Resources
Bible
Sources
“What’s a bookstore, Mommie? The number of independent booksellers in the United States dropped 40% from 1995 to 2000. 1 and by the turn of the millennium, e-books began to replace print editions. By a dozen years into the new century, only one of the national brick-and-mortar stores remained.” 1
While digital Bibles and Bible apps have become easily accessible in the Digital Age, there is a certain physicality to having a print-copy Bible in your hands. Think permanence just like what it represents. Yes, the digital is also the Word of God but it doesn’t ‘feel’ quite the same.
For those who want the convenience of a digital Bible, let us recommend our personal favorite, The Blue Letter Bible. I have it on my desktop (yes, almost all Bible quotes on this site are footnoted to the BLB), my tablet, my laptop and my smartphone. It not only has 40 versions of the Bible but also extensive ‘helps’ which include an impressive search engine, interlinear, cross-references, commentaries, dictionaries, original text resources, reading plans, daily devotionals and more. And it is Free but donations are appreciated.
https://www.blueletterbible.org
For those without a bookstore but who want to purchase a Bible, I have used Christian Book Distributors since my local storefront closed. They have an extensive online store and always have a wide selection of Bibles on sale.
https://www.christianbook.com
Now, just a word about which Bible to buy. Under Revelation<Bible Translation we have mentioned some of the more popular versions. KJV King James Version is available and is the earliest full Bible in English but unless you are fluent in 1611 Old English you probably will want one of the more recent editions of KJV. Another widely accepted version in modern English is the NIV New International Version which is possibly more readable. We personally have appreciated the NASB New American Standard Bible and now the ESV English Standard Bible. These latter two are more translations than versions of the earlier Bibles and have more accurate phrasings and tenses than some others. BUT. Our favorite word. The best Bible is the one you read. Bibles are meant to be read and worn out! You can buy a Bible for less than $5 (I’m online at CBD looking at a ESV Economy softcover Bible for $2.29) or many churches or Christian organizations would be thrilled to give you a Bible to keep and read.
Versions, especially among the ones mentioned, will not vary on everything that is important. Yes, there are some differences in style and phrasing but nothing different about what is important as Truth. Don’t get caught up in minutia or ‘straining a gnat to swallow a camel’ — pay attention to what is important and not the inconsequential.