Which Bible Translation Is Best?
Beulah Youth, Worship & Media Pastor | Aimee Oyen
Whether we’ve been following Jesus for a minute or most of our lives, one habit vital to our Christian walk is reading the Bible daily. If you’ve ever shopped for a new bible or have downloaded the bible app it can be confusing that there are so many different translations. Is one superior to the rest? Is there a bad translation to stay away from?
I remember when I started a discipleship program where we would read the whole bible together; something I had never done! For me, this was a big undertaking! I asked the pastor if there was a certain translation or study bible I should read from. I loved his answer; “the best version of the Bible is the one you can understand.”
As I continued in the discipleship I found several translations to be very helpful to understand the Bible better. Reading passages in several different ones also helped me to not only understand the meaning behind the scripture but also helped me to interpret for myself what I was reading with guidance from the Holy Spirit.
The bottom line is that there is a time and place for different translations. So here are the types of translations and how reading all of them can help us know the word better and grow in our faith.
WORD FOR WORD
Word-for-word translations are the most accurate because the words are closely written like the original. These translations keep the grammatical structure of the original text identifiable. It also leaves a level of ambiguity for us to determine what the passages mean as these aren’t translated with someone’s interpretation. This is good for obvious reasons, but, at times, it can be a bit confusing.
THOUGHT FOR THOUGHT
Thought-for-thought translations are used more for everyday reading and group studies.
Not all words can be translated into all languages, so these translations give more of the context behind the passages. The word love, for example, has many different forms within the bible depending on how it’s being used. These translations offer the context behind the words more than just the words themselves.
The other issue with translations is that language has evolved. Let’s be honest; almost every generation has a special linguistic pattern and words can change meaning over time. (For example: the word “sick” might mean ill for some of us, while the younger generations also know “sick” to mean awesome!) While it’s important to have a word-to-word translation, we also need to have the context behind the words to bring meaning to what’s being said.
PARAPHRASE
Paraphrase translations are great for devotional reading. They really help us hear the heart of what scripture is saying in language that's easy to understand. Here are a few ones that I love!
The Message: This is a great commentary for us to have a relational connection with Jesus.
The Passion Translation: This is great for song and poetry writing!
Gen Z: Don’t knock this one; https://genz.bible/ is a great resource for students looking for a bible using today’s lingo.
Reading the Bible consistently is like eating a healthy diet. It’s feeding our spirit and helping us to become more Christ-like.
If you’re looking for help to understand it better, here are a few apps to help you:
Pattern for Life- This is a great app for studying the bible with a small group!
You Version Bible- all of the translations in one place!
Fire Student Bible- This is the Bible I purchased to study the commentary and notes in it.
So whichever translation you choose to read; just get in the word and seek after God! Let the Holy Spirit reveal truth and wisdom to you and you set aside time to listen to Him through the word!
