Bible Versions Explained
An explanation of some of the most popular versions of the Bible (scroll down).
UK = Anglicised edition – UK spellings
USA = USA spellings
An explanation of some of the most popular versions of the Bible (scroll down).
UK = Anglicised edition – UK spellings
USA = USA spellings
NLT (New Living Translation)
Easier contemporary English and paraphrase, with more literal, word for word, translations in the footnotes. Only available with USA spellings.
NIV (New International Version)
Mix of paraphrase and word for word translation, in contemporary English:
2011 edition is an update to the 1984 edition, with the main change being using inclusive language (for instance changing man to mankind or human, brothers to brothers & sisters, sons to children, he/him to anyone or them, etc, unless, they claim, that the male text is significant – some of these changes are unhelpful, such as in Psalm 8:4-5 and Hebrews 2:5-9, 1 Timothy 2:12 and 2 Timothy 2:2). NB this is the version that is now usually for sale.
1984 edition is without inclusive language. This is the version we currently use in our church.
NKJV (New King James Version)
A literal word for word translation, which can be more difficult to read, but is more accurate. Follows the KJV (King James Version, also know as the Authorised Version [AV]) but the old language has been updated. The Greek Text underneath the NKJV is different in places to other versions as it follows the Greek version of the KJV (known as the Received Text). The key difference is versions after the KJV (eg the NIV, NLT & ESV) heavily rely on the oldest two complete Greek New Testaments, but these can go against the majority of other manuscripts. So it can be argued that the Received Text is actually often better (this is a significant, but currently minority view). Examples of this are the end of Mark’s Gospel, which is in the NKJV but separated off in the other versions, and the shorter versions of the Lord’s prayer in the non-NKJV versions (Matthew 6:13 and Luke 11:2-4). The NKJV is now only available with USA spellings.
ESV (English Standard Version)
A literal word for word translation, which can be more difficult to read, but is more accurate. It is similar to the NKJV.