The Living Bible

An edition of the The Living Bible offering the complete biblical text in a carefully formatted and accessible presentation for personal reading, study, and devotion.

History & Background

The Living Bible was published by Tyndale House Publishers in 1971, created by Kenneth N. Taylor to help his children understand the Bible. A paraphrase of the American Standard Version, it rendered Scripture into conversational, everyday English. It sold over 40 million copies and directly inspired the creation of the New Living Translation.

Canon Proximity Rating

Canon Proximity7.0 / 10 — High

Contains all 66 books; a paraphrase that prioritizes readability over literal accuracy.

Rating Scale

9–10: Formally equivalent, 66 books

7–8: Dynamic equiv., 66 books

5–6: Includes Apocrypha

1–4: Major departures / additions