Difference Between American Versions of Bibles
The Bible is an important book in the lives of many believers. However, so many Bible versions exist that it can be difficult to decide which one to read. The abundance of Bible versions is a benefit rather than a hindrance. It allows for comparison of various scripture phrasings to arrive at the true meaning of a passage. While some versions are better than others, there is no perfect Bible version. Ultimately, it is up to the user to decide which version best suits him.
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Translation Method
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According to Robert L Thomas, author of "How to Choose a Bible Version," Bible versions are literal translations, dynamic equivalence translations, or a combination of the two. A literal Bible version strives to maintain the words and grammatical structures of the original language. Dynamic equivalence is concerned primarily with readability. It conveys the thoughts and ideas of the original language while not limiting itself to a word-for-word translation. Most Bibles today follow the dynamic equivalence method. The King James Version, American Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, and the New American Standard Version are literal translations.
Textual Basis
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Robert L. Thomas wrote that today's Bible translations rely on original language texts from two main text families: Byzantine and Alexandrian. The Alexandrian family existed by the end of the second century. The earliest known occurrence of the Byzantine text is the fourth or fifth century. The King James Version and New King James Version are based on the Byzantine texts. Alexandrian manuscripts dated earlier than the Byzantine texts were found in the late nineteenth century. Because of the earlier date, most scholars deem them more reliable. Today most modern versions rely primarily on the Alexandrian text.
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Theological Bias
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Some Bible versions reveal theological biases regarding biblical doctrine, such as the inspiration of scripture, the deity of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Bias is most obvious in Bible versions published by a particular religion or denomination. While most translators strive to suppress their biases, personal views are bound to influence their interpretation of certain passages. Fortunately, biases in a few verses don't sufficiently compromise a translation when the teachings of the entire Bible version are considered. Bible versions by committees are less likely to have theological bias because the translation is the consensus of many.
Grade Levels
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Bible versions cater to various grade levels. R.L. Thomas lists various grade levels for major Bible versions. The King James Version's grade level is 12, which is the highest grade level of any Bible translation. The New American Standard Bible follows closely with a grade level of 10. The New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New King James Version, and New International Version read at the seventh-grade level. The New Living Translation's grade level is six. Both the Contemporary English Version and The Message read at the fifth-grade level.
Text Arrangement
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Some Bibles format the verses into paragraph format to maintain the flow of thought in a passage. Other Bibles begin each verse on a new line. This allows for easy location of a verse while following along in a worship service. Most Bibles follow the paragraph format, but the Amplified Bible, the New American Standard Version, and some King James Versions follow the separate-verse format.
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References
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