Which Bible Translations Should You Avoid?
First of all, let’s talk about the Bible translations to avoid. My list of Bible translations to avoid is very short. At the top of the list, in a class by itself, is the New World Translation published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, properly called the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I have a copy of it because I wanted one to refute Jehovah’s Witnesses, to be able to look up what they say. This is a bad translation that twists passages of Scripture which speak of the deity of Christ. They don’t want to recognize the deity of Jesus Christ, and so they alter this translation. This is definitely on the Do Not Use list. Avoid the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. It’s not good, not scholarly, and was made with an agenda.
Although they are not at all equivalent to the New World Translation, there are two other Bible translations that I would generally advise you to avoid: The Message translation by Eugene Peterson and The Passion Translation, a more recent version from Bethel and the more Pentecostal circles.
First of all, The Message translation is not a bad Bible commentary, but it’s not a great translation. Eugene Peterson was a tremendous writer and used his wonderful gift of poetry. But I think he adds too much poetic writing influence, taking it beyond being a good translation. I would not tell somebody, “Don’t read The Message.” I would just say this: recognize that what you’re reading is more Eugene Peterson’s interpretation of the Scripture than just a good, plain Bible translation. Now, of course, I know the argument can be made that every Bible translation is an interpretation in some sense. That is true in a limited sense, but I think this is so far out on the continuum that it needs to be put in its own category. If someone told me that they were reading The Message translation, I wouldn’t worry, but I’d encourage them to recognize what it is. It is Eugene Peterson’s commentary or interpretation of the Scriptures, but not an excellent Bible translation.
Secondly, I would avoid The Passion Translation. I don’t even own one, so I have not personally investigated this translation in depth. However, I trust the very good in-depth analysis of it by Mike Winger, who is a man I trust. He has done an excellent job of exposing the real scholarly and doctrinal weaknesses and even dangers of The Passion Translation.
To be clear, I’m not here to tell you what not to read. If you are going to read something, I just want you to be aware of it. If you want to read The Passion Translation, read it, but I would not read it as your Bible reading. Read it to understand the author’s take on the Scriptures if you want, but don’t read it as a Bible translation. Read it as a commentary or interpretation of the Bible from a much more Pentecostal understanding of the Scriptures.
I’ll also briefly mention a lot of good Bible translations. I’ve used the New King James Version for 35 or 40 years, and I think it’s the best translation; it’s certainly the best one for me. I have invested so much of my own heart, mind, study, commentary, and research into this Bible that I don’t see myself changing it now. I do read other translations in terms of study helps, but I don’t read it for my normal Bible reading. My normal Bible reading and teaching is the New King James Version. That’s the one I recommend more than others.
When I first received Christ through the ministry of Pastor Greg Laurie at Calvary Chapel Riverside (later to become the renowned Harvest Christian Fellowship), they gave me a New Living Bible. It’s the first real Bible I had. Afterwards I moved onto the King James Bible, which I read from cover to cover. This King James Bible is and was very dear to me. I think it was the first Bible that I read through completely. If you’re a serious Bible student, you should read the King James Version from Genesis to Revelation at least once. Modern believers need to understand that the KJV was the standard Bible in the Christian world for centuries, and so much of Christian writing and vocabulary is based on this translation that you just need to know it. It’ll help you in your other studies. Plan on reading through the King James Bible at least once if you’re going to be a serious Bible student.
I have also spent some time with the NIV. This is an NIV Bible that I had for a long time. I was using this Bible a lot when I first met my now wife. The older translations of the NIV are better than newer ones.
This is a Revised Standard Version, which is sort of an updated version of the King James that came out early in the 20th century, I believe. That was a popular one for a lot of people.
Here is an ESV or English Standard Version. I’ll give you my take on the ESV. It’s so similar to the New King James that I don’t see any reason to switch back and forth from it.
Here’s a translation called the New English Bible that some people have appreciated.
The JB Phillips translation of the New Testament is a great devotional read. He just has a great take on things.
I recommend the Amplified Bible, which has been a blessing to many. This is my New Testament copy of it. The Amplified Bible gives multiple and expanded understandings of particular Greek and Hebrew words.
Here is a version of the Bible called The Way, which has been helpful to some people on the New Testament. You’ll see it referenced in different older works.
Here is an old Gideons New Testament that I used to carry around with me all the time when I was in high school. Here is a Legacy Standard Bible, which is sort of a new update of the New American Standard Bible. I couldn’t find my New American Standard Bible around somewhere, but it’s good, and I recommend it. This is probably an improvement even on the New American Standard Bible, especially in its references to Yahweh, instead of just translating it “Lord.”
Here is a Christian Standard Bible, something that many people have appreciated.
And here is a New Living Translation. I find the New King James Version very easy to read, but I’ve been with it for 40 years. For people who want something that’s even simpler to read, I recommend to them the New Living Translation. (Note that is not the same as the Living Bible, which is more of a paraphrase.) The NLT or New Living Translation is a legitimate translation, and I think it’s pretty good. I recommend that one.
And finally, I thought I would show you this one, because this is going to make some people faint. Here is a Scofield Reference Bible. I’ve never read this Scofield Reference Bible, so I’m not familiar with the notes in it, but there are people who will tell you that this is responsible for all the ill in the world today. Let me just say: those people are very misguided looking for a scapegoat in the Scofield Reference Bible. I’m sure there are things that I would agree with, some things I would disagree with, but the hate that’s put upon this early Study Bible is just kind of crazy.