It’s All Greek to Me

Clearing up the confusion about Bible translations

When I became a Christian in 1970, choosing a Bible was fairly easy. You just drove to the local bookstore and bought a King James Version . There were still some decisions to be made: whether to get a black or burgundy cover for example, or whether to spring for real leather. There was also the option of buying a Bible with the Scofield notes. A little over 30 years later, the decisions are dramatically more difficult. Do I buy the KJV, NKJV, NIV, NASB, RSV, NRSV, TEV, CEV, NLT, LB, NCV , or ? Or do I choose the TNIV, ESV , or HCSB —all of which have appeared quite recently? The assortment of Bibles raises some pressing questions. Why are there so many different translations? What are the key differences between them? And finally, which translations are best for you? Why are there so many translations?