The use of a large variety of Bible versions and different translations here, rather than one of two versions (as is typical), follows from the idea that a thorough and comprehensive investigation of a mysterious and controversial subject requires a different method of using biblical sources. The purpose of presenting a widely-sourced collection of scriptural passages, rather than a narrow set of Scripture translations or just one version, is to increase the chances of not overlooking a more accurate or better translation of the given passage.
Eight translations of Scripture have been selected for this study which when grouped together account for 80% of all passages quoted throughout it. The use of the top four versions (i.e., NIV, NASB, NRSV, and NKJV at an equal amount) will be more than twice as often as the next four versions (KJV, ESV, CSB, and MLV). The remaining 20% of passages that do not use any of these eight translations will consist of about one percent each, on average.
This means that of the first 100 passages of Scripture quoted here, the target amount is as follows: 56 verses from the top four versions (14 x 4), 24 verses from the next four versions (6 x 4), and the remaining 20 quoted passages will likely be taken from 20 other translations.
Primary group (80% of all verses appearing in this Bible study)
14% – NIV (New International Version, 2011)
14% – NASB (New American Standard Bible, 2020)
14% – NRSV (New Revised Standard Version, 1989)
14% – NKJV (New King James Version, 1982)
6% – KJV (King James Version, 1611)
6% – ESV (English Standard Version, 2016)
6% – CSB (Christian Standard Bible, 2017)
6% – MLV (Modern Literal Version, 2020)
Notes:
(1) The ESV used the 1971 RSV text as their starting point.
(2) The CSB is a revision of the 1999 HCSB from Holman.
(3) The MLV first appeared in 1998 and is updated annually online.
Secondary group (20% of all verses)
1% ABP (2018) Apostolic Bible Polyglot, OT [Greek translation of Hebrew]
1% AMP (2015) Amplified Bible [multiple key word equivalents; original version, 1965]
1% CEV (1995) Contemporary English Version [“not a paraphrase”]
1% CVOT (2014) Concordant Version, OT [“neither archaic nor modern”]
1% GW (1995) God’s Word [based on original texts using a natural, informal style]
1% JUSM (1876) Julia E. Smith [“translated literally from the original tongues”]
1% LEB (2012) Lexham English Bible [extensive use of lexicons and interlinear works]
1% NABRE (2011) New American Bible Rev. Ed. [approved by Catholic Bishops]
1% NET (1996) New English Translation [includes nearly 60,000 notes]
1% NIRV (2014) New International Reader’s Version [NIV-based; easier to understand]
1% NLT (2015) New Living Translation [translates “entire thoughts not just words”]
1% OJB (2011) Orthodox Jewish Bible [uses Yiddish and Hasidic cultural expresses]
1% REB (1989) Revised English Bible [updates the New English Bible of 1970]
1% ROTH (1902) Emphasized OT, Joseph B. Rotherham [“thoroughly researched”]
1% TLB (1971) The Living Bible [40 million copies sold by 1997; precursor to NLT]
1% VOICE (2012) The Voice [“beautiful but based on original-language manuscripts”]
1% WYC (1382) John Wycliffe [first to be translated into English]
1% YLT (1898) Robert Young’s Literal Translation [extremely literal from originals]
Other Versions Cited (but not quoted)
KJ21: 21st Century King James Version, 1994, Deuel Enterprises, Inc.
ASV: American Standard Version, 1901
BRG: Blue Red and Gold Letter Edition, 2012, BRG Bible Ministries
DBY: John Nelson Darby, 1890
DRA: Douay-Rheims, American Edition, 1899
GNV: Geneva Bible, 1599
JUB: Jubilee Bible, 2013, 2020, Ransom Press International
MEV: Modern English Version, 2014, Military Bible Association, Charisma House