Which is the Best Bible Translation?

Colin Melbourne
© 98-08 Born-Again-Christian.Info

The Best Holy Bible translation is not a book at all.

Who Wrote The Bible?

The Holy Bible Scriptures were Authored by Almighty God, not by men.

Moses and Paul were not the authors. Nor were James, Peter or Matthew, and the rest. God Himself, The Lord Jesus Christ, Authored them through those believers as they were inspired by His Spirit. See 2 Tim. 3:16 and 2 Pe. 1:21

God used these writers much as someone dictates their words to a secretary. The typist does the writing, but the one dictating is the author, not the secretary, who is just a 'tool'.

How Accurate is the Bible?

Being autographed onto fragile papyrus, the originals have, of course, long since perished. But reliable copies (called manuscripts) have been handed down the generations to this day.

People who claim the Bible is unreliable in its authenticity, have never examined the factual evidence. Compared to other ancient writings, the Holy Bible has more manuscript evidence than any ten pieces of classical literature combined. (Refer to New Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell)

Today we have an abundance of different translations of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts that constitute the Holy Bible.

It is by far the most printed, translated, and read book ever produced.

In most languages there exists only one translation. However, in English, there are dozens of translations to choose from.

Warning: The cults love to corrupt God's Word. It is so powerful, they like to use bits of it to lead folks into their traps. Many cults have produced 'Bibles,' added their own words and corrupted the original meaning. Beware of Roman Catholic versions containing the uninspired 'Apocrypha', and others such as the Jehovah's Witnesses' New World Translation, and Book of Mormon.

They claim to be God's Word but they are counterfeit, and should be burned.

A Rule of Thumb

Personally, I use NIV, KJV, and NKJV. I also enjoy the Good News Bible, Living Bible (a paraphrase not a translation) and Phillips' translation. If there's any difference between the versions regarding doctrine, I use the KJV as my base reference.

All are excellent, and each has advantages over others in certain areas.

Above All Else

The most important thing is to read God's Word not as a book. Not as a teaching manual. But as Almighty God Himself speaking to you. And to constantly depend upon the Holy Spirit for personal revelation of His meaning. Learn to do that or you will be snared by false-teachers, of which there are plenty. People who don't read God's Word in the Holy Spirit, get into all kinds of tangles, and take tangents away from the light, ending up disillusioned in the ditch of sin and unbelief. You know people like that don't you? Ironically, they usually remain very religious.

But when you listen to God the Holy Spirit, as you read God's Word you will never go wrong.

Are Study Bibles Safe?

Study Bibles and commentaries are, in my view, best avoided.

I've checked many, and even the most respected ones, (by theologians), have glaring errors of interpretation of God's Word.

You get the slant of the commentator, or other 'expert' instead of God's meaning. They lead the reader by footnotes and annotations to understand God's Word the way they do. Which may, or may not, be in line with God's Spirit.

Worse than this, they satisfy the reader with human thoughts, and conclusions, which stops them going to God themselves for the revelation He longs to give us personally.

There are many excellent Bible teachers whom God has placed in the Body, and with whom I agree wholeheartedly on everything they teach.

But, God wants you and me to get the Truth from Him directly. That way you'll easily spot the false-teachers, (who incidentally, far outnumber God's teachers.) Even people who start off sound, can finish-up in apostasy and heresy by listening to seducing evil spirits, as foretold in God's Word.

American preachers seem particularly prone to go-off track, and the majority are in bed with The Harlot proclaiming Ecumenism instead of Christ's Message. They respect public opinion more than they respect God's Word. But that's another topic. We're investigating the question, 'Which is the best Bible translation?'

What About the King James Only Crowd?

Many beautiful Christians claim the 1611 King James Version is the Word of God in English, perfect and superior to all other versions.

I love my KJV, I read it often, and use it as a check on some of the paraphrased translations, such as the Phillip's Bible and Living Bible.

However, small wars are fought over this issue, and some fellowships even forbid their members from using any other version. How this grieves God.

The letter kills, it is the Spirit that gives Life. 2 Co. 3:16

The Word of God and the Spirit of God always agree.

Believers must have both to be effective witnesses for Jesus. Some denominations are shrivelling and withering on the vine, because they have one, but neglect the other.

Worship is formal to the point of being dead. Preaching is powerless. There are no miracles in their meetings. No demonstration of the Spirit's power that Jesus and Paul et al. always had. Others go the other way; all froth and bubble, with no substance.

Soon after getting saved I came across KJV-only believers (they believe that the King James Version is the only translation Christians should use), and listened to their arguments. I read literature on the subject, and found sound cases on both sides of the issue.

Since they were claiming my beloved NIV was 'corrupted,' and the KJV 'perfect', I was disturbed because I love and use both NIV and KJV. I, as an Englishman speak modern English, not 16th century English. Today, if somebody came up to me in a fellowship saying,

"Yea Brother Colin, let me have joy of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord!" As in Philemon 20 KJV, I would not know what to do.

Should I run and hide, or give them a dose of liver salts?

The NIV rendition; Refresh my heart in Christ! Gives me no such anxieties.

Also, when I pray, and listen to God speaking to me... Do you know How to recognise God's Voice? Jesus said,

They (true believers) will listen to my voice. Jn. 10:16 NIV

When I listen to God, He speaks my language: Not Elizabethan English. I believe God's interested in people, and communicating with them on their level, in their language, don't you?

God Answers Me About the KJV

After serious prayer and research, I waited for the Lord to show me His attitude to the matter. I knew it was pointless asking different human opinions. To know the truth about a thing, go to The Truth, and ask Him.

He used two comments from preachers to settle the debate.

(Incidentally, both preachers were using the KJV, but neither claimed it was the only reliable English version.)

One of them said whilst preaching,

"Those who claim the KJV as the Word of God sneer at the Norwegian Holy Bible. 'It's just a translation.' they say".

That really helped me a lot. Think about it, and it will help you too. But the clincher, was this comment from an Irish ex-terrorist, who gave one of the most anointed salvation testimonies, I have ever heard.

He'd blown people up in the religious war in Northern Ireland. Whilst in prison, Jesus saved him.

"I was willing to die for the cause [meaning Unionism], but Jesus gave me a cause to live for."

He read out 1 Co. 6:9, the long list of sinners who cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Swindlers, sexually immoral, sodomites, idolaters etc. and he emphasised the line; And that is what some of you were

Then he commented,

"That sounds like my kind of fellowship."

If it isn't like yours you are in the wrong place. They are not reaching the sinners, so find a fellowship who are. If you can't find one, start one.

He continued;

But you were washed (Alleluia!), you were sanctified (Glory!), you were justified (Just-as-if-I'd-never-done-it), in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of God. 1 Co. 6:11 KJV

If you are not moved reading this, you have nothing to move.

By this time we, the listeners, were in tears under the anointing of God's Spirit, and we praised God for His mercy and love to us all.

Then, in closing, and with a twinkle in his eyes he added in rich Irish brogue;

"And that is from the King James Version. That's the one Paul used y'know!"

The issue was forever settled there and then for me.

Hope it helps you too.

More important than our opinions though, is God's opinion of the Best Translation of His Word.

The Word became Flesh, and lived among us. Jn. 1:14 NIV

Jesus of Nazareth, God's Son is the Living Word.

God said,

This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him. Mtt. 17:5 NIV

The Perfect Translation is the Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus encourages everybody to believe in Him.

Every time a sinner receives Jesus Christ as Lord, God's Word becomes flesh again.

Do you accept that? If you've received Christ as Saviour, Christ lives in you.

His Spirit gives life to your mortal flesh. (Ro. 8:11)

God's Word becomes flesh again, in the believer.

The closer you follow Jesus, the better a 'translation' you are, of God's Word. And you can thrill God's Heart as He sees His plan come to pass in you.

Do you know what gives God most pleasure?

Our worship? No.

Our faith-filled prayer? No.

He tells us Himself;

I have No greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 Jn. 4 NIV

That means, when you walk in the light of Jesus and in His Spirit, God gets a kick out of you.