Good News for All

The Bible is the main way in which God speaks to us, teaches us about himself and instructs us how to live. If we are going to live right then our minds need to be renewed. This comes about by reading what God says (Romans 12:2). Everyone should have access to a Bible. Bibles are readily available in stores and online. Electronic versions are available for your computer and smartphone. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin. Most of us do not understand those languages so it has been translated. Translation is not an exact science. It relies on the subjective opinions of the translators, so there are lots of different versions available. Though they all basically say the same things with different words and emphasis, some are better than others depending on the reader.

Electronic Resources

You can get a Bible on your computer for free. There are several ways to do this. Just type biblegateway.com into your browser to get access to Bibles in many different languages, including more than 30 English versions. This site also offers Hebrew/Greek interlinear versions so you can see the original and the translation together. it has resources to explain the literal meanings of the original words. There are cross references which help you find similar phrases or related topics. If you want to look up a word, phrase or subject, then there is a search box for that, too. This is an amazing resource, but to use it you must be connected to the internet.

Another way to get the Bible on your computer is to use e-Sword. Look up www.e-sword.net on your computer and download the basic file for installation. Once installed you can use e-Sword to load other and various free or low cost Bible versions so you can read them together. Since e-Sword resides on your computer rather than a public space, you can record notes and keep them for future reference. Like Bible Gateway it has ways to look things up and means to examine the original word meanings.

The BlueLetter Bible is an excellent free resource for your smartphone. You can download it from your app store and install a multitude of free Bible versions on your phone. Access is quick and easy, and you can set up two versions side by side to compare them as you read. Like Bible Gateway it has ways to look things up and means to examine the original word meanings.

Versions

Some people prefer a more literal word-for-word translation for study purposes. Others like something that is more free-flowing, natural and interpretive. Bear in mind that every version necessarily reflects the doctrines and opinions of the people who did the translation. With the passage of time we have been able to gain access to more resources in the original languages. Differences in these have led scholars to make small changes to the text used for translation such that there are two main streams of translation. The KJV, NKJV and related versions are based around the Textus Receptus (TR) which is more or less the text used by the original English translators for several hundred years. Most modern versions are based on some variant of the Nestles Text (NU) which relies heavily on the authority of the oldest manuscripts.

Choose a version that suits your reading style. It is better to have a version you use and enjoy than one you rarely read because it doesn't fit you well. We recommend:

• NKJV - a quite literal but still readable version that closely follows the original Hebrew and Greek of the TR. It has plenty of extra study aids and commentaries available to help explain what you read.
• NIV - a modern translation that fairly closely follows the original Hebrew and Greek of the NU but reads well because of its more interpretive nature. There are quite a lot of extra study aids available for this version as well.
• NAS, RSV, ESV, CEB - modern translations with varying quality of translation based on NU which tend to lack study aids.
• GNT, NLT - versions that are quite modern and interpretive but easy reading
• MSG - less a translation than a paraphrase, a deliberate attempt to express ideas using other words than the original, with some interesting insights
• AMP - more of a tool; for study than reading, since it uses a lot of extra words in an effort to draw out every possible nuance of meaning

You can always change to another version if you find something you prefer. It is probably a good idea to try a number of versions online to find what you like before committing to the purchase of a physical copy.

Concordance

A concordance is a cross reference of all or most of the words in the Bible. A concordance can help you find related words and phrases. Strong's and Young's are two very thorough concordances that facilitate study of the Hebrew and Greek. Other less exhaustive and much less bulky concordances are available in English. A Topical Concordance can help you find where the Bible references certain ideas even when the words don't quite match.

Bible Dictionary

A Bible Dictionary brings together what the Bible teaches by subject. It includes expert commentary to present a well rounded picture from multiple viewpoints. A Bible Dictionary often draws on outside resources, such as archaeological findings, to give background and context, or to amplify or explain what the Bible is saying.

Bible Atlas

A book of maps that helps explain the Bible. It would include maps of the Holy land at various times in history. It might include material on climate, geography, flora, fauna, or ecology. Maps might show travel routes, political boundaries, locations of cities or battles.

Commentary

A commentary is a book or set of books that seeks through expert opinion to give an explanation of what the Bible says. A commentary might endeavour to explain the meaning of a term or practice that might be obscure to anyone unfamiliar with the history. It might draw on the original languages to explain a difference in wording. It might reconcile apparent differences between the gospels by establishing a timeline and harmony. If you find something in the Bible confusing then a commentary may be helpful.