Versions of Bibles

There are many types of bibles in the world. What one should you read?  Is there a difference between them? Many questions come with the fact that there are so many versions of the bible.

What one should you read? First you have to figure out your reading style. Many versions of the bible are very old sounding and have longer sentences and structure is very different. When I was in third grade our church’s youth received their own bible and we got the New Revised Standard Version. I like this version because it isn’t very old sounding so I can understand what I am reading. There are also many children’s versions that aren’t necessary the whole bible, but they have the stories that most kids should know. The stories are typically the big parts of the bible.

Is there a difference between bibles? There are many different things about the versions of bibles including wording, but after you find the meaning of different verses then each version pretty much says the same thing. Here are some examples:

Deuteronomy 6:5:

Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  – God’s word translation

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. – English Standard Version

And the Lord your God is to be loved with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. – The Bible in Basic English

John 3:16:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. –American Standard Version

For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may no come to destruction but have eternal life. – The Bible in Basic English

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. – New Kings James Version

Both this examples show that the meaning of the verse are the same just said in different ways. So it doesn’t matter at all which version of bible you read, it is a preference to the reader based on how their writing style is.