Why does our church use the New King James Translation of the Bible?
Our church primarily uses the New King James Version (NKJV) out of tradition, which traces back to the origins of the Calvary Movement. When Calvary Chapel began under Chuck Smith in Costa Mesa California, he almost exclusively taught from the King James Bible. To provide a more accessible version while maintaining a connection to the original, many within the movement began using the New King James Version, a modern English update of the King James Bible.
Not all of our pastors use the NKJV, but I (Tucker) do because it’s the Bible I grew up with. I liken Bible translations to the dialect or cultural language you’re accustomed to during your formative years. People raised in the South might say “y’all,” while those in Idaho might say “you guys.” Similarly, I was surrounded by the NKJV in my youth and spiritually formative years. It’s the translation I listened to preached, and read, and memorized. NKJV is like my Biblical dialect. It is the most natural for me to teach from because it’s how I’ve internalized the Word of God.
That said, I recognize and respect the value of other translations. The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) and the New American Standard Bible (NASB) are excellent translations, and for younger audiences or those new to the Bible, I often recommend the New Living Translation (NLT) because of its clarity and easy readability. Each translation has its strongpoints, reflecting different philosophies of how to best render the Bible’s original languages. I encourage people to compare translations. Tools like the Bible app’s “compare” function can be helpful for this. There is also a great website called BibleHub.com that allows translations to be easily compared.
Additionally, I hold a weekly meeting with our teaching team, which includes Dr. John Whitaker, who has a deep understanding of the original biblical languages. Our team discusses the intent and context of the passages we’re preparing to teach and we often analyze how the original language conveys the original meaning. This ensures that we are not solely reliant on one translation as we aim for the clearest and most accurate understanding of God’s Word.
Ultimately, while I teach from the NKJV, I encourage everyone to explore and use the translation that best helps them understand and internalize Scripture. The heart of the message remains the same across many faithful translations, pointing us to the truth of God’s incredible living Word.
Happy reading y’all.
-Tucker
