My View On Bible Translations

There are many views on this topic, but there are some key facts everyone must consider. Anyone who has ever spoken another language knows each tongue has its own unique nuances. So any translation of written text from one language to another cannot always pick up on these nuances which make writing so deep. So there is a spectrum to the methods of translation. At one end you have literal “word for word” translations and at the other end you have “thought for thought” which requires some imagination for sure. I always use caution with more “thought for thought” texts because you can begin to possibly stray more and more from the original text. There is a lot of information on the translation of Biblical texts and definitely worth the time to research more into. In this post I am only sharing my view and my story.

I grew up in a church culture that advocated only reading from the KJV. My Dad also holds this view still today, but as for me I don’t hold this view. I have always enjoyed reading, but trying to read the KJV as a 12 year old was very difficult and very discouraging for me. Somehow I did manage to read all of Kings 1 and 2. I can tell you today, 15 years later, I gained no lasting information except for the fact that human beings make poor kings to follow. After that experience of struggling through the books of Kings I didn’t read the Bible again till I returned to the Lord at age 24. At the start of my new life with Christ, I knew I needed to read scripture and the NLT really appealed to me.

First I began to pray fervently that God would give me the desire and drive to actually read the Bible. In reality I didn’t feel like reading all that much but I believed it was important for me to do. God was there to help me and I read the Bible in its entirety in 7 months that year in the NLT (a BIG thanks to God and the YouVersion Bible app).

I gained such a greater understanding and overview of how powerful scripture is. Its a great translation for any new Christian or even anyone struggling to understand more “word for word” translations. I also recommend not to just stop at the NLT. More “word for word” translations are important. I enjoy referencing multiple versions at times such as the ESV, AMP, and CSB to name a few. I don’t believe it’s wise to hold onto only one translation.

Since reading the NLT in it’s entirety, I have now been going through and re-reading the Bible in the CSB. I read the NLT mostly digitally on my phone which was very convenient, but now with the CSB She Reads Truth Bible in physical print I use colored pens to take notes and categorize the things that really stand out to me. I am a creative person so I enjoy the different colors on the page, the design of the Bible and the devotionals are wonderful as well. I think as English speaking people we are so blessed to have different translations to read from. There are many people who have maybe one or two translations and then there are others who don’t have any scripture written in their native tongue.

Sadly I have yet to run into a fellow brother or sister in their 20s who has read the entire Bible. Not one. This really breaks my heart. There is so much to be gained from reading scripture, but yet it’s not by human effort alone! God answered my prayer to give me the desire to read the Bible. How many people are asking God for his help in this area? He will surely help you. It’s not that God is unwilling to urge his people to know him. It’s that so few people ask to know him.

Through reading the Bible, God showed me who he is and who I am and what this life means and what truly matters. God’s character is unwavering and his love is steadfast. His word is a literal sword in the hand of a believer. I read Isaiah 53 and wept. I read 2 Kings chapter one and laughed! I read the Old Testament and fell in love with God. I read the New Testament and fell in love with God all over again through his Son Jesus, the Messiah. The Bible is rich in parallels. Everything was pointing to the coming Messiah, the answer to our sin.

Scripture is so important because when we lose sight of who God is, who he says he is and who we are to him, everything begins to unravel. We begin to look in all the wrong places for everything that God is to us. Human nature has never changed or improved apart from God and God is who he says he is. Apart from God life is aimless, empty, and meaningless.

I will not take a legalistic stance and say everyone has to read their Bible all day every day. All I am saying is that there is so much to be gained in your relationship with God. This is something you either do or do not do. No one can do it for you. The Bible is a gift to us. You either receive it or you miss out on it. In reading as a believer you really develop a relationship with God’s word.

Anyone who knows me knows I have a terrible memory, but I tell you time and time again God reminds me of his word. How can God speak to you through his word if you never read it? Have you ever prayed for God to give you the desire to read the Bible? What do you think would happen if you did?

"If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you," says the Lord. Jeremiah 29: 13-14 NLT

I will leave you with these two key points about what the Bible teaches us in reading it.