How To Pick A Bible Translation

My Favorite Bible Translation(s) and Why!

The most common question I get asked is, “Dr. Joel, what Bible translation do you recommend?” Now, I usually respond with a quip: “Honestly, whatever translation you will actually read.” And I truly do mean it. Sometimes I worry we treat our Bibles like how I treat my TBR (to be read) books in my Amazon cart. I purchase the book(s). They get to my house. They sit on a shelf. And they’ve been sitting for a while because a new book just came out that I want to read. In the process, I never actually finish reading (in some cases even starting) the books I’ve already bought!

So I really do mean it. In one sense, I don’t care what Bible translation you pick as long as you are reading your Bible.

With that addressed, let me work through a framework that may help when thinking through what Bible translation may be good for you. At the end, I’ll tell you the Bible translation I’ve been reading from the last few years and why I’ve really appreciated it, along with one MAJOR area of critique I ha…