Top 5 Easiest-to-Understand Versions of the Bible

Which translation/version of the Bible is easiest to read? Here are some of my favorites.

5). New Living Translation (NLT)

• Description: If you’ve ever taken a foreign language class, you’ll know that translating word-for-word doesn’t always work. That’s why the NLT translates thought-by-thought to ensure it flows more naturally.

• Sample: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

4). The Passion Translation (TPT)

• Description: TPT is written in easy-to-understand language with an emphasis on God’s passionate, fiery love.

• Sample: “For here is the way God loved the world—he gave his only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.”

3). Contemporary English Version (CEV)

• Description: The CEV uses everyday words and phrases to make it more appealing to people living in today’s culture.

• Sample: “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.”

2). International Children’s Bible (ICB)

• Description: While the ICB has “children’s” in it’s name, it’s not just for kids. It was written on a level so that anyone can understand it.

• Sample: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. God gave his Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.”
  —John 3:16

1). Simple Bible

• Description: The Simple Bible is paraphrased for—you guessed it—simplicity! It aims to simplify complex sentence structures while also avoiding “Christianese” phrases so it’s easy to understand.

• Sample: “God loved humanity so much that He gave up His only Son. That way, whoever relies on His Son won’t have to die, but can have infinite life instead.”