I have heard there are many different versions of the Bible. Someone I knew once who took a Bible study class said when she joined there were some questions they had her answer, like her thoughts on a few issues, etc. and then were able to pick out what Bible she would probably click with best.

Does anyone know of that? Is there a "quiz" online that helps you pick what Bible you might connect with best? Are the different versions all that different from each other? I just grabbed a regular ol' Bible from the dollar store. I think it says King James version. Isn't that your basic Bible???

Next - where to start? Do you start from the beginning and get reading? Or read certain parts during certain seasons? Or just open it up randomly each day and a read a page?

And what are everyone's thoughts here about the "lost" books - like those of Thomas and Mary Magdalen, etc.??

Well, I'll jump right in and tell you what I know. There are lots of different versions of the Bible. Here is a link that I found that gives you a comparison of the different English Bibles: http://www.geocities.com/bible_translation/compare.htm

The King James Version is one of the "main" Bibles today. It was actually translated in England, so the terms they use are somewhat different than how we speak. There is the NKJV (New King James Version) which is an updated, more modern version of the King James Bible.

In my experience, the NIV version is one of the easiest to understand. The Message is great, too, and is written in modern English much like how we speak as Americans.

I wouldn't recommend starting at the beginning when reading. I would recommend starting with one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) and then reading Acts and Romans. Here is a link with some different Bible reading plans that you can select from: http://www.allaboutgod.com/Bible-Reading-Plan.htm

As for the "missing" books - I wouldn't worry about those. In my opinion (and according to what I learned from my Bible professors in college), the Bible was put together by a council of godly men and is together in it's entirety. I'm also sure that if God wanted those books included He would have taken care of that. Just my thoughts.

I hope this helps a little. Please feel free to email or PM me anytime!

Thank you for those links. I will look into them closely. I just checked out the first one real quick. One that said it was a very literal translation....I'll look into that version....

Can I ask a question that might be stupid, I hope it's not offending though. Do most Christians think of God as male only. Or do you think of God as gender-neutral? Or ... ?? I don't know??? This is part of something confusing to me. And as a pagan, I was very much goddess-oriented. As a child, I had trouble relating to a male God. I did used to pray to Mary a lot though. Right now, I seem to be doing okay relating to Jesus (which I actually have to say, that surprises me a bit, although it's a nice surprise). But I still feel a bit of a stranger to "God."

One thing I read online once said that the original Bible (whatever language it was first written in), the word they used for God was a word that did not mean male or female (or it could mean either, or both??). And so that sort of made some sense to me, in a way. Although, then of course there are all kinds of things online these days.... I saw a website that seemed to say that the Holy Spirit was once considered feminine. Then I started thinking - I could grasp the concept of the Holy Trinity well in sort of thinking of Holy Spirit, not as a female, so to speak, but with female energy, and God with male energy, but they are one in the same, and Jesus, their son, our Lord. But then I worry I am putting my pagan spin on it. I gets a bit confusing. I don't want to be disrespectful to other Christians, or above all, to God/Holy Spirit.

There is still so much that confuses me and that I need to learn more about. But a few things that have clicked really make me feel okay about all of it - okay about having questions and not knowing,.

This is another random question - should I be posting these all as separate posts? - But...when you think of Jesus, do you ever feel him on one side of you more than the other? Just a silly little curiosity question.

I'll stop rambling now. : )

I agree with Jill. NIV is easier reading. Also look for the Full Life Study Bible (NIV) - there are sections in there that help explain parts of the bible.

If you don't know where to start, I personally suggest you start with Proverbs, then go to Psalms.

You may want to ask your clergy if they have a study sheet to help you navigate through the bible. There are some that will put the story (per se) in cronilogical order - this is something I have heard about, but don't have one - I'd love to have one myself.

I don't have a study routine and I do jump around. A lot of times, I like to continue where the pastor left off for that service.

The New Testament, is of course, about Jesus, but there are some awesome stories in the Old Testament - I enjoy Samuel, and Exodus has helped me through some hard times.

HTH~

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I use the NIV bible but also have copies of King JAmes, English standered bible and my hub has the beginers bible and a surendipity bible that has studies in it. I like to cross reference sometimes =)

It is wonderful to read the Bible! I need to get back to my Bible reading . You can find tons of translations online at e-sword http://www.e-sword.net/bibles.html - it is a free site where you can download most versions of the Bible.
Another good online resource is http://www.blueletterbible.org - it has a concordance with it, and at http://www.biblegateway.com/ you can search in many different Bible versions. The Recovery Version is also available online http://online.recoveryversion.org/index2.asp and has lots of great footnotes. I also like this site that answers questions about the Bible http://www.gotquestions.org/

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I like the New Living Translation and also the Amplified bible, both in the study versions. The footnotes make it easier to get the full meaning out of the passages and it is nice having a concordance in the back and not having to purchase one seperately.

I believe that God is male- Remember that He created man in HIS image, and then He created man a woman to be his partner. As far as where to start in reading the Bible, I started with the Book of Genesis and read through to the Book of Revalation. Not only is the Bible Gods' written word to us of His love, but also it's a chronology of events that happened in time- so starting from Genesis and How God created everything to the end times of Revalation-I never get tired of reading the Bible or of learning from it.I have the Kj version, updated and that works really well.

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I like the women's NIV and I started w/ Proverbs- easy for to read and undestands. Then I joined a study group.

GOOD LUCK!!!

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Some Bibles are translated word for word and some are translated thought for thought. The better translations are those that fall somewhere in the middle. You will want to choose a Bible that has been scholarly reviewed for accuracy in translation.

For my everyday reading, I like the NLT (New Living Translation) which is more thought-for-thought. Lately, though, I've been using the HarperCollins NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) which is more word-for-word.

I don't like The Message at all. Although I like Eugene Peterson, The Message is his personal translation of the Bible into "current" language. I don't care for the cliches and slang that is used. Just a personal choice - I know lots of people who love it.

A lot of people suggest starting with the Gospel of John - I think it is too deep to start. I like Luke because it is more logically set up (Luke being a doctor and all).

My best advice is to start with Luke and Acts (you'll get a good overview of the life of Christ and the early church's history). Then Romans. Don't be afraid of the Old Testament. Pray, pray, pray for God's guidance. Go slow - there's no rush. Take breaks and really think about what is being said. Keep a journal or notebook to write down whatever God brings to you as insights and revelations about Himself. Write down questions you might have about things - questions are a good thing!

I've read some of the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books which are interesting but I don't consider them to be the inspired words of God for Biblical guidance.

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Hi moonthatshe loves. I really appreciated your honest questions. There's good advice here about choosing a Bible translation.

I personally struggled a lot in the past with the image of God as exclusively male, and I've been a churched Christian all of my life. I can imagine how hard it must be coming from a pagan and goddess-oriented background to step into what many see as a patriarchal religion.

I believe that God does not have genitalia, and that his personality covers the spectrum of what we think of as male and female traits. We know that he refers to himself as our Father, and that he sent his Son to live on Earth as a human male. However, there are also many images of God in the Bible in which he is referred to as a female. This page has some of them: http://www.womensordination.org/pages/art_Images as does this one: http://www.pngoc.com/content.php?r=&c=57 and this website http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/fre ... cles.shtml has many scholarly articles on that topic, as well as other topics. I would take all of these materials and prayerfully sift through them, always submitting yourself to God's truth above any human research and bias. As in everything that originates with humans, there is error in Christian perspective, too.

Did you know that one of the names of God that he gives us as revelation of himself is El Shaddai? It means the many breasted one. This article talks about it about halfway down: http://www.wineskins.org/filter.asp?SID ... co_key=462

I should also add that my struggle with a patriarchal God and church and submission issues (I knew the Bible was truth, but had a hard time with certain things nonetheless) ended, ironically, with a book called Liberated Through Submission http://www.amazon.com/Liberated-Through ... 1565077202 I learned to see gender roles in human life as just that - roles that are assigned to us, not to make us inferior or superior, but to allow us to function together. The book explains that everybody on earth is part of a hierarchy of authority and submission, including men. It's really very interesting and.... liberating.

At the center, though, is Christ. As you pursue truth, I hope you will not allow a side issue to detract from your pursuit of the Biblical CHRIST. Whatever your questions may be, when you you have Him in focus, those questions and answers will lead you into a greater love relationship with Him.

I'm so happy for you in your new faith!

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you picked two of the 3 I read...
I also like the spirit filled bible too
love the Message to just get it in today's terms but for study and really getting into the word I use NIV and spirit filled

Tara

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Before you read, it is important to ask the Holy Spirit's guidance. "To open your eyes so you will see great and mighty things." That's a rough paraphrase from a verse in the Old Testament. Can't recall the exact reference.

It's amazing to me how the Holy Spirit will lead me to just the right passage, picked out exactly for whatever situation I'm in!

If the Bible verse especially touches me, I will underline it and write a thought beside it or write "promise" and the date. When I come across the verse later, it helps me to remember what God has done in my life and how He has answered prayer.

I read a variety of translations and a variety of Scriptures everyday, as I am able. In the morning, I read one of the gospels, mid-morning I read one of the Old Testament prophets, If I get to it in the afternoons I read one of the New Testament letters, and before bedtime I read one of the history books from the Old Testament and/or the Psalms or wisdom books.

I can't say I do this everyday, but it helps to keep a Bible in each room, especially the kitchen, so I can read a little, even if it's for a minute or two.

To me, the Bible is as important as breathing and eating. In fact, since I've been reading the Bible while eating, I've lost weight! Praise to Him because this is His work, not mine!

I don't always do this but it's extremely helpful--at night I would read a Psalm, choose a passage that struck me, memorize a short passage of it, say two or three words, and call it my mission for the next day. It helped me focus and keep on track.

Also, the Psalms are great for praying. Read one verse and then pray it back to God, whatever comes to your mind and heart. It is a very beautiful, interactive way to read Scripture.

Hope that helps! The Bible is an amazing book! The bestseller of all time! And life changing!

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I've read lots of different translations but one I havent seen mentioned here and that I think is really good is the English Standard Version. This is a "word for word" translation which I think is so important these days and I think it's easier to read and understand than the NIV. Here's a website that offers a comparison http://www.esv.org .

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hello everyone,
Myself as someone stated. Have to ask the Lord for guidance before I start reading. With so many things going on,my mind sometimes start wondering all over the place. The NKJV Study Bible is easy for me to understand. It explains very well.

Have a bless day,
Francine

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Hi!

I use King James Version and New King James Version. When first starting out you could read a Child's Bible, there is no shame in this.

God is a Spirit, but took the form of a Man..Jesus Christ His Son. Man was created first. If you struggle with the fact that God is male, then be honest with Him and ask for His help. There is no shame in asking God for help when you come to Him with an honest and pure heart. He is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions [url]Hebrews 4:12 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se ... ersion=KJV[/url] and there are no secrets from Him.

There are many bible concordances that you can chose from and those are divided up into subjects/topics. You may want to get one or look online for a free version, to help you with your studies and help you come to a full understanding of Who God is.

I want to encourage you to ask the Lord to help make His voice heard, and that the voices (suggestions,ect) of others that are not inline with His Word, to be drowned out.

Christian online podcasts I listen to everyday:
http://www.ReviveOurHearts.com
http://www.JoyceMeyer.org

I would find a prayer partner and hold each other accountable for your daily walk, this is such a huge help for many people.

Please ask any questions you may have, no one here will make fun of you or think less of you!


Have a great day!
Stephanie

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I like the amplified best...new living is one I use too. However, when I really want to study, I use the King James so I can use reference materials to learn the original Greek and Hebrew meanings of words and phrases. Honestly, when you study and look up words on your own to find meaning, not only do you learn more and discover things you would have missed if you didn't...you also begin to enjoy God's Word and look at it as a treasure chest. Hmmm...what will I find today, Lord, hidden in Your Word! LOL! At least that is how it works for me.

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