Choosing the right Bible: A guide for growing in scriptures
The Bible is not just a book in the Christian culture. Rather, it acts as the living Word of God, the ultimate source of truth. From offering comfort to providing guidance, it serves a lot more purposes than we can comprehend. That’s why having it in your study collection is of utmost importance, regardless of whether you are a new believer or someone looking forward to deepening the spiritual journey.
However, when you have too many translated versions in hand, finding the right Bible for yourself or your loved one will become quite overwhelming. By selecting the right version, you will be able to understand the meanings behind every verse and message. To top it off, the choice will also influence how you apply the scriptures in your day-to-day life. That being said, we have outlined a detailed guide explaining what you need to consider to pick the right Bible for yourself.
Understanding Bible translations
As we have already said, numerous translated versions of the Bible are available in the market. Hence, you should begin your exploratory journey by understanding what each version stands for. There are three primary categories, each having a specific set of purpose. Here’s a brief explanation.
Word-for-word
Also known as the Formal Equivalence translation, this version preserves the originality of the Hebrew or Arabic versions as much as possible. All the sentence structures are maintained thoroughly, along with the exact wording. A few examples you can look into are the King James Version, New King James Version, and the English Standard Version. If you are someone seeking accuracy in translation or want to delve deep into Christ’s words, this is the version to go with.
Thought-for-thought
As the name implies, the thoughts behind the sentences are prioritized over the exact word structure. Hence, it’s a simpler version of the original texts, with words easier to understand. However, the core message is preserved at all costs. The New Living Translation and the New International Version are the two best examples of Bible translations based on thought-for-thought. These are perfect for everyday reading, where you won’t have to put in too much effort to understand what the verses imply.
Paraphrase
Lastly, we have the paraphrased version, where the language is kept as simple as possible. Also, the core messages are translated in a way that they can put forth the conversational and contemporary thoughts. The Living Bible and The Message are the two most preferred paraphrased versions of the original texts. Although these don’t offer precise, deep studies, they are great for understanding God’s word with a new, fresh perspective.
Choosing the right format
The format of the Bible you select will directly influence your interaction with the scriptures. For this, you will need to consider when, how, and where you plan on reading the book. Below are the options you can choose from.
- Printed Bibles are highly tangible, do not cause distractions, and can be highlighted or marked with ease. These are best for church use, personal devotion, and study groups.
- Digital Bibles, on the other hand, are portable and can be read through a smartphone or on a laptop. These come with the search feature, allowing you to quickly jump to another section easily. As they are usually available in app forms, you can benefit from on-the-go reading perks, traveling, and quick referencing.
- Audio Bibles will allow you to listen to the scriptures while you are traveling, exercising, or doing any other task. If you have difficulties in understanding something when presented in a textual format, this specific format is your go-to option.
Selecting a study or devotional Bible
As we have already explained, the Bible is not just a book. Instead, it encourages readers to understand the true meaning behind every word spoken here and acknowledge God’s purpose or intent. That’s why you should also factor in the specialized versions of the scripture before proceeding further.
- Study Bibles include maps, commentary, cross-references, and even cultural context. These will help the readers grasp the complex scriptures quickly, without much hassle. Some of the popular choices include the ESV Study Bible, NIV Study Bible, and the Life Application Study Bible.
- The devotional Bibles combine shorter reflections, prayers, and daily readings with the scriptures. It’s so done to encourage readers to remain consistent in spiritual enlightenment and foster growth. Popular choices include Men’s Devotional Bible, Women’s Devotional Bible, and One Year Bible.
- Journaling Bibles come with special sections on each page where you can take notes, create art, or write prayers. These are perfect for readers who like to personalize the scriptures and use the illustrations for personal reflection.
Conclusion
Apart from what we have explained, you also need to factor in your spiritual goals to make the right selection of the Bible. The NLT or NIV are perfect for beginners, while if you are someone planning to deepen the spiritual journey, the NKJV or the ESV will be best suited. Hence, you need to be extremely careful about which translation you are choosing, along with the format and the specialized version.
