What version of the Bible do you use for personal study? Why?
ESV (English Standard Version – Reformation Study Bible) I believe we need use up-to-date translations. I like the literal accuracy of the ESV. I also like the fact that it is becoming popular in conservative circles.
Doug Gray, Pastor, Grace Brethren Church, Millersburg, Ohio
New American Standard (NASB) because I like the focus it has on word-by-word translation.
Phil Sparling, Pastor, Grace Community Church, Auburn, Calif.
NASB (New American Standard Bible). I teach from it, so it is readily accessible for my study. The text has been consistently more accurate than my other choices, particularly in verb forms, etc.
Randy Smith, Senior Pastor, Grace Church, Sebring, Fla.
NASB – word order and grammar is closest to Greek and Hebrew and the language is close to how we talk and think.
Rick Hartley, Senior Pastor, Grace Brethren Church, Brookville, Ohio
What version of the Bible do you use when you preach? if it is different from what you use for personal study, why?
New Living Translation or NLT. It’s a version that I know everyone in the room can understand.
Mark Artrip, Lead Pastor, Movement Church, Hilliard, Ohio
NASB – tried studying NASB and preaching from NIV (New International Version) for two years – drove me crazy!!
Roy Halberg, Pastor , Grace Fellowship, Alta Loma, Calif.
1984 NIV- however since it is now out of print and I do not want to use the latest NIV version, I am strongly considering changing to the ESV. My hesitancy in the ESV is it leaves the reader more freedom to their own interpretation, in difference to a narrower understanding rendered by the 1984 NIV
Larry Edwards, Senior Pastor, Grace Brethren Church of West Kittanning, Kittanning, Pa.
Has your church leadership identified a particular version of the Bible to use in worship settings? What is that version?
No. In Adult Bible Study, when students are reading verses aloud, it is interesting to hear the different interpretations.
Phyllis Smith, Pastor’s Wife, Grace Brethren Church, Brookville, Fla.
Yes. We use NASB in all elements of our service so that the Bibles we pass out are the same translation that is used in services.
Danny Wright, Teaching Pastor, Grace Brethren Church, Greenville, Ohio
Why was that particular version chosen?
The New American Standard is used most of the time. We use this Bible because it is primarily the way we speak today and it is easy to understand.
Ray Miller, Senior Pastor, Total Grace Church, Toledo, Ohio
(Uses New International Version.) Readability, more fluent than NASB and ESV (one scholar calls the ESV a translation into “Biblish,” not English; we would agree).
Bob Foote, Pastor, Grace Brethren Church, Huber Heights, Ohio
What advice do you give when someone asks you about what version of the Bible to use for personal study?
I still find the NIV to have the best combination of accuracy, faithfulness to meaning of the original text, and understandability. Also, in my studies, I not only have NOT found any problems with the 2011 version, I agree with their translational approach and believe that it handles the so-called “gender controversy” very well and accurately translates intended meaning.
Mark “Cappy” Lingenfelter, Senior Pastor, Grace Brethren Church, Hopewell, Pa.
Read the Bible you have (no matter what translation)! I read from different translations to see more of the thought of the passage with the NLT and then read ESV to understand the words used.
Matt Rupple, Pastor, Grace Brethren Church, Lexington, Ohio
I encourage a Bible that is up to date in its language and is true to the original text.
Daniel Pierce, Church Planting Pastor, Grace Brethren Church, Greensboro, N.C.
The Message or The Living Bible represent reasonable paraphrases, while the KJV expresses poetry beautifully. The NIV is easy reading, but NASB scores highest for accuracy of translation.
Randy Smith, Senior Pastor, Grace Church, Sebring, Fla.
I point most people to the NIV because I believe it’s the closest to how our culture thinks and speaks while still being true to the Text.
Rick Hartley, Senior Pastor , Grace Brethren Church, Brookville, Ohio
This article first appeared in the Winter 2015 issue of GraceConnect. If you’d like to receive the magazine, mailed directly to your home at no charge, click here.