Bible Translations
Picking out a Bible these days can seem like a daunting task. You walk up to the Bible shelf in the bookstore, and, suddenly, you’re faced with dozens of choices. Why are there so many? How do you figure out which version to choose?
Why are there so many translations?
The Bible was originally written in ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Many words don’t have exact equivalents in our language. Translators have to decide what the original words meant, what idea was being conveyed, and which English word or phrase best translates the original word or idea.
Today, there are three categories of Bible translations. They include:
Essentially Literal (word-for-word translations): These versions can be helpful for more in-depth studies in which the individual wants to approach the study in a scholarly way.
These include the English Standard Version (ESV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), New King James Version (NKJV), King James Version (KJV), Revised Standard Version (RSV), New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), and the NET Bible.
Dynamic Equivalence (Idea-by-idea translations): These versions are usually written to be more readable and attempt to convey the thought expressed in the original texts.
These include the New Living Translation (NLT), the Contemporary English Version (CEV), the New Century Version (NCV), the Revised English Bible (REB), New International Version (NIV), Today's New International Version (TNIV) and the Good News Bible (GNB).
Paraphrase: These versions are even freer than dynamic equivalence translations in how they render Biblical passages, often finding creative new ways to express the general idea of a verse. A paraphrase can be helpful to further illuminate a passage or a story because of its creative style.
These include The Message (Message), The Living Bible (LB), The New Testament in Modern English (Phillips), and The Word on the Street (previously called The Street Bible) (SB).
What version does Indian Creek use?
At Indian Creek, we choose to use the New Living Translation for our services. It helps us understand the meaning of the original writers in clear, modern English. We have copies available as giveaways for anyone who needs a Bible of their own as well as copies they can give to friends. We also are open to persons who wish to support this cause with financial contributions.