Top 10 Bilbe Versions

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Top ten bible versions

The original scriptures were written mostly in Greek and Hebrew, two languages which are not commonly spoken today. That means all of our modern English versions are translations from the original. Because words and phrases can be translated in a variety of ways, we end up with a bookstore full of titles and abbreviations which can be a little confusing. Hopefully, this brief summary and unscientific rating system will help you to choose the version that is best for you.

In order of popularity of use (CBA, May 2010):

New International Version (NIV) Accuracy: ** Readability: * Tradition: * Popularity: ***** Grade Level: 7.8	The NIV (1978) was freshly translated by 115 evangelical scholars, directly from the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. The primary concern was for accuracy and clarity, with a natural English style. It is not perfect, but this balance between accuracy and readability has made it the most widely used English version today, and it is considered by many churches and seminaries to be the default translation of today.
King James Version (KJV) Accuracy: ** Readability: Tradition: *** Popularity: ** Grade Level: 12.0	The King James Version (1611) was translated in the contemporary language of the time to unite the English speaking church. It is considered a masterpiece and was long the most popular version of the Bible, surpassed by the NIV in 1988. Although many phrases are now archaic and hard to understand, its historical continuity, tradition and beauty make it still the favorite of many traditionalists.
New King James Version (NKJV) Accuracy: *** Readability: * Tradition: ** Popularity: * Grade Level: 9.0	The goal of the NKJV (1979) was to make the KJV more readable by replacing outdated wording such thee, thou, and thine with modern equivalents, while staying as true to the KJV as possible. The result is a half-way point between modern language readability and the strong tradition and phrases of the well-known KJV.
New Living Translation (NLT) Accuracy: * Readability: * Tradition: Popularity: ** Grade Level: 6.3	This update is based on The Living Bible (1971), Ken Taylor’s landmark paraphrase of the ASV, which he wrote to make the Bible more understandable to his children. Since he was not a scholar, the original was widely loved for its simplicity, but criticized for many doctrinal inaccuracies. The NLT (1996) was rewritten by 90 scholars from different backgrounds to fix most of these problems while staying true to Taylor’s gift for everyday speech. Although not the most accurate, this version is okay for devotional reading, and better than the original.
English Standard Version (ESV) Accuracy: ** Readability: Tradition: * Popularity: ** Grade Level: 8.0	The ESV (2001) is an update of the Revised Standard Version (1952) which was an excellent modern translation that was criticized for its non-traditional interpretation of the Old Testament. The ESV fixes those issues, while capitalizing on the strengths of the often forgotten RSV. Some consider it to be more literal than the NIV, while remaining more readable than the ultra-accurate NASB or NKJV. This version has great potential as more people learn about it, and is a superior update than the previous NRSV (1990).
Holman Christian Standard Bible HCSB) Accuracy: ** Readability: Tradition: Popularity: ** Grade Level: 8.0	The HCSB (2004) is an excellent original language translation with the unique characteristic of using the proper names of God (Yahweh) in place of the English equivalents. Having been translated almost entirely by scholars with a Southern Baptist background, it has a tendency to translate verses about spiritual gifts with a non-Pentecostal perspective.
New International Reader's Version (NIrV) Accuracy: * Readability: * Tradition: Popularity: * Grade Level: 2.9	The NIrV (1994) is a scholarly simplification of the popular NIV. It was specifically designed to help young children and new readers understand the Bible for themselves and create an easy stepping-stone from a children’s Bible to an adult Bible. While not childish, it uses simple, short words and sentences. It may also be helpful to those with reading disabilities or speaking English as a second language.
The Message Accuracy: * Readability: ***** Tradition: * Popularity: * Grade Level: 4.8	Eugene Peterson wrote The Message (1993) as a paraphrase in his own words. Inspired by his efforts as a pastor to make the Bible more vivid and interesting, it is not intended to be a direct translation, nor should it be read as such. Peterson is a scholar, but this work is more like what you would hear in a sermon expounding on the verses. It can serve as a devotional companion, but should never replace an actual Bible translation.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Accuracy: *** Readability: Tradition: **** Popularity: * Grade Level: 11.0	The 1971 version of the NASB was an update of the original American Standard Version (1901) with the goal of creating the most accurate word-for-word translation available in English. It is highly respected by scholars and is excellent for study and reference, without having to go to the original Greek or Hebrew. Some, however, find the resulting English to be too choppy and awkward for devotional or public reading. It was update again in 1995, with minor refinements and improvements.
Today's New International Version (TNIV) Accuracy: * Readability: *** Tradition: * Popularity: * Grade Level: 8.0	By many accounts the TNIV (2005) is an ill-advised attempt at making the Bible gender-inclusive. Based on the NIV, it shares many of its strengths. While its intentions are good, it goes too far in trying to render even gender-specific Greek words gender-neutral, thereby changing the meaning of some passages. It is gaining popularity due to its political correctness.