The Bible is one book made from 66 smaller books. It is divided into two sections: the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament, originally written in Hebrew before Jesus was born, contains 39 books. The New Testament, written in Greek with some portions believed to have been in Aramaic, was written after Jesus’ death. Forty years passed between Jesus’ death and the first gospel writing. Twenty books are in the New testament.
The entire Bible is written by approximately forty different authors. These people include prophets, a scribe, a cupbearer, a shepherd, a tax collector, a physician, fishermen, farmers, priests, philosophers, and kings, just to name a few!
It’s amazing, as it always is with God, how He brought together and inspired a chosen few to write and share His history and, as Revelation reveals, what is to come!
The Bible is the greatest book. We have to remember God blessed us by speaking it to us. But if you’re turned off from reading the Bible because, “I can never understand all those ‘thee’s’ and ‘thou’s’ “– don’ fret, there’s good news! The Bible is written in many versions, one that is sure to suit your reading preference.
When you read God’s Word daily, it reinforces the great love He offers.
One of the older Bible versions is The King James Version, written in Early Modern English. That type of langue does contain “thee” and “thou.”
Read an example from the KJV, included in the story of Joseph after his father died and his brothers were afraid that Joseph would hold a grudge against them for selling him off when he was a young man.
Genesis 50:17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
The King James Version may be a bit hard to understand, if you aren’t used to that type of wordage. Try reading the exact verse from the New International Version:
Genesis 50:17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
Finding a style of writing you are comfortable reading should not be difficult. You can explore local Christian book stores or go online to discover and select the text that suits you.
Often, first-time Bible shoppers are not aware of the many versions.
There are numerous Bible versions available to choose from, aside from the King James Version (KJV) and New International Version (NIV), such as: New Living Translation (NLT), English Standard Version (ESV), American Standard Version (ASV), The Message (MSG), and many more.
Also, the Bible is translated in 670 different languages. But don’t assume any of God’s communication to us get’s lost in a new version’s interpretation process. Each version is simply a different writing style, used to identify with current language of readers as time progresses, just like we now use the word “you” instead of the word “thee.” And it always maintains God’s original Hebrew or Greek intent.
Which ever way you choose to view and purchase a Bible to fit your needs, make sure you thoughtfully browse the varieties.
This includes not only a variety of versions, but also of Bible sizes. Some Bibles are purely scripture. On the other hand, Application Study Bibles include additional information on understanding specific verses, helping us to apply them to our everyday lives. This additional information adds to the size of the Bible. Some Bibles also provide space to write notes.
It’s good to select several verses and read those same verses from different versions. Reading before you buy offers the opportunity to compare before purchasing. You don’t want to miss out on knowing God’s goodness, because you’re reading from a Bible you can’t understand.
I encourage you–take the time, find what Bible works best for you, then spend time daily reading:
The Greatest Book Ever!
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To learn and share the importance of keeping God’s name holy, order copies of my book, LIFT HIM UP DON’T PULL HIM DOWN, @ LULU.COM or AMAZON.COM for your next Bible study.
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I enjoyed yours as well, thank you. I now follow you.
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