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Chart with Grade Levels

Preface: I have been meaning to do a chart like this for some time; the problem being is, I don’t really know how to judge reading levels. However, I have thought about subdividing the translations for the exegetical study of each chapter of the Bible and adding in another category of easy-to-read translations. In order to do that, I needed to know which translations were easy-to-read. This resulted in the following chart, culled mostly from elsewhere, with the credit given at the bottom of the chart.

Reading Level by Description/ Bible/ Published/ Grade/ Target Translation Commentary Distinctives Examples Abbreviation translators Audience Philosophy

This translation is really a Dynamic 11th Grade mini-commentary which A popular translation used features a system of to understand the Amplified Bible Word-for-word Those looking for verse-end alternate hidden meaning of Greek 1958; Old plus additional more detailed translations and comments and Hebrew words. Break Testament 1964; AMP amplification of shades of meaning on different shades of through the language Revised 1987 word meanings in in Scripture meaning in the original barrier. brackets languages.

Common English Bible 7th grade CBS, BY CEB

This version seeks to be readable, yet faithful to the meaning of the original texts. Nouns describing God's actions (righteousness, Written at an 4th Grade Contemporary Paraphrase salvation, etc.) are rendered elementary-school 5.4 grade level New Testament English Version in varying ways. This version reading level, the CEV is 5th BY 1991; Old Thought-for- avoids complicated readable and Testament 1995 CEV thought language, obscure understandable for the Unchurched vocabulary and difficult modern reader. sentence structure to produce a translation understandable to a wide variety of modern readers. Reading Level by Description/ Bible/ Published/ Grade/ Target Translation Commentary Distinctives Examples Abbreviation translators Audience Philosophy

Joseph R. Rotherham's translation features special New Testament markings, indentations, and 12th Grade Formal Equivalent 1878, 1897; Old footnotes designed to convey Testament 1902 the sense of Hebrew and Greek to the modern reader.

The ESV uses the classic principles of word-for-word 8th Grade translation and literary 7.4 grade level A literal update of the English Standard excellence as exemplified by 10th grade CBS Formal Equivalent the KJV and most recently 10th BY Version, seeks to produce Fall 2001 the RSV. Highly accurate, the Word-for-word word-for-word ESV ESV closely reflects the Bible readers of correspondence. original meaning of the text in all ages clear, readable, enduring English.

This revision utilizes the translation process employed by global mission 4th – 5th Grade organizations for translating 4.3 grade level Dynamic A meaning-based, God's Word the Bible into new foreign 5th grade CBS contemporary translation New Testament God’s Word™ languages. The goal is to Balance between utilizing the 1988; Old express the meaning of what Christians and word-for-word and thought-for-thought Testament 1995 GW appears in the forms of the non-Christians; thought-for-thought translation philosophy original biblical languages adults and children into those expressing essentially the same meaning in modern English.

A thought-for-thought translation theory called Good News dynamic equivalence was 7th Grade Paraphrase; New Testament Version (Today’s used for this version. It uses 6th grade (LfJ) Emphasis on 1966; Old English Version) common English throughout, 7th BY Functional Testament 1974, and modern idioms are 6.0 (Zond.) Equivalent Revised 1993 GNV, GNT, TEV sometimes substituted for ancient ones in the interest of clarity. Reading Level by Description/ Bible/ Published/ Grade/ Target Translation Commentary Distinctives Examples Abbreviation translators Audience Philosophy

Functional NT 7th – 8th grade equivalence; The HCSB is a combination Holman Christian 7.5 grade level Optimal of word-for-word and A translation that attempts Standard Bible 7th – 8th grade CBS Equivalence dynamic renderings that is to combine NT 2001 both faithful to the words God both formal and dynamic HCSB Bible readers of Balance between inspired and user friendly to equivalence all ages word-for-word and modern readers. thought-for-thought

International Standard Version 8th – 9th ISV

This paraphrase of the American Standard Version was an attempt by Kenneth Living Bible L. Taylor to put the Bible in New Testament 8th Grade Paraphrase language his children could 1962; Old LT understand. It is useful for Testament 1971 introducing the Bible to people who are unfamiliar with it.

Paraphrase 7th Grade Thought-for- 5.5–10 depending thought. Converts Pastor and biblical scholar on the passage the original Eugene H. Peterson's aim in This paraphrase was 4th – 5th CBS languages into the developing this contemporary translated using the New Testament 4.8 (Zond.) tone and rhythms language version is to rhythms and tone of 1993; of modern-day transfer the informal and contemporary English to 1994; Complete Christians who American speech earthy flavor of the Greek communicate to the Bible, July 2002 want a fresh while retaining the into the rhythms and idiom of modern reader Bible-reading idioms and everyday English. experience and meaning of the seekers original languages Reading Level by Description/ Bible/ Published/ Grade/ Target Translation Commentary Distinctives Examples Abbreviation translators Audience Philosophy

Published under the direction of Pope Pius XII, this Catholic version of 11th Grade This is the first complete the Bible represents more New American 6.6 grade level Formal equivalent, American than 25 years of effort by 1970; NT Bible 7th BY Dynamic translated from the original the Catholic revised 1986; 6.6 (Zond.) languages. Its style is more Biblical Association of Psalms revised NAB Word-for-word direct than that of the America. All editions 1992 Catholic Bible. include the Deuterocanonical/ Apocryphal books

Especially popular among A highly respected, formal 11th Grade Evangelicals and others who translation of the Bible. 10th BY (for New American want a word-for-word Purpose of the work was New Testament updated version) Formal Equivalent Standard translation of the original to update the American 1963; Whole manuscripts, this translation Standard Version into Bible 1971, Conservative, Word-for-word NASB was prepared as an update more current English. The Revised 1995 evangelical of the 1901 American most literal is now more Protestant Standard Version (ASV). readable

3rd Grade 5.6 grade level 3rd grade CBS From the translators of the Based on the ICB Formal Equivalent New Century 4th BY International Children's (International Children's New Testament Version Version, this conservative Bible), it's a readable and Balance between 1978; Old Those who want a evangelical translation is in simple translation using word-for-word and Testament 1986 NCV highly readable simple English, designed to the thought-for-thought thought-for-thought translation of the be easy to read. translation methodology. Bible in today's language Reading Level by Description/ Bible/ Published/ Grade/ Target Translation Commentary Distinctives Examples Abbreviation translators Audience Philosophy

The first British Bible to be translated from the original languages since the King James Version, this is a New Testament 8th Grade Dynamic thought-by-thought 1961; Old NEB translation in modern British Testament 1970 English. It has been replaced, for the most part, by the .

New English Translation 7th BY NET

Simple Functional A thorough, scholarly Equivalent The NIrV is a simplified simplification of the NIV, 3rd Grade version of the NIV, developed the NIrV was specifically Balance between 2.9 grade level by the same translation team designed to help young New International word-for-word 3rd grade CBS that prepared the NIV. Very children and new readers 1996 Published Readers' Version translation and 3.5 grade (LfJ) easy reading, designed for understand the Bible for in 1994. Updated thought-for children as a stepping stone themselves and create an in 1998. NIrV thought, with an Children ages 10 to the NIV, as well as those easy stepping-stone emphasis on and under for whom English is a second from a children's Bible to meaning when language. an adult Bible. The NIV necessary for for kids simplification

The bestselling translation, widely 7th Grade Primarily functional Called "international" accepted by evangelical 7.8 grade level equivalent with because it is Christians. Purpose in 7th – 8th grade CBS some attention to transdenominational and New International translation was to 7.8 grade (LfJ) formal contains the work of many New Testament Version "produce an accurate 8th BY considerations scholars from many 1973; Old translation, suitable for English-speaking nations, the Testament 1978 NIV public and private Evangelical Balance between NIV is a straightforward reading, teaching, Christians of all word-for-word and translation in contemporary preaching, memorizing, ages thought-for-thought English. and liturgical use." Most read. Most trusted Reading Level by Description/ Bible/ Published/ Grade/ Target Translation Commentary Distinctives Examples Abbreviation translators Audience Philosophy

New Jerusalem 9th Grade An update of the functional 7.4 (Zond.) Bible, with revised footnotes 1985 equivalent 8th BY and more dignified language. NJB

A modern language translation of the Jewish 1962; New Jewish Scriptures (Christian Old Nevi'im 1978; 12th Grade Formal Equivalent Translation Testament); of special Kethubim 1982; interest to students of the Old Tanakh 1985 Testament.

8th Grade 7th grade CBS Formal Equivalent 8.5 grade (LfJ) A modern language 9th Zond. This translation updates the Authors used the update of the original New King James language of the King James original KJV as a KJV. Purpose was to Version Those who want a Version, changing archaic benchmark, while update and modernize the 1982 readable inflections and obsolete working to produce original KJV but preserve NKJV translation of the words, while preserving its an accurate and the KJV as much as Bible that is great basic literary structure. modern word-for- possible. for study but word translation maintains the poetry of the KJV

Missionaries Gleason and Kathyrn Ledyard's work in the Canadian arctic inspired New Testament them to develop a simple New Life Bible Dynamic 1969; Old language version which Testament 1986 breaks down difficult concepts into simple phrases. Reading Level by Description/ Bible/ Published/ Grade/ Target Translation Commentary Distinctives Examples Abbreviation translators Audience Philosophy

Using Kenneth Taylor's Based on the work of 90 paraphrase, , Bible scholars and a Functional as a base, a team of 90 Bible smaller team of English 6th – 7th Grades New Living Equivalent scholars worked for seven stylists. These scholars 6.3 grade level Translation years, carefully comparing and stylists went back to 6th grade CBS 1996 Balance between each verse with the Greek the original languages NLT word-for-word and and Hebrew Scriptures to and sought to produce the Adults and children thought-for-thought produce a true translation closest natural equivalent that is accurate and easy to of the message in natural, understand. contemporary English.

10th Grade Emphasis on An update of the Revised A widely accepted 8.1–10.4 grade Functional Standard Version (1952), this translation in the tradition New Revised level Equivalent translation incorporates of the King James Standard Version 11th grade CBS changes resulting from Version. Purpose was to 1990 10.4 grade (Zond.) Balance between archaeological and textual make a good one better." NRSV word-for-word and discoveries in recent Published in 1990. A Bible Mainline and thought-for-thought decades. for all Christians interconfessional

This revision of the New English Bible, which began in Revised English Emphasis on 1973, features clear, Bible 6th Grade Functional contemporary international 1989 Equivalent English. This text is intended REB for both private reading and public worship.

8th BY Remaining faithful to the Today's generation original texts while using of up-to-date language of Complete Bible Bible readers today's world, the TNIV is Today’s NIV Balance between published in looking a highly readable and word-for-word and 2005. for readability highly accurate thought-for-thought without translation. Timeless sacrificing truth. Today's language. accuracy Reading Level by Description/ Bible/ Published/ Grade/ Target Translation Commentary Distinctives Examples Abbreviation translators Audience Philosophy

World English Bible 7th BY WEB

Robert Young sought to Young's Literal 8th – 9th Grades correct certain inaccuracies 1862, Revised Formal Equivalent Translation college BY in the in 1887 this very literal translation.

This information was pulled together from: http://www.mardel.com/UserFiles/File/Bible%20Translation%20Chart.pdf (2nd grade given; marked “grade level”) http://www.allbibles.com/bibleversions.asp (1st grade given; marked “grade” “grades”) http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=652502&sp=1003 (3rd grade given; marked CBS) http://livingforjesus.info/articles/selecting_bible.htm (Grade level marked LfJ) http://bethyada.blogspot.com/2011/11/bible-reading-level.html (Marked BY) All accessed March 3, 2013. http://www.apbrown2.net/web/TranslationComparisonChart.htm (marked Zond.) http://isv.org/ISV_Features_and_Benefits.pdf Accessed March 9, 2013.

The chart below was courtesy of www..com

Formal Equivalent These translations attempt to reproduce the Greek and Hebrew as exactly as possible into English. Words, figures of speech, and sometimes even the sentence structure of the original languages are reproduced in a much more limited way in this type of Bible. These hold -in varying degrees- to a generally word for word approach.

Dynamic Equivalent These run on a more thought-for-thought philosophy than the Formal Equivalent translations, but do so in a much more sparing manner than paraphrases. Greek and Hebrew figures of speech are replaced with modern rough equivalents. They are more readable in a sense, though sometimes in a freer translation some passages become more interpretations than translations.

Paraphrase These are not really translations, but rewordings of the Scriptures that speak in a very earthy, common tongue. Those who advocate these note that the New Testament was written in the common language of the people and not that of playwrights or philosophers. The results can be the clearest expression of Scripture on par with the original. However, theological biases can creep in and be readily apparent. These are acceptable for devotional reading, but even the authors themselves would not suggest using them for study or as a church Bible. Some paraphrases are based on the original languages, while others on translations themselves.

Aberrational Translations These are translations done independently by a smaller religious sect. Usually they will "translate" Scripture by twisting it to fit their theologies, rather than conforming their theologies to the Scriptures. These groups often have a person or organization which is practically considered equal in authority with the Bible, and a number of them believe that their group is the only way to salvation.

I got this from http://www.tateville.com/translations.html