There is an amazing value found in reading whole books, versus reading pieces and parts of books. We read (and I preach) whole books because that’s the way the Bible was intended to be read. It’s super hard to interpret it in pieces and very easy to misinterpret it if we pick it apart. Taking the Bible in bites is fine, but read it as a whole. 

I’ve been reading in the New Living Translation this year. I preach from the English Standard Version. I’ve read the Holman Christian Standard Version for years. The New International Version is always refreshing. I like the New American Standard Version and have always found it to be a solid translation. On the lighter side, I love the JB Phillips translation and Eugene Peterson’s “Message.” To be fair, these last two are done by one man each, rather than a translation committee, so I’d never preach or study from them. But there is a beauty about both that stands out in devotional reading. 

I fully realize this conversation can get as sticky as grandma’s secret biscuit recipe. I’m not trying to stir up a hornet’s nest. I promise! I am hoping to crack the door for people who’ve never considered any translation other than the KJV. The King James Bible is a wonderful translation. It’s beauty and form are time tested. But it has a downside. It’s over 400 years old! That means the language and manuscripts used to translate are equally ancient. Think about this, there were less than 1000 people in North America who could read that Bible when it was first printed. 

I’ve already said I love new, fresh translations. Let me speak for just a minute against some of the arguments I hear and then we can talk about the benefits of ongoing translation. I’ve heard people foolishly say “The KJV was good enough for Paul and it’s good enough for me.” Hogwash. Paul’s ‘Bible’ was in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. He never saw a New Testament, except for the books he wrote! I’ve heard people say they love KJV because it was the first English translation. Again, not true. I have a page of the Geneva Bible hanging in my office, translated almost 100 years before KJV. There were multiples before it. The fact is, the Bible has been translated each generation and into every language imaginable for the last 2000 years. The fact that Jesus would have had access to the Old Testament in Greek is proof of this! Some people are bound to tradition and that is perfectly fine. The biggest obstacle I’ve found is that tradition then becomes binding (and confusing) to new believers. It’s one thing to have trouble understanding what Paul means in Romans 9. It’s an entirely other thing to be confused because of the King’s English. 

Translations are based on many things. Language is most important. As the field of archaeology develops, new (older) manuscripts are often discovered. The more manuscripts we have of a book or verse, the more reliable that scripture becomes. If we have 50k copies of a verse that span 1500 years, we can be pretty sure that verse hasn’t been altered over time. This is the case with 99% of the Bible. There are a few verses that show up only in later versions. That tells us they weren’t there in the earliest manuscripts. Most translations will remove these verses and mark the change in a footnote. Translations are also based on culture. The question “How can we say this so the next generation will understand it?” must be asked and answered well. And this question must be answered in a way that doesn’t alter the meaning of the verse at all. 

Translations are also based on need. There are languages and cultures that exist in the world today who have never, ever read the Bible for themselves. They can’t. It’s not yet translated for them. There are some exciting ministries who are translating at faster rates today than we ever imagined possible. 

The Bible deserves to be spoken in fresh tones. The life that is gained reading it in different translations is exciting. Do your homework. Don’t pick a goofy translation any more than you’d live in a shoddy built house. I’ve listed several good ones here. There are several more strong translations out there. I’d be happy to help you locate one. The point is, Bible reading is not just something for the person who has lots of time and enjoys fireside reading. It’s for every believer! We need the life and truth found in the Bible like we need our next breath. The Spirit infuses Himself in every single word. Hearing God’s voice in its reading is normal. 

I’ll challenge you: pick a new translation and read your Bible. You won’t regret it.