by Vinny Knowles

Created on: January 04, 2011   Last Updated: January 05, 2011

You have decided that you would like to read the Bible. So, you go to the bookstore to pick up a copy. But when you get there, you find it is not so easy. There are many different translations of the Bible. There are many different cover styles from which to choose.  Some have devotionals; some have special study guides.  Some are targeted to those interested in the Internet. There are so many styles and varieties that you may find yourself quite incapable of making a decision.

There are lots of things you should consider. If English is your second language, but you prefer to have an English Bible, you will want to pick up a version that is in simple English. You will probably want to steer away from the King James Version because it is written in Old English; it can be difficult reading even for proficient English speakers. However, if you are a Bible student and plan to do word studies in the original language with a concordance, then you will need a King James Version because it is most reliable for such studies. The language will be closer to the original wording. The King James Version is also highly recommended for memorization. Because of its poetic style, it is easier to memorize.

Bible teachers recommend that if you are reading one version of the Bible and it becomes mundane, try another version. It may say something a different way that makes the text come alive to you. You may have read it 100 times in another version and never looked at it from the different perspective that a slightly different wording can give.  

The different translations offer many different language styles which are all important because of the vast diversity of the populace who read the Bible. The Message Bible, for instance, may seem a bit irreverent in certain places for an older person, but for a young adult, it might speak to them in a fashion that is more personal than any other.

Some people struggle with reading and if they were limited to the King James Version, they would be in trouble. Their struggle with the wording could cause them undo frustration and make them not want to read the Bible at all. There are simple versions on the market that can make Bible reading a joy for anyone. And just because a version is simple does not mean it is not accurate in meaning.

 Before you judge a translation, take the time to read it. It is possible to read through the entire Bible in one year if you read just four chapters a day. Try reading a different version each year until you find your favorite version. If you are finding your Bible reading difficult and uninteresting, maybe you are not getting all you could out of it. It has been said that the best version of the Bible is the “read” version. If the version, you have is just lying on the shelf unread, then chances are you need to make a change.

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