I recommend using all translations on the list simultaneously and cross referencing each for comparison in order to get a better feel for each verse in different translations when you want to study in more depth. Many Bible experts argue that one should consult several Bible translations in order to get a good feel of what the original text is likely saying.
I have found that most of the more popular Bible translations are marketing a theological/doctrinal agenda; thus the more literal or scholarly the translation the better. I was once discussing Bible translations with a salesperson at a Christian bookstore in 2007. I was asking why there wasn’t a Bible that has a more exact word for word translation in the store. For example, I said, "Instead of writing LORD just saying Yahweh, or instead of the word spirit translating it pneuma or ruach (literally meaning the divine wind or breath of God)?" "Or," I continued, "using words like Adonai, depending on the context? Or why is the word "Hell" not translated as Sheol, Hades, or Gehenna (or Valley of Hinnom), depending on the actual Hebrew or Greek word that had a specific context? Why use the misleading one word hell for all three of these very different concepts?" He smirked and said something to the effect of, "That wouldn’t help with their marketing of the theology at their church." He then quipped, “it’s a business.”
Good Bible translations for Skeptics and Rationalists (or curious Atheists and Agnostics) who are more Focused on what's Logical and Evidential:
Available for free online and as an audio-book. I like to listen to the audio book version as it takes out the miracle stories (like Tolstoy does) so that one can focus in on just the ethical teachings of Jesus. This is a great version of the Gospels for a Skeptic seeking to re-experience the teachings of Jesus from a less supernatural angle.
This version is based on the traditional language format so you'll hear the word "hell" for example. So it is important that the atheist or agnostic or rationalist understands that biblical scholars point out that what the gospels mean about the end times and hell, is that the Jewish Jesus is warning his fellow Jews in the 30s AD about the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, when in real history thousands of Jews were killed by Roman soldiers and their corpses thrown into the valley of hinnom (hell was thus a place on earth based on the literal translation of the word).
This means that Jesus is essentially warning certain types of his fellow Jews --specifically those whom are super-religious yet self-centered and fake and corrupt -- to change their ways or the consequences of their crooked path will be their destruction within their generation.
This book covers just the four gospels, not the entire New Testament. But she checks a lot of boxes for a good translation. First, she presents the Gospel of Mark first (as it should be as it was written first chronologically and the other Gospel authors pull from Mark). Next she explains key words that she translates differently from traditional translations and I agree with nearly all her choices. I discuss this in a blog post on this blog.
I highly recommend Marcus Borg's Evolution of the Word: The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written, which not only uses NRSV used by many scholars, but combines that with the New Testament being presented in a historically accurate chronological order with Borg giving a short history and summary before each document.
This translation is very important for the commentary and footnotes gives the Jewish perspective. This version also uses the NRSV. But instead of typical Protestant theologians adding their opinions, this version has Jewish scholars providing insightful footnotes from a Jewish perspective which is only fair don't you think since it were was the Jews themselves (or mostly Jews with maybe a few Gentiles) who produced the Old and New Testament. The essays give the perspective of Judaism that illuminates the NRSV so that you get a richer understanding of the Jewish context in which the NT was written.
The Best Translations that Attempt to Remove Theological-Agendas:
I have also heard from those without a theological agenda, that for an accurate scholarly translation, to also read the following New Testament translations. I have listed the versions for free on the internet when available:
Available on Amazon.
Every student of the Bible should have this version on hand in my opinion. If you want to the read the Bible without any translator's theological agendas distorting the plain English reading of the original text in Greek but is not clunky as a literal translation but flows quite well, then this is the second best English translation I have ever come across. This should be recommended reading for every serious student of the Bible and anyone who wishes to understand the New Testament without distorted gloss of some theology or traditional church dogma. For example, instead of reading the term angel you will read "messenger" and instead of the word "sin" you will read words like "mistakes." So you avoid the theological baggage of certain church's dogma smuggled into the texts. You get what it says unvarnished. For most translations of the the New Testament has been varnished by centuries of traditional dogma (e.g. Calvinism, Augustinianism, etc.) that evolved over time, ideas that would not be recognizable to the first century Christians.
David Hart's version has just a few more traditional words than the Unvarnished and Source New Testament translations. For example, Hart uses the word angel which he explains. Other than this, I find Hart's translation extremely revealing and refreshing. For example, I have long been frustrated with Bible translations of the word "hypocrite"; for even though it means a fake person or pious pretender, the word hypocrite has a different connotation today. When I read Jesus referring to some of his fellow religious Jews as "hypocrites," I think of someone who says one thing and does another. But Jesus means more than that, Jesus is referring to a religious person who is fake and a show off, acting pious publicly but then acting like a jerk behind closed doors, etc. The Unvarnished New Testament uses words like "fakers." David Hart translates it as play-actors or play-acting, which perfectly describes what the Jesus of the Gospels was criticizing among some of his fellow Jews: the religious fakers and pious-pretenders among his fellow Jews in their practice of Judaism. Everyone today can relate to a religious person like a Christian being a "play-actor," as most people today are just as irritated by such types as Jesus was. Thus Jesus' words still resonate through time. In fact, a person at work once told me they don't like to go to church because of the appearance of sanctity and many acting holier-than-thou among churchgoers when on the inside they are not very humble or nice people. Yet, in reality the New Testament itself condemns such play-acting when the person's heart is far from the inward transformation and the ideal of a change of heart by truly embodying the spirit of Rabbi Jesus. Hart also avoids the terms Christ and Messiah and instead goes for the literal word translation "the Anointed" which is what Messiah and Christ literally means.
Purchase the book and support the author at Amazon.com.
> The Complete Gospels, 4th Edition by Robert J. Miller:
To buy on Amazon and as a free PDF version.
> The Gospel of Jesus, 2nd Edition by Robert W. Funk, J. Dewey, and the Jesus Seminar:
To buy on Amazon and PDF preview.
> The Authentic Letters of Paul: A New Reading of Paul's Rhetoric and Meaning by Arthur J. Dewey, Roy W. Hoover, Lane C. McGaughy, Daryl D. Schmidt:
To buy on Amazon.
For a second opinion on why certain Bible translations are better than others and a recommended list of Bibles see: Discussion of Bible Translations and Biblical Scholarship by Mark D. Given (Missouri State University).
You can also put these Bibles listed above into a parallel Bible and compare the passage side by side at:
> biblecc.com/
> parallelbible.com/
> studylight.org/desk/parallel.cgi
> biblestudytools.com/parallel-bible/
For free audio Bible downloads see bible.is/audiodownloader
I have found that most of the more popular Bible translations are marketing a theological/doctrinal agenda; thus the more literal or scholarly the translation the better. I was once discussing Bible translations with a salesperson at a Christian bookstore in 2007. I was asking why there wasn’t a Bible that has a more exact word for word translation in the store. For example, I said, "Instead of writing LORD just saying Yahweh, or instead of the word spirit translating it pneuma or ruach (literally meaning the divine wind or breath of God)?" "Or," I continued, "using words like Adonai, depending on the context? Or why is the word "Hell" not translated as Sheol, Hades, or Gehenna (or Valley of Hinnom), depending on the actual Hebrew or Greek word that had a specific context? Why use the misleading one word hell for all three of these very different concepts?" He smirked and said something to the effect of, "That wouldn’t help with their marketing of the theology at their church." He then quipped, “it’s a business.”
I have also heard many biblical scholars suggest not reading just one Bible but reading from several Bible translations and comparing them side by side. Some websites like Bible Hub allows you to read several translations side by side or interlinear (see below for links). Here are the Bible translations I personally think are best based on my own research, offered in the order I recommend they be read or consulted.
Good Bible translations for Skeptics and Rationalists (or curious Atheists and Agnostics) who are more Focused on what's Logical and Evidential:
- The Jefferson Bible:
This version is based on the traditional language format so you'll hear the word "hell" for example. So it is important that the atheist or agnostic or rationalist understands that biblical scholars point out that what the gospels mean about the end times and hell, is that the Jewish Jesus is warning his fellow Jews in the 30s AD about the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, when in real history thousands of Jews were killed by Roman soldiers and their corpses thrown into the valley of hinnom (hell was thus a place on earth based on the literal translation of the word).
This means that Jesus is essentially warning certain types of his fellow Jews --specifically those whom are super-religious yet self-centered and fake and corrupt -- to change their ways or the consequences of their crooked path will be their destruction within their generation.
- The Gospels: A New Translation by Sarah Ruden.
- The Remedy (2nd Edition) by Timothy R. Jennings
- For a good review of The Remedy see: tomlaw.org/bookreviews/the-remedy
- To read The Remedy online see here.
- Audiobook version online here.
I don't agree with all of Dr. Jennings interpretations of the verses in the New Testament, but I find myself agreeing with at least 80% of his interpretive paraphrase. He is coming from an SDA background and is therefore theologically restrained in that respect to a certain degree; yet he presents a kinder gentler form of annihilationism, but I think that a Universalist interpretation is better and even more biblical. I think a lot of the places where he interprets a type of annihilationism are better interpreted as Jesus warning his fellow Jews that if they don't change their ways they will be destroyed by being killed by the Romans and thus fail to secure a proper burial. I interpreted the passages where Jesus talks about eternal destruction as a motivational argument to his fellow Jews at the time to avoid living in such a way that you end up being killed and fail to recieve a proper Jewish burial. I also agree more with tentmaker.org and David Bently Hart’s book That All May Be Saved and The Love Wins Companion: A Study Guide for Those Who Want to Go Deeper by Rob Bell. So despite my disagreement with how Jennings paraphrases the passages that in the traditional translations have the word "hell," his interpretive paraphrases of hell is still better than many other NT translations; and his loving God-concept that doesn’t seek "penal subtitionary atonement," and isn’t vengeful or vindicitively punishing, is a breath of fresh air.
So I recommend his translation because I really enjoy his scientific mindset and how he interprets many passages through the language of medical diagnosis as "the remedy" for spiritual healing and building good character along the constructive path rather than the destructive path. His book matches well with The Christ Who Heals by Terryl and Fiona Givens. His Remedy translation also fits very well with my reading and viewing of Mind OS by Dr Paul Dobransky MD. Hence, Jennings translation is extremely logical, simple and practical while being very understandable; and I also like how he presents Jesus using terms like fakers and charlatans rather than the misunderstood term hypocrites.
The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) as the go-to Bible for Scholars:
- The Evolution of the Word (which uses The New Revised Standard Version, or NSRV) by Marcus Borg:
I highly recommend Marcus Borg's Evolution of the Word: The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written, which not only uses NRSV used by many scholars, but combines that with the New Testament being presented in a historically accurate chronological order with Borg giving a short history and summary before each document.
This emphasis on chronology is important, for most people when they read the New Testament, end up not realizing the Paul's letters came BEFORE the Gospel of Mathew in history. Since most Bibles have the Gospel of Mathew coming before Paul's writings, they often wrongly assume that the Gospel of Mathew was produced before Paul's epistles.
Even worse, they interpret Paul's letters after having consumed Mathew's ideas and concepts. So they read Mathew's ideas into Paul. So what Marcus Borg does is present the documents in historical order based on when they were written. Marcus' insightful scholarly summaries of each document also give a great introduction to the history of the Bible.
Reading the NT chronologically like this helps you see how ideas and concepts evolved and developed over time. One can see how the historical documents of the NT we have begins with Paul in the 50s AD and how Paul's theology likely influenced the first Gospel written (the gospel of Mark around 70 AD).
- The Jewish Annotated New Testament:
This translation is very important for the commentary and footnotes gives the Jewish perspective. This version also uses the NRSV. But instead of typical Protestant theologians adding their opinions, this version has Jewish scholars providing insightful footnotes from a Jewish perspective which is only fair don't you think since it were was the Jews themselves (or mostly Jews with maybe a few Gentiles) who produced the Old and New Testament. The essays give the perspective of Judaism that illuminates the NRSV so that you get a richer understanding of the Jewish context in which the NT was written.
- The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, NRSV; or the NRSV as The Harper Collins Study Bible, both of which I have seen recommended many times by scholars. These versions are great for deep scholarly reading provided by the essays and footnotes.
The Best Translations that Attempt to Remove Theological-Agendas:
I have also heard from those without a theological agenda, that for an accurate scholarly translation, to also read the following New Testament translations. I have listed the versions for free on the internet when available:
- The Source New Testament by Ann Nyland:
Free PDF download here. The entire book with greater explanation for translation choices and footnotes on Amazon.com.
Every student of the Bible should have this version on hand in my opinion. If you want to the read the Bible without any translator's theological agendas skewing the plain reading of the text but is not clunky as a literal translation but flows quite well, then this is the best English translation I have ever come across. To understand how important it is to translate words in the New Testament correctly see what a huge difference the translation of words does for women by reading her article Papyri, Women, and Word Meaning in the New Testament.
- The Unvarnished New Testament: A New Translation From The Original Greek by Andy Gaus
Available on Amazon.
Every student of the Bible should have this version on hand in my opinion. If you want to the read the Bible without any translator's theological agendas distorting the plain English reading of the original text in Greek but is not clunky as a literal translation but flows quite well, then this is the second best English translation I have ever come across. This should be recommended reading for every serious student of the Bible and anyone who wishes to understand the New Testament without distorted gloss of some theology or traditional church dogma. For example, instead of reading the term angel you will read "messenger" and instead of the word "sin" you will read words like "mistakes." So you avoid the theological baggage of certain church's dogma smuggled into the texts. You get what it says unvarnished. For most translations of the the New Testament has been varnished by centuries of traditional dogma (e.g. Calvinism, Augustinianism, etc.) that evolved over time, ideas that would not be recognizable to the first century Christians.
- The New Testament: A New Translation by David Bentley Hart.
David Hart's version has just a few more traditional words than the Unvarnished and Source New Testament translations. For example, Hart uses the word angel which he explains. Other than this, I find Hart's translation extremely revealing and refreshing. For example, I have long been frustrated with Bible translations of the word "hypocrite"; for even though it means a fake person or pious pretender, the word hypocrite has a different connotation today. When I read Jesus referring to some of his fellow religious Jews as "hypocrites," I think of someone who says one thing and does another. But Jesus means more than that, Jesus is referring to a religious person who is fake and a show off, acting pious publicly but then acting like a jerk behind closed doors, etc. The Unvarnished New Testament uses words like "fakers." David Hart translates it as play-actors or play-acting, which perfectly describes what the Jesus of the Gospels was criticizing among some of his fellow Jews: the religious fakers and pious-pretenders among his fellow Jews in their practice of Judaism. Everyone today can relate to a religious person like a Christian being a "play-actor," as most people today are just as irritated by such types as Jesus was. Thus Jesus' words still resonate through time. In fact, a person at work once told me they don't like to go to church because of the appearance of sanctity and many acting holier-than-thou among churchgoers when on the inside they are not very humble or nice people. Yet, in reality the New Testament itself condemns such play-acting when the person's heart is far from the inward transformation and the ideal of a change of heart by truly embodying the spirit of Rabbi Jesus. Hart also avoids the terms Christ and Messiah and instead goes for the literal word translation "the Anointed" which is what Messiah and Christ literally means.
- Jonathan's New Testament Translation (JMNT):
This version of the New Testament is the best literal translation with brackets that I have personally encountered so far. He combines the brackets of translations like the EXB version but his more theologically-literal translation avoids Fundamentalist dogma. For example, he translates holy spirit as "set-apart breath-effect" which provides the more organic feel of the original Hebrew worldview which was not based in Greek metaphysics.
The online version of the JMNT is available at the links below:
-- https://studybible.info/JMNT
-- http://greater-emmanuel.org/jmt/
To downloaded the PDF version go to: http://jonathanmitchellnewtestament.com/nt-download-apps/nt-download/
The online version of the JMNT is available at the links below:
-- https://studybible.info/JMNT
-- http://greater-emmanuel.org/jmt/
To downloaded the PDF version go to: http://jonathanmitchellnewtestament.com/nt-download-apps/nt-download/
Purchase the book and support the author at Amazon.com.
> The Complete Gospels, 4th Edition by Robert J. Miller:
To buy on Amazon and as a free PDF version.
> The Gospel of Jesus, 2nd Edition by Robert W. Funk, J. Dewey, and the Jesus Seminar:
To buy on Amazon and PDF preview.
> The Authentic Letters of Paul: A New Reading of Paul's Rhetoric and Meaning by Arthur J. Dewey, Roy W. Hoover, Lane C. McGaughy, Daryl D. Schmidt:
> Hebraic Roots Bible by Don Esposito (PDF):
Also, for other free downloadable versions see www.coyhwh.comhttp://www.coyhwh.com/en/bible.php
Skimming this Bible and it's version of the New Testament, I found the footnotes very helpful in understanding the original Jewish understanding as to what was meant. Too many times, I think Westerners read the New Testament through the eyes of Augustine and Luther or Calvin, so the footnotes made me rethink things and realize that for the first Christians, there was one Testament, the Old Testament, their only Bible, and their only doctrine was Judaism, but as Jesus' reformed Judaism. While Paul remained a Jew whose Bible was the Tanakh and he just meant to graft Gentiles into Israel not abolish the Torah for the Jews.
> Hebrew-Roots Version (HRV): PDF version.
> Hebrew-Roots Version (HRV): PDF version.
Reading about this version on the web, it appears that this Bible is controversial, but I suggest it because I am not saying it should be one's only text to use. I mean for it to be among many versions one consults. I like it because it forces me to read the Bible outside the traditional lens, for example as I skimmed its New Testament, I saw words like nephesh, which ignites a whole host of understandings of the soul based on my research, which is absent when I read more traditional translations.
> The New Covenant Translation:
> The New Covenant Translation:
This is an accurate translation of the New Testament Gospels, that are harmonized into a single reading of all four Gospels into one; with a chronological arrangement of the texts and brief and handy commentary by Hanson, J. W. (John Wesley), 1823-1901; Universalist Publishing House; Massachusetts Bible Society.
See https://archive.org/details/newcovenantconta01hans/page/216
I like how this version has an introduction that talks about how most New Testament translations intentionally mistranslated words and passages due to their creedal-dogma as they seek an agenda theologically. The introduction goes over how most Bible's use the words "Hell", "forever," and "everlasting" dishonestly; as a truly accurate translation would take away their fear-based dogma that they use as mental-terrorism to keep people in the pews and putting money in the plate.
> The Concordant Version:
I like how this version has an introduction that talks about how most New Testament translations intentionally mistranslated words and passages due to their creedal-dogma as they seek an agenda theologically. The introduction goes over how most Bible's use the words "Hell", "forever," and "everlasting" dishonestly; as a truly accurate translation would take away their fear-based dogma that they use as mental-terrorism to keep people in the pews and putting money in the plate.
> The Concordant Version:
This is an "English translation of the Bible compiled by the Concordant Publishing Concern (CPC). For more information, see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concordant_Version
To get this version in other formats and other commentaries, see: https://www.concordant.org/version/
> The Scriptures 2009 by ISR:
> The Scriptures 2009 by ISR:
I downloaded this onto my Kindle and like how the word holy is translated set-apart, which helps me think about the meaning of the word holy when I read it.
> Modern Literal Version (available as a free pdf).
> Modern Literal Version (available as a free pdf).
Another literal translation.
> Young's Literal Translation (YLT):
This is available at Biblegateway.com. This version is clunky and hard to read but very literal and accurate. For example compare Mathew 24:3 where parousia is translated as "presence" in the YLT but in other translations the word is translated "coming." This makes a huge difference in meaning when it comes to the preterist versus futurist debates.
This is available at Biblegateway.com. This version is clunky and hard to read but very literal and accurate. For example compare Mathew 24:3 where parousia is translated as "presence" in the YLT but in other translations the word is translated "coming." This makes a huge difference in meaning when it comes to the preterist versus futurist debates.
Mainstream Bible Translations I Recommend (Most are Available for Free on Biblegateway).
These tend to have a Protestant Theological Slant but are popular and mainstream and thus worth reading. I have listed them in the order I recommend them based on their accuracy, good footnotes, and flow of readability:
> The New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE).
I started using the free Bible App on my phone called Your Version and ran across this translation and really liked the footnotes that I could easily click on and gain an abundance of scholarly insight about a verse. See https://help.youversion.com/l/en for links to the app and the website where you can read the NABRE translation.
I started using the free Bible App on my phone called Your Version and ran across this translation and really liked the footnotes that I could easily click on and gain an abundance of scholarly insight about a verse. See https://help.youversion.com/l/en for links to the app and the website where you can read the NABRE translation.
> J. B. Philip's New Testament (PHILIP):
Available at Biblegateway.com.
> Complete Jewish Bible (CJB):
Check out the CJB for free at Biblegateway.com. It will completely change your view of scripture, as many words are translated literally to reveal the original Jewish feel and meaning. I love this translation because it forces me to read passages I have read dozens of times before (in other translations without gaining the same insights) and causes me to gain new insights. I also like the challenge of looking up the Hebrew words in the glossary, which makes me pause and think about what I am reading and what it really means in its original Jewish context. If one does not wish to keep looking up the literal Jewish translation of certain words, they can get the CJB & NIV Parallel Bible. I'm not aware of any other Parallel Bible alongside the CJB, otherwise I'd recommend it because I'm not a big fan of the NIV. The CJB is complemented by the Jewish Study Bible and JPS - TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures: The New JPS Translation According to the Traditional Hebrew Text.
The CJB can be hard to read even with the NIV along side it, so for easier reading of a Jewish friendly translation this version is good.
Check out the CJB for free at Biblegateway.com. It will completely change your view of scripture, as many words are translated literally to reveal the original Jewish feel and meaning. I love this translation because it forces me to read passages I have read dozens of times before (in other translations without gaining the same insights) and causes me to gain new insights. I also like the challenge of looking up the Hebrew words in the glossary, which makes me pause and think about what I am reading and what it really means in its original Jewish context. If one does not wish to keep looking up the literal Jewish translation of certain words, they can get the CJB & NIV Parallel Bible. I'm not aware of any other Parallel Bible alongside the CJB, otherwise I'd recommend it because I'm not a big fan of the NIV. The CJB is complemented by the Jewish Study Bible and JPS - TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures: The New JPS Translation According to the Traditional Hebrew Text.
I discovered this translation after I put Mathew 23:13 into Google and saw on biblehub that most translations render it "hypocrites" but the Aramaic version rendered it clearer to its original meaning as "pretenders." For more information see aramaicnt.com.
- American Standard Version (ASV). Available at biblegateway.com. Most literal of the Protestant versions. The NASV is also one of the most literal translations.
- The Passion Translation (TPT). Available at biblegateway.com. On the TPT website, it says you can "get a free preview of the New Testament PLUS the book of John free when you subscribe." In defending his translation, Brian Simmons makes some really good points that can be read in the article, “The Passion "Translation” Debate: Brian Simmons Responds By Andrew Wilson (April 2016)
- TLV (Tree of Life Version)" This version is designed for Jewish and non-Jewish readers, as it is easier to read than the CJB, as less words are in Hebrew; but the TLV has a massive theological bias so I don't recommend it.
- The New English Translation (NET): I recommend you get one with the footnotes or seeing the online version with footnotes linked below. I have seen the NET Bible recommended many times for a an accurate scholarly translation. See the wikipedia entry for more details. You can read it online for free with copious footnotes at netbible.com
- EXB (Expanded Bible) I recommend this translation simply because I find the brackets very helpful in explaining words and phrases. The EXB is really two or three Bibles in one. For I will read the NRSV and will see a footnote that reads something like, "in other ancient manuscripts it says this ..." Well the EXB just adds those other manuscripts without having to go to the footnotes. The brackets can be distracting and clunky reading but it gives you several meanings of a sentence covering two or three Bible translations in one. Its not a smooth read but very informational. I find that I don't have to cross reference several translations with this one version, which is good for study. This version is available for free at biblegateway.com in the link above.
- Disciples Literal NT (DLNT): Free at biblegateway.com. This version I find helpful with the expanded meaning of words in Brackets.
For a second opinion on why certain Bible translations are better than others and a recommended list of Bibles see: Discussion of Bible Translations and Biblical Scholarship by Mark D. Given (Missouri State University).
> biblecc.com/
> parallelbible.com/
> studylight.org/desk/parallel.cgi
> biblestudytools.com/parallel-bible/
For free audio Bible downloads see bible.is/audiodownloader
