I first came across the God’s Word Translation during my wandering years in my teens and twenties. I tried a few familiar translations, but the King James Version (KJV) felt clunky to me in that season, and the New International Version (NIV) felt too familiar. One afternoon, I walked into a Christian bookstore filled with smiling faces, rainbows, and Noah’s Ark murals (they were always decorated like this in that era), and there on the shelf was a Bible with a very pink, paint splashed cover, a very 90s-looking copy of the God’s Word Translation by Word Bible Publishers—I was not familiar with the translation or the publisher. The cover didn’t draw me in, but it was enough to make me pick it up and look at it. Then its easy-to-read approach and translation philosophy drew me in. As soon as I started reading, something clicked. Even after returning to church, the God’s Word (GW) translation became my main reading Bible. In that era, I told many about it, and I bought copies for others. Later, I moved into a season of using more literal translations, but the God’s Word (GW) had already carved out a place in my heart.
At Water Street Mission, when leading bible studies and chapels, I rely on the God’s Word Translation because it meets the practical needs of the people I serve. I need a Bible in large print, since many of our guests have poor eyesight or outdated prescriptions. I need a single-column layout, because the typical two-column format can be confusing for new or struggling readers. And I need a translation that is simple, clear, and faithful to the text. Many of our guests find the Bible difficult to understand, and the GW’s roughly third- to fourth-grade reading level helps open the scriptures in ways they can actually grasp. It strikes the balance I need: far more grounded than paraphrases like The Message or The Passion, yet more immediately understandable than many other translations, including the NLT.
Affordability also matters, since we distribute about 50 Bibles a year, and the GW allows us to offer a readable, durable, and accessible Bible without sacrificing quality. It has become a favorite among our guests, and I often hear how much it has helped them understand the scriptures. I use the God’s Word (GW) translation in every chapel I preach.
