A Handy Guide to Major English Translations of the Bible
By Hwang Keum-Ok
In this article I would like to mention some of the most important English translations of the Bible. I am going to indicate the type of translation it is, and make a few other helpful remarks as necessary. I hope that you find it useful in choosing a Bible translation for your own personal reading and study --
The Amplified Bible -- The Amplified is a specialty translation produced by The Lockman Foundation, and makes use of a special system of punctuation to indicate various shades of meaning that may not be apparent to most English-speaking readers of the Bible.
The Contemporary English Version -- The CEV is a product of the American Bible Society. It is not a literal, word for word translation, but uses every day English to communicate biblical truth.
The Douay-Rheims Bible -- The Douay-Rheims Bible is a traditional Catholic Bible, written around the same time as the King James Version which is familiar to Protestants. The DRB is still used by many English-speaking Catholics today, especially traditionalist Catholics.
The English Standard Version -- the ESV is a relative newcomer, which used the RSV as its base text. It is more literal, but is nicely balanced -- and is fast gaining favor among evangelical Protestant Christians.
The Good News Bible -- The GNB, sometimes called Today's English Translation, is another contemporary language Bible which was sponsored some years back by the American Bible Society, and which still remains popular in certain circles, especially in larger, mainline denominations.
The Holman Christian Standard -- The HCSB is a more literal Bible from Broadman and Holman publishers which also attempts to strike a balance in the direction of being very understandable. It has a small, but dedicated following.
The New Jerusalem -- The NJB, a revision and updating of the Jerusalem Bible, is a contemporary translation that displays an excellent literary style. Published by Random House in the United States, it is also a popular choice among contemporary Catholics.
The King James Version -- What could we say about the King James Version -- since the 1700s at least this Bible has exercised a mammoth influence within Christendom. Multitudes of people still read -- and love -- the KJV; however many today find its antiquated language a barrier to understanding and are seeking alternatives.
The New American Bible -- The NAB is the standard Bible translation for Catholics in the United States today. It is an enormously important translation, as all Catholic Mass Scripture texts in this country use this translation. Oversight for it belongs to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The New American Standard -- The NASB first appeared in the early 1970s, and quickly established itself among Protestant evangelicals as an extremely literal translation. It is sponsored by the Lockman Foundation.
The Revised English -- The REB is an updating and revision of the New English Bible (NEB), which also appeared in the 1970s for the first time. The REB also has an excellent literary style; however many people feel that it is slanted theologically. It is a popular choice among mainline Protestants in this country and also in the United Kingdom.
The New International Version -- The New International Version is a very popular among Evangelical Protestants. Not as "literal" as some others, it is currently one of the best-selling Bibles among English-speaking people worldwide.
The New King James -- The NKJV is an updating of the King James version and first appeared in the 1980s. The translators have tried to update the older vocabulary of the KJV. It is a popular choice among evangelical Christians.
The Revised Standard -- The RSV (and its successor the NRSV) is the principal Bible translation of mainline Protestant churches in the US today. The RSV is also available in a special Catholic edition (the RSV-CE) which has received ecclesiastical approval for use by Catholics. The oversight for it remains with the National Council of Churches.
Please note: I have not attempted at all to list every possible English Bible currently being published -- just some of the more popular and influential ones. Also note that the author of this article does not endorse any particular translation over any others...
If you need help with your Bible study -- or would just like to know what Bible study tools and methods are available, then you'll want to stop by http://www.bible-study-methods.info - Bible Study Methods -- where you can find more information on Bible Translations, Bible Study Tools and Methods, and even a Bible Software Guide!
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