The Christian Booksellers Association recently released its list of the top ten selling Bible translations for December 2014. The CBA actually provides two lists: one by dollar sales; and the other by unit sales.
Top Ten Translations Based on Dollar Sales
- New International Version
- King James Version
- New King James Version
- New Living Translation
- English Standard Version
- Holman Christian Standard Bible
- The Voice
- New American Standard
- Reina Valera 1960
- New International Reader’s Version
Top Ten Translations Based on Unit Sales
- New International Version
- The Voice
- King James Version
- English Standard Version
- New King James Version
- New Living Translation
- Holman Christian Standard Bible
- Reina Valera 1960
- Nueva Version Internacional (Spanish)
- New International Reader’s Version
What is your preferred Bible translation? What do you think about these two lists? Let me hear from you.
Posted on December 10, 2014
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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175 Comments
My favorite translation is the NASB. In my community, I only know of two other pastors who use that particular translation. Around here, the most popular translations are the NIV, KJV, & ESV, roughly in that order, & it’s hard to find a good NASB bible.
So, I typically don’t preach from my NASB. Instead, at my church, I have a significant percentage that grew up on (& only really know) the KJV. Out of respect for them, I preach from the KJV. When I supply for other churches, I might bust out my NASB, but I frequently go with NIV for the sake of simplicity for my hearers (since it is hard to read along when the pastor is trading a different translation).
Of course, I’m young enough that I’m on the Bible App Crusade! I don’t use it when I speak, because that would create an uproar. (Okay, I use it occasionally when speaking for college kids.) But that’s a dream tool when you’re pastor is reading a different translation or when you rapidly want to compare different versions! I’m not upset if I see you on the phone at church!
@Mark, for a good NASB, check out Cambridge Bibles, Schuyler and of corse, Allan. They are kind of expensive, but they will last for years. Same goes for NKJV, it’s hard to find a nice NKJV. The least expensive “Good” Cambridge would be either the Clarion or Pitt Minion in Calf-split — about $100 for the Clarion or $75 for the Pitt.
Very interesting. I primarily use NKJV but when preparing for sermons or to write a blog I usually find myself pulling a copy of just about every version from my library! lol
I like the HCSB overall and preach from it.
I am happy to see that the HCSB seems to be moving up the list — it seems it was much further down the last list I saw.
Personally, my “primary” Bible is the ESV (and NOT becuase it’s hip and cool, I actually dislike that some folks are becoming ESV-onlyists) — I started memorizing from it, it translates many phrases “traditionally”, it has top-notch scholarship behind it and seems familiar enough with other translations that if I’m reading from it, others will have no trouble following along with a NKJV, KJV, NASB, NIV, etc. — it has that familiar KJV ring — I think it is a better “New” KJV than the NKJV. It just feels comfortable, like a worn in pair of jeans.
I absolutely love the HCSB however, please make no mistake in that, and I much prefer my HCSB Study Bible over my ESV Study Bible. I always check the HCSB next, and I use it often for devotional reading. I think it is very accurate, but breaks from tradition in some places in such a way I didn’t want to use it for memorization (some of the language in Luke 2 [lodging place, feeding trough], John 3:16, while accurate, everyone knows “For God so loved the world…”).
For study I use the ESV, HCSB, NASB and I check the NKJV when studying NT passages because I like that they specify textual variants (NU, MT,etc) rather than just saying “Other MSS…”, however I feel that the NKJV is inconsistent in it’s translation sometimes. I’m not a fan of dynamic equiv. but if I’m studying a passage, I will check the NIV and the NLT. I think even the Message and the old Living Bible have their place. I have a lot of Bibles in Accordance, and quite a few on my shelf (even some obscure ones like the NJB, NEB, REB, PHILLIPS, Weymouth NT etc).
The important thing to remember is that we are so very blessed to have so many wonderful English translations, unlike many who would love to have a Bible in their native language.
That’s what I mentioned in my above comment. The traditional verses (though accurate) are a little weird sometimes. I hope they take that into consideration in the next edition
i really like the hcsb. Been preaching from it in our church plant for about 2 years. I also like it that the namb find it here bibles are In that translation
I only have one complaint about hcsb and maybe brother Rainer can pass this on. Some of the traditional verses that we have grown up quoting are different (thougjt accurate). Like the beatitudes and john 3:16
Kenny: Thanks for preaching from the HCSB! Yeah, we do render some of the traditional verses differently. That’s always done out of a belief that the traditional renderings are not as accurate as they need to be, or in some cases that the traditional rendering is technically accurate but does not readily communicate to today’s readers.
I’ve been reading the HCSB for a few years now, largely because of friends and pastors I know who recommended it to me. Before that, I spent some time in ESV. When i became a Christian, I read the NIV cover to cover and loved it.
At the time, I didn’t care about the debates on word for word vs. thought for thought. I’m not sure I care now, except to say that what I think we all want in a Bible translation is accuracy to reflect the orignal languages and ease of understanding in our language today. That said, the HCSB seems to hit both marks well — I trust it and I enjoy reading it.
I use the NASB. Charles Stanley uses that one and he got me started on the NASB several years ago. When I preach and teach I still use the NASB. Sometimes for private reading I will use the NLT.
I am truly liking the Common English Bible copyright 2011.
I would be interested in knowing why translations are popular. Obviously the KJV has a long history of use here in the USA. Most churches never warmed up to the ASV or RSV, for example. Not until the NIV appeared was there a big shift, as best I recall. In my denomination it was very controversial, many could not believe we were abandoning the KJV. I suspect that newer versions of the KJV were produced as much to placate KJV users while being more readable than anything else. The ESV, I have been led to believe, was a response to the TNIV, and was produced for ‘political’ reasons. But the fact that some prominent preachers have endorsed it probably has contributed to its wide usage, particularly among Reformed leaning people. These are just come ‘corner Joe’ comments, but I think it would be interesting to some of us to find out why people prefer certain translations or paraphrases, I suspect it usually has as much to do with some underlying bias than whether or not a version is reader friendly.
I would be interested in additional infromation on this as well. It seems like the NIV is everywhere, and from this vantage point it is hard to tell whether it is popular because it is easily available, or if it is easily available because it is popular.
Strangely, even though most of the people that I interact with regularly use the ESV it seems to be harder to come by (at least locally). It seems like Barnes & Noble barely even carries it, and even the selection at the local Christian book store is fairly limited when it comes to the ESV (usually a few thinlines and a couple study bibles).
John are you really saying that the readability of the NLT as compared with the KJV is not an adequate reason? 1611 English is a long way from how people communicate today.
I certainly don’t argue the issue of readability. That was not my point at all. I simply think in at least one case (NKJV) there was an attempt to update the KJV without straying too far for the KJV loyalists. I still wonder why the RSV never became very popular outside academic circles, and why the NIV seemingly swept the Evangelical church when it was introduced, though not without a bit of resistance. I’m all for readability, and consult many different versions when I’m studying: NLT, J B Phillips NT, even the Living Bible once in a while.
Thom I use the Hard Core Southern Baptist version or better known as the HCSB. Have loved it ever since it was published
Thanks, Tim.
Seriously??? Where’s The Cotton Patch version? I used it this past week during preaching and the people loved it. (Lol) I can’t wait for it to be available on the YouVersion app.
Until then I will continue to use HCSB and NASB as my main go-to versions.
Thom,
I still use the NASB (1995 update), and have since seminary days. I have come to recognize the typical Greek/Hebrew renderings into their text that I can almost guess the original behind it. I also appreciate the ESV and the HCSB as well. All three are great translations, though.
Mark