, ESV, faith, Greek, HCSB, Hebrew, Holman Christian Standard Bible, King James Version, KJV, NASB, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New King James Version, New Living Translation, NIV, NKJV, NLT, NRSV, preaching, pulpit, religion, RSV, sermon, translation, worship. Catholics: New American Bible (authorized exclusively for the US), RSV Catholic Edition, NRSV Catholic Edition, New Jerusalem Bible/Jerusalem Bible, Douay-Rheims Evangelical Protestants: NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, NLT, KJV Mainline Protestants: NRSV, RSV, a few have adopted the CEB (Some) Fundamentalist Protestants: only KJV, shun modern translations (view less). Mark 11:23-24 serves as a prime example. I received 95 responses from pastors, and 48 responses from laypeople. They have multiple translations on their shelves and do not ready ANY of them! But it is the Word of God we have today and I am thankful for every version. None of them are perfect. Yes, the translation is importantbut the NIV is certainly good enoughit's not as if it's the NLT, Message, or even the JW's NWT. How Do I Know Which Bible Translation Is Right for Me? I've been memorizing Scirpture for 41 years out of kjv and i find i really tough to try to memorize out of another translation. Look up John Gipp about this topic in full detail. I liked the article and am glad you wrote it. (view more) I didn't look this up. 1. I would agree with the premise that a good translation is the one that gets readunless it's some completely wonky one like The Message or even a bit lighter one like the NLT. Find the best translation of the passage you are trying to expose and use it, rather than trying to explain what the misleading translation of your tradition should really be saying. I feel confident our God is big enough to protect His Truth, use it to change lives and build up His church. Best Bible Translation: Study Aids and Extras. I still use my Thomas King James Version Bible that I had at Rhema. Who is to blame for the massshootings? However, the individual can make the choice. For pure beauty of language I like to read the J. Most of the pastors 65 percent said they were not familiar with the recently released Holman Christian Standard Bible. Other versions used are the New Revised Standard Version (14 percent), New King James Version (13 percent) and the New American Standard Bible (10). Pastor Terry Scheel Fenton, MO With so many options out there to choose from, I find that I most often use the translation that makes the exact statement that I likeregardless of which translation it is! Not from a church council. Canada It's a field which I am by no means an expert, although I am aware of the basic principles. Christian Standard Bible (CSB) The CSB aims to draw readers into a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God. The heretic Osteen publishes a NLT so possibly that. We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless! The RSV is based on the American Standard Bible translation, published in the early 1900s. Bible, Scripture, Preaching, BIBLE STUDY, Biblical ", Scripture: Evangelism, Witness, Outreach, Salvation, Gospel, Preaching, myth, Bible Influence, Evangelism The Lost Pastor Keith Trump Carmel, IN That way, we can better retain "chemistry" between OT and NT. United States of America :-) Just kidding I do have an interesting comment though. It frustrates members to guess which translation is being used. According to CCES Church among the most sold ones are: New International Version (NIV), the New . Any insight? Just to bring in a little more history, the apostles did not preach from the original language Old Testament. (Just kiddingsort of.). The Most Popular and Fastest Growing Bible Translation Isn | News Pastors and laypeople feel differently about the issue. The Bible versions ministers rated as poor included the Living Bible (27 percent), Todays New International Version (18 percent), New Living Translation (16 percent), The Message (15 percent) and the KJV (15 percent). Revelation 3:20, John 20:31, Ezekiel 3:18-19, John 6:44, Matthew 10:32-33 You cannot put G~D in a box, He will call whom He chooses and use what He wills, He used a jackass didn't He? The main translation I preach and read from is the New King James Version. It removes thee and thou and replaces those words with more contemporary language. Should I Use Bible Software In My Sermon Prep? Frederick Douglass spoke of the difference between hypocritical Christianity in America and the Christianity of Christ. Ye and Thee distinguish between "you plural" and "you singular" making it far more clear. One more big difference in various Bible translations is the inclusion of study aids. It was good enough for me to read and understand the Gospel. It does not matter what version you read as long as you are being led by The Holy Spirit and you read with your heart.Sometimes you gain and sometimes you losr. My second choice in Bible reading and preaching is from the New Living Translation. After a week I went back to the bookstore and asked for one I could read. When it comes time for memorization of scripture, I usually burn into my mind both the translation which Ive found to be the best usage of a scripture AND the King James version. Top Ten Best-Selling Bible Translations Compared to Ten Years Ago (2021 He replied, "The one you read all the time." (view more) Our lives are then the most effective 'bible' the world will read. My reasoning is that this saves time and makes my communication a lot more effective. 10. What translation of the Bible is best for a pastor to use in the pulpit? There are over 400 translations of the Bible into English, and about 350 million people still do not have ANY version of the Bible in their mother tongue. These are all fantastic questions. I will also refer to the New American Standard, the Amplified Bible, The Message and J. These levels are approximate: KJV 12th grade A good reason to read other Bible versions before preaching is that if you only use the KJV or NKJV, sometimes these versions include verses that are not in the original text. Pastor Dan Morrison Farmington, NM Exegetical Preaching Blog Launched; Uses the NASB Bible Translation So the foundation for my personal life has been the King James Version. However, we understand that His Word is His will. I finally saw she was right. These questions are a distraction from what is most important. Did they read something that bothered them and they want to try and bypass the conviction? agape, or was it deeper". Stop switching translations around to fit the point you are trying to make when preaching. I have at least 50 versions of the Bible in our library. I pastor a small church in Iowa, and I proudly use the 1971 edition of the Revised Standard Version (RSV). Occasionally, on a rare basis, I will use the Living Bible or some others. This path has been a beautiful one for me as a tool, to which has led me to koine Greek and the parallel through the codex sinaiticus, by which I deeply in courage you all to look up. yes, but do they use their own study bible editions also? (view less), In this video John Piper answers the question, "What Bible passages do you use to base your claims about how we should preach? Sometimes people want to have the translation that there pastor has and I encourage the NKJVwhich I like very much. What Bible do Christian pastors use? - TimesMojo (view more) Many consider the NASB the most accurate word-for-word English translation available today. 4 Ministry Truths From the Bestselling Bible Translations List In the strictest sense, the answer is no: the actual original documents (called the "autographs") are not in anyone's possession. Yet there are other reasons people opt for one translation over another: Baptists will continue to use different translations of the English Bible because the tradition values the autonomy of each person. Many were unsure of Revelation for a long time. IMO the most ridiculous thing we've done as pastors this century is allow hundreds of translations to come about and call them all "God's word." http://www.joycemeyer.org/productfamily.aspx?category=bibles, (You must log in or sign up to post here. For centuries, American Protestants read the Authorized Version of the Bible (better known as the King James Version). So choose your translation prayerfully, and use it consistently. Why it matters if your Bible was translated by a racially diverse group Or do they want a deeper understanding of the word and believe they will get it by paralleling ? (Also, see Baptist vs. Catholic: Whats the Difference?). I cut my teeth on the KJV, so it is my first love and the one I quote the most from memory. Its called The Truth, by Colin Urquhart. There really are different groups in Christianity, and they really have differences. Which version of the Bible do the different Christian denominations One Pastor's View: Which Bible Translations Should You Read? There are several versions I wouldn't get ugly about, but there are several that lead to error and even if they are the 'one you read', if they are wrong, they don't do you any good. * The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) is not only a revision of the Revised Standard Version (RSV) but also the base text of the ESV. Scripture: Fourth generation preacher/pastor, had two grandfathers and one grandmother before me. I for one do not speak old English. Bible translations - Wikipedia I have used KJV, ESV, NASB, NIV, The Message, LITV and Green's in powerpoints during preaching. The answer is both no and yes. Thanks for the article. Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by jprieto, Oct 23, 2013. i was wondering which bible are the famous tv preachers using today. God nowhere told us He prefers one translation over another. In North America, we have more Bibles than ever, but less and less real engagement. Unfortunately, those no longer exist. However, those same pastors put the NASB on top when asked how they would rate Bibles for use in their church. Pastor John B. Lowe Warsaw, IN South Africa, 9. The nwt is a travesty of a pretense at translation. 5. Here are the results and lessons learned: SURVEY RESULTS: Pastors: KJV: 31 % NKJV: 18% NASB: 17% ESV: 15% CSB: 8% HCSB: 3% Other: 8% Laypeople: KJV: 25% NIV: 20% NASB: 15% ESV: 15% HCSB: 9% NKJV: 7% Other: 9% TRENDS NOTICED: Given the unscientific nature of this survey and relatively small size of the sample, one should not read too much into this survey, but some trends should be noted: *There is no one translation that the majority of people prefer. For personal study, I really like the NASB95 because of its accuracy. Do we discount all that Jesus and the apostles accomplished? I don't know what Hagee uses, find out for us, you can search google as well as we can. But all of this has nothing to do with translation; it has to do with textual criticism. From the 6th century to the 10th century AD, Jewish scholars, today known as Masoretes, compared the text of all known biblical manuscripts in an effort to create a unified, standardized text. Whether someone is a life-long follower of Jesus or just curious about Christianity's beliefs, followers, history, and practices, Christianity FAQ aims to offer trustworthy information that is easy to understand. In short, closest natural equivalence concentrates on accurately translating the meaning of the original languages into . Which translation is best? A comma is needed after 'Aramaic'. The reading level of people today varies greatly and each translation is geared for an appropriate level. Why did we need to translate it again? John 3:7 "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.". I think we also need to take into account the reason for translation as well. After 30 years of teaching the word of God, I can say I have preached from the KJV, NKJV, NIV?84 and now ESV. Yeah. WHATEVER TRANSLATION YOU ARE WILL WILLING TO READPICK IT UP AND GET TO READING IT! I then moved on to the NASB and now use the ESV. I do understand what many footnotes say. A Bible is what hold the Scripture in a different language; the Scripture is what holds the Word of God. Why do many churches use different translations of the Bible? I think they give you a great foundation to make sure that youre staying in line with the text. I quote many others; all of which are common to us: Amplified, Weymouth, Moffatt, etc. Doing so can help clarify passages that are hard to understand, and also reminds the congregation that all English translations come from an original text that was in Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek. Historically, some Protestant denominations have prohibited their members from activities like What's the Difference Between First and Second Baptists? The following is a list of "Bible" translations that should be avoided for any real and faithful personal Bible study (in a separate article we will look at a list of Bible translations that are encouraged for use). (view more) No. The RSV changed Elizabethan language to contemporary English and made use of better Greek manuscripts. I like the KJV but it is not the most accurate translation available. Many times we as christians need to use our spiritual judgement when it comes to worldly ordances or biblical teachings from others. Different translation philosophies, such as word-for-word and thought-for-thought, are considered accurate, even though their approach differs. But among pastors in different denominations, there is little consensus. Sometimes the insights and shades of meaning can be very helpful. I like the Arabic translation Its the one that I get the most from! Why? By the way, after reading the article again I did not see anywhere you suggest that all translations are equal. Which Bible Translation Should I Use? - Oak Grove Church of Christ And besides if you read KJV, NASB, NIV or even the ESV it containes, no it is the Word of God! A few prefer the New Revised Standard (NRSV) or the New American Standard Bible (NASB). The name Jesus has been removed from many verses. It is good to observe that all of our versions have a clear message of Salvation and otherbasic issues of Christianity. The NKJV first appeared in the early 1980s. Why do most Baptists prefer the NIV, KJV, NKJV, or NLT? The best translation is not what you will read, but what you don't have ;-< Don't trust a Bible; trust the Lord. Jesus said to some religious guys one day, "you search the scriptures for eternal life, but these are they which testify of me." I quit using the KJV because I got tired of using point 1 to translate the translation. I too feel that it is the most accurate of all the Bibles in English print. It was a good move, and my congregation has enjoyed the change. The non-Pauline personal letters and general epistles were also arranged according to length: Hebrews, James, Peter, John, and Jude. , "was he angry when he flipped over the table in the synagogue or was he passionate?". Without any prompting from anyone else, G~D led him to a much more conservative denomination. WH's argument was solid. Also, because I am in the Bible Belt of the United States, the KJV seems to be the most accepted and recognized. In my Spanish/English Parallel Bible, Ive found some great revelations this way. God bless. 2023 Bible Translation Guide - God's Word Mission Society Stop being lazy - study and find out which translation is closest to the spirit of God's word and teach it to your people. On many occasions the Message Bible says things in such a way that it is the icing on the cake and I watch people light up when some of the verses are quoted from it. On the one hand, there is no word 'translation' in the Bible, neither the word 'Bible' is in the Bible. Jerry Colter. If it achieves that (whichever translation you read) then it has succeeded. It is just as you said. Peter Mead: Is your preaching half-baked when it comes to the biblical text? Readability does not mean it has to compromise on accuracy. I am the Northern version! Dear Pastor, I applaud your nerve for writing this article! Online, you can log on to biblestudytools.net, click on search the Bible and have quick access to many translations. I think the best version is the one that gets opened. After the 2011 update, publishers aren't expected to continue printing the previous version of the NIV, which dates to 1984. All translations have their strengths and weaknesses, and they may even translate with a specific doctrine in mind. Ed Stetzer: How To Fight Ministry Pornography. Maybe just maybe that is the reason why our lives - homes - churches. (2) One word should be added " Every English translation is in fact a translation." Pastor Mark Cowart Colorado Springs, CO The NIV is not a bad one to start with -- assuming you are using the 1984 version. Your voice is missing! Whatever translation is used, Baptists will continue to love Scripture as the Word of God, study it, defend it, and do their best to live according to its teachings. In doing so, you will likely find one translation you prefer as your main Bible for regular reading, while using other translations to help when you study a passage more in depth. Southern Baptists Embrace Gender-Inclusive Language in the Bible The translation wars is a battle meant to distract the body of Christ. It was what it was.a good starting point. Second, they all stay fairly close to one another in attempting to give the best meaning to what the Scripture has to tell us today. So with this rant out of my system, let me offer these thoughts: Scriptures: Community, Holy Spirit, Growth, leadership, Preaching, pastor, Church Growth, Church Body of Christ So I checked the Greek on PC Study Bible, and sure enough, the Greek word comes from the word geneseo, literally, genesissed. So this means if you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you wish and it shall be made, or genesissed, created for you!!! United Arab Emirates. Keep reading to learn more. The Bible was originally written in three languages Hebrew, a little bit of Aramaic and Greek. Study? Message 5-8th grade. 1) The Message (MSG) - This translation is a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson. (view more) Southern Baptist pastors are split evenly between the NIV (26 percent), NKJV (25 percent), KJV (23 percent) and NASB (22 percent). (view more) Which Bible Translation Is Best? All the Good Ones. - Logos Bible Study Tip Number One: Popular Doesn't Mean Accurate The most popular translations are not always the best translation. If ALL Scripture is God-inspired than it's classification also must have been God-inspired.By what authority have we changed what Jesus and Early Church accepted? They are refreshing and use todays language. Pastors like Osteen, Haggee, etc what im trying to see is which bible (publisher, edition, model, etc) is the one most preferred by todays famous preachers. Now, almost 100 have been discovered. Interestingly, in WH's day only one NT papyrus fragment was known. But among pastors in different. When I first started preaching (only using the KJV), I read from John 5 and after the service someone wanted to know why verse 4 was not in their Bible? I use the New American Standard for all my reading, studying, and preachingnot exclusively, but at least 90% of the time. The Bile was written a long time ago. When it comes to study, my favorite resources are the The Word (26 Translations) by Mathis, PC Study Bible on computer, and the classic Thompson Chain Reference Bible. The King James Version was the only version to be listed in both the excellent and poor lists. I saw a bumper sticker on a car one day that read "If you don't read the KJV of the Bible then you are going to burn in hell". 7 Best Bible Translations In 2023 (Are They Accurate?) A plurality of Lutheran ministers choose the NRSV. Yet there are many English Bible translations today, so which ones do Baptists use? What is it that you like about the translation(s) you use the most, and why do you consider it to be the most effective for you? Why? Having trouble logging into your account? Also, the AMP (Amplified Bible) is great to study from since it expands and defines key words. The Amp. Post Reply The KJV has been a classic translation since the 17th century for its accuracy and the beauty of its translation and phrasing. Bible Translation 7 Best Bible Translations In 2023 (Are They Accurate?) Good wisdom, even in most comments. In the mid-twentieth century a revision of the KJV appeared: The Revised Standard Version. Second Baptist Church in Houston, the nation's largest Southern Baptist congregation, uses the New American Standard Bible. I am probably an odd bird on this issue. NLT 6th grade 7 Best Bible Translations In 2023 (Are They Accurate?) - EpiTimmy Glory!! Researchers at a Christian college in Virginia have found that the King James Version of the Bible is the most frequently used translation among five denominations in the United States. if we not careful with what we read we will be confused and let away from the truth. There are over 3,000 noted errors within the gospels alone. The verse is simply not there with text moving from 8:36 to 8:38. They were arranged according to length. They were using the NIV. Bible, Preaching, Text, preparation. The study of 700 pastors was conducted by Ellison Research for Facts & Trends magazine, a publication of the LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. I believe from scripture that there is only one way to the Father, but I have discovered from the scripture and many years of serving as a pastor that there are many ways to Jesus. But now am beginning to lean toward the NASB. Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. The Word of God and the Spirit always agree and we must have both to be effective. Excellent, my sentiments exactly! By geographic regions, Ellison reported that the KJV is the favorite of pastors in the southern United States. I hope that a place where you wish the translators made different chioces is in Isaiah 14:12 Lucifer is the the son of the morning. Sometimes even a parapharase expresses the intent of the original better than a word for word translation. In fact, I am so taken with the NLT that I recently sent hundreds of them as gifts to a group of our partners in the United States with a note to tell them how much this translation has personally meant to me. Conspiracy or Evidence? The KJV also received almost 45 percent of the Bible translation-related searches on Google, compared with almost 24 percent for the NIV, according to Bible Gateway's Stephen Smith. 3. Not the Morning Star. Singapore It is not a paraphrase either, but a translation. I have a pocket NIV that is a good travel Bible and I find its easy to read, but Ive always preferred KJV and NKJV for scripture memory and pulpit ministry. Why would someone seek an understanding of a scripture closer to its original dialect? @R, the problem with the statement: "There have been some 300 "changes" to the NIV and other translations with many deletions," is that it makes the KJV the standard. I dont use it because I like it; I use it because people Im ministering to use it, and every translation has its strengths and weaknesses. I also preach from the New International Version, as both are very readable and accurate to the original text. I also reference other translations and paraphrases in order to get a clearer picture of whats being said. I then moved from NKJV to NIV?84, because most of the people in my church used it and I went to ESV because of NIV?11.