Which Bible Translation Should I Use? And Where Did It Come From?

So Many Bibles—Which One Do I Trust?

For many people just beginning to take their study of the Bible seriously, whether through formal biblical studies or personal theological growth, one of the first and possibly most disorienting questions arises almost immediately:

“Which translation should I use?”

Followed closely by:

“Why are there so many, and which one is right?”

Welcome to the world of Bible translation and textual transmission, two important (and often misunderstood) pieces of how we got our modern Bibles.  If you've ever opened two translations side-by-side and wondered why they don’t always agree, this post is for you.  

Those initial questions are a pretty big deal for a lot of people.  For those who grew up using a single translation, that version can feel like the Bible.  Discovering that other translations phrase things differently, or even include alternate wordings or footnotes, can feel confusing or even threatening.  How dare these modern translators mess with the sacred word??

But instead of undermining your faith, I truly hope that exploring how Bible translations work can deepen your confidence in the reliability and richness of Scripture.  It can also sharpen your understanding of what it means to read the Bible well and can open up worlds of hermeneutics.  That’s its own topic, but I’ll tack on a resource for looking at that, too.

In this post, I’ll walk through some very brief basics of why translations differ, how the biblical text was transmitted over time, and how you can begin to navigate this world with wisdom and curiosity.  For those who want more, I will point you to a few excellent books to guide your journey.  This is a great place to start when diving into deeper biblical study on your own.  As I fully believe this is a field that should be accessible to all critically-thinking adults, I encourage you to pick this stuff up actively and intentionally and not leave it to your pastor or Sunday school teacher or random YouTube videos.  

All of those can be--and often are--good resources, don’t get me wrong.  But it can be helpful to start out in an organized way.

Bible Translations: Why So Many?

The short answer is this:

No translation is perfect.  Each one reflects a set of goals and priorities.  And while all Bible translators have biases, this isn’t about “conservative” views vs “liberal” or “progressive” views (not that those can’t play their part, of course, but there’s something to sort out before you get to looking at that).  First we need to realize how language itself works.  No two languages are the same, and so moving from one to the other poses a whole host of challenges.  

Some translation methods prioritize staying as close to the original Hebrew and Greek words as possible (this is called formal equivalence, or "word-for-word").  Others aim to communicate the meaning more clearly in modern English ( this is called dynamic equivalence, or "thought-for-thought").  Still others take more liberties to be accessible and these translations are paraphrased for readability.  (If you don’t think that’s important, then you need to know some things about what problems literacy faces.)  Of course, these categories are more of a spectrum than hard categories and some translations straddle the line, but here's a general breakdown:  

So which translation should you read?

In addition to considering your personal reading level, it depends on what you're using it for:  devotional reading, in-depth study, or public teaching.  Fortunately, there’s a short, readable book that walks you through the strengths and weaknesses of the most popular English translations:  

How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth
by Gordon D. Fee & Mark L. Strauss

This book is a fantastic starting point. It’s simple, clear, and helps you understand the philosophy behind major translations like the ESV, NIV, NASB, NLT, and others without needing a theology degree.

But What About the Original Text?

Another question you may not have thought to ask yet--but you really should--is:  

“How do we even know what the Bible originally said?”

Most people assume that we’re translating straight from a single, perfect manuscript.  But we’re not.  What we have are thousands of ancient copies, some older and some more complete than others.  And on top of that, these ancient manuscripts exist in different “streams” of tradition.  Scholars compare them carefully, weighing differences in wording to reconstruct the most likely original readings.  This field of study is called textual criticism.  

If you’ve never encountered this before, don’t worry--it’s really not about criticizing the Bible, but about studying how it was preserved and passed down over time.  And thankfully, there’s a beginner-friendly book that lays it out:

A Journey from Texts to Translations: The Origin and Development of the Bible
by Paul D. Wegner

This book traces how the biblical texts were written, copied, canonized, and translated.  It’s accessible enough for curious lay readers but includes enough depth to help you understand why ancient manuscripts matter...and how translation decisions are shaped by them.

Want to Go a Little Deeper?

If you’re the kind of person who likes historical context, or if you want to explore how English Bible versions developed over time, there’s one more book you should check out that is centered on modern Bible translation through time:  

The Bible in Translation: Ancient and English Versions
by Bruce M. Metzger

Metzger was one of the most respected biblical scholars of the 20th century.  This book walks you through the history of major translations, from the Greek Septuagint to the King James Version to modern English Bibles.  It’s readable and engaging, even for non-specialists.

Reading Is One Thing. Interpreting Is Another.

Here's a little bonus to this blog post, because you can't read without interpreting...

Translation is just the beginning.  Once you’ve got a Bible in your hands, another key question emerges:  

“How do I interpret what I’m reading?”  

That’s where hermeneutics comes in.  Hermeneutics is the art and science of biblical interpretation.  It helps you ask the right questions, avoid common mistakes, and understand how different methods (like literary, historical, or theological approaches) shape what we see in the text.

If you want a well-organized, highly accessible and thorough introduction to the field, check out:  

The Lexham Methods Series (Logos Bible Software)

This 4-volume series is designed to help students and pastors navigate the world of interpretive methods.  Each volume explains a different approach, introduces key thinkers, and shows how to apply it to Scripture.  Whether you're new to theology or just want to sharpen your interpretive skills (or understand how others do interpretation a bit differently), it's one of the most user-friendly guides out there.  

Where to Start

If you’re new to this topic, here’s a suggested path:

1. Start with Fee & Strauss – get a handle on how and why different Bible translations exist.
   
   
2. Then read Wegner – understand how the biblical text was preserved and transmitted.
   
   
3. Read Metzger – explore how translation history unfolded across centuries.
   
   
4. Add the Lexham Methods Series – build your toolkit for responsible, faithful interpretation.
   
   

You don’t need to be a scholar to make informed choices about Bible translations, or to appreciate the long, faithful process by which we received them.  These resources are approachable, clear, and trustworthy introductions to a topic that every serious Bible reader should understand.

And remember:

The best Bible translation is the one you'll actually read.

But having some background information to help you choose--and help you understand why others make the choices that they do--can help you read our sacred text more faithfully.  

Here are a few Genesis Marks the Spot episodes that touch on the topic of translation:

Divine Council Worldview: Comparing Translations with Mike Chu - Episode 069

Is the LSB a Good Bible Translation? - Episode 063

The Highlights of Bible Study, with BT Wallace - Episode 088