Which Bible should I buy for me and my kids?



Dear J. Valjean:

Which Bible should I buy for my elementary school-aged kids and for myself?

For my elementary school aged kids, mostly they'd be using it to do their study lessons from church or Awana. I'd like a version that has simple, easy to understand words. No commentaries or similar things necessary.

For myself, I'm currently using my old NIV. I'd also like something fairly easy to read. I'd be looking for something that is not too bulky, but also one that has reasonable print size. My eyes aren't what they used to be, but I also don't need super large print for blind people.

— Bible Reader


Dear Bible Reader:

Wow, what an exciting question!

Sorry in advance if I'm giving you too much information!

Practical Steps

It might be worth it to go to a Christian bookstore (e.g., Lifeway) to see what you like.

If you want, you can also come to my house—I'm a compulsive Bible buyer, and my friends think I have a ridiculous assortment. (But I don't have anything for kids, and Lifeway has a bigger selection.)

Where to Buy?

Christianbook.com (also CBD.com) often has the best prices. But Westminster Bookstore (WTS) and Amazon are also competitive. (There's a shipping fee at CBD and WTS.)

WTS usually has the best prices on ESV's.

In stores, Lifeway will price match CBD and Amazon (and maybe WTS, too). But they won't let you stack coupons on price matches.

Models to Consider

For your kids

I've seen the NIV Adventure Bible at my church, and it seems good—it's easy to use, it's visually appealing, and it's a Bible (and not just a storybook, although those are good, too).

But I don't know what kids like. And, really, I'd just go with whatever they like (assuming it's not heretical, etc.)—as long as they read it, it's a win. I used an NIV with Psalty cartoons from grades 1-12, and it served me well.

If I were in your situation, I'd probably take them to Lifeway, show them some children's NIV's and CSB's, and see what they're drawn to. (That's basically how I got my first Bible.)

For yourself

1. Whatever you like (any translation commonly used in our circles)

As long as you read it, it's a win. (See "Considerations" section below for more details.)

You can also use an online Bible chooser feature sorter to look at other options.

Bible choosers:

2. Some slimline Bible (any translation commonly used in our circles)

These look good and are easy to carry. You can get regular-sized or large-sized text, and you can buy them cheap or expensive, depending on quality.

3. ESV Gospel Transformation Bible


It's not ridiculously big, and its notes aim for worship, not just information. But the text size is standard, not large (if you need large text).

In February 2019, Crossway is releasing a new version (ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible). This appears to be the same Bible, but with some additional articles.

4. NIV Lifehacks Bible



It's not ridiculously big, and it has nice, practical tips. But the text size is standard, not large (if you need large text).

I have the imitation leather NIV Lifehacks Bible, but I wish I'd bought the hardcover version instead, since the imitation leather doesn't lay flat.

What I've been using lately

1. CSB Reader's Bible



This my current devotional Bible. It's great for reading, but it would be difficult to teach/preach from, since it doesn't have verse numbers.

2. CSB Pastor's Bible



Simple format, with nice, large text. This is the Bible I bring to church, since the lighting is often too dim for me to read my other Bibles well. (My eyes aren't great.)

3. CSB She Reads Truth Bible



This is a great reading Bible—not too much extraneous material—and it's beautiful. I rave about the fonts and the graphics! I'd use this everywhere if I weren't on my reader's Bible kick, and if my eyes were better/if my church had brighter lighting.

Another Recommendation: The ESV Study Bible



This is the best study Bible out there. (Lots of people say this, not just me!)

It's worth owning, since its notes are so useful. It's my desert-island Bible—it has pretty much everything I'd need.

But it's too big to take everywhere. So a bunch of people own it, and never take it out of their house. If you want to use it as your primary Bible and take it everywhere, you should probably get the Personal Size edition.

Considerations

There are several questions to think through:

1. Which translation?

Most people in our circles go with the NIV or ESV, and both are good. The CSB is great, too—it says that it's more readable and accurate than the NIV—but it's newer, so you won't have many friends who use it. (The NASB is more literal, which makes it great for preachers. But it's also more wooden/difficult to read.)

The NIV is a little more readable, and the ESV is a little more "literal." (But both aim for readability and accuracy.)

For example, take Romans 1:18:

NIV: "The wrath of God is being revealed"

The NIV doesn't have "for" at the beginning of the sentence, since it's weird to talk like that.

ESV: "For the wrath of God is revealed"

The ESV leaves the "for" in, since it's part of Paul's argument. [Why do you need the gospel? Because of ("for") the wrath of God.]

I know that example might make the NIV look bad, and I'd opt to retain "for," in this case. But the NIV's intent is good, and I think it succeeds most of the time. (And, let's be real, all of these translators are much smarter than I am.)

2. Study notes or plain text?

Study notes can be really helpful. But they make your Bible bulkier, and they can be a visual distraction.

Personally, I usually use text-only/text-mostly Bibles as my devotional Bibles and go to a study Bible if I need to look something up—if I have the study notes right there, I tend to use them as a crutch too much. For several years, I bought pew Bibles, since they were sturdy and cheap.

On the other hand, it's handy and helpful to have the notes there already. They can pique your interest, help you apply the text, etc.

3. How big?

I struggle with this. I don't like small text, but I don't like carrying around bulk. But I've learned to live with some bulk.

4. Other (e.g., binding, aesthetics, whether it lays flat, etc.)

If you use it every day, you might as well get something you like.

Personally, I like Bibles that lay flat. Some fake-leather binding looks nice but doesn't lay flat, and that's annoying.

Some Bibles cost over $100. That price tag probably shouldn't inhibit me interacting with the Bible, but I feel hesitant to mark up expensive Bibles. So I think it's probably better for my devotional Bible to be a Bible that I like but that doesn't cost $100.

5. Do you really need a new Bible?

I love buying Bibles! I use different Bibles for different resources (e.g., comparing translations, getting ideas for teaching and applying the Bible, etc.). Reading the Bible in a different translation can sometimes make a passage "come alive" in a fresh way.

But if there's nothing wrong with your current Bible, it might be worth it (as a rule of thumb) to use the same translation and the same physical Bible for the rest of your life. Over time, you subconsciously memorize it and memorize where things are on the page.

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