WHY ARE THERE SO MANY BIBLE TRANSLATIONS?

  “The best translation is the one that keeps you reading the Bible.” – Unknown.

The Bible can be intimidating. It is a book with 66 books inside it, the most recent of which was written about 1,900 years ago by people who spoke dead languages and lived in cultures significantly different from ours. Some parts of the Bible are hard to understand, while others are a little boring.  Some stories speak of people and places we don’t know how to pronounce, and we have no idea who or where they are. Using the correct version can go a long way in dealing with those issues.

Translations exist because (1) most people are not fluent in the original languages in which the Bible was written, and (2) the English language has evolved and changed over time. So, what is the right version? God’s Word does not change, but languages do change; thus, updated and revised translations of the Bible can be helpful. The overriding goal of modern translations is to help convey to readers in contemporary language what the original text meant. A more practical answer to which version to use is to read the translation that keeps you reading the Bible. Northstar Church uses NLT as the default version but uses other versions, such as the  ESV and NIV.

It is called God’s Word, even though God did not physically write it. Instead, God worked through everyday people, inspired by Him, to record what Christians accept as the Bible. The Old Testament is primarily a record of God’s dealings with His chosen people – the Hebrews or Jews. The New Testament continues the record with first-century accounts of Jesus’s life and ministry.

God’s Word does not change, but languages do change, thus the need for updated and revised translations of the Bible. The overriding goal of modern translations is to help convey to readers in contemporary English what the original text meant.  For daily reading and Bible study, we recommend using a Bible translation that emphasizes the importance of being both literal and readable. The church uses the NLT, but the ESV and NIV are excellent versions as well.

Remember two things: First, we must keep in mind that the Bible must be prayed over, studied, and committed to the heart for it to function in the manner that God intended. The truth of Scripture is given to us for living. We may own every version of the Scriptures available and not profit by any of them. Regardless of what translation you use, what matters is the changes in thinking that result from what we read.

Discussion Questions:

1. What translation do you use? Why?
2. What can you do this week to improve how we read and study the Bible?