Welcome, friend! I’m thrilled to accompany you on this journey to encounter God for yourself through His Word. And you’ll find nothing more important in this beginning stage than picking a Bible—one that helps you discover God in a way that is helpful and accessible. Wait, you might think, isn’t a Bible a Bible? Well, yes and no. Yes, a Bible is a Bible. But because it is translated from the original languages, you’ll discover significant variations on each translation’s passages.
That’s where different translations come into play. If you go into a bookstore (if you can find one!) the number of different translations and Bible styles can overwhelm you. If you like that kind of discovery, then by all means, get after it! Explore, browse, compare versions, and pick the one that speaks best to you. But—if you are busy, and overwhelmed by the choices, and just want to focus on connecting with God through His Word, then I’m going to provide a few suggestions you can order.
Regardless of what translation you choose, the most important part of your shopping is to ensure that you pick up a study Bible. The “study” is where you’ll find cross-references, study notes, and commentary that will be crucial to your understanding of the Bible. Whether you get a pink leather or black hardcover or large print, make sure what you do get is a study Bible.
One more note: You’ll see many “life application” Bibles during your search. Although I think the Life Application Bible is an excellent resource for personal devotion, it will not give you the material you need for a deeper study. If you want to pick up an extra Bible, by all means, a life application one is great! But don’t get it as your one Bible. It will not have what you need for this journey.
Without further ado!
