As a pastor and teacher, one of the most frequent questions I receive is, "Which Bible translation should I read?" With dozens of versions filling church pews and bookstore shelves, it is easy to assume that choosing a Bible is purely a matter of personal reading style. However, the translation we use fundamentally shapes how we view doctrine, history, and the voice of God.
This post marks the beginning of a four-part series designed to pull back the curtain on how our Bibles were constructed. Below, I want to share the four foundational convictions that guide my ministry and explain why I confidently rely on historically preserved text traditions.
Our Core Convictions on the Word of God
- Original Inerrancy: The Word of God is entirely without error in its original manuscripts.
- Historical Preservation: God promised to actively protect His words for every generation.
- Textual Discernment: Modern textual criticism contains challenges that must be understood.
- The People’s Bible: The historically preserved text remains the preferred standard for the global Church.
1. The Word of God is Inerrant in its Originals
Our starting point must always be the perfection of God's initial revelation. When the prophets and apostles penned the original manuscripts (autographs) of scripture, they were uniquely carried along by the Holy Spirit to record exactly what God intended, completely free from human error.
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." — Psalm 19:7
"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." — Proverbs 30:5
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" — 2 Timothy 3:16
2. God Has Fulfilled His Promise to Preserve His Word
Inerrancy matters very little if God allowed His words to be lost, corrupted, or forgotten over time. Scripture gives us the Doctrine of Preservation—the comforting truth that God actively protects and maintains His Word through His people. God did not lock His words in a time capsule or abandon them to human accident; He preserved them through a living chain of faithful scribes and ancient church communities.
To see how this divine protection operated through history, please read [Part 2 of this series: The Doctrine of Preservation].
3. Modern Textual Criticism Has Well-Known Challenges
Most modern Bible translations (like the ESV, NIV, or NASB) do not use the text traditionally preserved by the Church for 1,500 years. Instead, they rely on a modern academic composite called the Nestle-Aland text. This text is built on human-engineered rules—such as the presumption that the shortest or most difficult reading is always the best—which often results in missing verses, awkward phrasing, and artificial historical difficulties.
If you would like to see how these academic assumptions impact your Bible, please read [Part 3 of this series: The Challenges of Textual Criticism].
4. The People's Bible: A Proven Legacy
In 1909, theologian C.I. Scofield published his landmark study Bible. Reflecting on his decision to bypass the newly minted modern translations of his day, he wrote in his introduction: "After mature reflection it was determined to use the Authorized Version [KJV]. None of the many Revisions have commended themselves to the people at large."
Over a century later, Scofield's observation remains true. Despite massive marketing campaigns for modern translations, the King James Version continues to lead in both total lifetime sales and annual units distributed globally. It remains, stubbornly and beautifully, the text that the global Church returns to for public worship, memorization, and doctrinal stability.
If you would like to see popular legacy of the King James Version, please read [Part 4 of this series: The Peoples Bible].
Conclusion: Seeking Truth with Confidence
My personal journey of study, prayer, and pastoral reflection has led me to firmly anchor my ministry in the traditional text used by generations of believers. I confidently use the King James Version as my primary translation because it aligns directly with this unbroken chain of historical preservation.
However, you are entirely free to arrive at your own prayerful conclusions. As we walk through this series together, my goal is not to impose a rigid rule upon your devotional life, but to equip you with the historical context and spiritual discernment needed to understand exactly what is in the Bible you read every day.