Bible Versions

Top 10 Bible Translations

The original scriptures were written mostly in Biblical Hebrew and Greek, 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 by unit sales in the US (ECPA):

New International Version (NIV)

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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. This balance between accuracy and readability has made it the most widely used English version today, and it is considered by many protestant churches to be the default modern bible translation.

In 2011 NIV released an update that replaced the 1984 update most commonly in use (NIV 1984). In addition to some gender inclusion where men and woman are both intended (never in regards to God), there where several other improvements over the 1984 version:

“Sinful nature” is now “flesh”, one of the Apostle Paul's most powerful topics. “Christ” is now “Messiah” in many cases in the new Testament, reflecting the Jewishness of the original audience. “Spirit” is now capitalized when it refers to the Holy Spirit, differentiating it from references to the human spirit. “Saints” is now “God’s people” to avoid confusion with sainthood doctrines.

Unless otherwise stated, the NIV (2011) is the default version used for public reading during our services.

King James Version (KJV)

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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 Living Translation (NLT)

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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 for his children. Since he was not a scholar, the original was widely loved for its simplicity, but criticized for some doctrinal difficulties. 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. Its natural readability make it an excellent choice for new believers and for devotional reading.

English Standard Version (ESV)

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Grade Level: 10.0

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 certain passages. The ESV fixes some issues, while capitalizing on the strengths of the often forgotten RSV (on which the Amplified is based). In some places it remains more archaic than the NIV, while remaining more readable than the ultra-accurate NASB or NKJV. A previous update to the RSV, the NRSV (1990) is preferred by many in mainline denominations and in academia for its preferrence for gender-neutral and enclusive language, while the ESV is preferred by many conservatives.

New King James Version (NKJV)

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Grade Level: 8.0

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.

Reina-Valera Revisada

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Grade Level: 10.0

The RVR (1960) is a popular update to the original Reina-Valera Spanish translation published in 1569. It is roughly equivilant to the Revised Standard Version in English, and is the default bible translation of most evangelical Spanish speaking churches in the world. It has grown in popularity the U.S. due to the increasing hispanic population and its faithfulness to traditional Spanish.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

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Grade Level: 7.5

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)

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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.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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Grade Level: 11.0

The NASB (1971) is 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 (NASU), with minor refinements and improvements.

The Message

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Grade Level: 4.5

The Message is not a direct translation, but a personal paraphrase written by Pastor Eugene Peterson from the original languages. It uses contemporary American slang to rephrase and interpret the passages. While the message can offer a fresh perspective for devotional purposes, it should not be used for study or doctrine, as it is highly subject to personal interpretation.