Which New Testament translation should I read?
Question:
Good morning.
I wish to ask you which New Testament to read: one written by a Catholic publisher or one written by a Protestant publisher?
Thank you very much.
Greetings from Argentina.
Answer:
It isn't as much a matter of who printed the pages as it is the accuracy of the translation. The Roman Catholic Bibles have alterations to the Old Testament. (See "The Extra Catholic Books.") However, their translation of the New Testament isn't bad.
The lesson "Which Translation Should I Use?" discusses what to look for in a Bible translation. I'm not strong in Spanish, so my knowledge of the various Spanish translations is weak. I have heard that the following are good translations:
- Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR60) is considered equivalent to the King James Version in English.
- La Biblia de las Américas (LBLA) is considered equivalent to the American Standard Version (1901).
- Nueva Biblia de las Américas (NBLA) is done by the Lockman Foundation, the same group behind the New American Standard Bible.
- Biblia Textual (BTX): I've read good reviews of this translation, but have no experience with it.
I would not recommend:
- Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI) which is similar to the New International Version. While easy reading, it does have a strong slant in its translation toward Calvinist doctrine.
- Nueva Traducción Viviente (NTV) which is similar to the New Living Bible. This is more a paraphrase than a true translation.
