Life as a Christian Woman

Just one quick look at the Bible section at any bookstore is enough to send your head spinning. It seems like there is a Bible for every age, gender, denomination, height, weight, color combination… well, you get the picture!

But how do you pick out the right Bible? Is there a “right” Bible?

Let’s try to take things in order… first, which translation? There seem to be thousands! Some recommend that you have two translations, one that is more scholarly (footnotes and comments on each page) and another that is more readable, easier to “digest” so to speak.

Popular scholarly Bibles include The (New) Revised Standard Version and the New American Standard.

Popular readable translations include the New International Version and the Good News Bible.

And if you were raised on the King James Bible and prefer that, then stick with it!

Try to make sure that the translation that you select has been out for at least 10 years. When new editions come out, it takes time for them to be “vetted” and corrections or revisions to be made by those who did the translations.

Don’t look for a Bible that agrees with you… you want to be challenged by the word of God, to grow, so don’t look for Bibles that adhere to a specific doctrine. You want God’s word, not the opinions of those who translated and edited!

Next, you must decide what binding, or format, you would like. I have always been drawn to the beautiful leather with the wafer thin pages. Unfortunately, that type is rarely good for hauling back and forth to church. A hard back will hold up better, and you shouldn’t have to replace it too often. Or you may want to have a small Bible or New Testament to carry in your purse… but make sure the type is big enough for you to read!

Beyond that, you can decide if you want a “red letter” edition (the words of Christ are highlighted in red), or a Bible written in paragraph form.

As for study Bibles, be very careful. Many tend to speak as if the translators and editors know exactly what God was thinking. They are giving you opinions, rather than letting God speak to you through his words. Of course, they are wonderful for explaining what different terms really mean in their initial language (the word “love” alone can have several different meanings).

Two popular study Bibles that come highly recommended are The HarperCollins Study Bible and the New Annotated Oxford Bible.

I have a ton of Bibles, I admit it. Many have been passed down through my family. One has notes in the margins along with dates that indicate it was being read in 1901! I also have my late mother and father’s Bibles. I cherish them all, but they are not the ones that I read day to day. Currently I have two NIV’s. I keep one in my car, so I generally always have one with me, and one in my home for in-depth Bible study. I have several reference books, as well, but they are mainly used for topical study (such as the article I wrote on gossip the other day).

Now, if you want a real experience in reading the Bible in the manner in which it was studied in the days of the ancient Christians, here is a suggestion I found on the internet. Have four people sit in a circle, have four glasses of water and four copies of a readable and responsible text of the Bible… the water is so you won’t have to get up to get a drink. Make sure you are in a quiet room and cannot be interrupted.

Take turns reading a chapter of Mark out loud. There are 16 chapters, so it will work out evenly. There should be no discussion or side comments, just the reading of the scripture. When you have finished reading the entire Gospel of Mark, discuss what you have read.

This is a powerful way to share the gospel with your friends, to reconnect with how the Bible was read by the ancients, and will draw you closer to God.

(Courtesy KenCollins.com)