I recently went to the book store and was looking to purchase a new bible and realized just how many options there are, so I wanted to write this article to share how you too can choose the right bible.
Start by handling the bible while looking through it at specific verses or chapters. Notice the differences in how the bibles were written and how it feels when holding each bible. Think about what size the bible should be and how large or small the lettering should be. Consider what would be most convenient for regular use and who you may be reading the bible with. Also, consider durability and pricing, what can I afford and how long will it last?
In this article, we will discuss several things you will want to consider to make sure you choose the right bible for you.
1. Go to the store prepared to spend some time looking.
When shopping for a bible realize that it may take some time and go prepared to spend that time finding a bible that best meets your needs. Personally I went knowing that I was going to be looking at bibles that day and knew I would be purchasing one, so I went prepared to spend the time. I would highly recommend that, regardless of which store you go to, you go ready to purchase your new bible and are prepared to do some comparison shopping so that when you finally purchase a bible, you will know that you made the best choice.
2. Hold, touch, and carry the bibles.
Bibles come in such a variety of shapes and sizes and features that I do not want to address them all in this article however I think it important that you are aware of and think about how you will be using this bible, daily weekly, monthly. Will you be carrying it around with you frequently or if you will be leaving your bible at home mostly, using it more as a resource bible? I recommend you look at all the bibles the store carries and then pull out the ones you may be interested in and start handling them, walk a bit with the bible, flip through it, do you like how it feels? Is it too heavy, is the print too small, is it hardcover or leather, rigid or floppy? Consider all these questions and narrow down what you are looking for. If for you, size is less important but you must have a study bible then that should be made priority but if you travel a lot and want a pocket-sized bible to keep with you well then that is what you have to go with. How good is your eyesight? Can you read really small print with ease or is larger print something you will want to have? There are all these things we can and should consider when trying to discover the right bible for our lives, hopefully making it easier for us to know God and understand His will more clearly for us.
3. Find a verse or chapter and read it in multiple versions.
This is a crucial part and something I think not enough people do when choosing the right bible for themselves. They don’t open it up and read it and compare how it reads to other versions. Let me tell you there is a bible out there for everyone I am sure but unless they spend the time looking for it they may just stick with what they have and then, sadly, never read it or look at it again because it didn’t work for them. Now we all know that the bible is spiritual and takes time and Godly wisdom to really understand it however if you have a King James Bible and it doesn’t make sense to you, you will be that much more unlikely to read it than, lets say, an NIV bible that spoke to you in modern vernacular. Finding a verse or two, or a chapter that you like in the bible and then reading it in all the different versions of bibles will better help you to understand what you like and what you are looking for. They can be random verses or chapters or your favorite ones, just make sure you compare different versions to each other and see how they read.
4. What is the purpose of this bible?
Now you may think “Well duh, to read it!” but let me tell you there are a lot of different ways we all use our bibles and you should know how you want to use yours. I personally now have a variety of bibles each with its own specific use and purpose. I, of course, have my daily bible that I read from and use the majority of the time and I would suggest that this be the first bible you decide on and purchase for yourself. Even if you already have a bible or were given one as a gift I would always recommend you go to the store and find the bible that is right for you. I also have a study bible that is the same version of my daily reader bible but is much larger and heavier than my daily bible. I have several other bibles as well I use for resources and to compare what different versions read like on a particular verse. Especially if I am having trouble understanding a specific verse I will read it in some other versions and see if they help make it more clear for me to understand. There are lots of different styles of bibles, some have resources built in, some have a commentary by someone in them, others have been annotated by a scholar giving their insight into what it means. Other bibles have multiple versions in one bible or may have multiple languages in one or is written in chronological order or some other way. Yet when I picking a bible don’t get too distracted by all that other stuff, stick with the basic bible versions, maybe bumping up to a study bible if you are really into better understanding the history and time period of things but unless you are a scholar or really seeking to go deep in your study the other bibles are all more or less unnecessary at this time.
5. Will I be using this bible with or around others?
This is something that you also may want to consider. Whether you are attending a church, small group or bible study or just discussing the bible with your friends, you may want to consider asking what versions they read and why? And if they all use a specific version perhaps you would like to get that same version so that when reading the bible together you can easily follow along and all the words will be the same. Bibles do vary and sometimes quite extremely, and therefore understanding when read alongside someone else’s version or publicly as a listener, you may find it difficult to understand if you do not have the same version. Now I do not recommend that you go out and buy the most popular bible because it is popular. I would still heavily suggest that you find a bible that works best for you but if it is close between two different versions and your pastor or all your friends seem to all read out of one version over another it is something worth considering before making your decision.
6. Lastly, let’s discuss the durability and price.
I want to say upfront don’t go into debt over a bible! Please, recognize what you are currently able to afford an stick to what is in your current budget. When buying a bible you do not have to spend a lot of money to get a decent bible that can last you a long time but if when looking at buying them you realize you have expensive tastes well then perhaps it makes sense to wait and save up the money or to buy something that you know you will upgrade from in a year or two, that is great. The bible is not going anywhere and there will always be bibles available for those that are looking for one, even a friend or a relative may have one you could borrow or have. I like to have one nice bible that I use regularly and know that I will be harder on this bible than I will be on the ones that sit on my desk for reference. So I tend to spend a little more on the daily bible I use because I want it to last me a while. If you are a new believer and have a small budget then get what you like within your budget whether that’s $10 or $100 dollars. Pick a version you like and a size you like and then find a bible in your price range that meets those criteria. Amazon may be a great resource as well and has all the bibles you could ever want available on it. For your daily bible I would spend a little more than I would for a resource/comparison bible for sure and I would make the effort to keep my daily bible protected and in good condition. I currently have two bibles that I have worn out and need replacing, one even has the cover completely wrapped in duct tape to hold it together.
7. Final thoughts.
In conclusion, I highly recommend spending the time and energy finding a bible that is right for you and best fits your needs. A bible is something that many believers come to cherish and spend a lot of time with. So when looking for the right bible don’t be afraid of looking at all the bibles you can and spending the time comparing them and walking around with them. See how the bible makes you feel and how you react to handling and holding the bible. Choosing the bible that best suits your needs within your budget will make you feel good about your bible and more likely to pick it up and read it. So choose wisely, spend the time and hopefully you will find a bible that will be with you for a long long time!
Good luck and God bless your search for a great bible!