New Testament translation tier list
How much does a translation let the Greek speak, and how much does it let the translators speak instead?
One question decides every placement: does this translation render what the Greek says, or what the committee thinks the Greek means?
S tier
- BLB (Berean Literal Bible)
Word-for-word, with tense, mood and voice kept. It is open-source, so anyone who reads Greek can test its choices. Primary study tool, and the New Testament text in this index.
- NASB 1995
The most literal mainstream English New Testament, from the critical Greek text. Hard to read devotionally, which the list treats as the point. Primary study tool.
- LSB (Legacy Standard Bible)
More wooden-literal than the NASB, on the critical text. It comes from John MacArthur’s seminary, and that theology occasionally shows in interpretive choices.
A tierReliable, know the weaknesses
- ESV
Formal equivalence on the critical text, strong for word-level study. A Reformed committee, and that occasionally shows in passages on grace and works.
B tierUseful, proceed with awareness
- NET Bible
The main text favors readable English over strict literalism. Its 60,000-plus translator footnotes document every textual decision. Use it beside the NASB, not instead of it.
- RSV
Readability was a goal alongside literalism, so the committee smoothed the Greek in places. Solid critical text. For cross-reference, not a primary study Bible.
C tierWrong foundation
- KJV
The English is unmatched, but the base is the Textus Receptus (Erasmus, 1516), built from late manuscripts. It carries 1 John 5:7, Mark 16:9–20 and John 7:53–8:11, which are not in the oldest manuscripts. Use for rhetorical weight.
- NKJV
The KJV’s English updated, on the same Textus Receptus base. Its footnotes at least show where manuscripts disagree. Same additions, same tier.
D tierThe committee replaced the text
- NIV
The most popular English Bible, and thought-for-thought in method. The committee’s reading of what the text means replaces what it says, and the reader cannot see where.
- CSB
Mixes word-for-word and thought-for-thought, and the reader cannot tell where the line falls.
- NRSVue
Gender-inclusive language in places the Greek does not call for, a modern preference added to an ancient text.
F tierNot translations
- NLT
A paraphrase. Fine for introducing the story, not for building doctrine.
- MEV (Modern English Version)
A Textus Receptus base like the KJV, without the KJV’s English.
- The Message
A cultural paraphrase. Some passages work as commentary. It is not a study text.
- Passion Translation
Adds words and ideas found in no Greek manuscript. Do not use.
- Study the New Testament
- BLB, NASB 1995 or LSB.
- Cross-reference
- ESV, with the NET footnotes beside your primary.
- Rhetorical citation
- KJV, knowing its base.
- Everything in D-tier
- You are reading the committee, not the text.
- Not translations
- Remove them from your shelf.