Why Are There So Many Bible Versions? (And Which One Should You Use?)
For Special K — and anyone else asking where to begin with God's Word
Hey Special K,
Remember the other day when you asked me, “How do I study the Bible?” That question stuck with me. It's a good one — and I think before we even open the Bible to study it, we need to understand what kind of Bible we’re opening.
You see, there isn’t just one English Bible. There are dozens. And I get it — that can be confusing. Why are there so many versions? And which one should you use?
Let me walk you through it like I wish someone had walked me through it when I started out.
Not All Bibles Are the Same — And That’s Okay
Imagine we’re all standing around one beautiful ancient painting. Some of us are trying to copy it stroke by stroke, every line exact. Others want to capture the mood and message of it, even if we don’t get every detail just right. And a few are just trying to tell the story behind it in our own words so people today can feel it in their hearts.
That’s what Bible translators are doing. They’re all looking at the same original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words. But how they bring those words into English depends on what their goal is — word accuracy, thought clarity, or readability.
Word-for-Word Bibles (Formal)
These try to stick as close to the original wording and sentence structure as possible.
ESV – This is a great balance of literal translation and readable language. Good for studying.
NASB – One of the most accurate for deep study, but a little more academic.
KJV/NKJV – Beautiful, poetic, and powerful, but the old language can be hard to follow sometimes.
If you're looking to really dig in, one of these versions is a solid place to start. But they can feel a little stiff if you're just trying to understand and connect at the heart level.
Thought-for-Thought Bibles (Dynamic)
These aim to make the meaning of the passage clear in today's language.
NLT (New Living Translation) – This is my favorite for everyday reading. It's accurate, easy to understand, and honestly feels like someone is just sitting across from you and explaining God’s heart.
NIV (New International Version) – A super popular version, especially in churches. It balances accuracy and readability.
This might be where you want to start. The NLT especially is like God holding your hand and speaking your language. That’s the one I often turn to when I need comfort or clarity.
Paraphrased Bibles
These versions aren’t strict translations — they’re more like retellings of the Bible’s message in fresh, modern language. They're meant to stir your heart, spark your imagination, and help you experience the emotion behind the words.
Let me show you how different this can feel using one of my favorite passages:
Romans 12:1–2 (KJV)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
It’s beautiful and powerful — but for many of us, that language might feel a little distant or hard to digest at first.
Now listen to it in The Message:
Romans 12:1–2 (The Message)
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.
Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.
Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
Can you feel the difference? It’s like reading the same soul-deep truth through a completely different lens. One is poetic and sacred in tone, the other feels like a mentor talking directly to your heart.
So… Which One Should You Use?
Here’s the truth: there’s no perfect version. It all depends on what you need.
If you’re just starting out and want clarity — go with the NLT.
If you want to go deeper — keep an ESV or NIV nearby.
If you want something creative to spark your heart — read The Message alongside your main Bible.
And you don’t have to pick just one. Sometimes I read the same verse in three different versions. It’s like hearing God say the same truth in three unique tones of voice.
The Heart Behind It All
I just want you to know that it’s okay not to know everything right now. You don’t need a seminary degree to open the Bible and hear from God. You just need a willing heart and a version that helps you understand what He’s saying.
Start small. Read a Psalm in the NLT. Compare it with the ESV. Feel the beauty in The Message. Pray and ask, “God, what are You showing me today?”
You’re not alone in this. I’ll be right here beside you. And trust me — the more you read, the more you’ll want to read. His Word really is alive, and it will speak directly to your life.