My Favorite Translation - How the NKJV Unseated the ESV

I preached and read from the ESV for over 10 years. What convinced me to switch to the NKJV?

[tjmaverick]

I love the amount of footnotes, the traditional text, and the translation stability.

[carmennooner]

KJV and NKJV are tied for first place on my preference list. I was first introduced to the KJV in the church I was saved in. The church I attended for a few years later used the NIV, which I never really cared for. Then I started attending Calvary Chapel in Bellflower CA who used the KJV and it was at that time I accidentally purchased the NKJV! Fell in love immediately. :)

[rkyrkrdo]

Very well done Tim and thank you so much for the video. Another reason I may add to the ones you mentioned: No matter which denomination we belong, the NKJV flows very well. It's a classic in its own right.

[artistchristos]

I was KJV for years because I loved it, then went NKJV alongside that version because, as you say Tim, it flows so beautifully in line with the King James. For 2 years I have gone ESV having not read this version before, and I works for me yet I still keep my PSQ in New King James by my bedside because it is beautiful to hold and read and is still a favourite! Tim, I like how you whizzed through the descriptions of your bibles with no messing around! Thank you.

[jimyoung]

I've been studying the NKJV for over 25 years. Everything I've memorized is in the NKJV. I love other translations too, but NKJV is my main squeeze.

[LBCBrandon]

I didn’t grow up with the KJV, our church used the old RSV and switched to the NIV in the mid 80s, so the NKJV wasn’t something I was naturally drawn to.

But I read through the translation during 2020, and the more traditional sounding language ended up being a comfort to me through everything that went on that year, so it will always have a place in my heart.

Since then I’ve incorporated it into my reading and study on a more regular basis, and I’m glad I did. The stable text is big selling point for me, as well as the numerous, and usually affordable, number of editions that are available.

Great video!

[lynda]

No matter what, I always come back to NKJV.

[megalyon]

Thomas Nelson for the WIN, I agree they make amazing Bibles - I have that end of verse reference premier and it’s really good. Well I have several you shared, great Bibles 😁

[Jazzfestn]

The problem in America is NOT a lack of Bibles but a lack of people who actually READ the Bibles they have in their own homes.

[rosalynforte]

Hi Tim! I LOVE the NKJV translation also. I have practically every translation possible in my collection which I refer to time to time, but it seems like I always gravitate to the NKJV in all formats, especially in the Study Bibles etc.
Thanks for the great review! God bless! 💜✝️🙏🏻😊

[jayandrew]

Great video! Threw me for a loop on this one Tim. I was expecting one reason, and was at first surprised it was the myriad of available printings rather than the textual basis. Ended up with 4 reasons and you covered the text basis so well done. I’ve settled on the NKJ as my fav as well because it’s much easier to comprehend than it’s predecessor and includes the CT variant notes which are helpful to point out major differences with doctrinal implications.

[RossTheWretch]

Thanks for that explanation. I have been ESV for a very long time.

One of the things as you mentioned, is I like that fact that they don't continuously update it.

One you didn't mention, is I am a fan of the capitalization of the pronouns referring to God/Christ. Love that!

[dwfeaster]

Thank you for this. You have helped me get back into reading the NKJV again

[stevehill]

I started out reading the NKJV and I've used the KJV, ESV, NASB, CSB, NIV, NLT and recently the LSB but I always come back to the NKJV I also like the KJV

[clannard]

NIV '84 was my only translation for many years. When I became Orthodox, I bought an Orthodox Study Bible. The NT was in NKJV, and NKJV was the base translation for OT (which was changed to conform to the Septuagint readings in places where NKJV and Septuagint differed). I developed a love and preference for NKJV through reading the OSB.
Over time, I found the text, tight margins and bleedthrough of the OSB made for an uncomfortable reading experience, so looked for an NKJV that was more easy on the eye. I found it in the TN Giant Print Center Column Reference Bible. The font type, sewed binding, opaque paper, line matching and generous line spacing and margin spacing makes for such a comfortable, comforting read.
This is now my main everyday reading bible. I still use the OSB for study and reading where the Septuagint differs from the Masoretic, but won't buy another one until it receives the TN "comfort print" font, spacing, line matching and paper quality upgrade.

[joshwitt]

Enjoyed your NKJV video! I feel Ike the NKJV does offer the widest view on textual variants in that you see verses in the text that are often relegated to footnotes, and the NKJV notes tell you when a reading varies more often than other translations like the NASB. With the NKJV you won’t “miss” anything by accident and it seems the most like a good middle ground between traditional and modern leaning folks. I was surprised to hear you cite the options of editions as one of the main reasons, I always felt like the ESV has an largest selection of editions but I could be wrong. Thomas Nelson certainly does have some great options and the premier collection seems to be the best quality for the money I have seen for edge lined bibles.

[Wayfarerpilgrim]

Your reasons are perhaps the best recorded. For academia the NKJV doesn’t get a lot of love, perhaps due so many Bible colleges are wedded to the critical text, I don’t know. But to me the nkjv is the Swiss Army knife of bible translations. Good information.

[LNR]

The NKJV was the first translation I read when I came back to Christ. I prefer to read the KJV now but the NKJV will always have a special place in my heart.

[Yonderford]

I'm a new Bible reader and recently switched from the ESV to the NKJV as the main translation I'm reading. I find the NKJV to be a much more pleasing translation to read over the ESV. I also spent some time with the NLT but found myself wanting a more literal translation.

On top of that, I love the Comfort Print type. Lexicon is nice, but I think Comfort Print beats it by a mile.

[MeLancer]

Thank you for your comments on the New King James Bible, Tim. You have described the reasons it has become my primary version for daily reading.