ABSTRACT: The English language has the most Bible translations available of any language in history. Such variety is due to a number of factors, including differences in theological convictions and translation philosophy, new manuscript discoveries, a desire to reach broader audiences, and the financial needs of publishers. The abundance of translations should primarily make English speakers grateful for such a vast wealth of resources to study God’s word.
For our ongoing series of feature articles for pastors and Christian leaders, we asked Peter J. Gurry (PhD, University of Cambridge), assistant professor of New Testament and director of the Text & Canon Institute at Phoenix Seminary, to explain why there are so many English-language translations of the Bible.
For most Christians, reading the Bible means reading it in translation. That is true today and has been true for most of church history. Most readers are not competent in the Bible’s original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. As a result, everywhere the Bible has gone, it has needed to be translated. It is safe to say that no single book has been translated into more languages than the Bible.
