What is the Best Version of the Bible?

Before I answer this I want to tell you why I’m doing this one. Several reasons really. The main one revolves around a conversation I had with my aunt years ago. So you need a bit of background. I did not begin my actual faith walk until I was 39, sadly I wish it could have been sooner but I am also really thankful it happened. Mind you, I had said the prayer of salvation back when I was 17. The aunt I’m speaking about led me through that prayer along with my brother and sister at her house. I did want to have the same faith she did, I could clearly see it was strong. I honestly just did not understand fully at this time. This Aunt had been a missionary with her husband and for as long as I can remember she spoke about faith to anyone who would listen. She was very outward about it and very unapologetic. I admired her for that and I knew she had a very strong faith.

Zoom forward to a year or two after I started going to church. I had become a small group leader – many of the people who came to my group were in varying degrees of faith, some were pretty far along and some were what we liked to call Baby Believers… So I would get questioned about what Bible to get, which is best – again questioning in a sense – which is the best version. Now I am no Bible Scholar nor do I know everything about everything about faith and the Bible. I’ve used several versions and I’ve heard several versions quoted by Pastors over the years. My stock answer was to tell folks to go to a book store and read some of the different versions and find what you like. I had landed on a version myself that I really liked – Life application Study Bible NIV version. I did recommend it because it has the Bible portion on one side and Notes on another that explain what you’re reading – photo below

A few years before she passed I had a conversation with my Aunt about Bibles, she brought it up to me, not me to her. She was very staunch about her opinion and how it was correct. She said the ONLY version that is accurate is the Kind James Bible. She asked me what my reply is when people ask me. I Explained to her that many of the people I encounter were very new in faith and for that reason I suggested finding something they WOULD read. If the version confused them they likely would not keep reading or keep going. She disagreed and we left it at that. Understand this, I did feel like I had a valid point, I knew in my heart I was right but arguing this with my learned aunt was not what I felt was correct. I honor her, I respect her opinion. Left it there.

We are in a series at Church about Can we Trust the Bible, only two sermons in I am finding this one so interesting and informative. The fist service was done by a man of works for Dallas Theological Seminary, his job is to translate versions. He explained that translating is difficult, because of how each language translates out. To summarize he said that all of the versions had good things about them and that the Bible is believable, the scribes who translated the early text did so in earnest they were really intentional about translating “correctly”. Are there things translated wrong – yest of course, some versions even add text so that the reader can understand and comprehend what they are reading.

The second sermon was our Lead Pastor who really talked in a good depth about several version of the Bible, he noted why he loved each version and why. He really said some lovely things about several of the Bible versions, It made me feel good because he specifically called out the Life Application Bible which I have and said good things about it. how it explains things and that is a good thing. He also noted how much he loves King James as well, ESV, NASB, and NET Bible versions all of which he gave positive views on. So a lead Pastor commented on several of these versions and how much he enjoyed them. Good Confirmation!  It made me feel good about my feelings, my views on the versions.

Psalm 130:5  NIV ⁵ I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 119:11 – The Versions – most are pretty close

NET In my heart I store up^[a] your words,^[so I might not sin against you.

NASB:  In my heart I store up^[a] your words, so I might not sin against you.

ESV: I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

KJV: I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

MESSAGE: I have stored up your word in my heart,     that I might not sin against you.

NIV: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you

The point is get in the word, I personally want to know it forwards so when time comes I will know His words, I will know. How to you get that knowledge, you read, read anything and everything you can get your hands on. Including a version of the Bible YOU pick, something you will read. Something you will read and re-read.

So at the end of the second sermon – this statement hit me like a big ole 2X4

Which version of the Bible is the best  = The one that gets read.

BOOM – Mic Drop! Now I do believe my Aunt’s belief in the KJV being the best and only version, is her truth and I’m not gonna argue with that. I’m happy she had strong faith and that she read her KJV.

Prayer

First, thank You for people in history who took the time and spent the energy to translate the writings in to what we now know as the modern Day Bible. I am thankful for all the lessons that come to me through the Bible, through Pastors and other speakers, I want to absorb all it it and be able to repeat it back to others who need to hear the truth. Guide us all to read and re-read our Bibles. Thank You for the gifts found in reading. In Jesus Name – we pray – Amen.