A lot has been said about Bible translations. There have certainly been some fair criticisms, but there is also a lot of unfounded criticism from particular groups. I’m looking at you, KJVO.
In a previous post (which you can read here), I talked about the importance of reading your Bible as a regular practice. Listening to the Bible on something like the free YouVersion Bible App is another great option. After all, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God - Romans 10:17.
I also talked about, in the aforementioned post, that there are really two methods of translating the Bible into English: Word for Word and Thought for Thought. See the below graphic:
So when it comes to looking for a translation, it really depends on what your goals are for Bible Study. My daily reader is the ESV, but because it is closer to a direct translation, it can be a little clunky to read. So I offset it with something like the NIV or NLT.
When it comes to being a new believer and just digging into the Bible for serious Bible reading and study for the first time, it’s a good idea to find a translation that splits the difference really effectively. And based on the above chart, I think you may be able to guess which translation I am beginning to recommend to new Christians. That’s right, the CSB (Christian Standard Bible).
The CSB is a healthy mix of Word for Word and Thought For Thought. There’s little reason to jump back and forth between translations to see the true intent or verbiage of the original authors. Don’t misunderstand me; there is no perfect translation. The inerrant and inspired words are the ones written in the original manuscripts that the translators do their best to honor.
While my daily reader is still the ESV, the CSB is the translation that our ministry purchases in bulk to hand out to people who want/need a Bible. We found these great CSB Invitation New Testaments that have a Gospel presentation in them, and they are only $0.99 each, so it’s easy to buy in bulk. Keep in mind that it is only the New Testament, but again, a great resource for ministry. For $1.99 each, you can get this Complete Old and New Testament CSB Bible as another great economical option.
Of course, if you are looking for one for yourself, something like this CSB Apologetics Study Bible is another great choice.
Outside of some blatantly problematic translations like The New World Translation or The Passion Translation, you really can’t go wrong with most any English translation. And while I do like the King James Version for its poetic tones, the old English is relevant to a modern reader and hard to follow.