We are often asked what factors a church should think through when considering switching their Bible translation. For the past decade many churches have switched Bible translations, deciding a switch is worth the effort. Here are two important questions churches are asking in the process of evaluation:
Is the translation readable?
Many have switched from older translations like the King James Version, for a more readable translation. As English continues to evolve and change, new Christians and seasoned Christians alike find it increasingly difficult to study an English language Bible with ancient speech patterns and vocabulary.
Is the translation accurate?
Churches also tend to switch when they discover a translation they feel is more accurate in rendering biblical manuscripts into English. Evaluating accuracy can be difficult without a great deal of research. A background in the biblical languages is helpful in this regard. But tools like MyStudyBible.com make study in the original languages more accessible than ever before. One of the unique features of the tool is the ability to hover over an English rendering in multiple translations and correlate the corresponding Greek and Hebrew words.
Each church has unique questions to consider when it comes to changing translations. This is why we like to tell stories of churches making the switch to the HCSB, highlighting why making the switch is helpful in their individual ministry context. First Baptist Church Houston, TX recently posted their decision to switch to the HCSB on their website. We are always excited and honored when churches make the switch, because we know churches do not do so flippantly. Here is a look at why First Baptist Church Houston made the switch: