FAQ: What Bible translation should I use?

I have been asked a number of times, "What's the best Bible version?" There is no easy answer to this as there are many translations with their own strong points and weak points. What is best for one person will be insufficient for another. There are a few questions you can ask yourself to help with your choice.

What's your purpose for the Bible? What do you want to do with it? Is it for devotions or for study? Are you the only one who will be reading it? What do you like and not like about the current Bible version you use? Describe your ideal Bible.

Some versions are better than others for a person's Bible reading goals. Once you have defined your goals, start learning about your options. I like Bible comparison charts as a good start. You can find one online or look for what will probably be a large laminated chart somewhere in the Bible display area at your local Christian store. The Bible translation information pages at Christian Book Distributors give a good discussion of the most popular translations as well as a brief introduction to formal and dynamic equivalence and paraphrases. Using these tools, you will likely be able to narrow your choices.

My final suggestion for choosing a translation is to look at them for yourself. Flip through them and read some passages, evaluating how well they will meet your reading goals. I also like to turn to at least one passage with which I am familiar or that I have studied recently to see how they compare. You can either find the translations online or go to your local Christian store.

As always, the most important ongoing step is to read your Bible. The best Bible for you is no good if it's collecting dust.