Lesson 2 | Learning to slow down: making observations, comparing versions
English versions, how they differ
We have a wealth of English translations of Scripture available to us. Especially now, with electronic formats easily accessible even on a smartphone, we have a wide variety of Bibles and study tools literally at our fingertips. Before we explore how we might take advantage of all these translations, let’s consider the ways in which various translations differ from one another.
Not all Bible versions are created equal. There are excellent translations seeking to be carefully faithful to the original languages and there are bad translations purposely bent toward particular doctrinal positions. There are translations well suited for serious Bible study, while others are best used to supplement our study.
Listen to this audio overview of major English translations while you examine the chart below.
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English Bible History & Timelineby John L. Jeffcoat III
An introduction to the history of English Bible translations