Choosing a Bible and other resources
Probably the most important difference between a "conquering" versus
"sightseeing" approach to reading through the Bible is that the
conqueror thinks that help is for the weak, whereas the sightseer
knows that getting help will increase his appreciation for what he
reads. Below are some resources that will help you make the most of
your reading.
Choosing a translation
Despite my advice most of you will probably read the New International Version (NIV), and that's fine. But I would recommend keeping two Bibles on hand, one word-for-word translation and one so-called thought-for-thought translation:
- So-called thought-for-thought translations are good for general reading. People tend to look down their noses at them as dumbed-down versions, but in fact they make a more sincere effort to preserve the meaning of the original in ordinary language.
- A word-for-word translation is good to consult when studying a passage in more depth. Of these, the forthcoming English Standard Version (ESV) promises to be the best, but it, the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), and the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Update are so similar it hardly matters.
Choosing an edition
- A wide-margin Bible is useful for taking notes. I have a Cambridge
NRSV Wide-Margin Edition (hardcover), which is twice as cheap as any
other. It's thin and well-made, but unfortunately has some typographical
errors.
- Some people may prefer to hear the Bible read out loud, though I
wouldn't recommend listening to the Bible while driving or
(especially) working. Most tape or CD sets cost $100-$200. There is an
old recording of the KJV available for free (RealAudio) at Audio
Bible.
- Study Bibles contain supplementary maps, charts, summaries,
and comments. A very popular one is the NIV Study Bible. Also
attractive is the New Geneva Study Bible (recently renamed the
Reformation Study Bible), the major downside being that it uses the New King James Version.
Other books
- A Bible dictionary has more than just definitions of words; it
contains a wealth of background information that is hard to find
elsewhere (e.g., how many Marys were there?). The one I see
recommended most often is the New Bible
Dictionary (3rd ed., InterVarsity Press, 1996). I have a
different dictionary, the HarperCollins
Bible Dictionary, which I can't recommend because it's too
liberal. Honestly though, I like mine a lot.
- Holman
Bible Atlas: A Complete Guide to the Expansive Geography of Biblical
History. Broadman, 1999. An atlas is helpful for visualizing kingdoms and journeys. This one also has lots of supplemental information about history and archaeology.
- Synopsis
of the Four Gospels, rev. ed. American Bible Society,
1985. Places the four gospels side-by-side so you can see the
similarities and differences. For the truly obsessive there is a similar book for Chronicles too.
- Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to read the Bible for all its worth. Zondervan, 1993. A good introduction to understanding the Bible.
- Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa, Talk thru the Bible. Nelson, 1997. Outlines, summaries, basic background.
Finally, in case you don't avail yourself of any of these helps, we
provide in the next section a whirlwind tour of the times and places
of the Bible, to help you get your bearings.
Next: a quick overview of the Bible
David Chiang dchiang@cis.upenn.edu
Modified 15 Jun 2001