Opinion: Understanding God’s Word Means Finding a Bible You Can Truly Understand

For generations, Christians have cherished the Bible as the foundation of faith and the source of truth. Yet too often, I see believers get caught up arguing over which version of the Bible is “the right one.” I understand the passion behind those debates — the Word of God deserves reverence — but we must remember something important: if you can’t understand the words on the page, you’ll struggle to understand the God behind them.

The goal of reading Scripture is transformation, not translation loyalty. The purpose of the Bible is not to be admired as a museum piece, but to be lived out in daily faith. To do that, believers need a version of the Bible they can clearly grasp — one that helps the heart and the mind grow together in understanding.

It’s also important to acknowledge that not all Bible versions are the same. The differences aren’t trivial. The King James Version (KJV), for instance, was completed in 1611 — long before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the mid-20th century. Those scrolls contained some of the oldest and most reliable biblical manuscripts ever found, offering new insight into the original texts. Modern translations like the New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), and New Living Translation (NLT) have the advantage of drawing from those discoveries. That doesn’t make them “better” in spirit, but it does mean they’re built on a broader foundation of ancient evidence.

And then there’s language itself. English has changed dramatically over the centuries. Words that made perfect sense in the 17th century can sound foreign, even misleading, to a 21st-century reader. When Scripture says, “Suffer the little children to come unto me,” in today’s language that means “Let the little children come to me.” Without that understanding, someone new to the faith might think “suffer” literally means to cause pain — and miss the compassion in Jesus’ words.

That’s why it’s not wrong — in fact, it’s wise — to choose a Bible translation you can understand. God never intended His Word to be shrouded in mystery or locked behind old language. He intended it to be read, lived, and shared. Whether that means you read the KJV, NIV, ESV, or NLT, what matters most is that you’re reading with an open heart and a listening spirit.

The enemy would love for us to fight over which version we carry instead of living out the message inside it. Don’t let the version become a stumbling block. The Bible is a living Word, and it speaks most clearly when we seek not just to recite it — but to live it.

At the end of the day, it’s not about the version in your hand. It’s about the change in your heart.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV)