What Bible Do Lutherans Use? Preferred Translations

I was walking past a beautiful old brick church the other day, St. Mark’s Lutheran, with a sign out front for their weekly services. It got me thinking. I grew up in a church where everyone, and I mean everyone, used the same King James Version. It was practically part of the furniture. But it made me wonder, is it the same for Lutherans? Is there a specific “Lutheran Bible” they all carry? The question—What Bible do Lutherans use?—seems simple on the surface, but the answer is way more interesting than I expected.

It turns out, there isn’t one single, officially mandated Bible for all Lutherans in the United States. Instead, different Lutheran denominations, and even individual churches, have their preferred translations. It really comes down to a difference in philosophy about how you bring ancient words into modern English.

So, if you’re curious about what you’ll find in the pew rack at a Lutheran church or wondering which version a Lutheran friend might be reading, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to break it down, not like a theology lecture, but like a conversation.

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Key Takeaways

Before we dive in, here’s the quick and dirty summary if you’re in a hurry:

• No Single “Official” Bible: Unlike some other major Christian traditions, there isn’t one translation that all Lutherans are required to use.
• The Two Main Players: In the United States, you are most likely to find either the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) or the English Standard Version (ESV) in a Lutheran church.
• It’s All About Philosophy: The choice between the NRSV and ESV often comes down to a preference for either a “thought-for-thought” (NRSV) or “word-for-word” (ESV) translation approach.
• Denominational Preferences: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the largest Lutheran denomination in the U.S., tends to use the NRSV. More conservative bodies, like The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), strongly prefer the ESV.
• Luther’s German Bible: While Martin Luther’s German translation is historically monumental, it’s not the Bible used for worship in modern, English-speaking Lutheran churches in America.

So, Is There Just One “Lutheran Bible”?

Honestly, this was my first question. I figured a church named after Martin Luther, a man famous for translating the Bible, would have a standard-issue version. But that’s not really how it works. Lutheranism in America isn’t one monolithic entity. It’s made up of several different groups, called synods, and they don’t always agree on everything.

The three biggest players on the field are the ELCA, the LCMS, and the WELS. Think of them as different branches of the same family tree. They share a common heritage in the theology of Martin Luther, but they have distinct cultures, practices, and, as it turns out, Bible preferences.

There’s no top-down directive from a central “Lutheran headquarters” saying, “Thou shalt use this Bible.” Instead, synods make recommendations, and individual congregations often have the final say. This freedom allows churches to choose a translation that they feel best reflects their theological convictions and is most understandable for their members. It’s less about a strict rule and more about a shared understanding within each particular synod.

Okay, But If I Walk Into a Lutheran Church, What Am I Likely to See?

This is the real, practical question, isn’t it? While there’s no single official version, you can make a very educated guess based on which type of Lutheran church you’re visiting. It almost always boils down to two main translations: the NRSV or the ESV.

Ever Heard of the NRSV? The ELCA’s Go-To

If you walk into an ELCA church, the largest Lutheran group in the U.S., chances are the Bible in the pew will be the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). I actually talked to a friend who grew up in the ELCA, and she confirmed this. She said it’s the version she’s heard read in church her entire life.

So, what’s the deal with the NRSV?

• Its Philosophy: The NRSV is what scholars call a “thought-for-thought” translation (or dynamic equivalence). Imagine you’re translating a popular movie for a new audience. You wouldn’t translate the slang word-for-word, right? You’d find an equivalent phrase that captures the same feeling and meaning. That’s the goal of the NRSV. It prioritizes readability and making the overall message of a passage clear in modern English.
• Inclusive Language: One of the defining features of the NRSV is its use of gender-inclusive language for humanity. So, where older translations might say “brothers” when referring to a group of men and women, the NRSV will often use “brothers and sisters” or “friends.” The goal is to reflect the understanding that the original text was often speaking to everyone, not just men. This approach aligns well with the ELCA’s more progressive theological stance.
• Academic Roots: The NRSV is highly respected in academic and seminary circles for its scholarship. It’s known for being a reliable and balanced translation that draws from the latest manuscript evidence.

For the ELCA, the NRSV strikes the right balance between faithfulness to the original languages and a clear, accessible text for a modern congregation.

What About the ESV? The LCMS and WELS Preference

Now, if you visit a church from a more conservative synod, like the LCMS or WELS, you’re almost certain to find the English Standard Version (ESV). It has become the standard for these denominations in recent decades.

The ESV operates on a completely different philosophy.

• Its Philosophy: The ESV is a “word-for-word” translation (or formal equivalence). This approach is less like translating a movie and more like translating a legal document. The goal is to stick as closely as possible to the structure and wording of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. The translators prioritized precision and literalness, believing this best preserves the original author’s intent.
• Traditional Language: The ESV retains more traditional language and does not use the same gender-inclusive language for humanity as the NRSV. This is a conscious choice that reflects the theological convictions of the denominations that use it, which often hold more traditional views on gender roles and biblical interpretation.
• A Revision of a Classic: The ESV is actually a revision of an older translation, the Revised Standard Version (RSV) from 1971. The team behind the ESV wanted to update the language of the RSV while also creating a more literal and conservative translation.

For the LCMS and WELS, the ESV’s commitment to a literal rendering of the text is paramount. They believe it provides a more transparent window into the original languages, which is a high priority in their teaching and preaching.

Why Can’t They Just Agree on One?

This was the next logical question in my head. If they all follow Martin Luther, why the split? It’s because the choice of a Bible isn’t just about picking a book. It’s a statement about what you value most in a translation.

It’s All About Translation Philosophy, Isn’t It?

Exactly. There’s a fundamental tension in all translation work, and it’s on full display here. Do you bring the reader to the ancient text, or do you bring the ancient text to the reader?

• Word-for-Word (Formal Equivalence): This camp, represented by the ESV, believes the best way to be faithful is to preserve the original form as much as possible. They want you to see the sentence structure, the idioms, the metaphors as they appeared in the original. The downside? It can sometimes be a bit clunky or hard to understand in modern English.
• Thought-for-Thought (Dynamic Equivalence): This camp, represented by the NRSV, argues that true faithfulness means translating the meaning, not just the words. They believe a rigid word-for-word translation can sometimes obscure what the original author was trying to say. The downside? The translator has more influence on the final text, interpreting the meaning for the reader.

There’s no “right” answer here. It’s a spectrum. On one far end, you have very literal translations like the New American Standard Bible (NASB). On the other end, you have paraphrases like The Message. The ESV and NRSV sit on opposite sides of the middle ground, each trying to balance accuracy and readability in their own way.

Does the Pastor’s Bible Matter?

Here’s something else I learned. Even if a church has ESVs in the pews, that doesn’t mean it’s the only Bible the pastor uses. I was chatting with a man who attends an LCMS church, and he told me his pastor is constantly referencing different translations during his sermons.

For deep study and sermon preparation, many Lutheran pastors will use a whole library of Bibles. They might use the ESV as their base text, but they’ll compare it with the hyper-literal NASB, the readable NRSV or NIV, and sometimes even look directly at the Greek and Hebrew. They do this to get the fullest possible picture of a passage before they preach on it. So, the Bible in the pew is for the congregation to follow along, but the pastor’s desk probably has a whole stack of different versions.

What About Martin Luther’s Bible? Don’t They Use That?

This is a great question because it gets to the heart of Lutheran identity. Martin Luther’s translation of the Bible into common German in the 1500s was a world-changing event. Before Luther, the Bible was almost exclusively in Latin, the language of the church and scholars. A regular person, a farmer or a baker, couldn’t read it. It was a closed book.

Luther, while hiding out in Wartburg Castle, translated the New Testament in just eleven weeks. It was a heroic feat. His goal was to put the Bible into the hands and heart of the common person. He used the German spoken in the streets, not the stilted language of the court. This act was central to the Protestant Reformation. It was based on the idea that everyone should be able to read God’s word for themselves.

So yes, the Luther Bible (or Lutherbibel) is incredibly important. It’s a cornerstone of the German language and Lutheran history. But for an English-speaking Lutheran church in Ohio or California? They don’t use it for worship. It’s a historical and theological touchstone, not a practical text for an American congregation. They honor the spirit of what Luther did—making the Bible accessible—by choosing what they believe are the best English translations available today.

This is a lot. Which one should a regular person actually read?

After going down this rabbit hole, I realized the most important question is the personal one. If you’re not a member of a specific Lutheran church but want to read a Bible that aligns with that tradition, which one should you pick up? There’s no single right answer, but here’s how I’ve come to think about it.

Are You Looking for Deep Study or Easy Reading?

Your purpose for reading should guide your choice.

• For Deep, Word-Focused Study: If you want to get as close as you can to the sentence structure of the original languages and you enjoy analyzing how specific words are used, the ESV is a fantastic choice. Many people who are serious about biblical study prefer it for this reason. It’s precise and consistent.
• For a More Narrative, Readable Experience: If your goal is to sit down and read longer passages or even whole books at a time, the NRSV might be a better fit. Its “thought-for-thought” philosophy makes for a smoother read, and it can be easier to grasp the overarching story and message of a text.

My Two Cents on How to Choose

If you’re still on the fence, here’s what I’d do. Go to a website like BibleGateway. Pick a passage you know well—maybe Psalm 23 or a part of the Sermon on the Mount. Read it in the ESV. Then switch to the NRSV.

Pay attention to how it feels. Does one version sound more natural to you? Does a particular phrasing in one of them make the meaning click in a new way? That’s your answer. The best Bible translation is the one you will actually open and read. Don’t worry so much about having the “perfect” or “correct” version. Find a reliable one that speaks to you and dive in.

I Saw a Bible with Extra Books. What’s That About?

You may have stumbled upon another interesting wrinkle: the Apocrypha. This is a collection of books written in the centuries between the Old and New Testaments. You won’t find them in most Protestant Bibles, but you will often find them in Bibles used by Lutherans.

Martin Luther had a unique take on these books. He didn’t consider them to be on the same level as inspired Scripture, but he found them valuable. His famous summary was that they are “useful and good to read.” He removed them from their traditional places within the Old Testament and gathered them into a separate section between the Old and New Testaments.

This tradition continues today. Many editions of the NRSV and even some of the ESV are available with the Apocrypha included. For Lutherans, these books aren’t used to establish doctrine, but they are seen as a valuable historical and devotional resource that provides context for the world in which Jesus lived. For a scholarly look at the Lutheran position, Concordia Theological Seminary has some excellent resources exploring this history in depth.

So if you see a Lutheran Bible that seems a little thicker, that’s probably why. It reflects a long-standing appreciation for these historical texts.

Final Thoughts

The question “What Bible do Lutherans use?” doesn’t have a single, tidy answer. And maybe that’s the point. The lack of a single, mandated version shows a tradition that is deeply engaged with the text. It’s a tradition that cares enough to debate the finer points of translation and to choose versions that align with their core theological beliefs.

Whether it’s the scholarly, readable NRSV or the precise, literal ESV, the goal is the same one Martin Luther had 500 years ago: to connect people with the words of Scripture in a way they can understand. The real work, I guess, isn’t about finding the one perfect book. It’s about finding a reliable bridge to the original text that speaks to you. The most important step is just opening it up and starting to read.

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