Once you've decided to follow Jesus, you will quickly develop a hunger to know and experience God in a deeper and more meaningful way. You will grow hungry to read and study the Word of God.
A translation is an act of rendering the Bible from one language to another (i.e., Hebrew-to-English, Greek-to-English, etc.). A version is how those words are rendered in the translation. Versions of the Bible try to keep a balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought so that the reader can understand both structures and thoughts of the original content. Some common versions are:
- NIV - New International Version
- NLT - New Living Translation
- ESV - English Standard Version
- NKJV - New King James Version
- NRSV - New Revised Standard Version
- GNT - Good News Translation
Versions are also written to appeal to a particular grade level of reading. For instance, the NIV is written for an eighth-grade reading level. The NLT is written for a sixth-grade reading level. I find this interesting because I read at the college level, but I use the NIV and NLT as my "go-to" sources for most Bible studies, articles, and blogs.
Each of the different versions presents the content from a little different angle. I think it is quite useful to study the Bible using several different versions. My favorite website for doing this Biblehub.com.
There is another group of Bible versions called paraphrases. A paraphrase tries to render only thought-for-thought, often rewriting the entire paragraph. Paraphrases can be helpful when one is having difficulty understanding the meaning of a verse or paragraph. Some common paraphrases are:
The errors in different versions and the KJV are insignificant unless one is a Bible scholar.
I would also suggest that you avoid the KJV even though your church might be telling you it is the only Bible to get. That being said, if all you have is the KJV, then read it. The Holy Spirit will reveal the truth to you regardless of the version or translation you are using.
The KJV, however, has one major flaw: it isn't easy to understand the concept of Grace by reading only the KJV. The old English does not do a good job of conveying Grace. Churches that read only the KJV exclusively tend to have a legalistic edge in their teaching about God because of it.
The first version of the Bible that I read that was not the KJV was the GNT - Good News Translation. The modern English version illustrated God's Grace in a way that I had never understood. I was so captivated by the Grace that the GNT (though the Holy Spirit) presented that I thought I was being a heretic. The GNT presented a picture of God to me that was so contrary to the language of the KJV.
All the Bible versions do a better job of presenting and portraying God's Grace than the KJV. Understanding the Grace of God is the essential element of Christian living and walking in the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-2 NIV
I would also add that I find all of the versions and translations helpful on some level.
My wife and I accidentally discovered a fantastic way to acquire very high-quality Bibles for minimal cost. We downloaded an app called Estatesales.net. The app locates all estate sales in your area. Almost every home has at least one Bible; most have several. We can acquire high-quality Bibles for $1.00 or less by attending the estate sales.
Try to choose a Bible with a heavier paper so that when you underline a verse, it doesn't also underline the verse on the back of the page - a big problem with modern Bible printing.
Having access to one's own personal Bible is also essential to have a daily walk with the Lord of lords and King of kings - the Source of all things. Many Christians throughout the world do not have this blessing, so don't take it for granted.
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