What is the Best Translation for Bible Study?

People ask me this question all the time. I wish there was one, easy answer. Personally, I have five favorites. In this video I'll walk through what they are...and HOW I use each them.


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Bible Translations I mentioned:


My Bible Resources:

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[philtheo]

These are also my favorite Bible translations (except for the Message, not because I have anything against it, but only because I've never read it). Here are the editions I have or want to have:

* CSB. I like the compact single column CSB. There's also a super nice and expensive edition of the personal size single column CSB coming out March 2024 called the CSB Personal Size Single Column in the Holman Handcrafted Collection.

* ESV. My favorite ESV is the Heritage. The Heritage is one of the most beautiful layouts of any Bible! I just wish they had the same layout in other translations. Anyway, the Heritage is available in a super expensive Heirloom line as well as a much more affordable TruTone that's coming out next month in February 2024. Such a beautiful layout, typeface, everything.

* NIV. My favorite is the NIV Heritage Bible single column. Available in a more affordable version as well as a premium version. But the premium version of the NIV Heritage Bible is probably the most affordable premium version of any Bible I've ever seen! Well under $100 (I paid around $50 or $60 on Christian Book during a sale) when it should be worth twice that much.

* NLT. I also love the NLT and my favorite is the original single column Filament! I think of it as the poor man's version of the Schuyler Caxton or Tyndale Select (both of which are out of print at this time). But actually I like the Filament version better than the Caxton or Select because the Filament doesn't have references off in the margins (which both the Caxton and the Select do) and I prefer not having references in the margins. And it's a two for the price of one Bible because the NLT Filament Bible looks like a reader's Bible and it also has a study Bible online that you can use on your phone, iPad, or other device.

[DavidRodriguez-hgkq]

I don't use paraphrase bibles but for devotional reading it's the NLT for the ease of reading. I read the NKJV for study.

[prestonbeaumont]

Here's my list for the top 8 Bible Translations to read and study:
1. New King James Version 1982
2. New International Version 1984
3. New American Standard Bible 1995
4. King James Version 1611 or 1769
5. English Standard Version 2001 or 2016
6. Holman Christian Standard Bible 2004
7. Christian Standard Bible 2017
8. New Living Translation 1996, 2004 or 2015

[christlife]

My top 3 NKJV, NASB 95, NIV. NkJV, I find the words to be more literal but Nasb more literal in sentence structure

[deserthighlander]

Thank you for sharing your recommendations on bible translations. I agree with most of your options and the reasoning for them. The one exception is using a solely paraphrased option like the Message Bible. Instead, I recommend opting for a variety of commentaries as a reference source. As you mentioned, a paraphrase should never be used as your primary bible, I wholeheartedly agree. That said, using a few different translations can enhance your understanding of God's Word. ✝️

[wigglewomyn]

Keith, i watched this video for the first time tonight and was happy to see that without knowing, I'm following your recommendations. I read chapter and verse in 3 Bibles and they are in the same order as you listed, the CSB, the NIV, and the third, I recently bought the Tyndale Filament NLT Bible which I'm enjoying as it includes a Study Bible app. I'm happy I'm reading the Bibles that you suggest.

[truthismyfriend]

Line must be upon line precept upon precept so they will go and fall backwards and be broken and snared and taken (Isaiah ) . . In the which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they also do the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3)