Can anyone recommend a good bible?

[Lilifer]

Lapsed catholic here.

I feel like I want to start reading the bible, despite never having done so in my life before (Catholics - in Ireland at least - aren't really encouraged to read the bible, it's just read to us at mass in the readings)

I really want a bible that is referenced for things like say, a good psalm or reading for if you're feeling anxious or down, so that I can just turn to that page without having to trawl through all the different books of old and New Testament - not sure where to start

Also the YouVersion Bible app allows you to click on topics to find relevant verses and whole Bible reading plans (usually lasting about a week. Eg I clicked on Depression:

Oh it won't let me post my screenshot for some reason, sorry

Yes JW Bible is different bc they believe different things eg about Jesus

Op you might find this resource useful. You were asking about God's name.

www.Gotqueations.org

That said I've not checked it for the names of God.

I'll do that now. You're putting me through my paces lol

Ps the web for good cheap resources (another poster mention Luke's Gospel) is Ten of those. They are based in Lancashire but send out cheaply. Not sure of link . Have a good day!

Lol should read www.gotquestions.org but worked anyway. And yes there is info on there re Jehovah. X

I dont necessarily agree with everything on this resource for example I believe women can preach. But in general from what I have seen I think it's grand for a starting point to discern Gods will.

If you ask the Holy Spirit Op to guide you in your life decisions and questions yhen he does promise to answer but you must believe.

Pm me anytime. All the v best SK x

But (I've opened a can of worms get haven't I?!?!?) what you think God says to you, usually through his word and sometimes through other godly people, must being line with the word of god. So for example if someone come up to you and says it's fine for you to have an extra marital affair as an example and they claim God told them so, then you would know that to be wrong. My people says God are destroyed through lack of knowledge. So have fun studying?!

Sorry for typos cheap phone. X

Agree with this. Perhaps join a Bible study group too. Some (like mine) are really friendly and usually involve food.

@CakeFiend8 do you have this one

https://www.theinfographicbible.com

I absolutely love it. I got it for work (great for links for A-level 😂) but I can look at it for ages.

@HerewegoagainSS sounds like my kind of meeting if it involves food!

@SannaK thanks for all that info and help 🙏

Thanks to you all for taking the time to reply and giving me such great suggestions ☺️

I have used the New Community Bible lately - it has lots of notes and cross references and is Catholic so you won't miss out on the books some other bibles leave out.

https://www.paulineuk.org/browse/Books/item/New-Community-Bible-Standard/9780854398584

This site has a lot of background info, but also gives a good analysis of the readings that are used for Sunday (or Saturday vigil) Mass each week in every Catholic church worldwide, in case you're wondering what other people in different situations are thinking about week by week.

https://www.agapebiblestudy.com/

You're most welcome x. Have a lovely evening.

I use this one, I wanted to learn and research various themes in the Bible. I find it very interesting and as a feminist I find the passages relate well to the experiences of women at the time. I found it very useful when reading through it as it has little side notes everywhere and ofcouse I can make my own and follow up on something at a later time. It is quite large though.

So what is specifically feminist/ of special relevance to women in there, @Timeforicecream ?

It’s not feminist, I am so take a keen perspective on it. It explains the role of the women in the life of Jesus, mostly we don’t hear much about the women it’s all the men. This Bible has little notes that explains the life of the woman in relation to her husband & Jesus. I personally find it interesting that’s all.

I love this app too! It has so many different translations and it also has verse of the day, a daily guided prayer, a vast wealth of resources on there.
I have a few Bibles at home and I want to get a Bible specifically for Bible journalling where there is space for you to add notes, pages thicker for highlighting, bits you can colour, stuff like that. I find adding colour really helps me rather than just looking at a big block of text.
I like the NIV (New International Version)- the KJV (King James) is very old fashioned and difficult to understand with archaic language, although the old fashionedness sometimes adds gravity and depth to it. The New Living Translation I find a little too much the other direction it's been too simplified and modernised for me, but it may be a good starting point for a beginner.
I love how you can compare versions on the you version app.
It's also good to watch some YouTube videos where they analyse the original language as alot of it was originally written in Hebrew and Greek (and Aramaic i think?) .
Happy studying :)

Whichever bible you choose, I'd recommend reading this along side it. It really helps you understand what the bible says, has some thought provoking questions to consider, gives you the historical context.

I wouldn't have got half as much out of the bible without this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bible-Book-Users-Guide/dp/0007119674/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?crid=2V4BWCNF2H76P&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2OpMXKcg8gkrWUiONxA3xLsOxUgd1b1JjUWNNsc-Eu__2GxHc_7t6_DaE31XeoJdaPmDy8Qoic_IHxUvsKvamimBn-vpo4ctTwmIVH8yKwX-w49ob-ui8jzVZr4RqJW-aj-8lhwjiqIfEKSBJVi5DDVZHxqwVcKIVQVn_BPUDNuzY6uTdONsHz_HPprCYONd140dE7u04H5spXYi9VAoYA.Gys8LQk9PH-s9WqSTPtl52cY8eRXEorMAlGuRB_iw1Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+bible+book&qid=1724708440&sprefix=the+bib%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-7

@waltzingparrot

That looks amazing thanks il be ordering that myself!

Yes; substantially different. They will tell you that it isn't, but it is.

I think one key difference is that most Christians would say Jesus is God, and that's fundamental to the Christian faith, particularly to the crucifixion and the atonement for sin. It's my understanding that JWs believe Jesus is like an archangel or like a God but isn't actually the same as God the Father, so no trinity.

Hi, I’d really recommend listening to an audio Bible as well- I love David Suchet reading the New International Version ( a reputable translation, unlike the New World Translation produced by the JW organisation, which I would avoid if you want a genuine, traditional Christian Bible).

here’s a link to David Suchet reading the NIV.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs0kYUO87ryQ58A2PZGnrHd4Ie1zFPzbn&si=DOnMaxcVXWM5rBJp

David Suchet is brilliant. I remember reading an interview with him where he said he realised through reading the Bible that the tradition was to read it aloud and hear it. That's why he wanted to do this project of reading the Bible out loud for people to hear.

This is a good point. 👍

Reminds me of this verse-

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
Revelation 1:3