Since Focus does not employ textual or translation experts, we have relied on outside scholars for advice regarding Bible translations — notably the conservative leaders who signed the Colorado Springs Guidelines for Translation in 1997. Based on their input, we use or recommend the following Bible versions:
Gender-Specific Bible Translations
These are essentially literal, “word-for-word” translations.
- KJV King James Version
- NKJV New King James Version
- NASB New American Standard Bible
- ESV English Standard Version
- HCSB Holman Christian Standard Bible
- RSV Revised Standard Version
- AMP Amplified Bible
- NIrV New International Reader’s Version
- LSB Legacy Standard Bible
- NET New English Translation
Gender-Specific Bible Paraphrases
These are culturally adapted imaginative renderings of the Bible. (Always use a paraphrase alongside one or more of the above “regular” Bible translations. Paraphrases can be helpful as a form of commentary or for inspiration, but they shouldn’t be the only source of Bible reading.)
- LB The Living Bible (paraphrased by Kenneth Taylor)
- MSG The Message (paraphrased by Eugene Peterson)
