This is the most frequent question that my colleagues and I are asked, and every time-- almost without exception-- that I conduct a seminar, someone will ask this. My response is, "It all depends on whether you are an optimist or a pessimist, for one is just as good or just as bad as another." The one with which you feel the most comfortable, and find easiest to read and understand is the one that is best for you. However, my advice is, don't limit yourself to just one translation. Get several translations, and in your study, read from all of them, paying careful attention to the variant readings from one translation to the other. In some instances, the variation may be nothing more than a simple preposition--for example, "in" as opposed to "of"--and just the one preposition could affect one's understanding of the passage, as well as the whole theology of that particular subject.

"But," you ask, "how am I going to know which of the translations is correct?" In addition to the various translations, you also need a good concordance, such as Young's or Strong's concordance of the Bible, so that you can go to the concordance and look up that particular word and see which is the correct translation of the passage.

I recommend that every serious student of the Bible begin to develop a library of lexical aids that are now, available to assist in your biblical study, even though you do not have a working knowledge of either Hebrew or Greek. Lexical aids are available today which are numerically indexed to Strong's Concordance, and they can assist you immeasurably in your study. These lexical aids are now available through most any religious book store for a very reasonable price.

You might be interested to know that we will be holding a special seminar here in Austin on "How to Study the Bible." In addition to the basic introduction, it will show you the materials that are available and will include detailed instructions on how to use each one of them, so that you will be able to do serious biblical study in your own home. The material will be recorded and available soon here on this site.