“We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. The Bible is therefore without error (inerrant) in its original manuscripts. God has supernaturally preserved the Bible and it is the sole and final authority for faith and life.” If you read the statement of faith from many evangelical churches and organizations, you will find they generally contain language much like that above. Yet, if you think about it in depth this statement can present some problems. First of all, we don’t have ANY of the original manuscripts from the Bible. We don’t know what Paul’s handwriting looked like because nobody has seen the original epistles that he wrote in his own hand (see Galatians 6:11). Second, there are thousands of ancient Greek and Hebrew manuscripts and none of them are completely identical with each other. Taking it one step further, in our English-speaking culture we can find over 400 “versions” of the Bible from which we can choose. There are many more if we include all of those translations into the many other languages of the world. So, which “Bible” should we believe is inspired? Are ALL of these versions equally valid? Is there only one “version” we can trust? These questions have caused much division in the church, especially in the past 100 years since the proliferation of new translations has abounded and as more ancient manuscripts have been dug up in various archeological finds.

Now before I wade into these shark-infested waters, let me state a few things. First, I grew up on the King James Version. All of the Scripture I have memorized comes from the KJV. I only preach and teach from the King James. It is still the best-selling Bible version and I believe it is an excellent and reliable translation which anyone can be trained to use. However, I reject the notion that it is a divinely inspired translation. The KJV translators were brilliant scholars but they were not the apostles God used to write down the inerrant Word of God. With that said, let’s examine a few principles to help make some decisions about what Bible version we can trust and which one you should choose.

First, you can have confidence that we have the inerrant Word of God. The fact that we have thousands of ancient manuscripts helps us to confirm this fact. The vast majority of differences between these manuscripts are simple spelling and grammar differences. Most of the changes do not affect meaning. In the very small percentage of differences where meaning could be affected, they do not affect any core doctrinal issues to our faith. The fact that we have seen so many copies of Scripture in such agreement have helped us to recreate the original text with the greatest confidence of ANY ancient text. New archeological discoveries almost always confirm this fact.

Second, because there will likely be no end to the proliferation of English translations in the near future, you need a LOT of wisdom and discernment in determining what you will use. These many translations are often driven by the desire for publishers to make more money. They cause division between churches and denominations and I believe they reduce the motivation for Scripture memory (Which version should I memorize? Why would I memorize something that is bound to change over time?). With that said, sometimes comparing reliable translations can be helpful to understand the Bible. But note that I say “reliable” translations. Be wary of those translations that are not designed to be literal reproductions of the original. Paraphrases and dynamic equivalency translations may be appealing because they are easier to read but they will not be as useful for studying the Word because they (by necessity) always impose some of man’s thinking on to God’s Word. Every translation does this to some extent, but a more literal translation is less likely to have man’s opinions and interpretations built into the text. If you need some recommendations in this regard, send me an email and I’ll be happy to share my thoughts with you.

Finally, find a translation you can trust and stick to it. Imagine going to school to an algebra class and every student bringing in their own edition of an algebra book. It would be chaos. Unfortunately, the Bible version chaos has caused just that scene in many churches today. Having a standardized version which everyone uses is helpful to “keep us on the same page” – in the most literal sense. Memorize God’s Word. Store it in your heart. Study it regularly. Make notes in your Bible’s margins. Utilize a translation that stays true to the original manuscripts and which you can take a deep dive into for your studies. In the end, don’t let the Bible version debate become a distraction to your personal walk with the Lord or the confidence that His Word “is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). You will find that God’s Word still doesn’t return void in your life!