Which Bible Should I Read?

Who wouldn’t want a copy of ‘The Pastor’s Bible’? Surely it would unlock the mysteries of scripture in an unparalleled way. Instead of your ‘pastor’ being the only one with a depth of understand of God’s word, YOU too would have rich insight.

Yes, that was sarcastic. The ESV Pastor’s Bible boasts “practical help for a pastoral life….” It comes with over 40 articles “specifically written to encourage those in ministry.” I don’t own a copy so I cannot be critical; its special features might be useful. Yet it is just one of many themed Bibles on the market today. My book store catalog has eleven full pages of Bibles listed for sale.

It IS important for you to have a Bible translation you trust with readable print, formatting you like and a durable cover. Yet, the myriad of choices can be mind-numbing.

One Bible will help you to “access your inner artist” and “rejuvenate your devotional time.” It does this by including “over 600 elegant line drawings, filigree designs and Scripture quotations to color.” It is a Bible with coloring pages.

The “Metal Bible” boasts a “trendy license plate design” on the cover that is “sure to appeal to teens!” I guess the idea is that someone has to make the Bible more appealing to our young people; by itself, it is not appealing enough.

Another exciting Bible for kids is called the “Following Jesus Bible.” (And I thought that was the expectation of every Bible, not just a specialty Bible.)

There are also Bibles with special materials for women, men, teens; for military families, globally-minded people; for those wanting ‘a deeper prayer life,’ wanting to ‘discover God’s heart,’ and wanting to ‘focus on God’s justice.’

Don’t be discouraged, it is all marketing. God’s word was originally recorded for men and women and teens; for those in the military and those who are not; for those who are globally-minded and those who want a deeper prayer life and want to discover God’s heart and want to focus on God’s justice. It’s all been there all along.

Is the Bible difficult to understand? Yes and No.

There are difficult concepts and difficult passages. Yet the overall message of the Bible is quite accessible to the common man. 

So, what is the best translation? Do I need a ’Study Bible’?

Recognize that many study Bibles are slanted to a specific theme or are biased by one man’s understanding. I recommend a study Bible that focuses on the biblical languages, archaeology, and ancient history and culture. However, expect a study Bible to abbreviate information easily accessible in a good Bible dictionary.

And what is the best translation?

Let me answer with an illustration:

He who watches the wind will not sow and
He who looks at the clouds will not reap.
—Ecclesiastes 11:4

The farmer cannot wait for perfect conditions; nor should we wait for the perfect translation. The farmer must plant in order to harvest. Our spiritual harvest will be rewarding, but only if we devote ourselves to reading and studying the copy of God’s word that we have in our hands. Then remember the words of Jesus:

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.
—John 8:51

Mark Stinnett

September 20, 2020