When you go to purchase a Bible, chances are you might feel overwhelmed by all the different versions that are available. Between the various study Bibles, versions, and materials, it can be difficult to nail down the perfect one. One thing that could help is going into a bookstore and feeling them out for yourself. You can easily flip through to see what version you prefer as well as check out some of the commentary in the study Bibles. In this article, we’ll give you some basic info on what to look for in a Bible and some features you might want to seek out.
Choosing the Best Bible Translation
Before deciding to study a specific Bible version, determining the best translation is paramount. There are two types of translations in focus.
Essentially Literal Bible Translation
The Bible translation focuses on the traditional or original Hebrew or Greek words and translates them into English in the literal sense. The highlight of the literal translation is that it makes complete sense to English readers. The translation is kept as close to the original words as possible.
Dynamic Equivalence Translation
The focus is not on interpreting word-by-word but on a thought-for-thought basis. It indicates that the primary motive is to translate the actual thought/view behind every phrase and word mentioned in the original Bible text.
Which One is Better?
Studies claim that the dynamic equivalence translation can potentially introduce the interpretation of the translator. Instead of sticking with word-by-word interpretation of the original words and phrases, biases are a possibility. It results in the use of words or phrases that are not present in the original Bible text. God chooses particular phrases and words to include in the scripture. There shouldn’t be a change in the word interpretation and keep it close to the original text as much as possible.
Choosing the Best Study Bible
There are two categories of study bibles in focus.
Interpretation Centered Study Bibles
The study of the Bible intends to make the reader understand the meaning of texts in the Bible. The study of Bibles includes study notes in the form of diagrams and cross-references, plus maps, texts, and other helpful resources. Biblical scholars contributed to the creation of the study Bible. It enables the readers to understand the range of ideas and perspectives on the texts.
Application Study Bible
Some scholars don’t consider it as a technical study Bible. The focus of the application study Bible is more on the application of the Bible to different situations in life. In the other study Bible, the motive of the Application Study Bible is not getting an insight into the meaning of the text but applying it to various challenges encountered in life.
Which One is Better?
When it comes to picking the best study Bible, you’ll want to take some time to research the companies that interpret them to ensure they align with your views. The Interpretative Study Bible includes texts and other resources from scholars that help to understand the text and get an insight into the meaning of the words and phrases in the Scriptures. The Application Study Bible doesn’t focus on the deep meaning of the text but encourages readers to apply it in various circumstances in life. Hence, both the study Bibles are helpful in some way or the other.
How to Study the Bible?
One of the purest pursuits for a believer in God is to embark on the journey of understanding the Almighty better. The best way is to observe the scriptures and understand the Bible texts intended for mankind. There are several ways to study the Bible, but there are simple and effective steps.
Step-1
Observing the text is the foremost step in the study of the Bible. Observation helps the reader to look at the terms and structure and emphasize repetitive terms.
Step-2
Interpreting behind the use of context, statements, and cross-references helps to discover the meaning of words and phrases and the author’s main idea.
Step-3
The final step is the application that indicates the reason for studying the Bible. After observing the text and understanding the intention, application in everyday life is vital.
Conclusion
Given the information above, there are myriad choices available to read, study, and understand the Bible. There are going to be factors of preferences involved in the choices. The church might follow a particular translation, and a reader grew up reading another version. There is also a possibility that an individual likes the feel and interpretation of a specific study or translation. Availability of different interpretations of Bible can be contradictory.
