Newbie's Guide: A quick guide to different versions of the Bible
If you’re starting to read the Bible on the Bible App or in person, you’ll notice that there are a large number of different translations of the Bible in English. In fact, there are significantly more translations of the Bible in English than in any other language. This is a huge gift, as it really does give you the ability as a new English-speaking Christian to choose the version of the Bible that really speaks to you. Most speakers of other languages don’t have this range of translations, and some languages don’t have Bible translations at all.
Without further ado, here is a quick guide to a couple of the most popular English translations and paraphrases:
King James Version (KJV): This version was authorized in 1604 by King James I of England for the Anglican Church, and as a result, it may read like a Shakespeare play. For example, Psalm 139:1-2 says this:
“O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me. Thou knowest mine downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.”
Despite its old-style English, the KJV is still renowned today for its lack of bias and loyalty to the original Hebrew and Greek text. If you can get used to the thees and thous, it can be a very useful resource.
New King James Version (NKJV): Made in 1975, this version of the Bible is basically the King James Version, but in more modern English. The “thees” and “thous” are taken out in favor of “yous”, and there are no “-ests” attached to verbs, but otherwise, the translators tried to keep as close to the KJV as possible. A nice combination of the depth of the KJV with more modern language.
New International Version (NIV): Commissioned in 1978, around the same time as the NKJV, the NIV is a separate translation from both the KJV and NKJV, going back to the original Hebrew and Greek and translating it into their own contemporary English version. The NIV is known for its distinct but clear literary style, and you will find it quoted in many modern churches.
New Living Translation (NLT): First published in 1996, the NLT has become a rapid favorite in the English-speaking world for its clear and simple language. While not as poetic as the KJV, NKJV or NIV, the NLT is very good at breaking down some of the complex verses in the Bible into smaller, more manageable concepts. It may be a good first version of the Bible for you if you’re not used to reading big books.
The Message (MSG): The Message Bible was largely written by one man, Eugene H. Peterson, between 1993 and 2002. It is often called a “paraphrase” because it tries to imitate the sense of poetry and emphasis of the original Hebrew and Greek Bibles in modern English. The result is a Bible full of passionate language and contemporary idioms. For example, Psalm 139:1-2 (again):
“GOD, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight.”
Because of its unique language, the Message is not too similar to other translations of the Bible, so you may get lost if you’re in your local church or Bible study. Nevertheless, it’s very interesting and captivating, and worth a read, especially if you find the NKJV and KJV too dull.
That is just the tip of the iceberg concerning Bible translations in English. There are plenty more to be found. Just as an example, Catholic versions of the Bible include the Douay-Rheims Bible and the New Catholic Bible; there are three or four specifically Jewish versions the Bible in English (Complete Jewish Bible, Orthodox Jewish Bible, New Messianic Version), and there’s even a version made for Native Canadians, or First Nations people (aptly called the First Nations Version (FNV)). All of these and more are available on the Bible App.
If you want to find out how people are making the Bible available in more languages for people who don’t have it yet, you can click here.