Bible Translations

Unfortunately, no. The translation process is extremely complicated and challenging. Not only do translators work with languages that are thousands of years old, but they have to take into account the prevailing culture that shaped the language. New discoveries in archaeology, for instance, often shed further meaning to our understanding of ancient culture and language. It’s for this reason that we celebrate the many translations and tools available, as used together we can get something approximating a clear and accurate understanding of the plain meaning of the text.

Take for example, the New American Standard Bible (NASB). While it’s considered the most literally translated version of the Bible, it’s been revised four times since it was originally published in 1960. The 1971, 1977, 1995 and 2020 revisions all improve on the versions before them.

For this reason, a good dose of humility is always required. On the one hand, even our best English translations are still, in a sense, someone’s interpretation of the original languages. On the other hand, I think it’s helpful to remember that those who knew the original languages best—those who actually spoke it—crucified Jesus.

God’s nature, clearly and consistently revealed throughout the Scriptures, and a dependence on the Holy Spirit ought to always guide our interpretations and the conclusions we draw.

An Interlinear Bible isn’t actually a translation. It a study tool that maps the English words to the original languages, typically by showing the English words either below or alongside the original language text.

While not easily readable, it maintains the original language’s word order. This helps the student read the text free of someone else’s interpretation or commentary. The identification of parts of speech (noun, verb, conjunction, etc.) and the inclusion of Strong’s Numbers help the student dig into the meaning of each word.

In terms of the Word-for-word Approach, the New American Standard Bible (NASB) is considered by many to be the most literal version of the Bible available. Along with the NASB, the Revised Standard Version (RSV) is an excellent choice.

In terms of the Thought-for-thought approach, I use the New International Version (NIV) and the New Living Translation (NLT).

The Amplified Bible (AMP) can be a helpful study Bible. However, because it attempts to offer all possible renderings of a word’s meaning, it runs into a logical problem: while all renderings can be accurate, not all renderings are accurate. The fact that a given word often has different meanings doesn’t mean that all renderings of it are valid each time the word occurs. If you enjoy the AMP, I recommend using the NASB, ESV or RSV in conjunction with it.

There are several great apps available but the one I use is the Blue Letter Bible. It’s available for free in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

It comes with the New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20), the latest version of the NASB, installed as a default version of the Bible. (If it doesn’t in your region, you can easily add it to your selection of Bibles.) Plus, one of its many features include an Interlinear interface.

Helpful Tip

Set up two Bible versions in your reading App by default to enrich your study experience.

In the screenshot below, I’ve selected the NASB and NKJV. This helps me compare the NASB with the Bible I cut my teeth on as a young believer, the NKJV.

Simply use the Version Selector in the top left-hand corner to select your two Bible versions. (And yes, you can opt for just one version at a time.)