Top Bible Suggestions: Find Your Perfect Bible Here!

[PamperedChefDebi]

It's nice to know that there are so many of us with the same spiritual goal! What an awesome God we have!

I was just thinking that! I love being part of something that was founded on Christian principles, operates on Christian principles, and has SO many Christains associated with and representing it. I just LOVE how God works!!!

 

[tx_deputyswife]

Here is an excellent, and unbiased article about Bible translations (even if you aren't Catholic):
Bible Translations Guide

The last line in the article was my favorite. "So, which Bible is the best? Perhaps the best answer is this: The one you’ll read."

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I have a couple friends that are that way with the Greek. My only hesitation there, is that they spend so much time examining each word individually, they begin to miss the context of what is being said. Does that make sense?

When I was in college - that very topic was always a discussion starter. I still love to study the Hebrew & Greek - especially with a "sticky" passage and when I will be teaching on a specific passage, but for my own personal devotional time, I prefer a version where I can understand the thought and the context more easily.To address another sentence in another post about reading the KJV because it is the original. This is a common misconception. There were many translations before the KJV. The KJV was just the first translation that was widely available to the masses. That fact does not make it the most accurate - in fact, when compared with the original texts, there are some glaring discrepancies in the KJV. I am not saying that the KJV cannot be useful or hasn't been used by God - it DID get His Word into the hands of people who had not been able to read it for themselves.
BUT, it does bother me to have the idea that it is the original text/version, and therefore the standard by which to judge all other texts, perpetuated - when that is simply not the truth.
(None of the writers used by God spoke King James English, hee hee!)
And here is a bit of trivia that most people don't know: You will notice that the KJV is widely used in other books/magazine articles, etc.....Well, this is not because it is the best version, but because it is the cheapest! All other versions have a copyright on them from the publishers.....but the KJV is public domain, and therefore free to use in quotes.

 

[Evelynt]

I started with the NIV and now have several more bibles. They are all wonderful.

 

[janetupnorth]

I'm with those who have umpteen million Bibles. Growing up my grandparents bought us a KJV Thompson Chain Reference Bible when we were old enough to care for it and understand it. I have worn that one out! Got it for my 10th Birthday I think and used it until I was almost 30. I still have it on my shelf though! I always loved reading the archaeological summaries in the appendix of it and it had great reference. For everyday use, I carry a parallel Bible with KJV/NIV. I also have Scofield Bibles at home for study, NIV, Living Bible, NKJV and NAS. I have my grandma's old Bible with notes in it from studies and many other things... I also have a library of umpteen million Christian books and Bible studies. Well, only about 200 books there - my mom has about 1000 so I don't want my collection too big. I have so many textbooks from engineering school still that my basement is a mini-library, music room/office. The best thing to do is not leave them on the shelf. God's word comes alive when read and when you ask him to reveal it to you, so use it.

 

[LibrarianChef]

I only use the KJV...because it is the original translation and I believe that when you keep translating over and over eventually parts are missing and it gets taken out of context.

The KJV is not the original translation. It's just the first translation from the Greek that was put into what used to be modern English and backed by King James. The translation is very easily misunderstood by modern day American English speakers for that and other reasons. (ETA: Becky, I just went back and saw your comments on KJV--great condensed summary :thumbup: Are you fluent in Greek and Hebrew?)

My personal favorite would be the original Biblical languages--the Greek and Hebrew text (ETA: actually, in all honesty, there's no such thing as "the original" G & H text since older copies wore out even by the 3rd/4th centuries AD and were replaced with newer hand-written copies, but there's still so much to glean from reading in the original language or having a trustworthy translater on hand), but that doesn't help someone who can't read in the original languages. In English I probably lean toward the NIV, but we have a wide variety of translations. My family tends to look at a lot of different English translations and then pick the passage that was translated closest to the original Greek. It's not always in the same Bible. It's kind of funny, but when a new translation comes out I've witnessed my family getting together and discussing its similarity to the original text (Greek/Hebrew) and what liberties were taken and why. It's a fascinating discussion. From what I understand, English translations do go back to the Greek text to translate into better English, but there are still some things that just can't be translated due to cultural and historical misunderstandings. (And everyone wonders why I became an academic librarian. ROFL! )

I imagine, though, that we all feel very privileged to have such resources (and such selection) at our fingertips when a large portion of the world does not have anything at all.

 

[chefheidi2003]

Ok...so I think that I have made my decision, I think that I am going to go with the NIV Life Application Bible...I haven't bought it yet, my mom bought her's at Sam's Club but it is not the Life Application Bible so I am going to look and see if they have one their...if not our local Christian Bookstore is having a big sale next month so I am going to get one then...thank you so much everyone for all of your suggestions.

 

[chefbritt]

Hey everyone. I was reading all the suggestions you gave in this thread, but for someone who has never really read the bible, where would you start? I was looking on bible gateway but its all a little overwhelming. Would you just start from the beginning, or is there a particular section to read first? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

 

[JAE]

My opinion is that your best bet would be to start in the New Testament. I would send you to John first. You could read Genesis because that is where so many of the children's bible stories come from - Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, Joseph and the coat of many colors, etc.

 

[micocina]

Go to http://www.readhisword.com/?page=how#

Great suggestions!

 

[chefjeanine]

Hey everyone. I was reading all the suggestions you gave in this thread, but for someone who has never really read the bible, where would you start? I was looking on bible gateway but its all a little overwhelming. Would you just start from the beginning, or is there a particular section to read first? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

You might want to look into joining BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). They have groups meeting all over the world. In our hemisphere, we are studying Matthew.

There seems to be a very diverse group (from those who are new to the bible to those who have been studying for years). This is a non-denominational group. This is my first year to be a part of it and I’m really enjoying digging into the word.

Check out their website to see where the closest class to you is located. http://www.bsfinternational.org/Home/tabid/53/Default.aspx

 

[janetupnorth]

My opinion is that your best bet would be to start in the New Testament. I would send you to John first. You could read Genesis because that is where so many of the children's bible stories come from - Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, Joseph and the coat of many colors, etc.

John and Romans too.The Old Testament tells us the history and of God's promise to send a Savior.
The New Testament shows us that promise fulfilled in Jesus and what he did for us on the cross. The New Testament is much more applicable to us today.