Bible Translations: Which One and How Do I Choose?

Written by Anneke Toliver

Bible versions. There are literally hundreds of them. 

As leaders of Dive Collective, we’ve been asked this type of question multiple times: Which versions do we use? Why? For what purpose? We wanted to address this topic with a basic overview of how Scripture is translated and some pros and cons of the various options. 

There are three main approaches to Bible translation that I’m going to cover here: formal equivalence, dynamic equivalence, and paraphrase. We could go deeper and break them down further, but that’s for another time and another place. The goal here is to give you a general idea so you’re equipped to think through what you need as you study. 

Let’s start with formal equivalence. The goal of this approach to translation is to stay as close to the original wording as possible. It’s considered a word-for-word method of translation, often described as literal. The translators are going back to the original languages—Hebrew for the Old Testament, Greek for the New Testament—and translating the text as closely “as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer.” (esv.org) This can get difficult when words from the original language just don’t have an equivalent in English. Sometimes phrases in a literal translation are interpreted in a “functionally equivalent” manner, simply for readability and comprehension, but it’s often notated in a footnote.

Dynamic equivalence is considered a more thought-for-thought approach to translation. This method is less concerned with getting exact words translated from the original language, and more intent on translating the main thought or idea that the authors convey. These translations are more functionally equivalent—they're often more readable, more adapted to modern language. A dynamic equivalent translation leaves more room for the translator to apply personal interpretation as they convert Scripture from the original languages. Sometimes, “the task of interpreting the Scripture is taken out of the hands of the reader and placed into the hands of the translator.” (blueletterbible.org) 

The last approach is a paraphrase. According to Oxford Languages, to paraphrase is to “express the meaning of (the writer or speaker or something written or spoken) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity.” So a paraphrase version of the Bible is the author’s interpretation of Scripture. A paraphrase is often expanded, easy to read, and written in modern English. This method involves the greatest amount of personal interpretation by the author, and leaves the least amount of room for the reader to interpret Scripture on his or her own—and whatever interpretation the reader makes is based on the interpretation of the translator. 

Ok, so now what? Is one type better than another? Should I use only one? How do I choose?

All of these approaches have benefits and serve different purposes. Here’s how I think through what version I’m going to use—and for what purpose.

When I’m digging into Scripture, like we do in our Dive Studies, I’m going to use a translation that’s based on the formal equivalence method. I want to get as close to the original as I can so I can dig in and understand what the author’s original meaning was. This provides accuracy as I think through and pray through and interpret what the Spirit is trying to teach me through God’s Word. Some examples of this are the English Standard Version, Christian Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version and New King James Version, Revised Standard Version. My personal go-to for study is the English Standard Version—it’s word-for-word as much as possible, yet readable. The ESV Study Bible is a great resource. 

When I’m reading through Scripture just for the story and the big picture and not doing in-depth study, I’m more likely to pick up something in the dynamic equivalence family. Even though they’re not literal, the thought-for-thought translations tell the story of redemption that God has laid out for us in His Word. Sometimes you might notice some interpretation differences, but for just reading to read, the New Living Translation, Good News Bible, and Contemporary English Version are good options. The New International Version falls somewhere in between dynamic and formal equivalence. My personal choice this year as I’ve been following our Bible Reading Plan has been the Christian Standard Bible; it falls under the formal equivalence approach, but I’ve really enjoyed the language and clarity of it. 

The Message is a great example of a paraphrase. It was created by Eugene Peterson, a pastor, scholar, writer, and poet. Peterson’s goal was to provide “a vibrant Bible translation that connects with today’s readers like no other. He worked from the Greek and Hebrew texts to ensure authenticity. At the same time, his ear was always tuned to the cadence and energy of contemporary English.” (messagebible.com) He spent ten years of his life working on it, and it flowed out of his thirty-plus years of pastoral ministry and scholarship. The Message (and others like it) isn’t the best option for in-depth study, since it contains so much of Peterson’s personal interpretations of Scripture, but it is beautiful to read. This year, Erin’s been reading through The Message as she follows the Bible Reading Plan, and often in our discussions on our Recap Podcast we’ve compared The Message with the CSB. It’s brought a lot of richness and beauty and clarity to our conversations. 

As you approach Scripture and the abundance of translations available to us, remember: “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV) The Bible is not just any old book; it’s the living, breathing Word of God. It is Truth; it is full of power, full of hope. 

“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 CSB

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