Which version of the Bible should you use? Is there an advantage in using many versions? Is there a best version or even one that may be said to be totally inspired and therefore 100 per cent reliable? These are some of the questions this sub-site seeks to answer as well as explain the reasons Messianic Evangelicals have their preferred translations.

To give you a sample of the way different versions render texts, here is a passage (compiled by James White) translated in several versions:

The first seven are all valid renditions, conveying the Hebrew concept literally. The others try to express the same concept using slightly different words whilst conveying the same meaning. The last four are examples of paraphrases or dynamic equivalent versions (e.g. NIV) which, though more readable for some, can sometimes take liberties with the original meaning. They should probably be called 'commentaries' for in that capacity they can be very helpful. Finding a balance between accuracy and conveyability is one of the tough jobs undertaken by Bible translators.

Bible scholarship is constantly improving translations but unfortunately the market is now flooded with so many new versions that it is hard to review them all. Worse, most of these new versions are not needed but have been published for commercial gain or to circumvent copyright issues. Quite simply, there is a glut of translations with most of them bringing very little new scholarship or manuscript discovery to the public gaze.

The list that follows, which contains Bible versions we have studied, evaluated and used over the last 40 years and so know quite well, is part scholarly and part subjective. There is, alas, no perfect translation, and probably never will be, though we have long sought for one, and even though one widespread cult is insisting there is. The nearest to 'perfection' that one can attain is, of course, to read the Bible in the original Hebrew and Aramaic, and the Greek translation that was in use in apostolic times. Nevertheless nearly all translations are adequate for the salvation message and the best ones contain all the important doctrines (though if you want to understand Paul don't read the NIV!). Ironing out the differences in translations is one reasion this website exists.

It should also be pointed out that some popular versions (like the NIV*) are regularly revised and therefore appear in numerous editions, one of the latest being the less than satisfactory TNIV (Today's NIV). In the majority of cases the most recent editions are the best but this is by no means true of all. Some (like Catholic versions, the NRSV and some versions of the NEB, etc.) contain the Catholic Apocrypha and others (like the post 2nd editions of the messianic RSTNE) contain not only Apocrypha, some of the Pseudepigrapha but a revamped Book of Mormon! So be careful.

*Revisions of the original complete NIV published in 1978 include a minor revision in 1984 and a larger one in 1995, a full revision in 2002, an update in October 2008 for the 30h anniversary of the NIV, another update in 2011 (with the text updated to the 2011 edition of the NIV), and a fully revised update in 2020 named the Fully Revised Edition. NCAY does not recommend the use of editions after 2008 as these are heavily politicised with gender neutrality.

There are also some standard Evangelical translations like the KJV that have been produced with the Hebraic names for messianics. So the choice is potentially vast even if the quality is not uniform.

Another problem is doctrinal commentary footnotes like the infamous Scofield Reference Bible (SRB). Good versions like the KJV can, by association, be ruined by reference editions like this. You'll find the SRB listed in the last section of Bibles never to buy.

Because most of our members and friends cannot afford to purchase dozens of translations, the need for a list which they can intelligently select from has become more accute over the years. This list is not static but is constantly updated. The versions in any one particular section are in no particular order of preference.

We recommend that our readers own at least one Evangelical and one Messianic version out of the 'Excellent Versions' section. Since, understandably, purchasing ability often influences choice many will go for the cheaper mass-produced ones like the messianic Halleluyah Scriptures (a copycat version of the more expensive ISRV) or any number of Evangelical paraphrases. However, paraphrases are not usually reliable when it comes to doctrine even if they may be easier to read. Again, literacy levels will also guide the selection of some for whom we recommend the KNT, NLT or NIRV - these are good versions for young children starting Bible study too.

NCAY tends to use the NKJV in assemblies and even though this does not contain Hebraic names, most members soon become adept at making mental substitutions when reading out aloud - thus 'God' becomes 'Elohim', 'Jesus' becomes 'Yah'shua', 'Law' becomes 'Torah', and so on. We also increasingly use, as a supplement, N.T.Wright's Kingdom New Testament which is by far the best translation for understanding the writings of Paul, Wright being the world's leading Pauline scholar.

Unfortunately there is not, in my view, any Messianic translation comparable in quality to the best of the non-Messianic versions, most of which have strong denominational agendas and are one-man efforts. At this stage it is probably best to own several if you can afford it - the CJB, HRV and AENT are probably the best, though the latter two are only New Testaments (the whole Bible HRV uses a modified Jewish Publication Society Old Testament). One of the problems we find with many messianic versions (e.g. ISRV, RSTNE) is that too many familiar terms (like 'cross', 'righteousness', etc.) tend to be replaced by less familiar and potentially confusing English words (like 'execution stake', 'right-ruling', etc.) which can make for communication problems in evangelism. We like to keep things simple and communicable - the point is not to show off how many Hebrew words you know but to win souls for Messiah and teach the true lifestyle of the saved.