Ask the Pastor | How Should We Think About Bible Translations?

I was recently asked what Bible translation I use in the pulpit. The question came with a concern many of us share: Which translations can we trust, and which should we avoid?

This is an important conversation, because the Bible is God’s Word given to us in human language. Every translation involves decisions about how best to communicate that Word clearly and faithfully.

Three Broad Approaches to Translation
Bible versions generally fall into three categories:

Paraphrase – These aim to restate the meaning of Scripture in fresh, everyday language. They are helpful for devotional reading but not ideal for close study.

Word-for-Word – These strive to stay as close as possible to the original wording. Examples include the NASB and KJV.

Thought-for-Thought – These focus on conveying the sense of a passage in smoother, more natural English. The NIV is a well-known example.

It’s worth noting that no translation is perfectly word-for-word. Languages don’t line up neatly. Translators must render words into grammatically correct sentences in the target language, which always requires some interpretation. Even the most literal translations involve judgment calls.

Reliable Translations
The good news is that there are many excellent translations available today. Some of the most trusted include the NASB, the ESV, the KJV and NKJV and the 1984 edition of the NIV.

But the truth is, the range of trustworthy translations is much wider than many realize. Alongside these familiar names, there are others you may not expect—such as the newer NIV, NLT, RSV, and NRSV. These, too, are the product of careful, committee-driven scholarship and can be read with confidence.

The guiding principle is this: any translation produced by a reputable team of scholars is generally reliable. Differences often come down to style, readability, and preference.

A Word of Caution
Not all “translations” are created equal. Versions produced by groups outside historic Christianity—such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ New World Translation or the LDS church’s Joseph Smith Translation—were deliberately altered to support particular doctrinal errors. These should not be trusted.

So, Which Bible Should You Use?
There’s an old saying: The best Bible is the one you will read.

Choose a translation that is faithful, readable, and suited to your context—whether that’s study, teaching, or personal devotion. And remember: the goal is not to master the translation, but to let God’s Word master us.