How to Choose a Bible

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Do you go to church?

Check what Bible is used in the pews and/or taught in Sunday School. Depending on your faith community, you may not be limited to whatever Bible is used in your church, but it’s the easiest way to get a recommendation on which Bible or Bibles the church think is the best.
Step 2

Don’t go to church?

Ask friends who do go to church which Bible they like best and why.
Step 3

What are you going to use the Bible for?

Serious study would demand a more literal, word-for-word translation (called formal equivalents) like the New American Standard Bible (NASB) or the King James Version (KJV), but the wording can be a bit awkward and wooden for devotional or casual reading. For devotional reading, I’d recommend a dynamic equivalent like the New International Version (NIV). Dynamic equivalents seek to convey the thought of a text. (Ancient idioms, for instance, sometimes don’t make sense to modern readers.)
Step 4

Are you an advanced Bible reader?

Are you an advanced reader or a beginner?

If you’ve never really read the Bible before, you may want to start with a paraphrased Bible like The Message (MSG). A paraphrased Bible is also a good choice when English is a second language or for readers who didn’t graduate from high school or have poor reading skills. Paraphrased Bibles use simple, contemporary wording to convey the meaning of the text, but buyer beware! Some paraphrase Bible translators imported their personal interpretations and beliefs into their paraphrased Bibles!
Step 5

Read reviews on the web!

Read reviews of the Bible translations you’re considering

Do a generic internet search on any Bible translation on your short list. If there are any problems or controversies with that particular translation or version, you want to know about it now, not after you and your money have parted ways. For instance, if you do a search on Google for the "New World Translation," you will find many pages of articles noting perceived problems. If you find objections to the translation you've chosen, assess the scholarly credentials of anyone complaining. Generally, if you find a lot of scholars and biblical experts protesting a particular translation or version, it's probably a good idea to steer clear.
Step 6

Red letter edition - with Christ's words in red print

Bible formats

Text Bibles are what you typically find in dollar stores. They contain the text with no footnotes or margin references. They may not contain a concordance (topics in the back). It’s a stripped down Bible, usually available in the King James Version since that version is public domain and therefore free to reproduce. I wouldn’t recommend them. They’re usually cheaply made. The print can be absurdly small or the pages loosely bound so they come out after light use. I use these in my Sunday School classrooms because they’re cheap, but frankly, the kids get commentary and footnoted material from me in whatever verses we’re going over. For independent study, a text Bible is going to require more legwork from you than most people are willing to do.

If you’ve decided to read the whole Bible in a year, there are Bibles formatted expressly for this purpose that include each day of the year and the Bible portion you need to read. No fuss, no muss. But be aware: these are usually stripped-down text Bibles, too. You won’t find a lot of footnoting or marginal references in most of them.

If you want to seriously study the Bible, various study and reference Bibles are available. Information about the original languages the Bible was written in as well as archeological/historical information is discovered, so check the date of your study Bible’s version to make sure it offers the most recent information in its footnotes.

A good many of them (called specialty Bibles) may be specifically targeted to your area of interest, for instance, the Archeological Study Bible includes footnotes and articles that details what archeological evidence or cultural/historical data that has been discovered that relates to that particular Bible passage or verse. The Apologetics Study Bible includes articles and notes that deal with defending the faith. The Life Application Study Bible includes information on how to apply verse of verses to your everyday life. Devotional Bibles for men, women, teens and children abound.

Another specialty Bible is a parallel Bible. These Bibles include 2 or more translations in columns on each page so you can compare different translations. How does the KJV translate a verse in comparison with the NIV? The NASB? The Message? If you want to compare Bibles, instead of buying 2 more translations, this may be the Bible for you.

Academic Bibles are another specialty kind of Bible. They include interlinears, which offers columns of the
Step 7

Paperback? Hardback?

Paperback, hardback or leather?

How much are you going to use your Bible? If your Bible will only get light use and will otherwise collect dust somewhere, a paperback or hardback should suffice. If you’re going to use your Bible heavily, invest in a more durable leather-bound edition.
Step 8

Cost

How much are you willing to invest in your Bible? Paperbacks are inexpensive. Hardbacks are only marginally more expensive. Leather-bound Bibles are a lot more expensive, but they hold up to heavy reading very well. Before investing an a leather-bound, I recommend buying a cheaper paperback version, if available, first. Read the Bible, use it. If it’s right for you and your purposes, great! Invest in the leather-bound edition. If not, you won’t have wasted a lot of money on a Bible you don’t really like.

Comments

FrazzledNanny said

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on 5/31/2009 I love study Bibles! I use two or three translations when I study. Great article! 5*

PhiMcRee said

on 4/22/2009 Informative article on how to choose a Bible. I keep having friends and relatives give me Bibles...maybe they are trying to tell me something :)

From-the-Heart said

on 4/22/2009 I keep hanging on to the one I had as a child, it is so confusing these days trying to pick out a new Bible! I'll have to take these tips with me when I finally go to get a new Bible!