Every second of reading a Bible means every second of self-improvement and peace. If you are a religious and faith-believing person then you know how reading a Bible brings peace in your life. It’s not just peace, it’s the knowledge carved in every single page of a Bible that deepens our faith in God. The Bible is an arduous book that is written in an intricate language with knowledge oozing out from every single word. Those who want to strengthen their fate in God must read and decipher the hidden and deep meaning behind the words carefully written in the Bible. In the article, we will highlight the Best Study Bible to Study and Grow.
It is important to know what the Bible is offering to teach. But it’s easier said than done, picking up a Bible for the first time or after a long time to understand the details may feel like an impossible task. The words, the language, the meaning, you can read all of these but what about understanding and then interpreting them?
No doubt, Bible reading is an intimidating task!
But no need to worry. There are plenty of resources out there that will help you better understand the words coming from God. These words will make you feel closer to God. One of the best resources that will help you decipher the Bible is a good study Bible. It has a limitless variety of different translations and versions to choose from. All this deepens your faith and will help you grow in your faith. Having a hold of the best study bible will make you fall in love with your faith even more.
What is the Bible?
The whole Bible is divided into two sections– the Old Testament and New Testament. Understanding these two means understanding the whole Bible. Some bibles are further divided into subsections to focus on one particular biblical book. These divisions proved to be helpful for Bible beginners who were unsure of where to start the Bible to get the maximum knowledge. The Bible is a vast book, you can’t study the whole book. You need to narrow down the part of the Bible that you want to study in-depth. That’s why the Bible is divided into two sections, old and new testament. After you know what part of the Bible you want to study first, you can easily find a suitable study Bible that will help you further interpret and understand scripture.
What is a Study Bible?
The original texts and manuscripts of the Bible were written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. Today we have several different translations of the Bible that are written in different kinds of languages. But even the translation texts are complex. Studying the Bible is never easy and it takes true dedication and guidance to fully understand the teachings and messages. That’s exactly why we need this and the reason why they are so important.
How does the Study Bible help?
A Study Bible contains details about all kinds of Bible with additional study and guidance resources. The study Bible comes in many forms to make you understand the true meaning of the Bible. They can take the form of indexes, cross-references, short lessons, relatable essays, tons of definitions from different sources. Even maps can help you read the Bible in a language that is easy for you.
Reading a study Bible feels like reading the original Bible. The only difference is that in a study Bible you are getting the help of biblical scholar guidance. This will help you understand the scriptures thoroughly.
Why is the Bible so difficult to understand?
The Bible was written ages ago- an age we know nothing about. The time, place, and culture written in the Bible are not something we are familiar with. Since our modern times are so different from the ancient culture. That’s why it gets so difficult to understand the scenes and descriptions written in the Bible. It’s getting difficult to picture the historic events happening in the Bible and even the language used is an ancient one–the reason why translations became a priority in Bible reader’s lives.
Translations try their best to follow the original sacred words closely, the language can be difficult to follow. Reading the Bible is like reading 19th-century literature texts, you don’t understand much but you know they are amazing. But nowadays, there are translations written in modern English, it is advisable for beginners to start with these then move to translations that are connected more with the original words of God. A study Bible allows for a deeper study of the Bible and helps you go through the biblical events more realistically.
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Types of Bible Translation
Before deciding on buying the best study Bible for you it is important to know what kind of translation will best suit your understanding.
There are TWO primary types of translations.
Essentially Literal Bible Translations
These translations are those that stay connected to the original Greek or Hebrew word, then translate that word into English as literally as possible. These translations may seem a little difficult to understand for modern English readers because the translation tries to stay as close as possible to the original texts. Essentially Literal Bible Translations are considered to be the best because this translation tries to stay as close to the original as possible while making readable texts. Their goal is to simplify God’s words a little and not change them for the readers.
Dynamic Equivalence Translations
This translation converts the whole Bible into simple words. Doing so sometimes leads to a completely new definition of some words. That may change how we otherwise would have interpreted the Bible. Dynamic Equivalence Translations do not work in translating each word individually; instead, they translate the thoughts behind a sentence and interest them in their own thoughts and phrases.
This translation tends to change the original meaning. It might push the readers to create their own interpretation of a sentence. After knowing what translation works for you the best, you can buy your study Bible accordingly. So, it is important to choose the right study Bible because they have the power to control your faith-related thoughts and can take you deeper into God’s world intellectually and spiritually.
Which is the Best Study Bible Translation?
Here are some of the best study Bible that will dive you into the Bible’s world.
The ESV Study Bible
The ESV Study Bible was released in 2008 and since then has been on the best study Bible list due to its amazingly written texts and phrases. This study Bible has received incredible awards and praises from Bible experts. This Bible is the most popular Bible ever published, they are known for their simple yet to the point Bible translation.
Many Christian teachers use this study Bible for teaching their students. It reflects the true essence of the Bible without having to change the meaning of the words written in it. In March 2009, the ESV Study Bible became the first Bible ever to win the Christian Book of the Year Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), and it also received the prize for the best Bible. The ESV Study Bible is the ultimate Bible ever created in the market.
The Life Application Study Bible
It is one of the most helpful Bible out there. Doesn’t matter if you are a Bible Beginner or a frequent reader-the life application study bible will help you the most in all aspects needed to understand the bible completely. This bible can be 100% trusted to deliver the true meaning of the original bible and the huge popularity made them a top-selling, award-winning study Bible.
In 2019, the Bible was updated and expanded in its third edition. It was done to add more sections of the Bible with fresh and more related phrases. The life application study bible help readers understand the words of God that will keep them motivated and positive in your tough times. To learn all the chapters separately, there are study notes at the bottom of each page, which will help you a lot.
In 2020, the NTL version of the Life Application Study Bible ranked among the winners of the Bible category in the Christian Book of the Year Awards by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). This popular study Bible, published by Tyndale House Publishers comes in many forms of translation.
Quest Study Bible
Quest Study Bible is not for beginners because they are designed for readers who have already read the bible and now want to understand the different sections in detail. This bible will take you deeper into knowing God’s world and its stories.
Quest study bible is pieced together with the articles written by most trusted scholars. While reading this you will find the answers to the topics that are the complicated ones in the original Bible. This study Bible focuses on questions that you may have and provides insight and also provokes thought.
This study bible includes sidebar notes written in simple language. This helps to make you understand the complex passages. Quest study bible is the perfect tool for you to connect deeply with the words of God.
HarperCollins Study Bible
We know how popular Harper Collins publishing houses are all over the world. They produce top-quality books and that includes their study bible. The HarperCollins study bible is a student version bible that can guide anyone to travel safely in the path of faith, as a result deepening and strengthening their faith in God. The New Standard version of this study bible imitates the original texts and verses of the Bible closely.
The Bible includes introductions and notes for tough topics for those looking to take a deep dive into the Bible. All the notes and essays are written by Biblical scholars, so they are 100% trusted and it also includes charts and maps.
The Jeremiah Study Bible
The name itself gives a sacred vibe. It is not just the name this is one of the best Study Bibles available. The Jeremiah Study Bible is written by a well-known pastor and author, Dr David Jeremiah. This study bible main goal is to make their readers understand and interpret the Bible thoroughly. All the texts are written in a way that it is easy to understand the original verses of the Bible. The introductions and study notes are thorough and provide an in-depth study of the text.
They also include additional resources such as highlighted keywords, sidebars, full-colour maps, and easy-to-read print. This study bible is designed for everyone, even if you are a beginner or want to study in-depth, this will guide you in the right direction.
Compass: The study Bible for navigating your life
True to its name, this book helps readers connect with God and God’s world. It shows them the right direction. Also, tells them how walking in the right path will eventually lead them to destinations they dreamt of. Compass study bible is written in a translation known as the Voice translation which means the original words and thoughts of the bible are translated into simple language.
Compass study bible covered one of the most complicated topics of the bible that is ‘Revelation’. That’s why Compass is so popular. They have translated the Revelation nicely and in a comprehensive manner that makes readers understand this difficult topic easily.
If you want to understand the bible from a different and unique point of view and still want to keep connected to the original texts, then the Compass Study Bible is the one for you. Compass is best for anyone who wants to take a fresh journey towards the holy path to reach God’s world properly.
The starting point study bible
An excellent Study bible for those who are new believers. Also, for those who want a fresh start in their journey of getting close to Christ. As the name suggests, it will show you the exact starting point that will help you build the foundation of faith. You can only move to the deep study bible after going through the basics, and this study bible will provide you with the basics of the Bible. There are many high-quality study Bibles that can assist you on your journey to deepening your faith in God and you can always start with one study bible and try out another, just make sure whatever you choose, suits your journey well.
