The New Living Translation Bible: The Ideal Version for Better Understanding of God’s Word

What would life be like if not for books? They are the essence of life as they contain wisdom and stories, back from the days when people started writing them down and leaving them as legacy for future generations. One can’t speak of such a resourceful legacy without mentioning the book of all books, the Bible. Leading in number of translations, it has been the source of inspiration for many artists, authors and directors, as well as being the means of literacy and education that scholars used when they spread the word of God at every corner of the world. For centuries, people have identified with the Bible’s stories of morality, redemption, forgiveness and love through finding similarities with their own lives and the feelings and internal monologues going through their minds.

Helping spread God’s love and words is where the power of the Bible is. In the past, it was translated in languages, Latin for instance, only understandable to clergymen, scholars and people of high rank, which left out the masses thirsty for knowledge. The reason for the many versions and translations that can be found lies in creating the outcome that’s understandable to everyone and not just a group of people. This makes translating a kind of tradition that continues to this day. From the many versions available nowadays, it might not be so easy to choose the ideal one but it all comes down to the use of common everyday language which leads us to The New Living Translation Bible. This version was further developed in 1996 as a revision of Kenneth Taylor’s Living Bible published in 1971 and is ideal because of being based on a concept of accurate translation regarding the original languages.

As you’ll see in the preface, it’s stated that the translation was done according to dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) principles. This means the ending result of the scripture in everyday English makes it as easy to interpret nowadays as it was for people reading the original scripture centuries ago. What’s interesting about this version is also the fact that the male-oriented language of the original text was changed to gender-neutral, so as to bring it closer to women believers as much as men. Furthermore, it’s undergone additional revisions in 2004 and 2007 with footnote changes. You can find plenty of editions of The New Living Translation Bible for sale, some perfect for journaling, whereas others, such as is the study edition, can give you literal meaning of certain words and their definitions as well as provide historical and cultural assistance, making it even easier to understand.

Enriching your home library with this Bible is really worth it because it can help you work on your own relationship with God, praying not just in times of need but also when you’re pleased with life, to show your gratitude and learn how to appreciate every day. Reading a few lines when in trouble can give you the clarity you need so it’s always a good time to be in the company of the Bible.