Why are there different Bible translations? Is there one better than the other? Is there a correct Bible translation? Why so many different Bibles? This course will cover 20 different Bible translations, how we got them, how they were developed, and what their utility is, so you can be better equipped in your Bible studies.
In this course:
Introduction to Bible Translations | 22 min
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This lesson will introduce you to the different categories and methods of translation. Here is where you can easily access different Bible translations for free:
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King James Version – KJV (session 1) | 22 min
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The King James Version is in the top 5 best sellers of Bible translations today. Many do not know that the KJV was not the first translation of the Bible translations we have today. This version was authorized by King James I in the 17th Century so that the common man could read scripture. Although the language may seem odd to us, it was written in the English of the time. This lesson will cover how the King James Version was put together and how you can use it to support your Bible studies.
DIAGRAM OF HOW WE GOT THE KJV BIBLE:
CITED BIBLE PASSAGE:
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:11-13 (KJV)
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New King James Version – NKJV (session 2) | 15 min
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Why would the King James need an update? Why are there different bible translations? The New King James Version (NKJV) follows the tradition of the King James Version while trying to update the language to a more modern English. Granted it may not feel like our modern English of 2023. What makes this translation stand out is its balance between a formal and dynamic translation, often dubbed by scholars as an optimum translation. This balance also makes this translation a great Bible to study from.
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New Revised Standard Version – NRSV (session 3) | 13 min
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The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) is known for one major change that caused some controversy among American denominations: it replaced gender specific words like “brother” and “mankind” with “brother and sister” and “people.” This translation is known for the effort to be “gender-inclusive.” How does this decision affect the quality of the translation? Is this translation biased? Maybe not in the way you think…
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The Amplified Bible (session 4) | 19 min
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The Amplified Bible was the first Bible whose chief scholar was a woman, France E. Siewert, in the 60s! This Bible is not very well known which can be partially attributed to attitudes towards women in leadership at the time. In an attempt to make scripture more understandable, the Amplified Bible makes heavy use of definitions and synonyms within scripture to “amplify” the meaning of the words. This “amplification” is a unique feature to this translation but also presents a unique problem. Listen in to find out more how this translation was put together and how to use it as part of a Bible study toolkit.
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The New American Standard Bible (session 5) | 17 min
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The New American Standard Bible stands out among other Bible translations as scholars used the oldest manuscripts available to build this translation. They also developed a system to try and capture the most accurate meaning and context of scripture. This makes the NASB one of the most accurate and more difficult translations to read and comprehend. There are a few other features that make this translation one of the best primary study Bible to use in your Bible study toolbox. Listen in to find out more about this translation.
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The Legacy Standard Bible (session 6) | 18 min
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The Legacy Standard Bible is the new kid on the block in terms of translations. It takes roots in the New American Standard Bible (NASB) but also uses the most ancient manuscripts to try and capture the most accurate meaning of the original text in English. This translation is also known for its association with John McArthur and his scholars at The Master’s University. Listen in to find out more about how this translation was put together and how you can use it in your Bible study toolkit.
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The New English Translation (session 7) | 18 min
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The New English Translation is a dynamic translation (though-for-thought as opposed to word for word) with the most scholarly translator notes than any other translation out there! This is great to add clarity but are these notes helpful to a layman looking for an accurate translation for everyday study? Listen in to find out more about this translation and how you can use it as a part of your Bible study toolkit.
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The English Standard Version (session 8) | 16 min
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The English Standard Version was put together with the goal of being the most readable word-for-word bible translations. It has a readability level of 8th grade making it easily accessible to youth and adults looking for an easier understood formal translation. Readability is a good reason with different bibles are needed. Listen in to find out more how this translation was put together and how you can use it in your Bible Study tool kit.
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The Christian Standard Bible – CSB (session 9)| 17 min
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In 2017 the Holman Christian Standard Bible received an update and became known as the Christian Standard Bible (CSB). Although Holman is known as a baptist publishing company and 60% of the translation committee for the CSB was also Baptist, an additional 130 scholars from 21 denominations were used to help put this version together. There was an attempt to remove personal bias from the translation process which can be difficult to do when using thought-for-though translation processes. Listen in to find out more about the Christian Standard Bible and how it can be used in a Bible Study toolkit.
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The Phillips Translation of the New Testament (session 10) | 20 min
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Available MAY 29, 6:00 PM
J.B. Phillips, a Greek scholar and Anglican minister, noticed that the King James Version of the Bible was not connecting with the youth of his day. So in 1941 he set out to translate the Greek New Testament into modern English, complete with the London slang of his time. Listen in to find out more about how this Bible was put together.
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The Message Bible (session 11) | 21 min
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Available JUNE 2, 6:00 PM
The Message Bible became popular very quickly as it is one of the most readable Bibles on the market. It uses present-day modern English and reads like a novel. There is only one problem: this is not a translation. It is a free paraphrase. What’s the difference? Listen in to find out how this Bible was put together and how to handle paraphrases as part of your Bible study tool kit.
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The Living Bible (session 12)| 25 min
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Available JUNE 5, 6:00 PM
The Living Bible started as letters Kenneth Taylor would write to his children so they could better understand passages the Bible. These letters were called “Living Letters” and eventually were promoted to the greater public. The positive reception lead to Taylor complete and launch his own Bible paraphrase in 1971, based on these letters. Similar to the Message Bible, the Living Bible will have significant bias and is not intended to replace a proper translation for Bible study purposes. Listen in to found out more about how this Bible was put together.
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The New Living Translation – NLT (session 13) | 20 min
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Available JUNE 9, 6:00 PM
After Kenneth Taylor successfully launched his Living Bible paraphrase and became the best-selling Bible among Youth in the 1970s, Tyndale Publishing wanted to remake it as a translation. The New Living Translation is a thought-for-thought translation that has converted cultural terms to their modern equivalent, including dates, times, currency, and measurements.
However this conversion of terms and translation method runs into similar problems as paraphrases. It can obscure the original intent and meaning of passages by removing the Jewish cultural components and inject bias. However, this Bible could still be of use in a Bible study tool kit. Listen in to find out more about how this Bible was put together and how it can be used in a Bible study tool kit.
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The Complete Jewish Bible – CJB (session 14) | 15 min
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Available JUNE 12, 6:00 PM
What happens when one of the most notable Hebrew scholars translates the Bible in modern day English without loosing the original Jewish context? You get a very helpful Bible study tool for Jews and non-Jews alike! Dr. David Stern and his 28 contributors even included a glossary of Hebrew words with their pronunciation and other study helps to help readers get more context. Listen in to find out more about this translation and how you can use it as part of a Bible study toolkit.
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