For example:
- LSB for high formal equivalence.
- ESV for essentially literal, day to day reading.
- CSB for optimal equivalence, balancing easy reading while retaining most idioms, theology, and literary forms.
- NLT for hyper readable, trading off accuracy.
Both the CSB and especially the NLT start to decay from being pushed into modern, liberal English. But they are exceptionally readable, so with proper discernment, they can enhance your overall comprehension dramatically.
I make my home with the ESV+LSB, which are trustworthy but take much time and study to comprehend well, and then venture out into the CSB and even the NLT when beneficial.
Any modern, less literal translation should be marked up to defend yourself:
I highlight in red gender inclusive renderings, writing the Colorado Springs guideline next to it, in red, in the margins. I do the same when the textual rendering is too liberal, or compromises age old reformed doctrines.
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**OT**
Gen 1:26-27 - man/male-female (CSG A3; gender/creation formal).
Gen 2:24 - clings to his wife (gender roles).
Gen 5:2 - man for human race (CSG A3).
Gen 48:21 - father not parent (CSG B3).
Exod 9:16 - caused to stand (predestination).
Exod 19:6 - sons not children (CSG B2).
Deut 32:22 - Sheol/hell.
Ps 1:1 - the man (CSG A4; gender).
Ps 1:2 - generic he (CSG A2).
Ps 8:4-6 - son of man (CSG A9; Christology/gender).
Ps 16:10 - Sheol/grave/hell (Messianic).
Ps 34:20 - generic he (CSG A2).
Ps 45:6 - O God throne (deity).
Ps 72 - Messianic.
Ps 90:3 - man for humanity (CSG A3).
Isa 7:14 - virgin (doctrine/formal).
Isa 24:22 - Sheol/hell.
Ezek 29:11 - man for humanity (CSG A3).
Dan 3:25 - Son of God (deity).
Dan 7:13 - son of man (CSG A9).
Hab 2:4 - live by faith.
Mic 5:2 - Bethlehem prophecy.
**NT**
Matt 1:18 - pledged in marriage (gender).
Matt 5:9 - sons of God (CSG B2; gender).
Matt 6:9 - masculine God (CSG A10).
Matt 11:23 - Hades/hell.
Matt 12:36 - every careless word (CSG A5).
Matt 16:24 - anyone vs any man (CSG A6).
Matt 18:15 - brother not brother/sister (CSG B1).
Matt 18:18 - binding/loosing.
Matt 21:32 - believe vs repent.
Mark 1:4 - baptism of repentance.
Luke 7:29 - justified.
Luke 8:13 - believe for a while (perseverance).
John 1:11-12 - receive Christ.
John 1:14 - only begotten (sonship).
John 1:18 - only begotten God (deity).
John 2:25 - man for humanity (CSG A3).
John 3:16 - only begotten (CSG A10).
John 3:18 - only begotten (CSG A1).
John 12:32 - all people (CSG A8).
John 14:23 - generic he (CSG A1).
Acts 1:16 - brothers/men.
Acts 3:21 - receive/retain.
Acts 6:3 - brothers.
Acts 20:30 - aner as man (CSG A4).
Acts 22:1 - men brothers.
Rom 1:17 - live by faith.
Rom 1:26-27 - unnatural relations.
Rom 3:25 - propitiation (atonement).
Rom 9:17,22 - predestination.
Rom 14:23 - not of faith is sin.
Rom 16:1 - deacon (gender).
1 Cor 6:9 - males who have sex with males.
1 Cor 7:39 - only in the Lord (marriage).
1 Cor 13:11 - aner as man.
1 Cor 15:21 - man (CSG A5).
Phil 2:6-7 - form of God (Christology).
1 Tim 2:5 - man Christ Jesus (CSG A5; gender).
1 Tim 2:12 - woman/authority over man (gender roles/Reformed; CSG retain masculine).
Titus 2:13 - great God and Savior (deity).
2 Pet 1:1 - God and Savior (deity).
```
This allows me to frequent less trustworthy translations, benefitting from their readability, without degrading previously established truths on more literal, less readable translations.
God speed.
#ToChristAlone
The King James Version Bible is beautiful, trustworthy, and challenging.
If you are unable to evaluate a translation, then the KJV is a great Bible translation to stick with.
At the same time, if you are unable to evaluate translations, then the chance of being able to thoroughly comprehend the KJV is low.
Personally, I use the ESV for every day Scripture reading. When verses, sections, chapters, and even books are difficult to understand, I fold in readings from the CSB and sometimes even the NLT. Both are optimal/functional equivalent translations that are literal when possible, but dynamic when necessary for low friction comprehension.
For deep study, I go in the opposite direction: the LSB for even more formal equivalence to the original manuscripts, and study bibles in ESV (Ligonier), KJV (Reformation Heritage), and CSB (Holman). A handbook (Ryken's) and a commentary (New Bible 21st) can really enhance the depth of your handle on the Scriptures.
Christians should learn how to navigate translations. Every single Bible, including the KJV, is a translation.
#ToChristAlone
