Working at a Christian bookstore, I frequently speak with people looking for a new Bible. Recently a young woman came in wanting a Bible for herself and her boyfriend. They had a simple desire: to read the Bible together to better understand what it said. However, as we discussed her desire, she realized that her need was greater than merely choosing the color and size of the Bible.
The first question someone might ask is, “What Bible is the best?” While the question is a reasonable one, the answer is, “It depends.” I told this woman that she should choose a Bible like she would a pair of shoes; get one that fits, not one that just looks good.
If I were a shoe salesman, I would ask a couple of questions before offering my recommendation. First, I would want to know if they had a budget. Second I would want to know what they were using the shoes for, and finally, I would want them to try them on to be sure that they were comfortable. Meeting two out of three of these would not be helpful – for it to be a good fit, all three must be true.
Finding a pair of shoes that fits my budget and are comfortable, does not mean that they would be good for running a 5K or mucking out stalls. How many shoes in your closet were bought on sale because you thought that they would be good for a task, but remain in the closet because they were not comfortable? The lessons to finding a good pair of shoes can help us to find the right Bible.
While budget, use, and comfort are all helpful in considering the shoes we buy, budget is probably the easiest to work around. Just as you can find a pair of shoes at various prices, you can also find Bibles from a budget-friendly to a leather edition in every translation.
The greater need is to define how the Bible will be used. If I simply want an attractive Bible to decorate a shelf, my need is different from getting one to read devotionally or to help me in my biblical understanding. Should my only purpose be to decorate a shelf, then it does not matter what translation I choose. However, if my purpose is to grow in my understanding of God, then the Bible’s readability is critical.
A surprising number of people have told me that their knowledge of God grew once they started reading a modern translation of the Bible that they could understand. Because language changes over time, what may have been easily understood a generation ago is not necessarily easy to understand today. An unfamiliarity with the vocabulary and the use of theological phrases will hinder our understanding and application.
Unless I commit myself to looking up the meanings of unfamiliar and archaic words, I open myself up to both misunderstanding and misapplying the Bible. Contrary to what you may have heard, a modern translation does not require a “dumbing down” or changing of the text. Therefore, finding a translation that you understand is essential.
For example, formal translations render 1 John 2:2 saying, “He [Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” Propitiation is a good, precise theological word choice telling us what Jesus did, but it is not helpful without understanding its meaning. Context and a dictionary can be helpful, but a better option might be a less formal translation. A translation that says, “atoning sacrifice” or “payment for our sins” offers an easier and more natural understanding of the meaning.
The “comfortable” part of finding a Bible that properly fits is finding one that helps rather than hinders your understanding of God. Just as you may prefer cowboy boots to my flip-flops, the translation that resonates with you may be different from mine. What is important for both of us is to read, understand, and be renewed by the Bible. “All Scripture is God-breathed [inspired] 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)
What Bible is the best fit for you? While “best” is a subjective measurement, the best one is the one that meets your needs. Ultimately, it begins with finding a translation that you are comfortable with and ends with one that benefits you in your search for God.
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