Which Bible is the Best??

Which Bible is the Best??

So, Mark decides to go to a men’s group that meets at the golf course before work on Friday mornings.  It is an inspirational meeting that encourages men to be more spiritual, in a Christian way.  He likes it so much, it becomes one of his favorite weekly activities.  The references to the Bible have really been intriguing and so Mark decides he wants his own Bible. Heading to the nearest Christian bookstore one day, he walks in to find the Bible shelf totally overwhelming!  There are so many different translations . . . how would he ever choose a Bible, and how would he know that he got the right one?

‘I’d like to get my husband a Bible for Father’s Day,’ the woman said, ‘would you recommend one?’  ‘There’s that cute little gal down the street getting married soon . . . I could get her and her new husband a Bible with their names imprinted on the front, which one should I get?’  ‘Christine, my nephew, who has everything, is graduating from high school, and heading to college, I’d like to get him a Bible…which one?’  Yep, they called me to ask which Bibles should be purchased.

And then the question arises, which translation is the best one?  I can give you an ironclad answer to that:  The translation that is the best is the one that you will be the most compelled to read.  People can actually get quite indignant with their positions on this matter, for instance:  ‘A pastor tried to introduce a revised version of the Bible to his rigidly conservative congregation.  “So what’s wrong with the King James Version?”  said one woman in defense.  “In my opinion, if it was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for us!”  Of course, the amusing irony is that Jesus obviously did not speak the Old English of the King James Version—actually Jesus didn’t speak English at all!’  Remember the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the New Testament in Greek.  So, all of the Bibles we hold in our hands are translations from those.

Why are there so many translations?  Dr. Lewis Foster, who helped translate the New International Version and the New King James Version said this, “It is necessary to continue making new translations and revising old ones if people are to read the Word of God in their contemporary languages.  With the passage of time, words change in meaning . . . to keep the translation of God’s Word living, it must be kept in the living language the people are using.”

While the subject can indeed be overwhelming, it is helpful to know this about the various versions of the Bible—some have been translated word for word from the Hebrew/Greek à New American Standard Bible; others have been translated thought for thought à New Living Translation, phrase for phrase à NIV, etc.  “The Message” and the “Living Bible” (including “The Way” and that old green Bible from the 70s that I love) are paraphrases. 

The next question is, ‘Well, Christine, which one do you use?’  I don’t . . . I use many.  I often cite the NIV, since so many folks are used to that, and it is very readable.  It really depends on my purpose—am I reading Scripture for study and writing, or for personal inspiration?  In either of these cases, I profit greatly from having the study notes on the same page, like the Life Application Bible does, and the NIV Study Bible.  (In my writing, though, I use several different commentaries--from old preachers, new theologians, and Bible translators.  There are Bibles with explanatory notes or devotionals geared toward leaders, mothers, wives, men, women, teens, spirit-filled people, and those who want archaeological notes to accompany the text of Scripture, and many more.  Find one that suits you, and your season in life.

Am I taking it to church with me?  Then, I like to use the one my church uses, and I may not wish to carry a big thick study Bible.  Am I sharing a verse with someone?  Maybe, if I memorized it.  Honestly, my best chance of sharing a verse comes from my memory; so then, it just depends on what version/translation I memorized.  Memorizing Scripture verses that are inspirational is key to being able to encourage other people; you usually aren’t going to be able to run to your car to find your Bible and locate the inspiring words—the moment will be lost.  When I was in high school, I memorized all of James chapter 1, from the Living Bible, so when I recall verses from that amazing chapter, my mind still sees those inspiring, and easy-to-understand words.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of God stands forever.”  (Isaiah 40.7)  So, just get a Bible, and make it yours.  Read it, underline or highlight in it, write notes (with dates) in the margin.  Which Bible is the best?  The one you will devour.