All Bible Translations to Avoid as a Christian

The Bible is regarded as the written word of God and serves as the ultimate guideline governing all aspects of life for His followers. Through these sacred writings, God conveys His will, laws, nature, and His purpose for salvation to humanity. You can engage with online quizzes and trivia regarding the Bible to enhance your understanding and test your knowledge.

The Bible asserts that it is the inspired Word of God, as mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:16: “KJV: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

The Bible comprises various translations that are widely accepted by different denominations. Translation entails the process of converting a text from one language to another, striving to retain the original message and intent. It has been rendered in numerous languages from its original biblical languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

As of 2022, the complete Bible has been translated into 724 languages, the New Testament into an additional 1,617 languages, and smaller segments of the Bible into 1,248 other languages, according to Wycliffe Global Alliance. Portions of the Bible exist in at least 3,589 languages.

Among these various Bible translations, Christians are urged not to accept them all as the authentic written word of God, but rather to exercise caution regarding the translations that they choose to read and believe in. This is the purpose behind this article, to inform us about the Bible translations that should be avoided by Christians.

You can explore this article on free online Bible study lessons for free. If you have children at home, you can keep them engaged with Bible trivia questions with answers.

Having established an overview of the Bible along with some key insights about it, let’s proceed to discuss the Bible translations that should be avoided.

8 Bible Translations to Avoid

There are countless translations of the Bible available globally, but I will specifically highlight and provide detailed information about the translations to steer clear of. Stay with me to learn more! The following are those translations;

• The Message Bible (MSG)
• The Passion Translation (TPT)
• The Living Bible (TLB)
• Good News Translation (GNT)
• Contemporary English Version (CEV)
• The Clear Word Bible Translation
• New World Translation (NWT)
• The Mirror Bible

1 The Message Bible (MSG)

This version is a rephrasing by Eugene Peterson, who was the founding pastor of a Presbyterian church in Bel Air, Maryland during the 1960s. Paraphrases are versions of the Bible created to enhance readability and comprehension. They are generally considered the least precise among various Bible translations.

The purpose of this supposed translation is to offer easily understandable Scripture that aims to engage both those familiar with the Bible and those who are not. It is specifically designed for U.S. English speakers, incorporating contemporary American slang.

There are several issues with the Message Bible, which are:

• It is essentially a commentary-novel-paraphrase amalgamation of the Bible, rather than a genuine translation.
• It employs a very casual and non-serious writing style that has no relation to the Holy Spirit-inspired Scriptures.
• The author has intentionally transformed entire sections of the Word of God into absurd colloquialisms and idioms.

It is important to note that the author’s reputation is surrounded by controversy, which adds another layer of doubt-worthiness.

You should avoid the Message Bible if you wish to avoid being misled.

2 The Passion Translation (TPT)

This is yet another paraphrased version like The Message, and it ranks next on our list of Bible translations to steer clear of. The Passion Translation is the product of a single translator, Brian Simmons, whose work has faced significant criticism from scholars.

For these reasons, TPT is, at best, seen as a commentary rather than a translation of the Bible:

• It was rendered by one individual (Brian Simmons) who lacks the credentials of a reputable Bible scholar
• Its length is approximately 50% greater than the authentic Word of God due to the inclusion of extra text and new content
• The additional material found in some sections promotes misleading doctrines that could lead individuals astray and endanger their spiritual wellbeing

Dr. Simmons rephrased the Bible using his own interpretations instead of providing a direct translation. He claims that TPT was created from original texts in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.

At present, TPT includes only the New Testament, along with Psalms, Proverbs, and the Song of Songs. Blanco has also released The Passion Translation of Genesis, Isaiah, and a Harmony of the Gospels as separate publications.

3 The Living Bible (TLB)

The Living Bible is a paraphrase of the Bible created by Kenneth N. Taylor, who founded Tyndale House Publishers. This translation is the next one to avoid on our list.

Taylor was inspired to produce this paraphrase due to his children’s struggles with the archaic language of the King James Version (KJV).

Nevertheless, Taylor misinterpreted many verses within the Bible and inserted his own words. He did not consult the original biblical texts, and The Living Bible was based on the American Standard Version.

Originally released in 1971, The Living Bible underwent revisions in the late 1980s when Taylor and a team of 90 scholars, proficient in Greek and Hebrew, were invited by Tyndale House Publishers.

However, Taylor did not adhere to the conventional translation process, which involves using original language manuscripts for his translation. Instead, he relied on the 1901 American Standard Version as his base.

Here are the key issues with The Living Bible:

• It was authored by a single individual who lacked formal training in theology or Biblical scholarship.
• It excludes significant portions of biblical text that do not align with the author’s Arminian beliefs.
• It is essentially a rephrased version of the American Standard Version.

4 Good News Translation (GNT)

Also referred to as the Good News Bible (GNB), the GNT was developed by the American Bible Society as a translation designed to be easily accessible to anyone, including those learning English and children.

The straightforward language used in this translation has made it a favorite among evangelists; it was even utilized during the Billy Graham crusades.

Nonetheless, despite this appealing aspect, it is not a translation recommended for in-depth Bible study, as the use of simple English in the Good News Translation has resulted in significant shortcomings.

The GNT contains numerous serious theological inaccuracies, including misrepresentations of Christ’s divinity, omissions of references to Jesus’ blood, incorrect portrayals of Jesus’ virgin birth, removal of mentions of hell, and distorted interpretations of salvation, among others.

5 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

This translation is another project by the American Bible Society, often called the Bible for Today’s Family. The CEV employs an even more basic form of English than the GNT.

Once again, the effort to produce a translation that is accessible to everyone results in misleading text, such as suggesting that the Holy Spirit takes the place of Jesus (John 14:26) and making Paul’s guidelines for a pastor gender-neutral (1 Timothy 3:1-5).

6 The Clear Word Bible Translation

The Clear Word is a Bible translation you might want to steer clear of. It was first released in March 1994 under the name Clear Word Bible.

Jack Blanco, who was the former Dean of the School of Religion at Southern Adventist University, translated The Clear Word by himself.

Blanco initially created TCW as a personal devotional project. He was subsequently persuaded by his friends and family to have it published.

The following issues exist with TWC:

• In contrast to other paraphrases, TWC is structured in a verse-by-verse style rather than in paragraphs
• Some terms have been misinterpreted; for example, “Lord’s day” has been substituted with “Sabbath”
• It incorporates doctrines from the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
  Certain verses are missing

7 New World Translation (NWT)

The New World Translation is a version of the Bible published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WBTS) and is primarily utilized and disseminated by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Here are the inaccuracies regarding the NWT:

• Several verses are omitted from this Bible translation, and additionally, new verses have been inserted.
• It features different phrasing, as the NWT translates the Greek words for Lord (Kurios) and God (Theos) as “Jehovah.”
• It does not recognize Jesus as a divine being or a member of the Trinity.
• The translation technique is inconsistent.
• It refers to the ‘New Testament’ as the Christian Greek Scriptures and the ‘Old Testament’ as the Hebrew Scriptures.

8 The Mirror Bible

The Mirror Bible is a modern paraphrase by South African teacher Francois du Toit, and Mirror Word serves as his teaching ministry.

Here are the issues with this highly inaccurate Bible “translation”:

• It’s filled with misleading, new-age, and man-centered false teachings.
• The Mirror Bible should be viewed more as a paraphrase and interpretation rather than a translation.
• It dismisses the necessity of a saviour, meaning it overlooks the importance of accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and being born again.

The author suggests that we are inherently born again, implying that there’s no need for redemption through the blood of the Lamb, as we are already divine.

Just as a mirror reflects everything in reverse, TMB alters, twists, and misrepresents the true Living Word of God.

The Mirror Bible is also referred to as the anti-mirror Bible. To learn more about this, click on this link.

Conclusion

As we have observed, it is important to steer clear of these Bible translations to avoid confusion and uncertainty in our beliefs, to read further, check here.

Regardless of whether these inaccuracies are intentional or not, we need to remain vigilant against such issues, particularly in these final days.

These translations are merely individual interpretations that may mislead others, whether intentionally or not, with their harmful inaccuracies.

Let’s consider them as cautionary examples and ensure we support one another in our most sacred faith.

We should also recall what Scripture states in 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

The Word of God is flawless, and we should refrain from adding to or taking away from it.