June 19, 2025

The Best Bible Translation for Preaching

24 minutes

Many people are passionate about Bible translations and have strong opinions about which one is the best. Pastors are no exception. Josh and Sam discuss what translations they believe are best suited for preaching.

Formal equivalence, dynamic equivalence, and optimal equivalence are helpful terms but ultimately just marketing language.

Word-for-word translations are not necessarily more accurate than other translation philosophies.

Some churches require certain translations like the KJV.

The HCSB was excellent (capitalized pronouns!) and missed.

Sam prefers the NLT because it’s highly readable and highly accurate. Scripture should be read in church, and the NLT is easily understood when read aloud.

Josh prefers the CSB because…

Resources:

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Churchteams

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Church Answers Central

The Hope Initiative

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By Thom Rainer

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