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Recommended reading for the saints
Bibles
Explanatory Notes
General Notes:Notes on Bible Translations:
- Amazon.com generally has poor (and sometimes incorrect) descriptions of Bibles. The descriptions on this page are much more detailed. They have been compiled by examining Bibles at Christian bookstores and correlating the ISBN numbers. The descriptions here have been double-checked and should be accurate; if you find any errors, please let me know ASAP.
Notes on Bible Features:
- NAS (New American Standard Version): The recommended translation for serious Bible study. A consistent, careful, relatively literal translation. According to the publishers, it "remains the most literally accurate Bible in the English language." (More publisher info) Not as "readable" as the NIV.
Updated edition: Vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure have been carefully updated for greater understanding and smoother reading.
1995 NAS update: Does not feature the pronouns 'thee' or 'thou' as the original NAS did. However, it is still a literal translation of the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.- NIV (New International Version): A very readable translation. Communicates the main ideas of biblical passages quite well (sometimes better than NAS), but not always the fine details. Good for rapid or devotional reading, but not as good for study as the NAS.
- KJV (King James Version): A fairly good and beautiful translation, but the Elizabethan English is out of date. Somewhat difficult to understand and interpret today.
- NKJV (New King James Version): An update of the KJV in modern English. Readability is between that of the NAS and NIV.
- NLT (New Living Translation): Very easy to read. More readable (and less literal) than the NIV. Good for unbelievers, new believers, or for rapid reading. (More publisher info)
- CEV (Contemporary English Version): Similar readability to NLT. Designed to be easily read aloud and easily understood when heard.
- NET (New English Translation): A new, faithful translation from the original languages. Similar readability to NIV. Contains numerous translation notes. Available free on the internet; may be downloaded to PC's or Palm Pilots. Printed copies may also be purchased.
- Witness or Economy Bibles: Generally paperback, with few notes or study helps. Inexpensive but not very rugged. Good as a gift or a secondary translation for reference.
- Gift & Award Bibles: Intended as personal Bibles. Generally have a presentation page. Generally have inexpensive, flexible, relatively rugged bindings. Often have cross references and other basic helps, but no extensive notes. Good as a first Bible, a gift, or a secondary translation for reference.
- Pew Bibles: Hardback, rugged.
- Reference Bibles: Intended as personal Bibles. Available with long-lasting leather bindings. Generally have extensive cross references, maps, and footnotes. A good choice for a primary, everyday Bible. A large style is generally recommended for this use; the thin versions sacrifice either paper thickness, type size, margin width, or study helps.
- Study Bibles: Contain extensive study notes, cross references, appendices, maps, etc. to better understand the Scriptures. Available with long-lasting leather bindings.
- Red Letter: The words of Christ are in red. Many people like this, but I find it distracting. (Further, it implies that the words of Christ are more "inspired" or more important than the rest of the inspired Scriptures.) Bibles below are marked either "red letter" or "black letter" where known.
- Imitation Leather/Leatherflex: Textured vinyl or heavy paper. More rugged than paper, but less than bonded leather.
- Bonded Leather: Pieces of real leather, bonded together with latex. Fairly durable, but not as much as real leather.
- Genuine Leather: A single piece of leather, generally pigskin or cowhide. Should last a lifetime.
- Top-Grain Leather: A single piece of leather from the top of the hide. Finer grain (better quality) than "genuine leather."
Inexpensive Bibles
NAS Economy Bible
(Foundation Publications, paper)
$4.50
Updated NAS, maps, concordance, easy-to-read type.
NAS Gift & Award Bible
(Foundation Publications, Imitation Leather, 5-1/4" x 8")
$7.20
Black letter edition, updated NAS text, two-column format. Presentation Page, Concordance, 10 Full-page Maps, translators' notes, no cross-references.
NAS Gift & Award Bible
(Broadman/Holman, Imitation Leather, 1 x 8 x 5 3/8)
Red letter, concordance, maps, topical subheadings, alternate readings, presentation page, paragraph format, harmony of the gospels, dictionary, survey of Bible books
$12.60
black
NAS Pew Bible
(Broadman/Holman, Hardback, 8 1/16 x 5 1/4)
Red letter, Small concordance, Topical Subheadings, Alternate Readings, Presentation Page, Survey of the Bible Books
$13.50
NIV Witness Bible
(Zondervan, Paper, 5.25" x 8" x 1.25")
Includes: How to Read and Enjoy Your Bible, Maps, Presentation page.
$5.40
NIV Gift & Award Bible
(Zondervan, Imitation Leather, 5.25" x 8.25" x 1.25")
Red Letter, presentation page, book introductions, summary of Jesus' ministry, directory of 150 famous Bible stories, list of parables, list of key memory verses, color maps
$7.20
NIV Pew Bible
(Zondervan, Hardcover, 896 pages, 5.5" x 8.5" x 1")
Subject headings and translators' footnotes, printed on quality Bible paper.
$9.90
NKJV Economy Bible
(Nelson/Word, paper, 1 1/2" x 6 3/4" x 4 1/8")
Small type on newsprint. Includes "How God Can Help You" section, and charts of the parables and miracles of Jesus.
$5.40
NKJV Gift & Award Bible
(Nelson/Word, Leatherflex, 5.5" x 8.25" x 1")
Red Letter, presentation page, illustrated dictionary/concordance, topical subject headings, color maps
$7.20
NKJV Pew Bible
(Nelson/Word, hardcover, 5.5" x 8.25" x 1")
Red letter, topical subject headings.
$7.20
NLT, "The Book"
(Tyndale)
Plain text. Black letter (?). Introductory overview, lists of great chapters and stories, "Where Can I Find It" section, and key topics. Geared for unbelievers or new believers.
NLT Bible
(Tyndale, hardcover)
Two column text with translators' footnotes at bottom of page, topical subheadings throughout the text, presentation page, maps, red letter.
$18.00
CEV Bible
(Nelson, 1996, paper)
$8.80
Reference Bibles
NAS Side-Column Reference Bible
Black letter, 82 page concordance, 10 black and white maps, side-column cross-references and translator's notes. Updated NAS text (1995).
6 1/4" x 9 1/4" x 1 1/2"
(Foundation Publications)
Hardcover
$26.00
Bonded Leather
$40.00
Genuine Leather
$52.00
NAS Classic Reference Bible
(Zondervan, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2")
Red letter, large clear type, extensive updated NASB concordance, 8 pages of full color maps, 14 in-text maps. Introductions and outlines of each book. Verse-by-vese format with paragraph markers. Extensive center-column reference system with references based on key words, phrases, and concepts allows for detailed study. Promises from the Bible, Perspectives from the Bible.
Hardcover
$20.00
Bonded Leather
$32.00
Top-Grain Leather
$40.00
NAS Updated UltraThin Bible
(Foundation Publications)
Red letter, concordance, 8 full-page black and white maps, center-column cross-references, paragraph format.
5 1/2" x 8" x 3/4"
Bonded Leather
$24.00
Genuine Leather
$32.00
NAS Updated Slimline Reference Bible
(World Bibles)
Red letter, 1995 NASB update, concordance, maps, center-column cross-references, easy-to-read print, verse-by-verse format with paragraph markers.
5" x 7" x 3/4"
Bonded Leather
$18.00
Genuine Leather
$24.00
NIV Classic Reference Bible
Red letter, concordance, maps, center-column cross-references.
5 1/2" x 8 1/2" x 1 1/4"
Hardcover
$20.00
Bonded Leather
$36.00
NIV UltraThin Reference Bible
(Holman)
Black leter, presentation page, concordance, full color maps, center-column references.
5 1/2" x 8" x 1/2"
Bonded Leather
$24.00
Genuine Leather
$32.00
Study Bibles
Ryrie Study Bible
Charles Ryrie
(Moody Press)
The most popular study Bible available. Many excellent and trustworthy notes to assist Bible study and interpretation. Introductions, annotations, outlines, marginal references, harmony of the gospels, synopsis of Bible doctrine, maps, charts, diagrams, timelines, concordance, cross references. The Expanded Edition features additional notes (10,000 total), in-text graphics, wider margins, expanded topical index of Scripture, and section on church history.
NAS, Bonded Leather, Black Letter
$54.00
NAS Expanded Edition, Hardcover, Red Letter
$32.00
NAS Expanded Edition, Hardcover, Red Letter, Indexed
$37.00
NAS Expanded Edition, Bonded Leather, Red Letter
$54.00
NAS Expanded Edition, Genuine Leather, Red Letter
$80.00
NIV Expanded Edition, Hardcover, Red Letter
$32.00
NIV Expanded Edition, Hardcover, Red Letter, Indexed
$37.00
NIV Expanded Edition, Bonded Leather, Red Letter
$54.00
NIV Expanded Edition, Genuine Leather, Red Letter
$80.00
International Inductive Study Bible
Kay Arthur
Inductive Bible study guide, book introductions and summaries, historical and cultural information, maps, charts, timelines, wide margins for notes.
NAS Hardcover
$34.00
NAS Bonded Leather
$75.00
NAS Bonded Leather, Indexed
$82.00
Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible
Spiros Zodhiates
A word study Bible. Codes give Strong's numbers and grammatical notes. Greek and Hebrew lexicons are included. Red letter, concordance, maps.
NAS Hardcover
$36.00
NAS Hardcover, Indexed
$40.00
NAS Bonded Leather
$48.00
NAS Genuine Leather
$56.00
MacArthur Study Bible
John MacArthur
Black letter, over 20,000 study notes, outline of systematic theology, 200-page topical index, timelines, over 20 maps, numerous charts.
NKJV Hardcover
$32.00
NKJV Hardcover, Large Print
$40.00
NKJV Bonded Leather
$48.00
NKJV Bonded Leather, Indexed
$54.00
Companion Bible
E.W. Bullinger
One of the most complete study Bibles available, by a Bible scholar of the last century. Detailed book outlines, 198 appendices, chronological charts, notes on original language. Especially good on literary structure and figures of speech. Unfortunately, only available in KJV.
KJV Hardcover
$44.00
KJV Bonded Leather
$64.00
Pocket Bibles
NAS Pocket Bible
(World Bible, bonded leather, 3.5 x 5 x 3/4)
Red letter, updated NASB text, footnotes, presentation page. Gold edges/florentine fillet, subject headlines, India-thin paper. No study helps. Comes with a snap flap or zipper cover for durability. Small print; not recommended for people with poor eyesight.
Snap-flap cover, black
$20.00
Snap-flap cover, burgundy
$20.00
Zipper cover, black
$22.00
NIV Franklin Bookman Pocket Bible
$100.00
A pocket Bible that will survive being carried in a pocket every day. Cannot get "dog-eared." Has basic searching capability.
Audio Bibles
A great way to "redeem the time" during the morning commute or while working around the house.
NAS Bible
(Christian Duplications Intl.)
Dramatized. Unabridged. Read by E.W. "Red" Jeffries.
Entire Bible on 48 audiocassettes
$90.00
New Testament on 12 audiocassettes
$27.00
New Testament on 16 audio CD's
$63.00
NIV Bible: Bible for Today
(World Bible Pub.)
Unabridged. Dramatized, with instrumental background music. Read by Stephen Johnston.
Entire Bible on 48 audiocassettes
(World Bible Pub., 1992)
$54.00
New Testament on 12 audiocassettes
(World Bible Pub., 1994)
$21.00
Complete Bible on 55 audio CD's
(World Bible Pub., 1997)
$190.00
New Testament on 14 audio CD's
(World Bible Pub., 1993)
$60.00
NIV Bible
(Zondervan, 1995)
Dramatized. Unabridged. Read by multiple voices.
Entire Bible on 48 audiocassettes
$81.00
Bible Software
BibleReader for Palm OS and Windows CE
Olive Tree Software
Numerous translations available; some free.
Olive Tree
Bible Software for Palm OS and Windows CE
Laridian Software
Numerous translations available, including NASB.
Laridian
NET Bible
free
A new, faithful translation from the originals. Includes many translation notes. May be viewed on the internet or downloaded to PC's or Palm Pilots.
NET Bible
Online Bible for Windows or Mac
Highly recommended for everyone with a computer. Excellent and easy to use. Portions may be downloaded for free!
Includes:
- 12 English translations (including KJV, RSV, ASV, Darby); NIV, NAS, NKJV may be purchased later,
- 40 foreign translations,
- Original Greek and Hebrew texts,
- Lexicons (BDB and Thayer),
- Matthew Henry's concise commentary,
- Robertson's word pictures,
- Extensive notes, cross-references, and maps
More information and free downloads:
CD ROM for Windows
$53.00
CD ROM for Mac
$45.00
Get it at CBD
CD ROM Deluxe for Mac
$120.00--includes NIV, NAS, NKJV
Get it at CBD
Bible Link for Windows
(Edwin Software)
$19.95
An innovative product, different from other Bible software. This links Microsoft Word to numerous Bible translations and helps, effectively "hyperlinking" an entire document to the Bible and Bible helps. Designed and written by saints at Hillview and Grace Bible Chapels. Requires Microsoft Word on a Windows platform.
Edwin Software
BibleWorks for Windows
(Hermeneutika)
$300.00
The premier Bible software on the PC platform for advanced students. Includes original languages and advanced searching features. Allows detailed searches of grammatical constructions in the original languages.
Get it at CBD
Accordance for Mac
(Gramcord Institute)
about $250.00 (depending on features)
"The Cadillac of Bible software." The premier Bible software on any platform; more features and flexibility than BibleWorks. Includes original languages and advanced searching features. Allows detailed searches of grammatical constructions in the original languages.
Gramcord
Linguist's Software Scholar's Packages for Windows or Mac
(Linguist's Software)
$250.00 to $400.00 (depending on features)
Contains original language texts with grammatical tags, original language fonts, and numerous English translations. Texts may be used with most word processors (e.g. MS Word). "Anytext" search engine available for Mac platform.
Linguist's Software
Last modified August 8, 2000 by Kirk Bertsche, KBertsche@aol.com
