Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live
Deuteronomy 8:3b
This is the second guest post from Cameron Braidwood. The first post dealt with the importance of the written Word to the life of the believer. In this post, the author lays out a brief guide to choosing a new Bible.
Now that we have established, to some degree, the importance of Bible-intake, let us list some of the things we might consider when looking to purchase a copy of the bible.
Translation
Firstly, and most importantly, translation.
As I have already said, there are multiple English translations available. I shall avoid delving too deep into this issue as most Christians have an opinion and preference on which is ‘best’ (perhaps a topic for another post). Broadly speaking, in translation, there are two types:
Formal equivalence
Dynamic equivalence
The former holds to a more ‘literal and word for word’ translation style that seeks to remain as close to the original source material as possible, while the latter sacrifices a degree of literality in favour of a more ‘readable and readily understood’ style. You ought to consider which translation may suit you best. There is a ‘spectrum’ of translations available from the New Living translation (on the dynamic equivalent side) all the way to offerings such as the King James Version or the New American Standard Bible (on the more formal equivalent side).
Purpose
Secondly, the purpose for your new Bible.
I propose that it is necessary to consider the purpose for which you require a new bible, as the answer will influence a variety of factors.
Are you a pastor/elder who may require one for pulpit preaching?
Are you in the market for a desk bible from which to study?
Do you require a new copy to carry to church?
If you require a bible for study, particularly one that is intended less for carrying around and more for keeping at a desk, well, you may want to consider a ‘study bible’. These are, generally, large copies with paragraphs of additional explanatory notes, full reference suites, maps and other book-introductory information. I would recommend every Christian household have access to one. They provide helpful information pertaining to background and context in which certain books or letters were written as well as offering brief commentary material on some of the less-clear passages of scripture.
In addition to study bibles there are also options more suited to ‘note-taking’ such as a ‘wide margin bible’. These are great for annotating with your own notes as they contain a good margin of blank space particularly suited for this purpose. These bibles generally have paper with a greater degree of opacity and often of a higher ‘gsm’ (grams per square metre) than other bibles which help them stand up to additional writing or ‘marking up’.
If you are in the market for a more casual reading experience, the ‘Readers Editions’ are a great option. The main feature of these editions is that they generally have the chapter and verse numbers omitted and are often set in a single-column paragraph format, all contributing to a more ‘reading with your boots off’ experience in which you can comfortably work your way through whole books in a single sitting.
If you are a minister of the gospel/elder and are looking for something from which to make pulpit-use of then you may wish to consider a ‘text-only’ edition. These present with the omission of the references in favour of either greater margin space or larger text size. There are so-called ‘preachers editions’ which lack many of the features that are included with reference and study bibles.
I would say that the most helpful text-format for an expository preaching-style would be a ‘dual-column verse by verse’ layout. The text is split into two columns on the page and each verse begins on a new line making it far easier to specifically refer to a particular verse. This is a classic favourite of mine as it definitely makes it easier to find a particular verse with a cursory scan of the text.
If your pastor/teacher has settled on a particular bible, sometimes there are ‘pew editions’ available for the congregation. These are usually hardbacks with the same text block and retaining the same pagination as the preacher’s copy. That is to say, the page numbers will correspond exactly with the preacher’s copy, making for more of a streamlined, congregational reading experience.
Finally, a note for the more ‘collector’ types. If you enjoy a ‘premium’ bible reading experience, there are many editions available which include finer leather bindings inclusive of calfskin and goatskin &c. Other ‘premium’ options include edge-lining for the leather liners, multiple dual-sided satin ribbons, art-gilting and perimeter cover stitching.
Conclusion
There are a vast number of options available depending on your specific bible-reading requirements. Consider your particular needs and look at the options available; but most importantly…read your bible. Often. Daily. And ‘let the word of Christ dwell in you richly’ (Col 3:16).