Resources

Collected here are just a few, I think reliable, resources for Bible reading and study.

Translations

First, a word about translations.  The Bible was written originally in Hebrew (the Old Testament) and Greek (the New Testament).  Here I am assuming that you are an English only reader.  Both the Biblical Hebrew and Greek have been translated into English directly from such original language texts using various translations methodologies.  One type of translation seeks to be precisely word-for-word, other types are more idea-for-idea, and others somewhere in the spectrum between these two.  Another dimension of any translation is the target reading level of the English, from being simple enough for an elementary school reader ranging all the way to an adult reader.  There is yet another common distinction having to do with the vintage / era of the source text particularly for the Greek New Testament, and the vintage of English express from Shakespearean to modern / colloquial.  Sadly, these distinctions have in certain cases become points of contention, not all of it kind.  I would recommend as  both reliable and accessible the following translations, in no particular order:

  • NET Bible, such as was used in Three Books.  It is distinguished by the availability for some 50,000 plus (!) translator notes if you feel compelled to dig into any particular passage you can determine why it was translated in the way that it was.   It is available in traditional bounded texts.  But it is also freely available online.
  • NKJV, New King James Version.  The King James Version (aka:  the Authorized Version) dates to 1609 and is an excellent translation based heavily on even an even earlier translation known as the Geneva Bible (1560).  The KJV reads in Shakespearean English, which is in parts majestically beautiful.  In other parts the English words of the 17th Century do not translate well for our understanding.  The NKJV is a translation that keeps the majesty, and formality, but updates the language to make it more accessible.
  • NASB, New American Standard Bible.  The NASB was created to be in English the most exact, precise word-for-word translation using the most recent, most complete corpus of Greek manuscripts of the New Testament.
  • ESV, English Standard Version.  The ESV is a conservative, scholarly update of earlier “standard” Bible translations, using essentially the same Greek manuscripts as the NASB.  It is somewhat more expressive and readable than the NASB, but it is not a loose commentary type translation.
  • NIV, New International Version.  The NIV is similar to the NASB and ESV but extends further toward reading expressiveness, rearranging original wording, and adding helping words, to improve readability while still being a “literal” translation.  So, the NASB is (in my view) at the more rigid literal end of the spectrum, the NIV, though still a solid translation, is at the more “readable” end, with the ESV somewhere in between.  The NIV’s approach is particularly well-suited to the Biblical texts that were, in the original, expressed using the poetic literary form.  Somewhat surprising to many, such poetic literary form occurs in about one-third of the Bible, including the entirely (essentially the entirety) of the so-called “wisdom books” of the Old Testament:  Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

In summary, I would recommend that you read in any or all of the above five translations.  If you are a newer reader, you may find the NIV a better format for a first read through.  If you have a particular reverence for the more formal language, the NKJV or even the KJV may be more satisfying.  As you mature in your reading and understanding you may want to begin to drill down using many now available study tools to look at meanings of specific Hebrew and Greek words that occur in any of these translation.  For now, my strong suggestion is just beginning reading.

Bible Reading Plans

There are many reading plans that have been developed as a motivation and guide to get one through the complete Bible in a year (most commonly) or in some shorter or longer period.  If you do an internet word search on the phrase–Bible reading plans–you’ll find many available resources.

The principal benefit of following such a plan is that it blends one’s daily reading to include both Old Testament and New Testament passages, and in each such category it alternates between subcategories such as, for the OT, after completing a book of history (such as Genesis) the reading plan may follow with a book from the Wisdom subcategory (such as Psalms) or the Prophets (such as Isaiah).  Likewise in the NT, a reading plan will likely have one complete a particular Gospel (say Matthew) and then move to one or more Epistles (Romans) before returning to a second Gospel, and so forth.

The alternative to a reading plan is to just plow through the New Testament alone, or begin even at Genesis 1:1 and drive through the entire Bible until its very last verse in the last book of the New Testament, Revelation 22:21 (the beautiful words:  21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.).  This simple but challenging approach has been followed by many.  It is a commendable commitment.  The challenge for many is after completing the first two books (Genesis and Exodus), which are action filled, one begins a long, very important section addressing the requirements upon Israelites brought out of Egypt for them to be in communion in with the absolutely Holy Redeemer God (the primary subject of the last three books of Moses:  Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).  Many brave readers have stopped in discouragement in mid-Leviticus.  (With some background and guidance, Leviticus is a beautiful book, but not an easy read the first time through).  Reading the New Testament beginning to end is an easier task, and a good first step as an alternative to a complete Bible reading plan.

Printed Bibles

  • 365 Day Bible, NIV translation, published by Thomas Nelson, and available at Amazon:
    • http://www.amazon.com/365-Day-Bible-International-Version/dp/B000WW1TBA/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426124256&sr=1-3

Printed Study Bibles

  • Nelson Study Bible, NKJV
    • http://www.amazon.com/NKJV-Study-Bible-Second/dp/1418548677/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426124298&sr=1-1&keywords=nelson+study+bible+nkjv
  • Reformation Study Bible, ESV.  The 2010 edition is available at Amazon.  A completely updated (2015) edition is available through Ligonier; later in 2015 a NKJV version is anticipated.
    • http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Study-Bible-Imitation-Leather-Gray/dp/1596382422/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426124322&sr=1-1&keywords=reformation+study+bible+nkjv

Online Bibles

  • Many different translations are available at:  www.biblegateway.com
  • Many different translations including Hebrew and Greek (original language versions) are available at:  www.biblehub.com
  • NET Bible:  https://lumina.bible.org/bible/Matthew+1
  • NET Bible:  https://net.bible.org/#!bible/Matthew+1

Bible Apps (Apple iOS)

  • Holy Bible.  This has many free Bibles, including ones in Spanish, Greek, and other languages, along with a wonderful collection of Bible study tools.  A more detailed examination of the app is available here.
  • The Bible App (more than 180,000 installs!).  This has both free and fee-required Bibles.  It has a particularly nice audio feature that enables the Bible in certain translations such as the NIV to be spoken aloud (the NIV is spoken by the golden-voiced Christian actor Max McLean).
  • Lumina.  This is the app specific for the NET Bible.
  • Bible Gateway

 

I also offer these thoughts for parents, grandparents, and others who have been given privileged roles as counselors or guides.