2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the Authorised (King James) Version of the Bible, one of the first full versions of the Bible in English and certainly the most influential translation of the Bible in Britain over the last four centuries. Biblefresh is an initiative aimed at helping people to engage with the Bible and applying it to their lives.
Reading the Bible can be hard work and it’s definitely not easy to find time to read it every day. Even when we do read it regularly, it’s very easy to read the same passages and miss out large chunks of the Bible. So, here are three things I think make that easier:
- Bible translation – it helps to have a translation of the Bible you find engaging and easy to understand;
- Having a Bible-reading plan – whether this be Bible-reading notes or a study guide;
- Knowing how what you’re reading fits in with the Bible narrative.
I’m sure there are other things that can help too, like reading through the Bible with someone else, or trying to read the Bible at the same time each day, but I think the three above make the biggest difference to me.
So, let’s start with the Bible translation. There are two broad types of Bible translation: dynamic equivalence and formal equivalence. Formal equivalence translations, such as the King James Version (KJV) and the English Standard Version (ESV), are more literal translations, translating word for word; dynamic equivalence translations such as the New Living Translation (NLT) and The Message are less literal, translating thought-for-thought.
Many people find dynamic equivalence translations easier to read, but formal equivalence translations are much better for solid Bible study. I almost always use the ESV as I find it very easy to read, but it is still a literal translation. However, I do also quite like the NLT as it is a very easy translation for most people to read, with engaging use of language too.
Having a plan for studying the Bible is also a good idea. There are many ways to do this. You could use Bible-reading notes, published by Scripture Union and The Good Book Company. I sometimes use Encounter With God. You can also sign up for daily emails from WordLive, although I don’t really find this works for me – the emails get lost in all my other emails!
There are also plenty of set study guides that you can work through – I’m currently reading through the ESV Study Bible plan, which takes you through the Bible in a year, giving you readings from four sections of the Bible each day: the Psalms and Wisdom Literature, Pentateuch and History of Israel, Chronicles and Prophets, and Gospels and Epistles.
This plan and a diverse range of other plans, are all available on the YouVersion website, where you can keep track of your plan. You can also synchronise this plan with applications on BlackBerry, iPhone, Android and other mobile platforms too, so almost anyone can use it – and best of all, it’s free!
Finally, knowing the Bible narrative is also important. It always helps to know how everything fits together. There are a number of ways you can do this, but one way, in linking in with Bible reading notes, would be to take up the E100 Challenge. This challenge (also available on the YouVersion website) takes you through 100 Bible passages – 50 from the Old Testament, 50 from the New Testament – so you can see the big picture of God’s Word, and form a daily Bible reading habit in the process. It’s perhaps a great way of starting out if you struggle to read the Bible on a regular basis.
I’m sure there are many other things that could be said, but that’s certainly what I find most helpful!
It’s worth noting that the ESV team have a lot of interesting stuff on their website, not least the excellent ESV Online version (esvonline.org). They also have a number of Bible reading plans available in multiple electronic formats, including audio Bible delivered as a podcast.
Yes, the ESV Online site is very good, the only reason I didn’t mention it myself was to avoid making the post too long – but you’re right, it is very good, and if you own an ESV study Bible, you can get free access to extra resources like Bible maps. The ability to store notes on passages is also really good and there is an accompanying iOS app too.
The only thing missing from it is the ability to sync your iOS notes and bookmarks with your online account.
I love YouVersion.
Always great to meet someone who thinks dynamics need to be the Bible of choice in churches, and I’m totally with you on ESV – NIV, just say no.
I’m not sure I’d say dynamic equivalence needs to be the Bible of choice in churches, but certainly, it should be considered more. It depends to some degree on teaching style.
The NIV? A poor translation.