Finding A Bible

If you have recently browsed the Bible section at your local bookstore, chances are that you might have noticed that the selection continues to grow and expand. Not only do Bibles come in fashion trendy styles, but also in a number of different translations packaged for a wide range of uses. So, how do you know what the right Bible is for you?

Here are some tips on understanding what to look for in a Bible:

~ Translation ~
There are three different ways that the original Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek have been translated:

Formal Equivalence, which is also known as word-for-word, places primary emphasis on what the words in the original text say and mean, which is how these translations are formed:

• KJV
• NKJV
• NASB
• ESV

Dynamic Equivalence, which is also know as thought-for-thought, which places primary emphasis on the main thought or idea in the original text, which is how these translations are formed:

• NIV
• TNIV
• NLT
• Message

Optimal Translation, which combines both word-for-word and thought-for-thought translations techniques, is how this translation is formed:

• HSCB

~ Publishers ~
The following publishers produce the different type of translations, which you can learn more about at their websites. You can also get an overview of the different translations at, http://www.esv.org/about/compare.verses.

Zondervan ~ http://www.zondervan.com

• Amplified - Amplified
• KJV - King James Version
• NKJV - New King James Version
• NASB - New American Standard Version
• NIV - New International Version
• NIrV - New International Readers Version
• NRSV - New Revised Standard Version
• TNIV - Today’s New International Version

Tyndale ~ http://www.tyndale.com

• NLT - New Living Translation http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/05discoverthenlt/faqs.asp?faq=8

ESV

• ESV - English Standard Version
  http://www.esv.org/

B&H Publishing Group

• HCSB ~ Holman Christian Standard Version
  http://www.broadmanholman.com/hcsb/
  

NavPress

• Message
  http://www.navpress.com/Message/HistoryAndFaqs/
  

~ Features ~

Purpose:

• Devotional ~ to encourage reflection and personal time with the Lord in the Word
  
• Life Application ~ asks questions and points to ways to apply the Word
  
• Study ~ contains information and historical facts to enhance study
  
• Chronological ~ books are listed in time line order
  
• Hebrew/Greek ~ provides additional information based on the original language
  
• One Year ~ divides into 365 readings
  

Size:
Look at the publisher specifications on size, as they vary greatly.

• Wallet
• Compact
• Pocket
• Personal Size

Text:
Font size also varies greatly. 12pt is considered medium to large. 8 or 9 pt tends to be very small. Check publishers specification.

• Large Print ~ usually means larger than 12 pt.
  
• Parallel ~ has two translations side by side
  
• Red Letter ~ words of Christ are marked in red
  

Helps:
Every Bible is different. Check publishers specifications to make sure the references you are looking for are included.

• Concordance ~ able to look up key words to find passages
  
• Maps ~ either included in the text or at the end
  
• Reading Plans ~ to read through the Bible in a year, or to study a specific topic
  
• Introduction to each book ~ giving history, author, timeframe, etc.
  
• Cross-Reference ~ refers to a place where a verse is also written
  

~Retailers~

• Christian Book.com
• God4Me
• Amazon

What luxury to have so many options in our Bible purchasing. Many find one size doesn't fit all needs. But thanks to the internet, we can take advantage of places like Biblegatway.com or Crosswalk.com until we know what we like or need. Have fun reading the Word. It is alive and intended for our benefit!