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Why We Worry When Choosing a Bible Translation
Drew Maust · Sep 4, 2024, 2:17 PM · Last modified: Sep 28, 2026, 11:39 AM♡ 0
“What’s true of cars is true of translations. The more choices we have, the more we feel compelled to get the absolute best one. And just like with cars, it’s sometimes the case that the smaller the differences are between options, the more anxiety we feel in choosing between them. It’s no longer enough to have a literal translation; we must have the most literal. But then we wonder if what we really need is the most accurate. Or, should we get the most accurate and most readable? As the options grow, so does the fear of picking the wrong one.”
–Peter J. Gurry
https://textandcanon.org/why-we-worry-when-choosing-a-bible-translation/
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Thanks for posting this insightful observation and thought-provoking question.
Here's my few cents---
Within the first 5-10 minutes of telling most professing Christians that I am a Bible translator during casual conversation, the question of the "best" Bible translation (in English) inevitably arises.
After answering this question for several years, I generally take the tact of explaining the pros and cons of translating different levels of meaning in a text. That provides a good basis for talking about how some translations generally translate certain aspects of meaning.
How much, though, can a reader rely upon a translation to consistently translate a certain level of meaning so that they can get a better grasp of texts they are deeply studying by consulting a few translations?
In my experience, translations differ considerably on what aspects of meaning they may retain on a passage-by-passage basis.
As a translation community, I think that we could do a service to everyone if we provided notes on our translation similar to the Geneva notes. Not everyone will consult these notes. In fact, very few may. But history shows that those few will be influential. They will be the scholars, pastors, and translators of future editions in those languages.
How would these notes alleviate fear around choosing a Bible translation?
The notes would give the audience a better window into what's happening in the biblical text and into the rationale behind why a particular translation was chosen. They simultaneously inform the audience of individual passages, teach them about translation principles and challenges, and make translation decisions about contentious passages as transparent as possible. Such notes can provide credibility to the translation and engender trust from the community.
A modern example would be the NET Bible.
Is it everyone's favorite? No. It often lacks the smoothness of the NLT or NIV and lacks the word-for-word correspondence of the ESV or NASB.
Does anyone wonder about their translation process? No. We all have access to the resources and arguments that informed each of their key decisions.
Such notes are not possible for many translations, but they may become increasingly useful when making additional translations in languages of wider communication.