I’ve actually posted this question on Twitter a couple of times and got just a few responses, and thought maybe I’d get more input here…
About 20 years ago, I was given a beautiful red-leather bound Thompson-Chain KJV (King James Version) Bible as a gift. It had my name embossed in gold on the front cover, and I spent many years reading through it, marking verses, making notes, and well, just loving it.
I could turn to certain passages of marked Scripture and see the highlights and underlines or notes in the margin and remember a particular sermon I’d heard or study I’d participated in.
Sometimes I could read one of those notes and feel God’s Spirit speak a message anew to my heart. I would go into the concordance and learn more. I would cross reference verses and have a better understanding of what I had read.
Throughout the years, I collected more Bibles – a NKJV (New King James Version), my grandmother’s NIV (New International Version) – and have used all of them at one point or another.
And then it happened. One Sunday after church, I lost track of my Bible. The one I’d had for so long, that had so much meaning and so much of my Spiritual journey marked throughout the pages.
I thought for sure it would just turn up somewhere and I would find it again – but it’s been 6 months and I haven’t seen it. I retraced my steps. No luck. I checked at church thinking I’d left it in a classroom after dropping my daughters off in class. Nope.
And I began to grieve over the loss. I didn’t realize just how special that Bible had been to me until I lost it. And since then, I have struggled with my Bible study.
I’ve looked at new KJV Thompson-Chains, but the availability of other newer versions (like The Amplified or The Message) have intrigued me. I found a parallel Bible with NKJV (now my favorite version) and The Amplified Bible. Hmmmm – giving that one serious thought.
But I have looked and looked for that one Bible that could be both used at church and personal study, and I’m honestly overwhelmed because I haven’t found “the one.”
I love having cross references and a good concordance, but can use a separate concordance if need be.
So I’m putting this question to you:
What do you use for your personal every day study? Do you use a different Bible or version for church? Why do you love your particular Bible(s)?
I am praying over this. Wherever my Bible is, I am praying that SOMEONE is finding it useful and using it and learning from it. And I am praying to find another Bible that is both easy to use and profoundly impacting in my spiritual growth and walk with Christ.
Thanks for your recommendations – I appreciate your input!!!