Choosing the Best Bible Translation for Incarcerated Individuals

The most powerful and appropriate Bible to send to a young man in jail is a faithful, literal, word-for-word translation like the Authorized Version (King James Version) or its direct faithful revisions, rather than modern paraphrased versions like the NLT or NIV. Because God's exact words bring true freedom and life, a translation that strictly adheres to the original Hebrew and Greek text is the absolute best foundation for someone seeking truth for the very first time.

Welcome to this Bible study! It is a beautiful and life-changing decision to send the Word of God to a young man in prison. Let us open the Scriptures to understand God's heart for him and how to choose the right translation to guide his new journey of faith.

⛓️ God's Heart for the Prisoner

The physical walls of a jail cell cannot separate a person from the love and presence of God. In fact, the Lord has a very special place in His heart for those who are incarcerated.

• He hears their cries: "For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;" Psalm 102:19-20.

• He breaks their chains: "God sets the solitary in families: he brings out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land." Psalm 68:6.

Though he is physically confined, the Scriptures will introduce him to Jesus Christ, who offers the ultimate and eternal liberation. Jesus promises, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36.

🔍 Understanding the Translations: NLT & NIV

You asked about the main differences between the New Living Translation (NLT) and the New International Version (NIV), and whether they are appropriate.

Both the NLT and the NIV are modern translations that handle the original biblical texts with a great deal of freedom. They use a method called "dynamic equivalence" (or paraphrasing), which means the translators amend, transpose, or interpret the text to conform to their own ideas of what they believe the writers meant to say.

• The Danger of Human Alteration: When human ideas and modern interpretations are blended into the text, it dilutes the purity of the message. Jesus warned against "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered" Mark 7:13.

• The Power of Exact Words: Jesus said, "It is the spirit that vivifies; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63. Because the exact words of God are spirit and life, a translation must preserve those precise words, not just the general thoughts or paraphrases of the translators.

For these reasons, the NLT and NIV are not the appropriate choices for someone building their foundational understanding of salvation.

👑 The Best Translation to Send

The best Bible to get for him is the Authorized Version (King James Version). This version is the result of the most conscientious textual criticism and remains the supreme standard for English readers. It translates the original languages faithfully and literally.

When a person has a literal translation, they can confidently compare scripture with scripture to find the truth, knowing they are reading exactly what God inspired. The gospel contained in this faithful translation is all he needs for his heart to be transformed.

• "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16.

• God guarantees that His pure word will accomplish its mission in this young man's life: "So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:11.

💡 How He Should Begin Studying

When you send him the Bible, encourage him to read it diligently and prayerfully. He does not need prior religious experience or human teachers to understand it, because the Holy Spirit will guide him.

• Search for Jesus: Christ commands us, "Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39.

• Gain Divine Wisdom: As he reads the pure words of God, he will gain a brilliant and restored mind. "You through your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for your testimonies are my meditation." Psalm 119:98-100.

By sending him a faithful, literal Bible, you are handing him the keys to true, unbreakable liberty. As he seeks God through its pages, he will soon be able to declare: "And I will walk at liberty: for I seek your precepts." Psalm 119:45.