So you plan to read through the Bible in 2019. Good for you! I hope you will take part in the chronological Bible reading plan as announced in my earlier posts, with more posts to follow throughout 2019 on this blog and on FB.

Which Bible will you read? While there are no hard and fast rules about which translations we should read, a Bible that is right for you will increase the chance that you will stick with your reading plan and finish well. There are many Bibles and translations to choose from, so invest a little time at the beginning. If you use the same Bible all year, you and your Bible will become inseparable as you personalize it with your notes and highlights.

Read out loud from your Bible. Does it flow or are you stumbling around because the words don’t feel natural to you? If you have an older version that you like, you have grown up with it, and you are comfortable with it, then you may not need to look any further. But if you aren’t comfortable with the language in your Bible, perhaps you will want to invest in a Bible that is easier to read and understand.

The easiest way to check out new translations is to explore them on the Bible Gateway website at www.biblegateway.com. There you can type in any book and chapter of the Bible. You can also choose from more translations than I am willing to count.

I don’t want to promote any particular translation over another. This is strictly a personal decision. Here are a few insights on some of the newer translations that some may find helpful. Most Bibles tend to fall on a pendulum between strictly literal translations and paraphrases. Literal translations try within the limitations of very different languages to give a word-for-word translation. Paraphrased Bibles attempt to capture the meaning of the text while using current idioms or common expressions of our modern language – with the goal of more fully engaging the reader and capturing the spirit of the text.

The King James Version strives for a word-for-word translation. Some newer translations that are on the literal end of the pendulum are the New American Standard Bible and the English Standard Version.

An early paraphrased New Testament came out in the 1960s called Good News for Modern Man, and the complete Good News Bible came out later. The Living Bible and The Message are two other paraphrased Bibles.

Two popular translations that fall somewhere between are the New International Version and the New Living Translation.

The Cokesbury website has a much more advanced comparison system than I am able to create in this post. I urge you to read their chart for greater insights:  “A Guide to Bible Translations.”

Are you a fast reader, or a reluctant reader who struggles to keep reading, perhaps seldom finishing a book. I’m one of those reluctant readers, and I find that larger print makes it easier to stay focused and keep reading.

Some Bibles are designed for special target audiences. There are teen Bibles, children’s Bibles, Bibles for men and Bibles for women. There are many study Bibles for more serious Bible students. These Bibles include many helps such as maps, Bible dictionaries, concordances, timelines and more. Other Bibles target special needs such as a New Believer’s Bible for someone who has just come to faith or is wrestling with faith issues. The NIV Celebrate Recovery Study Bible is for people struggling with various issues with hurts, hangups, and problems. Are you an artist or a journaler? If so, you might like a journaling Bible with wide margins for your creative expressions.

Some Bibles are rearranged for reading through in a year. These Bibles place the text in the order you will read them. The problem with this arrangement is that there is no easy way to look up specific passages, and you won’t experience the traditional layout of the Bible. The chronological Bibles I looked at don’t match the plan I found to blog on, so if you plan to follow along with this blog, your best bet is a traditionally arranged Bible.

Check out the variety of Bibles available at your local Christian bookstore, or look online. I highly recommend www.ChristianBook.com where you can find Bibles of every description. Take your time and find the Bible that will best hold your attention. Consider it as an investment in the future of your spiritual life. You don’t have to buy a new Bible every year. Make a good choice now and your Bible will serve you for many years.