WHICH TRANSLATION SHOULD BE USED FOR BIBLE STUDY?

This question has long puzzled many Christians—reflecting the uncertainty they feel when seeking to understand the Word of God deeply and accurately. For this reason, some suggest that Christians should learn the original biblical languages ​​to examine the Word of God more thoroughly and clearly. Yet, not everyone is in a position to learn a new language. What, then, of those who cannot? The Bible is not reserved for a specific group or for the academically qualified; it was written for all of humanity, excluding no one. This uncertainty is not unfounded, given the sheer number of Bible translations available today—each claiming to be more accurate than those that came before. The root of this issue lies in the tendency to rely on a translation’s specific wording to interpret the Bible, leading people to seek the version that most closely matches the original text. Consequently, deciding which translation is most accurate is a significant challenge—one that only the Bible itself can resolve. This means that the Bible interprets its own terms, rather than the terms themselves serving as the key to interpreting the Bible—a common misconception. Therefore, our approach to studying and meditating on the Bible follows a distinct methodology. This involves using the Bible’s CONTENT and TRUTHS to interpret its terms. Although the Bible has many translations, its core CONTENT and God’s eternal TRUTHS remain unchanging. Therefore, Christians can use these elements to clarify biblical terms and better understand God’s Word. When the Word of God says that not even a single stroke or dot will pass away from the Bible (Matthew 5:18), it refers to the CONTENT and TRUTHS it contains, not the specific words themselves. No language is entirely complete or self-sufficient. The Bible was written in human language so that all of humanity could read and comprehend it; it was not intended exclusively for any particular group within the Christian community or the churches