Best Selling Bible Translations for 2011
The Christian Booksellers Association has just published its list of best selling bible translations. Here are the lists for 2011, but keep in mind that the ranking is based only on sales in U.S. Christian retail stores.
2011 - Based on Dollar Sales
- New International Version
- King James Version
- New King James Version
- New Living Translation
- English Standard Version
- Holman Christian Standard Bible
- New International Readers Version
- The Message
- New American Standard Bible
- New Revised Standard Version
2011 - Based on Unit Sales
- New International Version
- King James Version
- New King James Version
- New Living Translation
- English Standard Version
- Holman Christian Standard Bible
- New International Readers Version
- The Message
- New American Standard Bible
- Common English Bible
When comparing with the 2010 list, the top seller are the same. At the bottom of the list, the “Reina Valera 1960 (Spanish)” version has been replaced with the “New Revised Standard Version” and “Common English Bible.”
As you can see from the 2006 list below, the “Reina Valera 1960 (Spanish)” version has been in a steady sales decline. Everything else is pretty stable.
2006 - Based on Unit Sales
- New International Version
- New King James Version
- King James Version
- New Living Translation
- English Standard Version
- Reina Valera 1960 (Spanish)
- Holman Christian Standard Bible
- New American Standard Bible (updated)
- The Message
- New International Readers Version
I doubt much would be different, but research related to online sales would be interesting.
For me, I’ve been switching between the English Standard Version and the new 2011 New International Version. I’m enjoying the latter.
This confirms what I assumed would be the case.
I used the NRSV for several years and still would, but the church my family’s in fellowship with uses the NIV. Oh well.
We do seem to be creatures of habit, custom and routine — sticking to what we know.
I would expect to see a continued increase with the NRSV now the Council of Churches has given Harper the ability to produce selections and market.
If you a True Christian and If you respect God`s Words==> don`t buy the NIV Bible.
You better read the ESV Bible !
How can you say that? “If you are a ‘True Christian’ and if you ‘respect’ God’s Words, don’t buy the NIV Bible. You ‘BETTER’ read the ESV Bible!”? Who do you think you are to tell people what Bible they had “BETTER” read, the “Scripture” police? Why not just go all the way and just tell everyone they’d “BETTER” read the King James ONLY. Better yet, everyone “BETTER” skip the middle man and learn Greek and Hebrew so they can ONLY read the original languages?
This sort of attitude is what makes me so ENRAGED with organized RELIGION in the US. It’s not enough that people are reading God’s Word and trying to have an ongoing relationship with God, arrogant, narrow-minded idiots like YOU have to go and make demands on them that even God himself doesn’t make! “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.” Just be happy people are still buying and reading the Bible in this Godless hole and shut up! Better yet, live out the teachings in whatever bible you choose to read and make this world a better place instead of proving the heathen right when they say the Church of God is full of hatemongers and blowhards!
Calm down Joseph. He was just responding to the original post by Rick where he says he uses the ESV and NIV2011. You know you’re acting just like your accusation…and Jesus hates hypocrites. So repent and relax.
Let me reword his statement: “You’re far better off to read the ESV Bible.” How’s that? And I agree with that revised statement 110%. The NIV2011 is forcefully feminist to the point of making the Bible less accurate (in about 3000 verses, some of which are messianic references), not to mention the issue of dynamic equivalency putting an interpreter between you and God. It’s bad enough that we have to have a translator, let alone an interpreter.
Blessings in Christ,
Brett
Here is a list of only one verse, Acts 8:37, which has been left out of at least half of the versions … you must ask yourself why. There has to be a preserved word of God, because He promised to preserve it in Psalm 12:6-7. Study it out and let’s see what your conclusion is - forget the Greek and Hebrew, you can’t speak either one and you don’t have any originals.
New International Version (©1984) … gone
New Living Translation (©2007) … gone
English Standard Version (©2001) … gone
New American Standard Bible (©1995) And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
International Standard Version (©2008) … gone
Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010) And Philippus said, “If you believe with all the heart, it is authorized.” And he answered and said, “I do believe that Yeshua The Messiah is The Son of God.”
GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995) … gone
King James 2000 Bible (©2003) - And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
American King James Version - And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
American Standard Version - And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Douay-Rheims Bible - And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answering, said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Darby Bible Translation … gone
English Revised Version … gone
Webster’s Bible Translation - And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Weymouth New Testament … gone
World English Bible … gone
Young’s Literal Translation - And Philip said, ‘If thou dost believe out of all the heart, it is lawful;’ and he answering said, ‘I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God;’
Left out or should have never been included? More likely never should have been included since the text doesn’t appear in the oldest and best manuscripts.