How to Choose a Bible Translation

During an Ask Me Anything session at our church, this question came up:

What’s the Best Bible Translation?

It is understandable that people ask. There are a lot of options. People have strong opinions. And honestly, some of those opinions are helpful, while others are more about tradition, preference, or tribalism than truth.

Here is the main point: Any translation that checks a few important boxes can be a good translation.

This is not about picking a team. It is about choosing a Bible you can trust, read, understand, and obey.

For context, Pastor Eric uses the New Living Translation (NLT) for preaching and compares the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and New Revised Standard Version (NRSV/NRSVue) for study.

A Translation Is a Tool, Not a Tribe

The Bible was not written in English. The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew, with some Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. That means every English Bible is doing the work of translation.

So the better question is not, “Which team are you on?”

The better questions are: Is this translation trustworthy? Is it faithful? Is it clear? Can we use it to hear God’s Word and live it?

The 3 Boxes a Good Translation Should Check

1. It should be translated by a committee

This matters. A committee brings multiple scholars, perspectives, checks, balances, accountability, and review. That does not make a translation perfect, but it helps protect it from one person’s bias, agenda, or limitation.

2. It should use a responsible manuscript basis

Good translations do not ignore the evidence. They take the manuscript tradition seriously and do the hard work of weighing textual questions responsibly. A trustworthy Bible translation will not hide that process or pretend those questions do not exist.

3. It should have a clear translation philosophy

This is where people usually argue. Some translations lean more formal equivalence, which means they try to stay closer to the wording and structure of the original languages. These are helpful for close study. Others lean more dynamic equivalence, which means they focus more on communicating the meaning clearly in modern language. These are helpful for readability and public reading.

Both can be faithful when done responsibly.

Why Pastor Eric Preaches from the NLT

The New Living Translation is clear when read aloud and accessible to people who are still learning the Bible. Pastor Eric also uses the NASB to compare wording and structure, alongside the NRSV/NRSVue for broader study. Comparing translations can draw attention to a question worth exploring in context.

That is the point: we do not think you have to use only one translation for everything. Use a readable Bible for devotion. Use a translation that stays closer to the original wording for detailed comparison. Compare translations when you are trying to understand a passage deeply.

Translations We Recommend

These are solid, trustworthy translations that generally check the right boxes:

• New Living Translation (NLT)
• New International Version (NIV)
• Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
• English Standard Version (ESV)
• New American Standard Bible (NASB 1995 or 2020)
• New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) or New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVue)

You may prefer one over another, and that is fine. The goal is not to win an argument. The goal is to be formed by Scripture.

Use With Caution

There are some resources that may be helpful in limited ways, but we would not recommend them as your primary Bible.

• The Message can be useful devotionally, but it is a paraphrase that was done by one person. It should not function as your main Bible for doctrine or study.
• The Amplified Bible can help you see possible shades of meaning, but it expands the text heavily. It is better used as a supplement, not your foundation.
• The Passion Translation is highly interpretive and should not be used as a primary Bible. We do not recommend building doctrine from it.

Don’t Use These as Scripture

Some writings should not be used as a Bible translation at all.

• The New World Translation should not be used as your Bible. It is shaped by the theology of Jehovah’s Witnesses and reflects doctrinal commitments that depart from historic Christian faith.
• The Book of Mormon is not a Bible translation. It introduces another authority alongside Scripture and should not be treated as the Word of God.
• Gnostic texts and so-called “lost gospels” may be historically interesting, but they are not Scripture. They should not be used as spiritual authority for Christian faith and practice.

That may sound strong, but clarity matters. Not everything with religious language should be treated as God’s Word.

The Goal Is Formation, Not Winning Arguments

The best Bible translation is not the one that makes you feel superior. It is the one you can trust, understand, keep reading, and actually obey. So pick a trustworthy translation. Read it consistently. Study with more than one when you need to go deeper. Let Scripture correct you, shape you, encourage you, confront you, and lead you to Jesus.

Because the goal is not just to know what the Bible says. The goal is to become the kind of person who lives it.

For more detail on how a translation is prepared, read the NLT translation process. When choosing a Bible, read the publisher’s introduction and compare a passage you know well. A translation’s own notes can help you understand its decisions.