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Which Translation(s)?
I wonder which translation pastors preach from the most? Study? If you use one predominant version in preaching, which other translations do you most often refer to in order to provide other shades of meaning? What is it that you like about the translation(s) you use the most, and why do you consider it to be the most effective for you?
Responses:
Pastor Rick Renner – Moscow, Russia
I was raised on the KJV and I still deeply love it. When I travel and preach, I still preach from the KJV and find that the vast majority of people in the pews still carry KJV Bibles -- that is, if they bring Bibles to church, which seems to be getting rarer and rarer all the time. That is the subject of another important conversation that needs to be addressed.
I also love the KJV because it's so easy to memorize. However, in my personal devotional life, I must admit that I do not use the KJV so often. Strange, but I use KJV for serious study, but for personal, devotional time, I use the New Living Translation -- a translation that I have found to be very close to the original New Testament Greek. I do not read Hebrew, so I cannot authoritatively speak about the NLT's Old Testament translation, but I can speak about the New Testament translation and vouch that the NLT's translation of the New Testament is simply outstanding. In my studies, I find that it properly translates Greek texts that other translations and paraphrases miss completely. In fact, I am so "taken" with the NLT that I recently sent hundreds of them as gifts to a group of our partners in the United States with a note to tell them how much this translation has personally meant to me. In addition, I occasionally use the Amplified, and I rarely ever use a paraphrase because I find most of them are so inaccurate in keeping to the original ideas conveyed in the Greek text. As I preach in Russia, I use the KJV for public ministry because it is the closest to the translation used by Russian-reading believers.
Pastor Bob Yandian – Tulsa, OK
After being raised on the KJV, I had a hard time turning away from it. I would quote other translations to clarify what I was teaching, but used the King James as my foundation. I even went so far as to change the Old English of the translation into more modern terms because I did not particularly like the NKJV. Then the English Standard Version came out a short time ago and I really like it. Although I still use the King James at times, I mainly use the ESV. The writers chose accurate words to bring across the meaning and it has the powerful diction of the Authorized.
Pastor Thom Fields – Kennewick, WA
With so many options out there to choose from, I find that I most often use the translation that makes the exact statement that I like…regardless of which translation it is! (Just kidding – sort of.)
In reality, I have developed a deep love for the Amplified Bible. In most cases, when studying a particular verse, I find that the manifold meaning of specific words is often hinted at in the Amplified. This usually promotes even more study, checking out yet more translations and versions and throws a nice dash of fuel onto the fire as I become more and more in love with the Word of God.
When it comes time for memorization of scripture, I usually burn into my mind both the translation which I’ve found to be the best usage of a scripture AND the King James version. In my world – many people don’t take scripture seriously unless you can quote it in the King James version. They often reject any other version and act as if everything else “sucketh” in comparison to their old stand-by.
A translation that I’ve recently picked up and began reading through the Bible is the Contemporary English Version. I’m really enjoying the easy read that it provides and the basic, down-to-earth style it’s been written in. It isn’t ALWAYS dead on (in my humble opinion), but it always offers interesting and thought provoking perspective.
If I were talking to someone on my staff or in my congregation about reading the Word, I would adamantly promote the following idea. WHATEVER TRANSLATION YOU ARE WILL WILLING TO READ – PICK IT UP AND GET TO READING IT!
Pastor Mark Cowart – Colorado Springs, CO
I have been using the King James Version for study for so many years that it has become my primary translation. (I am not a "King James Only" preacher-although I do pull a trailer behind my vehicle through town every once in a while that has a black 4' X 8' replica of a black King James Bible with gold lettering and a sign on the trailer - "if it was good enough for the apostle Paul it oughta be good enough for us"). KJV is probably one of the most trusted and well done but not the easiest for the new believer and there are some verses that have certain words or phrases that really convey the meaning better than others. I lean this way only because of many years of using it and habit. Sometimes people want to have the translation that there pastor has and I encourage the NKJV - which I like very much. If I had to choose a translation other than KJV, I would most definitely choose NKJV.
Because of technology we have the blessing of many great and varied translations and it is just as fast, sometimes faster, to utilize the different translations on my iPhone, iPad or computer. I usually put my sermon notes in a word doc and place the scripture translations that help to communicate the message right into the notes. On occasion I will have one scripture with several translations of the same verse for emphasis. I rarely turn in my actual Bible to scriptures any more. The translations I like the most are KJV, NKJV, NTL, TLB, NIV, sometimes the Message Bible, Amplified and every so often NASB. My reasoning is that this saves time and makes my communication a lot more effective. I love to read the Message Bible but would never use it as a primary. On many occasions the Message Bible says things in such a way that it is the icing on the cake and I watch people light up when some of the verses are quoted from it.
Pastor Walker Schurz – Lusaka, Zambia
The main translation I preach and read from is the New King James Version. I also preach from the New International Version, as both are very readable and accurate to the original text. I supplement those with the New Living Translation and The Message. Quite often in preaching, I will re-read a verse or passage from those more modern accounts to help the listener hear something from another angle. I would encourage you not to use translations as a “multiple choice” exercise – that is you keep looking for a translation that agrees with a pre-assumed point of view. Always let the Bible speak to you and your listeners rather than the other way around.
Pastor Bill Anzevino – Industry, PA
Personally, I preach from the KJV and use it as my base of reference. I also reference other translations and paraphrases in order to get a clearer picture of what's being said. Such as: the New American Standard, New Living Version, Bible in Basic English, Douay-Rheims, Phillips Twentieth Century New Testament, Weymouth, Young's Literal Translation, The Amplified, and others. The Bible from 26 Translations is available to make comparing translations quick and easy.
Online, you can log on to biblestudytools.net, click on search the Bible and have quick access to many translations.
The most important thing is to depend on the Holy Spirit for personal revelation and meaning. The letter kills but the Spirit gives life. While all the above translations are excellent and each has advantages over others in certain areas, it's the Spirit who brings the Word to life and makes it a reality in our lives. The Word of God and the Spirit always agree and we must have both to be effective.
Pastor Matt Beemer – UK and North Africa
I like the Arabic translation... It’s the one that I get the most from! :-) Just kidding... I do have an interesting comment though...
When studying, like most ministers, I like to use many different translations to gain a more full understanding of the scriptures I’m studying. However, when ministering, my goal is to connect with the people I’m ministering to. I personally think the King James is a beautiful version; however, its language is very out of date for today’s church attendee’s. In the UK I almost always use the NIV, as that is probably the widest used version. I don’t use it because I like it; I use it because people I’m ministering to use it, and every translation has its strengths and weaknesses. I like using it so I can help people work through some of the drawbacks, while emphasizing the strengths.
In the USA, I often use a New King James, especially if the people are used to the King James version of the Bible – but I quote often from all the more modern translations. In Nigeria everyone uses the King James, so now I have to get used to using that version again.
There is a new translation that is excellent – it’s the first one to come out of the UK in 50 years and comes from a strong Word and Faith heritage. It’s called The Truth, by Colin Urquhart. Pastor Colin is very strong in ‘In Christ’ realities and understands dynamics that many translators in the past may not have understood. He translated it from the Greek and presents the ‘meaning’ of the Greek in context. Do a search for it and check it out!
Pastor Keith Trump – Carmel, IN
I am probably an odd bird on this issue. I like to use my own translation from the original languages. However, I also like to compare and contrast with NIV, NASB, KJV, NKJV, and NLT – all of them very fine versions. I will weigh them all against the original. Then, I will often take portions of a verse from one translation and another portion of the same verse from a different translation.
Mark 11:23-24 serves as a prime example. Regarding that passage, I believe the KJV gets it right. Keep in mind, I do not take the “King James only” position. In other words, I do not take my position as a means of marshalling support for good ‘ole King James. Instead, I believe that in this passage, the KJV translators portray the words with more power. Actually, let me be so bold as to say that, in my opinion, a few of the modern translations appear a bit weaker. The concept of believing that you receive “when you pray,” speaks of a powerful principle regarding faith. This truth shines through in several other verses.
Thus, my position, in no way has its roots in proof texting. Of course, most modern English translations do convey this concept by properly translating the aorist tense of the verb in Greek “to take hold of” as “have received it.”
Actually, I had better stop here. The more I peer into both the wording and grammar of Mark 11:24, the stronger the urge to keep on expounding. I would translate it, “If, while in the act of praying, [at that moment] you believe to the point of laying a firm grasp, then [in the future] you will (assuredly) have it.” In other words, if, while one stands praying, one exercises faith (the evidence or title deed of things not seen) to the point of actually laying hold of what one desires, one will, in the future, lay hold of the same thing in the physical. I realize that what we ask for must be in line with God’s will. However, we understand that His Word is His will. Faith comes by hearing that Word, not some fleshly desire springing from our own egos.
