Best Book to Start Reading the Bible

Which is the best Bible translation?

I of the nearly asked questions about the Bible is 'what is the all-time translation?'

It all depends on who y'all are and what you will be using it for. It can help to know a few basic facts about translations...

How do I choose my Bible translation?

Many people find that they need more than one Bible and utilise different ones for different occasions. Due to the large number of translations available online for costless it is very easy to take access to a wide range of dissimilar translations.

First of all, consider how you'll be reading the Bible...

I'k new to the Bible

You might like to start with a translation that avoids also much technical language. Look for ane described as 'dynamic equivalent'**.

I'll be reading the Bible aloud

A translation that focuses more on dynamic equivalence**.

I'll be reading with other people

Decide whether it would help you to have the same version every bit everyone else or a different one and so that y'all can see how different translators take translated the passage yous are reading.

I desire to study a passage in depth

A translation that focuses on formal equivalence* will be most helpful.

I'll be reading big sections at a time (e.one thousand. post-obit a Bible reading plan)

A translation that focuses more on dynamic equivalence**.

I want to get a sense of the complexities of the passage and what translators have wrestled with to create their translations

Read a range of translations, choosing at least two formal equivalence* translations.

* A formal equivalence, give-and-take-for-word translation gives priority to what the original language says and how information technology says information technology. Information technology aims to be a literal translation.

** A dynamic equivalence, idea-for-thought translation gives priority to what the text ways. Information technology aims to make the text every bit readable for a modernistic audience equally possible.

Translation guide

Click on the title to find out more nearly each translation. You'll notice that some of the same comments appear under pros and cons – this is because some people regard something every bit a positive, while others regard exactly the same affair as a negative.

• Date first published: 1995
• What kind of translation? Dynamic equivalence – still a translation merely is often very colloquial and renders the original language loosely
• Average reading historic period? 10+
• Gender neutral language?Yes
• Frequently stated pros of the translation:
  • Designed for people who practice not know Bible 'jargon'
  • Like shooting fish in a barrel to empathize and to read out loud
  • Intended for people who struggle to read other translations
  • In 1996 the CEV won the Crystal Mark award from the Obviously English Entrada
• Often stated cons of the translation:
  • Sometimes simplifying Bible jargon changes what it was originally saying (or just communicates function of what was meant)
  • Those who know the Bible already observe that its richness has been lost
  • In that location is very little poetry in the translation
• Sample poetry: 'If we have all we demand and see one of our own people in demand, we must have pity on that person, or else nosotros cannot say nosotros love God.' (1 John 3.17)

See Contemporary English language Version Bibles in the shop

• Date first published: 2001
• What kind of translation? Formal equivalence – literal, staying shut to the original sentence structure but irresolute it where meaning is compromised
• Average reading age? 15+
• Gender neutral language?No
• Ofttimes stated pros of the translation:
  • A revision of the RSV, undertaken by various iconic evangelical theologians
  • Has tried to keep some of the all-time-loved passages in a translation that is shut to the KJV
  • Avoids inclusive language
• Often stated cons of the translation:
  • For some, the evangelical theology that has guided the translation is problematic
  • Avoids inclusive language
  • Some find the sentence construction difficult to understand
• Sample verse: 'But if anyone has the globe'due south goods and sees his blood brother in demand, however closes his centre against him, how does God'due south love abide in him?' (ane John 3.17)

Run into English Standard Version Bibles in the shop

• Date showtime published: 1976
• What kind of translation?Dynamic equivalence – still a translation but is oft very colloquial and renders the original linguistic communication loosely
• Average reading age? 12+
• Gender neutral language?Yes
• Often stated pros of the translation:
  • Designed to be accessible to (and is very pop among) non-native English speakers, especially in Africa and the Far East.
  • Its line drawings are iconic and help with agreement the text
  • An easy-to-read and understand version
• Oft stated cons of the translation:
  • Often criticised for lack of depth in its phrasing
  • Some feel that, occasionally, information technology goes too far from the original text in its attempt to communicate meaning
• Sample verse: 'If we are rich and see others in demand, yet close our hearts against them, how can nosotros claim that nosotros love God?' (ane John 3.17)

See Good News Bibles in the shop

• Date start published: 1966
• What kind of translation? Dynamic equivalence – does not try to follow original sentence structure and focuses on what the text means
• Average reading historic period? 16+
• Gender neutral language?No
• Often stated pros of the translation:
  • A Cosmic Bible containing the 73 books of the Catholic canon
  • Literary in mode with some well-known writers involved such every bit JRR Tolkien
  • Some passages are beautifully poetic
• Often stated cons of the translation:
  • Some claim information technology is more than a paraphrase than a translation (translated from French)
  • Criticised for being comparatively literal
• Sample verse : 'If a man who was rich enough in this world's goods saw that one of his brothers was in need, but airtight his center to him, how could the dear of God be living in him?' (1 John three.17)

• Engagement first published: 1611
• What kind of translation? Formal equivalence – literal, staying shut to the original sentence structure but changing information technology where pregnant is compromised
• Average reading age? 17+
• Gender neutral language? No
• Often stated pros of the translation:
  • Cute poetic linguistic communication
  • Language that has influenced many phrases in modern English language
  • Very close to the original text
• Oft stated cons of the translation:
  • Archaic linguistic communication that many people practise non understand
  • Based on the Hebrew and Greek texts available in the 16th century.
  • Some words used in the KJV at present take very different meanings (due east.g. the word suffer as in 'suffer the little children')
• Sample verse: 'But whoso hath this globe'due south good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth upwardly his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?' (1 John 3.17)

Meet King James Version Bibles in the shop

• Date first published: 1971
• What kind of translation?a paraphrase, i.e. non translated direct from the the original languages
• Average reading age? 12+
• Gender neutral language?No
• Often stated pros of the translation:
  • Ane of the very few genuine paraphrases, based on the American Standard Version translation
  • One of the earliest accessible versions of the Bible
  • Careful to communicate the meaning of each passage
• Ofttimes stated cons of the translation:
  • One of the very few 18-carat paraphrases
  • The language is not designed to be elegant
  • Sometimes the verses or passages are given unusual interpretations.
• Sample verse: 'Only if someone who is supposed to exist a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him – how tin can God's beloved be inside him?' (1 John 3.17)

• Appointment beginning published: 2002
• What kind of translation?Dynamic equivalence – still a translation but is often very colloquial and renders the original linguistic communication loosely
• Average reading age? nine+
• Gender neutral language?Yes
• Oftentimes stated pros of the translation:
  • A fresh like shooting fish in a barrel-to-read, idiomatic translation
  • It often presents a unlike insight to a passage
  • Information technology captures some of the passion of the original
• Ofttimes stated cons of the translations:
  • Its vernacular style works for some and not for others
  • Its idioms are quite American and British readers tin find this difficult
  • The translation is very free, which can lead to questions about its accuracy
• Sample poesy: 'If you see some brother or sister in need and have the ways to practice something about it merely turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God'due south love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.' (1 John 3.17)

• Date starting time published: 1971 (updated in 1995)
• What kind of translation?Formal equivalence – very literal, as close to the original judgement structure as possible
• Average reading age? xvi+
• Gender neutral linguistic communication?No
• Often stated pros of the translation:
  • Considered past many to be the 'nigh literal' translation
  • especial care was taken to reverberate the aforementioned verb tense equally in the original
• Often stated cons of the translation:
  • Often most impossible to understand in English language
  • Conservative theology affects translational decisions
• Sample poetry: 'But whoever has the globe'southward goods, and sees his brother in demand and closes his centre against him, how does the love of God abide in him?' (1 John 3.17)

• Engagement offset published: 1996
• What kind of translation? Dynamic equivalence – does not effort to follow original sentence construction and focuses on what the text means
• Boilerplate reading age? 7+
• Gender neutral linguistic communication? Yep
• Often stated pros of the translation:
  • All the advantages of the NIV but easier to read
  • Designed so that people can become on to read the NIV if/when they want to
  • Ane of the clearest and like shooting fish in a barrel to read translations around
• Often stated cons of the translation:
  • Information technology does sometimes skid more into interpreting the text than simply translating it
  • Some avert it considering of its advertised low reading age
• Sample verse: 'Suppose someone sees a brother or sister in need and is able to help them. And suppose that person doesn't have compassion on these needy people. And so how can the honey of God be in that person?' (1 John three.17)

• Date offset published: 1978 (updated in 2011)
• What kind of translation? Mixed dynamic and formal equivalence – attempts to prefer a midpoint between staying close to the original text and communicating its pregnant in a way that is easy to understand
• Boilerplate reading age? 12+
• Gender neutral language? No (1978), Yes (2011)
• Frequently stated pros of the translation:
  • I of the few translations that tries to balance literal translation with an emphasis on pregnant
  • Is often clear and easy to read
  • Has tried to keep an accent on literary beauty, making it a good translation for reading in church
• Oftentimes stated cons of the translation:
  • It attempt to maintain clarity has caused it to innovate words that are not in the original
  • Some people do not like its style of writing, finding it bland or lacking in poetry
• Sample verse: 'If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need simply has no pity on them, how can the honey of God be in that person?' (1 John three.17)

• Date first published: 1985
• What kind of translation?Mixed dynamic and formal equivalence – attempts to adopt a midpoint betwixt staying close to the original text and communicating its meaning in a fashion that is easy to understand
• Average reading historic period? 13+
• Gender neutral language?A little
• Often stated pros of the translation:
  • A heavily revised version of the Jerusalem Bible
  • Introduces some inclusive language
  • Attempts to brand the translation a more literal translation than the Jerusalem Bible
• Ofttimes stated cons of the translation:
  • The endeavour to be more than literal loses some of the poetry of the Jerusalem Bible
  • Introduces some inclusive language
• Sample poesy: 'If anyone is well-off in worldly possessions and sees his brother in need merely closes his heart to him, how can the beloved of God be remaining in him?' (1 John 3.17)

• Appointment offset published: 1982
• What kind of translation? Formal equivalence – literal, staying close to the original sentence structure but irresolute it where meaning is compromised
• Average reading age? 12+
• Gender neutral linguistic communication? No
• Often stated pros of the translation:
  • A maintenance of the poetic language of the KJV updated into modern English
  • Uses as much as possible the same version of the original text as the KJV did
  • Often follows the translation in the KJV
• Oft stated cons of the translation:
  • Its attempt to exist very literal can make it hard to read
  • Largely based on the Hebrew and Greek texts available in the 16th century.
  • Oft follows the translation in the KJV
• Sample verse: 'But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in demand, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?' (1 John 3.17)

See New King James Version Bibles in the shop

• Date outset published: 1996
• What kind of translation?Dynamic equivalence – still a translation but is often very vernacular and renders the original language loosely
• Average reading age? 11+
• Gender neutral language?Yes
• Often stated pros of the translation:
  • Began as a revision of The Living Bible but became a full translation from the original language
  • Kept The Living Bible's emphasis on accessibility
  • Changes some metaphors from the Bible into more understandable phrases (e.g. being 'in sorrow' rather than 'chirapsia their breasts')
• Often stated cons of the translation:
  • Its accent on accessibility sometimes makes it feel a long way from the original
  • The change of metaphors into more than modernistic linguistic communication often changes their meaning more than what was intended
  • Not i of the strongest among the accessible translations
• Sample poetry: 'If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need only shows no compassion – how can God's love be in that person?' (1 John 3.17)

• Date starting time published:1989
• What kind of translation?Formal equivalence – literal, staying close to the original sentence structure simply changing it where meaning is compromised
• Average reading age?sixteen+
• Gender neutral language?Yes
• Oftentimes stated pros of the translation:
  • Uses upward-to-date linguistic communication (in item it uses less archaic language for God)
  • The Erstwhile Testament reflects Jewish interpretations of the text
  • Used more upwards-to-appointment versions of the Hebrew and Greek text
  • Tried hard to avoid 'male person-merely' linguistic communication
• Oftentimes stated cons of the translation:
  • The Old Attestation was translated to reflect Jewish interpretations of the text. The problem for some here is prophecies that were later seen to be about Christ. Some think their translation should e'er reflect this; others that they should be translated in such a way every bit the original audience might have understood them
  • Sometimes its selection of inclusive language obscures connections in the text
• Sample verse : 'How does God's love abide in anyone who has the globe'due south goods and sees a brother or sister in need and withal refuses help?' (1 John 3.17)

See New Revised Standard Version Bibles in the store

• Engagement first published: 1989
• What kind of translation? Dynamic equivalence – attempts to adopt a midpoint betwixt staying close to the original text and communicating its pregnant in a style that is easy to understand
• Average reading age?11+
• Gender neutral language?Yes
• Often stated pros of the translation:
  • 1 of the few modern translations to originate in Britain
  • Aims for a mix of accuracy, poetry and comprehension
  • It is especially good for reading in public
• Often stated cons of the translation:
  • It isn't widely used and then is quite hard to get hold of
  • Because information technology doesn't follow the best known translations, sometimes its phrases sound unusual
• Sample verse: 'If we take all nosotros need and run into one of our own people in need, we must take pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God.' (ane John 3.17)

• Date showtime published: 1952
• What kind of translation?Formal equivalence – literal, staying close to the original sentence structure simply changing it where meaning is compromised
• Average reading age? 17+
• Gender neutral language? No
• Oftentimes stated pros of the translation:
  • Intended to be a readable though literal translation (at the time)
  • The Old Testament was translated to reflect Jewish interpretations of the text
  • Used more upwardly-to-date versions of the Hebrew and Greek text
• Often stated cons of the translation:
  • Linguistic communication has moved on and it is no longer up-to-date
  • The Quondam Attestation was translated to reflect Jewish interpretations of the text. The problem for some here is prophecies that were later seen to be near Christ. Some call up their translation should ever reverberate this; others that they should be translated in such a style as the original audition might have understood them.
• Sample verse: 'Just if any one has the earth'due south appurtenances and sees his blood brother in need, yet closes his middle against him, how does God's love abide in him?' (1 John 3.17)

Run into Revised Standard Version Bibles in the shop

Chosen your translation? Check out these resources...

The Bible Course

Whether yous're well versed in Scripture or just starting out on the journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world's all-time-selling volume.

My Bible

'When my mum was pregnant with me, my parents read Psalm 121 a lot. It'south comforting and very beautiful. It gives an atmosphere of peace and support. Then in that location was a fire in my mum's house virtually a week before I was due...'

Bible Book Club

Love books? Love book clubs? Welcome to Bible Book Club, helping you read the Bible with your friends – one book at a time.

Glossary

Unsure of the meaning of a word or phrase in the Bible? Check our glossary of terms.

What we're doing

Detect out how we work and where we work to bring the Bible to life for communities all over the world.

Best Book to Start Reading the Bible

Source: https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/explore-the-bible/which-is-the-best-bible-translation/

Share this post