While hanging out one night during Bible study, I was talking with a friend about how there are so many different versions of the Bible. After our talk, I decided to get a New American Standard Bible because it’s shown to be a more literal translation than other versions.

I’ve grown up being taught the King James Version of the Bible is the “superior” version — that’s a different debate for another time.

But, for someone who can’t understand the thees, thines or haths, there has to be a more understandable version out there. There are several versions that are more understandable than KJV, thankfully.

By the way, I don’t recommend the Jamaican Version or The Message. I recommend looking up John 3:16 in The Message.

The NASB version is a literal translation from the original Greek and Hebrew. Instead of reading the word Easter (KJV) in Acts 12:4, we’ll read the word Passover (NASB). In the original text, the word pascha translates to Passover, not Easter.

The same goes for Exodus 20:13. We read in the KJV you shouldn’t kill, however the original text reads ratsach, which means kill or murder. In this case, the text refers to murdering another person. But, if you read KJV’s Exodus 20:13, then you’d feel guilty for going on that annual duck hunting trip with the guys. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy hunting, killing and eating dove every now and then.

But, if I were to put my foot down solely on KJV’s Exodus 20:13, I wouldn’t get to enjoy my bacon wrapped, grilled dove. I’d be a little upset there.

All-in-all, I’m not going to tell someone the version they’re using is wrong — unless it’s The Message. From what research I’ve done, most versions reference the gospel. In a nutshell, John 3:16, “’For God do loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,’” is the gospel.

The gospel says the only way to God is through believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection to save us all. If you’re listening to someone who says there is another way, I recommend changing that podcast. They’re misleading. Ephesians 2:8-9 says you’re saved through faith. That faith the passage is referring to is the faith of Jesus’ death, resurrection and saving us all through the two. Through his death and resurrection, he carried our sins away.

If we don’t believe Jesus died for me, you, all of use, then we’re facing hell.