Here is a list of the bestselling Bible translations for the year 2025 as compiled by the ECPA.
1. NIV (New International Version)
2. ESV (English Standard Version)
3. KJV (King James Version)
4. NLT (New Living Translation)
5. NKJV (New King James Version)
6. CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
7. Reina Valera (Spanish)
8. NIrV (New International Readers Version)
9. NRSV (New Revised Standard Version)
10. NASB (New American Standard Bible)
In recent times Jesus figurines have become popular among Christians. So is this a good thing or a bad thing?
(Exodus 20:4-6)"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." (ESV)
A Jesus figurine would seem to be a carved image, therefore violating the second commandment. Jesus is God just as the Father and Holy Spirit are God, so the commandment would apply to him as well. Any images or representations of Christ are forbidden, including figurines. Although there may be good intentions with the Jesus figurines, they are ultimately problematic.
The human mind is prone to think of visual images of Jesus as actually being him. Whenever we view the image of Jesus as Jesus himself we are guilty of idolatry and have broken the second commandment. An image or figurine cannot not truly represent Jesus. They can only depict him as human. In reality Jesus is fully God and fully man.
It seems that many in the modern church do not really know who Jesus is. He is a majestic, holy God, not a figurine! Jesus figurines trivialize the Lord and cause people to commit idolatry.
The word Christian means someone who is associated with Christ or someone who is a follower of Christ. A Christian is devoted and committed to Jesus who is the Christ, the only Son of God. The term Christian is used in the New Testament only three times (Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16).
(Acts 11:26)"And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." (ESV)
(Acts 26:28)"And Agrippa said to Paul, In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" (ESV)
(1 Peter 4:16)"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." (ESV)
The name Jesus means the LORD saves, or Yahweh saves. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus saves his people from their sins.
(Matthew 1:21)"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (ESV)
The name Christ means anointed one. Christ and Messiah are actually the same thing. Christ is the Greek term while Messiah is the Hebrew term. Jesus the Christ was anointed or set apart to deliver his people from their sins.
(John 20:31)"but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (ESV)
William Tyndale (1495-1536) was a priest and scholar who was born in England. He was educated at Oxford where he learned Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Tyndale's knowledge of these languages would prepare him to translate the Bible into English.
William Tyndale sought to translate the Bible into English to make it available to common people. This was opposed by the Roman Catholic Church. With no support in England, Tyndale went to Germany, where he completed his translation of the New Testament into English in 1526. The Tyndale New Testament was the first English version translated from the Greek.
William Tyndale managed to translate some of the Old Testament into English from the Hebrew. But in 1535 he was betrayed by an associate and was arrested for translating the Bible into English. Tyndale was executed for heresy in 1536. He was strangled and then burned at the stake. His last words were, "Lord, open the King of England's eyes."
William Tyndale's translations were highly influential on English translations that followed, including the King James Version. Trouble came to Tyndale for using "congregation" instead of "church", "elder" instead of "priest", and "repent" instead of "do penance". He also coined English words such as godly and atonement. William Tyndale was a hero of the Protestant Reformation.
(ESV)"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward."
(LSB)"Behold, children are an inheritance of Yahweh, The fruit of the womb is a reward."
(CSB)"Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward."
(NRSV)"Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward."
In Psalm 127:3 we have an unusual occurrence. Two Bible translations (ESV,LSB) that do not usually use gender neutral language have "children". On the other hand, two Bible translations (CSB,NRSV) that do regularly use gender neutral language have "sons".
Goliath was a champion of the Philistines who fought against the army of Israel. David defeated Goliath with a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17:50).
(1 Samuel 17:4)"And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span." (ESV)
A cubit was about 18 inches and a span was about 9 inches. The Old Testament manuscripts differ on the height of Goliath. The Masoretic Text (Hebrew text) has six cubits and a span (9ft. 9in.) and this is followed by most translations (ESV,LSB,NIV,CSB,NKJV). On the other hand, the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament), a Dead Sea Scroll (Qumran manuscript), and Josephus (Jewish historian) say Goliath was four cubits and a span (6ft. 9in.) and this is followed by the NRSV and NET.
