Dear Jehovah's Witnesses

Back in the 1960s, many Jehovah’s Witnesses vividly remember the release of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. It came as a compact green hardcover Bible, and at the time it was presented as a major advancement because it used what was considered more modern English. Comparisons were often made with the King James Version, especially with archaic words such as “shambles,” which in older English referred to a meat market.

Later, the organization released the Reference Bible edition, which many considered an improvement because of its expanded notes and references. Then, in 2013, the organization introduced the revised Study Edition of the New World Translation to considerable internal praise. Critics, however, including former Witnesses such as Raymond Franz and others, have argued that the revision functions more as an editorial adaptation than a fresh translation. They contend that portions of the text simplify or obscure meanings in ways that align closely with Jehovah’s Witness doctrine.

Since the release of the New World Translation in 1960, there has been an explosion of English Bible translations, particularly of the New Testament — or as Jehovah’s Witnesses prefer to call it, the “Christian Greek Scriptures.” Many of these translations aim to use clearer and more contemporary English while drawing from increasingly refined manuscript scholarship.

The New World Translation itself was principally associated with Frederick W. Franz, who served as vice president and later president of the Watch Tower Society. While many Witnesses appreciate the translation, others find that it often uses language that feels opaque or unnecessarily complex. One commonly cited example is the phrase “undeserved kindness,” a five-syllable rendering used in place of the much simpler and historically familiar word “grace.”

Supporters of the translation argue that such wording is more precise and easier to understand. Critics disagree, pointing out that many online resources document what they see as theological bias within the New World Translation. To be fair, every Bible translation contains some level of interpretive bias. However, in my view, the New World Translation frequently uses wording that obscures meaning rather than clarifying it.

Below is a broad chronological list of notable English Bible translations and revisions published since the New World Translation first appeared in 1960.

1960s

• New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
• Jerusalem Bible
• Modern Language Bible

1970s

• New English Bible
• The Living Bible
• The Bible in Living English
• New International Version
• Good News Bible
• Amplified Bible
• Beck’s American Translation
• New King James Version

1980s

• New Jerusalem Bible
• A Literal Translation of the Bible
• Recovery Version
• New Life Version
• New Revised Standard Version
• Revised English Bible

1990s

• Contemporary English Version
• God’s Word Translation
• New Living Translation
• The Scriptures
• Clear Word Bible

2000s

• English Standard Version
• The Message
• Orthodox Jewish Bible
• Holman Christian Standard Bible
• New English Translation
• Orthodox Study Bible
• The Inclusive Bible

2010s

• Common English Bible
• International Standard Version
• Modern English Version
• Christian Standard Bible
• Revised New Jerusalem Bible

2020s

• Literal Standard Version
• Legacy Standard Bible
• Berean Standard Bible
• Majority Standard Bible

Some of my personal favorites are the Berean Study Bible, the New International Version, and the Amplified Bible. The Amplified Bible, in particular, can be very useful because it expands on shades of meaning within certain verses, helping readers grasp the depth of the text.

As the Wirecutter-style phrase says, “Why you can trust me”: I read the Bible constantly — often six to eight hours a day. There is an astonishing depth to the Scriptures. Almost any verse can become the basis for hours of study, opening up historical context, linguistic detail, theology, and spiritual insight.

The ability to study the Bible deeply is, in my view, a genuine gift from God. Understanding Scripture is not merely an intellectual exercise but something guided by the Holy Spirit. Without that guidance, the Bible can easily become just another ancient text, boring to read, cryptic in wording, rather than a living message.

For anyone interested in exploring these translations personally, many of the versions listed above are available free of charge through the Olive Tree Bible App.