NIV, KJV, NASB, NLT?

I have a habit of bouncing from translation to translation in my messages. For the most part, I use the New International Version, the New Living Translation, and the New American Standard. Sometimes I use the "old" Revised Standard Version.

Some have asked me, "Why switch? Why not use the same one every week?" It's a good question. I know many pastors who always preach from the same version. In my case, since I use a number of different translations in my personal study, I tend to use a number of translations in my sermons. (Not as many as Rick Warren, though. He wins the prize. Purpose Driven Life cites 15 different versions.)

I encourage people to examine different translations of the text. Though the NIV and NASV, for example, are both accurate, sometimes the way a word or phrase was rendered in one translation will resonate more with what God is saying to you through the text this time through.

As Rick Warren points out, the Bible was originally written using more than 11,000 Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic words, but the average English translation uses about 6,000 words. He says, "Obviously, nuances and shades of meaning can be missed, so it is always helpful to compare translations." (Purpose Driven Life, page 325)

The primary objective is to instill in people the habit of digging into the Word, studying it, meditating upon it, and, ultimately, incorporating its teaching into our daily lives.

Looking at each passage from as many angles (i.e. translations) as possible helps us accomplish this.