Many Muslims are confused when they hear there are “many versions of the Bible.” In Islamic teaching, there is only one Qur’an, always recited in Arabic, considered untranslatable in its true form. Because of this, some Muslims assume that when Christians speak of different Bible translations, it must mean the Bible has been changed or corrupted. Some are even told that Christians have “different Bibles” — that one Bible is used in America, another in Europe, and yet another elsewhere. This is a misunderstanding.
The truth is simple: the Bible was not written in English, Arabic, Urdu, or any other modern language. The Old Testament (what Jews call the Tanakh) was written primarily in Hebrew, with small sections in Aramaic (Daniel and Ezra). The New Testament was written entirely in Greek, which was the international language during the time of Jesus’ apostles.
Because of this, the Bible must be translated — otherwise, only people who understand ancient Hebrew and Greek could read God’s Word.
Why do we have so many translations today? For two simple reasons:
- Language evolves. English from the 1600s is not the same as modern English. Similarly, Arabic spoken today is not the same as the Arabic of the Qur’an. Translations need to be updated so modern readers can understand clearly.
- Different needs. Some translations are more literal, aiming for word-for-word accuracy. Others focus on thought-for-thought clarity, making the text easier to understand for new readers or children. The message remains the same, but the readability differs.
A very important fact: all Bible translations are made from the same preserved Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. Christians do not “change” the Bible when they translate it. They simply express the original meaning in a new language.
This is different from Islam’s approach to Scripture. In Islam, the Qur’an is believed to be only authentic in Arabic. Translations are treated more like commentaries than true Qur’an. But Christianity is not a religion tied to one language. From the very beginning, the Gospel was translated — even in the 2nd and 3rd centuries — because God’s Word is for every nation (Matthew 28:19). Jesus said the Gospel would be preached “to all nations” (Luke 24:47).
In this post, I will explain why multiple Bible translations exist, why this does not mean the Bible has been corrupted, and why Christians trust that God’s Word, whether in English, Arabic, or Swahili, still faithfully conveys His message to all people.
Are There Different Bibles?
It’s important to clear a common misunderstanding: Christians do not have different Bibles. Whether you pick up a Bible in English, Arabic, Urdu, or Swahili, the same message is found — the same books, the same Gospel. The difference lies only in the translation, not in the content.
Muslims are sometimes taught that there are “versions” of the Bible the way different sects of Islam may use different Hadith collections. This is incorrect. In Christianity, there are different translations, not different versions.
What about the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles? Their Bibles contain the same New Testament as Protestant Bibles — 27 identical books, from Matthew to Revelation. The difference appears in the Old Testament. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include additional historical books called the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical Books (such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon). These books were written between the Old and New Testaments and were considered useful for teaching history and wisdom, but even Catholics distinguish between these and the inspired Scriptures. These books do not change Christian doctrine and are not the foundation of the Gospel message.
However, every Christian group — Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant — recognizes:
- The same New Testament
- The same message about Jesus: His life, death, and resurrection
- The same Gospel of salvation
Do translations create different Bibles?
Again, no. It remains the same Bible. Translators work directly from the preserved Hebrew and Greek manuscripts to ensure accuracy. Different translations serve different needs:
- Some translations are more literal (word-for-word), like the New American Standard Bible (NASB) or English Standard Version (ESV).
- Some are easier to read, using thought-for-thought phrasing for clarity, like the New International Version (NIV).
But the message remains unchanged. Whether in King James English, Modern English, or Arabic, the Bible testifies the same truth: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and Savior of the world.
The Qur’an itself confirms that the Injil was given to Jesus (Qur’an 5:46). Christians recognize the Injil as the message about Jesus Christ, recorded in the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Therefore, when you hear someone say, “Christians have different Bibles,” remember: this is a misunderstanding. Christians all follow the same Scriptures, simply translated into different languages for clarity and understanding.
Why So Many Translations?
Muslims often wonder why there are so many different Bible translations. Doesn’t this mean Christians are changing the message? No. In fact, the presence of many translations actually proves the stability of the message.
Unlike the Qur’an, which is usually read only in Arabic, the Bible has always been translated into many languages. The reason is simple: the Bible’s message is for all people, not just one nation or language group. Jesus commanded His followers to teach “all nations” (Matthew 28:19), so His words must be made understandable to everyone, in their own language.
Why are there different styles of translation?
Because languages function differently, translators have to make choices. There are three main approaches:
- Word-for-Word (Formal Equivalence): These translations aim to stay as close as possible to the original wording of Hebrew and Greek. This helps readers study the Bible more precisely, but can be harder to read in modern languages. Examples include:
- New American Standard Bible (NASB)
- English Standard Version (ESV)
- King James Version (KJV)
- Thought-for-Thought (Dynamic Equivalence): These focus on communicating the original meaning, even if the exact wording needs adjustment for clarity. These versions are often easier to read. Examples include:
- New International Version (NIV)
- New Living Translation (NLT)
- Paraphrase: These are not strict translations but summaries or explanations of the original text, written in very modern, casual language. They should not be used for study but can help beginners. Example:
- The Message (MSG)
Why do new translations keep appearing?
Language constantly changes. Words that made sense 400 years ago may confuse modern readers. Consider the King James Version, first translated in 1611. While beautiful, its old English can confuse people today. New translations are produced not to change the message but to keep God’s Word clear in current languages.
Is the message being changed?
No. All serious translations use the same ancient Hebrew and Greek manuscripts as their source. The message of salvation, Jesus’ teachings, His crucifixion, and resurrection remain unchanged across every translation. You can compare them yourself. For example:
- John 3:16 in the KJV says: “For God so loved the world…”
- John 3:16 in the NIV says: “For God so loved the world…”
The wording may differ slightly in style, but the message is identical.
What about the Qur’an?
Muslims claim the Qur’an must be read in Arabic to preserve its meaning. But even Islamic scholars produce “explanatory translations” into English, Urdu, and other languages to help people understand. Christians believe God’s Word was never meant for only one language. That’s why the Bible is translated, so all people can hear and understand.
Conclusion
The existence of many Bible translations is not evidence of corruption. It is evidence of care. Translators seek to faithfully communicate God’s unchanging message into the languages of the world, ensuring people everywhere can read and understand His Word.
The Bible’s original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts remain unchanged. Translators work from these preserved texts to present God’s truth clearly and accurately. Whether read in English, Arabic, Chinese, or any other language, the Bible’s core message remains the same:
God is love (1 John 4:8).
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
Salvation is through faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Different translations serve the purpose of spreading this truth more effectively. They do not change it. The message of the Bible has not been lost. It remains unchanged and available to all.
So when someone asks, “Why so many Bible translations?”, the answer is simple: to make God’s Word clear to every nation, tribe, and tongue (Revelation 7:9).
God’s truth is preserved, proclaimed, and powerful — in every language.