Best edition/place to read the Bible Stories

[Annabel_Lee]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum so sorry if I offend anybody with my lack of knowledge! I'm interested in reading some of the more famous Bible Stories just out of curiosity and I was wondering if there was a specific edition I should get - I'm really not very knowledgable on the new testament/old testament details and I can't say I've read a Bible in a long time. If anybody could help me and let me know where I might find them I would be very grateful.

A~L

[Calidore]

For quality of writing, you can't beat King James, which is public domain and freely available:

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/

For depth of research and annotations and also free, try the NET Bible, which has nearly 61,000 translators' notes:

http://bible.org/netbible/

[stlukesguild]

For the complete Bible in English, I prefer the King James translation. I also have a number of individual books or sections translated by others.

The Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) by Ariel and Chana Bloch is wonderful:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51m-tBHha7L._SY300_.jpg

Robert Alter's translations bring a greater sensitivity to elements of the original Hebrew:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ih9rKvVFL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HLQqo-EeL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/414ub8klHML._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Beyond Alter's renditions of the Psalms into poetry (the King James translates these into prose... quite beautiful at times... especially the famous 23rd Psalm) look into this volume which collects the greatest translations of the Psalms into English by poets including John Donne, Robert Burns, John Milton, Sir Philip Sidney, John Davies, Sir Thomas Wyatt, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Mary Sidney Herbert, David Rosenberg...:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51g4i97n4gL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Stephen Mitchell's translation (and commentary) on the Book of Job was quite enlightening:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BNAD8p6pL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

... as was Richard Elliott Friedman's Hidden Book in the Bible:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tE0VYi1FL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

As the Bible is one of the central texts of Western culture... and the translations into English are of major impact upon the development of English literature and the English language, I'd also look at the Tyndale and Wycliffe Bibles.

[Sea]

The most popular translations of the Bible are the New International Version, the New American Bible, the New Revised Standard Version, and The King James Version.

I grew up reading the Revised Standard Version and have always had a preference for it. While somewhat dated, it's still very easy to read. It's pretty comparable to the the other popular translations of the Bible, excepting the KJV. The antiquated dialect of the KJV can be intimidating, and I would hesitate to recommend it to someone unfamiliar with the stories for that reason.

[Melanie]

I have two Bibles. The first is The Open Bible-New American Standard version and really like it, especially for it's handy Cyclopedic Index in the front (I use often) and a Concordance in the back. Also, there is interesting Biblical Information like, "Greatest Archeological Discoveries", "Interesting and Unusual Facts About The Bible", etc.. There are many Study Helps you can find in the Table of Contents like "How to Study The Bible", "Read Your Bible Through The Year", Harmony of The Gospels", "Christian Life Study Outlines", "Teachings and Illustrations of Christ", Prophesies of the Messiah Fullfilled Through Jesus Christ", "The Parables Jesus Told", etc. All words spoken by Jesus are in red.

Second is The NIV Rainbow Study Bible (NIV=New International Version). There are color coded verses throughout (with a handy color code guide as a bookmark) to show you instantly what subject the verse is about...a different color for each of these subjects: Commandments, God, Love, Family, Faith, Sin, Satan, Salvation, History, Prophecy, Discipleship, etc. In the back are Maps and Supplemental Study Aids like a Concordance, Index, and Maps. Also, "100 Popular Bible Passages", "Subject Guide", "Where To Find It", "365 Bible Quotes for memorization and meditation", "One-Year Bible Reading Calendar", etc.

The best book of Bible stories for adults would be the bible itself. I suggest you start in the New Testament with the "John" (not "First John"...that one comes a little later) and read up to Revelations. Come back to Revelations after you've gone back to read Matthew, Mark, and Luke...and after you've read the Old Testament. When reading the Old Testament don't get bogged down in long listings of genealogies. Just skim over those quickly.

Before reading, I like to pray and ask God for discernment and for His truth to be revealed. If you have questions feel free to send me a private message or visitors message.

[SFG75]

I'm a big fan of the Macarthur Study Bible (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_9?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=macarthur+study+bible&sprefix=McArthur+%2Caps%2C310) which is just HUGE but gives a detailed explanation of every verse and story. Another indispensable guide is Strong's exhaustive concordance. (http://www.amazon.com/Strongs-Expanded-Exhaustive-Concordance-Bible/dp/1418541680/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380471412&sr=1-1&keywords=strong%27s+exhaustive+concordance+of+the+ bible) The latter publication is valuable as you can see cross-references among verses and get a more clear picture of various concepts that are featured throughout the Bible. I have found that it provides much more insight than looking at particular verses alone.

[Vota]

Gonna have to throw my vote to The King James version. Still the best imho. I have perused several different versions of the bible, and The King James just blows them away for eloquence of language. It's not even hard to read after you've read a couple dozen pages.

[SentimentalSlop]

I would have to say the King James Version. However, if you want something extra, open up the Catholic Bible. Catholics have seven more books and extra parts of two other books, which was part of the original canon. However, all the books are from the OT, so if you're just interested in the NT, by all means, choose the KJV.

[MorpheusSandman]

I would agree with those who say "King James Version." This was the version that has indelibly formed the Western world since its inception. As for what edition of the KJV, others would certainly be more knowledgeable than myself, but Norton Critical Editions has recently released both the Old and New Testament with textual notes/commentaries by leading scholars: Old Testament (http://www.amazon.com/English-Bible-King-James-Version/dp/0393927458) and New Testament (http://www.amazon.com/English-Bible-King-James-Version/dp/039397507X/) I have many, many Norton Critical Editions and they are superb both for their readability, enlightening footnotes/glosses, and introductory critical apparatus.

[Calidore]

I would agree with those who say "King James Version." This was the version that has indelibly formed the Western world since its inception. As for what edition of the KJV, others would certainly be more knowledgeable than myself, but Norton Critical Editions has recently released both the Old and New Testament with textual notes/commentaries by leading scholars: Old Testament (http://www.amazon.com/English-Bible-King-James-Version/dp/0393927458) and New Testament (http://www.amazon.com/English-Bible-King-James-Version/dp/039397507X/) I have many, many Norton Critical Editions and they are superb both for their readability, enlightening footnotes/glosses, and introductory critical apparatus.

I didn't know Norton had tackled the KJV. I'll definitely have to pick those up.