7 Bibles That Failed John MacArthur's Test (And 3 He Approved)

One of the most consequential decisions a Christian makes is which English Bible translation to trust for daily study and devotional life. But how do we know if a translation is faithful to the original languages? Pastor David Whitfield examines the translation philosophy and textual choices that separate a reliable Bible from one that obscures the Word of God—and walks through the specific verdicts John MacArthur has rendered on ten major English translations. The question at the heart of Bible translation is not merely academic. When translators choose between the Textus Receptus and the Critical Text, when they render a Greek word with one English equivalent rather than another, when they smooth over difficult phrasings for readability, they shape what millions of believers understand Scripture to say. Some translations prioritize word-for-word fidelity to the original Hebrew and Greek; others emphasize thought-for-thought clarity at the cost of precision. Still others drift toward paraphrase, trading accuracy for accessibility. Pastor Whitfield takes up the framework MacArthur has used to evaluate translations—how they handle key theological passages, their underlying manuscript tradition, and their consistency in rendering critical terms—and applies it to a sample of modern English Bibles. The conversation opens a window into how to think critically about your own translation choices without falling into sectarianism or dismissing the genuine strengths of versions you may not personally prefer. For the mature Christian who wants to read Scripture with confidence, understanding the "why" behind a translation's decisions is as important as knowing which version sits on your nightstand. Subscribe to Pastor David Whitfield's channel for more careful, Scripture-rooted teaching on biblical translation, textual criticism, and the foundations of God's Word. #davidwhitfield #biblestudy #bibletranslations #kjv #esv #nasb #textualcriticism