Bible Translations: What You Need to Know

Get out your Bibles—all of them. We are going to look at every single difference between every translation using a few Venn diagrams crossed with an abacus, which will decipher the best translation there has ever been or will ever be. I'm excited. Are you excited? Let's go!
 

What is a Bible Translation?

In case ya didn’t know, the scriptures were originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. These originals were the inspired texts. These originals were then copied and shared repeatedly. Today, we don’t have the originals but we do have thousands of transmitted copies of the originals in the original languages.

Translation = a text that has been brought into a new language from transmitted texts that are copies of the original documents.

Wondering why these particular 66 books make up our Bible today? Well, friend, check out our episode on the Canon!

Bible type is different from a translation. Bible type expands on a Bible translation by adding helpful additional information, applications, and insights (for example, a MacArthur Study Bible). But today we’re focusing on translations.

Content Timestamps:

9:25 - Why do Bible translations matter?

10:39 - What are the different Bible translations?

11:11 - Different translation philosophies

• Word-for-word (formal equivalent) vs. thought-for-thought (dynamic)

• Readability

• Target audience

25:00 - Warning: Not all translations are created equal!

• The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

• The Message (our view might surprise you!)

• The King James Version (juicy stuff here!)

38:39 - Bible translation is a really undervalued gift!

41:06 - Pay attention to what you’re reading.

42:24 - Be a part of Bible translation.

Want to ask us a question? Email question@clearlypodcast.com.

Our Recommendations:

• Sponsor: Pioneer Bible Translators

• 👀 Resources: 

• Get to Know Your Bible (Free Download!)

• Check out some ancient Biblical manuscripts here: csntm.org

• Get translator notes: netbible.org

• Bible translation guide: mardel.com/bibletranslationguide

• ⛪ Sermon: Dr. Dan Wallace's sermon "Is what we have now what they wrote then?"

• 📖 Reading:

• Wide as the Waters by Benson Bobrick

• Peculiar Glory by John Piper

• Our Favorite Translations:

• New American Standard Bible (NASB)

• English Standard Version (ESV)

• Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

• New English Translation (NET)

• New International Version (NIV)

• New International Readers Version (NIrV) – our favorite translation for kids

• ✝️ Recommended Bibles:

• The New Inductive Study Bible (ESV) (NASB)

• ESV Study Bible

• ESV Literary Study Bible

• ESV Illuminated Scripture Journals (New Testament) (Old Testament)

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Favorite Resources for Kids

• Bibles

• The Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids (NIrV)

• Adventure Bible for Early Readers (NIrV)

• Explorer Bible for Kids (CSB)

• Bible resources:

• The Action Bible

• The Jesus Storybook Bible

• The Biggest Story Bible Storybook

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