You want to select a bible that is easy for you to read and understand without sacrificing the accuracy of the scriptures. The Bible comparison chart below shows how readability and understanding decrease or increase based on each type of translation. The New International Version (NIV) and the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) are translated this way. There is a happy medium between the two called functional equivalence that balances word for word and paraphrasing. The New Internation Readers Version (NIRV) and the Good News Translation (GNT) are examples of dynamic equivalence.
Then you have retelling or paraphrasing the scripture (dynamic equivalence) which attempts to paraphrase the original text in a way that is easier for modern readers to read and understand. While these versions are accurate, they are harder to read and understand. The King James Bible (KJV) and the English Standard Version (ESV) are examples of formal equivalence. The most accurate way is a word-for-word translation (formal equivalence). However, there are several ways that bibles can be translated. The English bible versions that we read are all translations from these original texts. Since the original Bible was written in several languages, it had to be translated into English. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew/Aramaic (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament). Why Are There So Many Bible Translations and Which One is Best? There are roughly 450 English translations of the bible. Which Version of the Bible Should You Choose?
Tweet How to Read The Bible For Beginners?
The Bible is our instruction manual for how we should live in the world, filtered through the eyes of Christ. Now that we’ve covered what the Bible is and why it’s important to read it, let’s talk about the best way to read the Bible. The Apostel Pauls sums it up perfectly in his letter to Timothy, “ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV).
The Bible consists of books of history, poetry, written letters, prophecy and testimony (gospels) about Jesus. The New Testament has 27 books and spans from Matthew to Revelation. The Old Testament is made up of 39 books and spans from Genesis to Malachi. It consists of 66 books that are divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. The bible is a collection of literary works, written by 40 different authors, over 1,500 years.
Please see my full disclosure for further information."īefore we discuss how to read the Bible, let’s spend a few seconds talking about what the Bible is and why you need to read it.
"This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.As an Amazon Associate I earn a small comission from qualifying purchases.