Which Bible Translation?

As far as I know, reading the scriptures out loud is a part of the worship service in every church around the world. English-speaking churches have an overwhelming number of translations to choose from. I'm not even going to attempt to say how many different versions there are, because that number will change in the time that it takes to write this post.

Photo from livingchurch.org

Of course your church tradition will probably limit the choices to some extent. In spite of its 400 year-old wording, the King James Version (KJV) is still the most frequently read translation in the US, and some churches still use this as their main version for reading in worship. Other denominations and traditions have their own preferences. (For instance, Roman Catholic churches use the New American Bible during mass.) And that's not to mention all the churches in the world who still do not have the full Old and New Testaments available in their main language. Every week they have to read the scriptures in a foreign language, hoping the hearers can understand enough to strengthen their faith. (Check out www.wycliffe.org if you are interested in learning or doing more to help communities that do not have adequate scriptures. You can also read my previous post about a language group in the Philippines who will be receiving the New Testament for the first time later this year.)

Just this month we bought new pew Bibles for one of my United Methodist congregations. As a pastor, I prefer the New Living Translation for most public and private scripture reading. However, if we wanted a denominational version with the logo on the front, then we had only two choices: the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) or the Common English Bible (CEB). We chose the NRSV for two reasons: it is the same version that our sister congregation uses, and its wording and sentence structure is closer to the KJV.

Reading the scriptures well during the worship service is not just about picking the right translation. Any version can sound good if the reader pays attention to pacing, volume, and pitch. But if you are in the position to choose a version to read, either out loud or privately, you may find the following tips helpful.

Think of all translations falling more closely to one of two styles: literal or dynamic. A literal translation tries to follow the word order of the original language. Most of the Bible is translated from Greek (New Testament) and Hebrew (Old Testament). Sentences in both of those languages are set up differently than typical English sentences. A literal translation tries to make understandable English out of those original wordings. The KJV is quite literal, which is one reason that it sounds so formal or "churchy." By contrast, a dynamic translation tries to communicate the main ideas (not the individual words) of the original language as clearly as possible. The New Living Translation (NLT) is a good example of a dynamic translation.

No translation is "purely" literal or dynamic. Each one falls a little bit closer to one style, or intentionally tries to mix the two methods. Here are some examples of the differences, showing Ephesians 2:10 in several versions. The first example is my attempt to translate the Greek as literally as possible. Then each version that follows gets slightly less literal and more dynamic, ending with a very dynamic translation, The Message.

Greek (my version):

For we are becoming that which God makes, formed/shaped in Christ Jesus for works that are good, already-made by God so that in them we could make our way.

King James Version:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

New Revised Standard Version:

For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

New International Version:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

New Living Translation:

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

The Message:

He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

The names of each version above is a link to the website www.biblegateway.com. This is a great site to use when comparing different translations. It may be time for you to choose a new Bible to read, or to give one as a gift. Bible Gateway can help you read several different translations so you can find  the one that is most meaningful for you or your congregation.