If your mission is to experience life transformed, then being in the Word should be a top priority! The first step is finding a Bible that will make your daily reading time profitable. There are a number of different types of Bibles on the market, set apart by translation type, study style, features, size, and appearance. To help you figure out what’s best for you, we’ve created this step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Pick Your Translation
A Bible is translated from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek in one of following ways:
Word-for-Word, which is known as Formal Equivalence, places primary emphasis on what the words in the original text say and mean, such as these translations:
- King James Version ~ KJV
- New King James Version ~ NKJV
- New American Standard Bible ~ NASB
- English Standard Version ~ ESV
- Amplified ~ Amplified
Thought-for-thought, also known as Dynamic Equivalence, places primary emphasis on the main thought or idea in the original text, such as is these translations:
- New International Version ~ NIV
- Today’s New International Version ~ TNIV
- New Living Translation ~ NLT
Word-for-Word and Thought-for-Thought combined translations are known as Optimal Translation, such as the:
- Holman Standard Christian Bible ~ HSCB
Paraphrase, takes the original text and translates it into modern language and expression, usually additional words, such as these translations:
- The Message Translation ~ The Message
- The Voice ~ The Voice
- The Living Bible ~ TLB
Step 2: Pick Your Study Style
A Bible is put together by the publishers to meet a certain style of reading and study need. How you intend to use the Bible, will be your determining factor for what style you pick. The options you will find are:
- Devotional ~ is designed to encourage reflection and personal time with the Lord in the Word, using interspersed devotionals written by a variety of people
- Life Application ~ asks questions and points to ways to apply the Word
- Study Bible ~ will contain information and historical facts to enhance for each book of the Bible
- Chronological ~ books are listed in time line order
- Hebrew/Greek ~ provides additional information based on the original language
- One Year ~ divides into 365 readings
- Student Bible ~ is designed for a high school or college student, meaning the helps and questions are written with their needs in mind
- Parallel ~ has two translations side by side
- Children’s Story Bible ~ literally written in story format with pictures for the littlest ones to comprehend the Gospel message
- Backpack Bible ~ designed for youth to tote around in their backpacks
Step 3: Pick Your Features
There are many additional features a publisher may include in a Bible. Be sure to consider which of these resources would enhance your study of the Word:
- Concordance ~ an index for looking up key words to find passages
- Maps ~ either included in the text or at the end
- Reading Plans ~ designed to help you read through the Bible in a certain period of time or to study a specific topic
- Introduction to Each Book ~ provides history, author, time frame, etc.
- Cross-Reference ~ refers to a place where a verse is also mentioned
- Footnotes or Study Notes ~ elaborates on the Scriptures to aid in study
- Red Letter ~ words of Christ are marked in red
Step 4: Pick Your Size and Appearance
The size of the Bible and the font size are usually in proportion to one another. Both are typically affected by the type of Bible and the features included. The font size is actually rather important, as you want to be able read your Bible without straining your eyes. And the size of the Bible is just as significant, as an in-depth study Bible is often to heavy to lug to church compared to a wallet size that fits easily into a purse.
- Large Print ~ usually means larger than 12 pt
- Small Print ~ usually 8 or 9 pt
- Wallet ~ literally the size of a women’s wallet designed for carrying in a purse or backpack
- Compact ~ usually larger than the wallet size, in width and depth
- Pocket ~ may be the same size or small than the Wallet size
- Personal Size ~ usually larger than a compact Bible, but not as a large as a formal study Bible
- Study Bible ~ this kind is usually the largest format, meant for home study and not ideal for carrying to church or Bible study
- Gift ~ typically, this is the size of Bible you would find in a church pew
- Bonded Leather ~ this has the look and feel of leather, but not the durability nor the expense
- Genuine Leather ~ indeed, it is made of leather, thus costing more but lasting longing
- Hardbound ~ as the name indicates, this is a hardcover Bible
- Paperback ~ just like a paper back book and usually very inexpensive
What luxury to have so many options. One size may not fit all your needs, so pick one that has the most of what you are looking for and take advantage of the websites such as Biblegatway.com or Crosswalk.com to enhance your study of God’s Word. If you have any questions, feel free to email more@moretobe.com. We’re happy to help you find just the right Bible for your needs!
Step 5: Shop for Your Bible
Click on the images below to view a collection of popular Bibles, including some of my favorite. Can you guess which one I am using right now?
Elisa
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