What version of the Bible should I buy??

[Corie]

I didn't realize that there are so many versions of the Bible.

I would like to buy a Bible for my 18 year old daughter. She has gotten involved with our church youth group.
We are Methodist.

Someone suggested the King James version of the Bible but then someone else suggested the New International Version because
it is easier to read & understand.

What are your thoughts??

[marinkitty]

I prefer the NIV. It's much more approachable than the KJ but not as watered down as the Good News version. It's a nice middle ground. I was given one in high school and still prefer it to any others (we are Congregational, not so far from Methodist).

[AnnieW625]

I am Catholic and went to a college group at a Baptist church and I found the NIV easy to understand. I actually read it more than my Catholic bible.


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[klwa]

Most UMC pastors are going to use NIV, NRSV, or Common English. CEB & NIV are both written in ~ 7th grade english. NRSV is a little more difficult.
https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/20...eading-levels/

My personal preference, having read several different translations, including KJV, is the CEB, but I think NIV may be what more of the others will have.

[KpbS]

NIV is the best IMO also a study Bible would be helpful too with extra materials provided for understanding.

[WatchingThemGrow]

This Life Application NIV study bible was SO helpful to me when I was really starting to read and understand the Word. There's so much geography, background info that's explained well in the notes at the bottom, PLUS there are tie-ins to what's really going on our everyday lives. Now that I'm advanced in age, I have the Large Print version of it One thing that I really like is the full page left-to-rightness of it. I'm sure there's a word for that, lol, but it helps my brain to read the whole line across, not the divided page-thing.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1414359810...980e5ed27c1e15

DH uses this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433502410...980e5ed27c1e15

[doberbrat]

This Life Application NIV study bible was SO helpful to me when I was really starting to read and understand the Word. There's so much geography, background info that's explained well in the notes at the bottom, PLUS there are tie-ins to what's really going on our everyday lives. Now that I'm advanced in age, I have the Large Print version of it One thing that I really like is the full page left-to-rightness of it. I'm sure there's a word for that, lol, but it helps my brain to read the whole line across, not the divided page-thing.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1414359810...980e5ed27c1e15

DH uses this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433502410...980e5ed27c1e15

All I can say is 2 thumbs up for mentioning large print for those of us who have not yet accepted the need for bifocals I never thought about being able to order LP version!

[JBaxter]

I ask the same question to a pastor once. He said to pick out your 4 favorite passages and look them up in the different versions and see which flows the best for you. I have the NIV large print that I like best I have the king james version my grandmother bought me for my 16th birthday also.

[elbenn]

Our church (Lutheran) gives out NIV bibles as gifts to members who are starting confirmation, so I agree with others that NIV edition is a good choice.

[BDKmom]

NIV is a good choice and there are lots of different study versions of it available. I used it for a while, after growing up reading King James. I now use English Standard Version, which is also great. I think King James and even New King James are tough, especially if she is new to studying the Bible.