5 Bible Translations You Should Avoid
Different Kinds of Translations
Did you know there are over 450 translations of the Bible in the English language alone? Although most of these translations are not in wide use today, some are commonly used and unfortunately many fail to accurately and faithfully preserve the Word of God.
The following translations listed below should be avoided altogether, as utilizing them can lead to grave theological errors, the teaching of a radically different gospel, and a counterfeit Jesus.
An overwhelming number of these translations suffer from the strong bias of an unfaithful group of translators. They attempt to validate their erroneous theological claims by editing the Bible as they see fit.
Other translations have just one translator, thereby single-handedly taking on a role that is meant for a diverse team of renowned biblical translators of various denominations. Some simply cut out sections of the Bible altogether or add ideas that were never in the original manuscripts.
Bible translations are usually broken down into three major categories: Word-for-word or Formal Equivalence, Thought-for-Thought or Dynamic Equivalence, and Paraphrase.
Word-for-word is a more literal translation of the original language used and puts more of the onus on the reader to discover the intended meaning of the author.
Thought-for-thought presents the intended meaning of the author, which the original audience would have understood during the time the writing was originally created. Therefore, readers put a great deal more faith in the translators, as they are trusting their interpretation.
Paraphrase is often written by a single author who “translates” the Bible in their own words, sometimes not even using the original biblical languages as a foundation.
Bible translations will vary between these three categories and it is important to know which translation falls into which category, along with other attributes that will make the translation either a faithful representation of the original, infallible, and inerrant Word of God or a misleading book posing as a Bible.
Translations to Avoid Using for Any Personal Bible Study
When studying the Word of God, one needs an authentic representation of the original autographs (the original manuscript of each of the 66 books of the Bible) while avoiding sources that would distort the original message from God. The following is a list of “Bible” translations that should be avoided for any real and faithful personal Bible study (in a separate article we will look at a list of Bible translations that are encouraged for use).
1) The Message (MSG) - This translation is a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson. It is specifically targeted toward U.S. English speakers with its use of American contemporary slang. The Message’s technique in translating the original text is so casual in its approach that NavPress, publisher of The Message, says, “It's not meant to replace your current version of choice. Rather, it is designed as a reading Bible that can give you a fresh perspective on a familiar phrase or passage.”
Even the publisher of The Message realizes this paraphrase cannot replace a faithful Bible translation, and I would argue further that it has the potential to ultimately mislead. Peterson’s lax handling of the Word of God results in stifled messages that are far less impactful than the original God-breathed directive. This mistreatment of Scripture can be seen in his misuse of passages such as 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
Translation Comparison - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
The Message (MSG): Don't you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom.
English Standard Version (ESV): Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
2) The Passion Translation (TPT) - This is another paraphrase translation like The Message. The Passion is the work of sole translator, Brian Simmons, whose work has been heavily critiqued by the scholarly world.
One such critic is biblical scholar and translator, Andrew G. Shead, who said in his article, Burning Scripture with Passion: A Review of The Psalms (The Passion Translation), that Simmons abandons “all interest in textual accuracy, playing fast and loose with the original languages, and inserting so much new material into the text that it is at least 50% longer than the original.
“The result is a strongly sectarian translation that no longer counts as Scripture; by masquerading as a Bible it threatens to bind entire churches in thrall to a false god.” The Passion Translation is even promoted by churches that share Simmons’ own theology (for example removing rebuking and correcting from 2 Timothy 4:2).
One of those churches is the enormously popular Bethel Church (for a deeper look at Bethel’s unorthodox heretical practices and their use of The Passion Translation, see my article, Bethel's False Gospel).
Translation Comparison - 2 Timothy 4:2
The Passion Translation (TPT): proclaim the Word of God and stand upon it no matter what! Rise to the occasion and preach when it is convenient and when it is not. Preach in the full expression of the Holy Spirit—with wisdom and patience as you instruct and teach the people.
English Standard Version (ESV): preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
3) The Living Bible (TLB) - First published in 1971, The Living Bible is another paraphrase translation by sole translator, Kenneth Taylor. However, Taylor does not follow the typical biblical translation process of using the original language manuscripts to create his translation. He instead uses the 1901 American Standard Version as his foundation.
Taylor’s lack of understanding of Hebrew and Greek and absent use of the original manuscripts has led to disingenuous passages and verses such as his translation of John 12:15. A word-for-word translation like the ESV translates this as “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
The Living Bible translates this as, “Don’t be afraid of your King, people of Israel, for he will come to you meekly, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” Taylor’s use of “don’t be afraid” is evidence that he does not realize that the common Hebrew expression of “fear not” means to “have confidence.”
Taylor also inserts his own ideas into the passage, adding that Jesus will “come to you meekly” which is certainly not part of the original Greek manuscript. Taylor’s bias also leads to omitting text in key passages that do not fit his Arminian worldview, such as his deceptive repackaging of Acts 4:27-28, Acts 13:48, and Romans 8:28-29. (To get more detail on The Living Bible, see Michael Marlowe’s detailed review here on bible-researcher.com).
Translation Comparison - Acts 13:48
The Living Bible (TLB): When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and rejoiced in Paul’s message; and as many as wanted eternal life, believed.
English Standard Version (ESV): And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
4) Good News Translation (GNT) - Also known as the Good News Bible (GNB), the GNT was created by the American Bible Society as a translation that would be simple enough for anyone to easily pick up and understand, including individuals learning the English language and children. The simplicity of the English used in this translation has made it a popular choice for evangelists; it was even used at Billy Graham crusades. However, despite this attractive feature, it is not a translation that should be used for the seriousness of Bible study, as the simplistic use of English in the Good News Translation has come at a price. Many dangerous theological errors are found throughout the GNT, including distortions of the divinity of Christ, removing references to Jesus’ blood, misrepresentations of Jesus’ virgin birth, removing references to hell, salvation being distorted, etc. The cost of theological confusion is too great a price to pay to rely on this version of the Bible as a source of truth.
Translation Comparison - Matthew 16:16-18
Good News Translation (GNT): Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
“Good for you, Simon son of John!” answered Jesus. “For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it.
English Standard Version (ESV): Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
5) Contemporary English Version (CEV) - This translation is another work by the American Bible Society, commonly referred to as the Bible for Today's Family. The CEV uses an even more simplified version of English than the GNT. Again, the attempt to make a translation that is simple for anyone comes at the cost of containing misleading text, such as claiming the Holy Spirit actually replaces Jesus (John 14:26) and gender-neutralizing Paul’s instructions for a pastor (1 Timothy 3:1-5). The translators of the CEV prove their exegetical incompetence with confusing and illogical translations of verses, such as their handling of Acts 9:22. To see additional comparisons other than what is listed below, visit Bible Gateway, where you can view parallel translations of this translation (and any of the other poor translations featured in this article) with the ESV (or any other reliable translation) side by side.
Translation Comparison - 1 Timothy 3:1-5
Contemporary English Version (CEV): It is true that anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile. That’s why officials must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage. They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach. They must not be heavy drinkers or troublemakers. Instead, they must be kind and gentle and not love money. Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. If they don’t know how to control their own families, how can they look after God’s people?
English Standard Version (ESV): The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?
(Dis)Honorable Mention: Two translations that most Christians know to avoid but should still be mentioned are the New World Translation (NWT), which was commissioned by the Jehovah’s Witness cult and the Reader’s Digest Bible, which cuts out about 55% of the Old Testament and another 25% of the New Testament (including Revelation 22:19, which says, “ if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book”).
Instead of using any of these misleading translations, we would do much better to quote the Word of God faithfully, which is perfect and God-breathed, instead of rewording God’s message to include our biases and personal opinions and beliefs.
It’s always better to refer to Scripture than to quote any pastor, preacher, biblical scholar, theological professor, etc., no matter where they are in their walk with Christ. Only the Bible is authoritative and “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”, as made clear in 2 Timothy 3:16.
I hope this list has been helpful and will steer you in the right direction as to which Bible translations are profitable for training you up in righteousness. Look for Part 2 of this article, where we will review the top 5 Bible translations to use.