Protestant pastors reveal
Bible preferences

A survey of protestant ministers finds the New International Version, or NIV, translation of the Bible is the most popular among pastors.

The poll, conducted by Ellison Research, found the NIV was chosen as the personal favorite by 31 percent of the ministers, followed by the King James Version (23 percent), the New Revised Standard (14 percent), the New King James (13 percent) and the New American Standard (10 percent).

Other lesser-known English translations of the Bible combined to register just 9 percent in the poll.

TRENDING: Voters blame Biden for border crisis, ready to punish Democrats, poll says

Research results will be released in the May/June issue of Facts & Trends magazine, published by the Southern Baptist Convention. According to a statement from Ellison Research, the survey was conducted among a representative sample of 700 senior pastors of Protestant churches throughout the United States.

The survey found pastors of small churches and those over 60 years of age lean toward the King James Bible, which is also the favorite of ministers in the South. The NIV is strongest in the Midwest and West, while the New Revised Standard version scored best in the Northeast, the research found.

Differences were also seen along denominational lines. Methodists preferred the NIV (45 percent) and the NRSV (38 percent), while nearly half of Lutheran pastors reach for the NRSV (48 percent), compared to just 23 percent preferring the NIV.

The survey found Southern Baptists clergy split almost equally among four versions: NIV (26 percent), New King James (25 percent), King James (23 percent) and NASB (22 percent). Fifty-one percent of ministers from other Baptist denominations side with the King James version, while 24 percent say the NIV is their favorite.

According to the research, ministers tend to select their favorite Bible versions based on the perceived accuracy of the translation (40 percent), its readability (16 percent), their preference for its language style (14 percent) and its solid reputation (13 percent).

Pastors also were asked which Bible versions they would be least likely to recommend to their congregations. The Living Bible paraphrase earned the dubious distinction of No. 1 in that category with 26 percent. Also shunned were Today's New International Version (which is not the same as the NIV) at 18 percent, The Message paraphrase (15 percent) and the King James Version (also 15 percent).

If you'd like to sound off on this issue, please take part in the WorldNetDaily poll.

Related special offers:

The Smallest Bible

Compact Text Bible

Price slashed for entire New Testament on video!