The Best Bible for Beginners: 5 Easy to Read Versions

Word-for-word Bible translations are on the far left side of the spectrum. These Bibles strive to translate each word, phrase, and concept in the original text with an exactly matching word, phrase, and concept in the target language. They aim to reduce the human interpretation factor in Bible translation but also tend to be less readable or natural than other translations for beginners. These Bibles are great if you want to dig into the Bible and understand what it originally meant word-for-word.

Examples of word-for-word Bible translations are the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the English Standard Version (ESV), the King James Version (KJV), the New King James Version (New KJV), and the Amplified Bible (AMP).

Thought-for-thought Bible translations are in the middle of the spectrum. They do not always follow the exact wording or structure of the original text, but they try to convey the main message and ideas. These Bibles make good starter Bibles because they are accurate and readable in modern language. However, this type of translation also involves more interpretation and paraphrasing by the translators, which can introduce some bias or error.

Examples of thought-for-thought Bible translations are the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), the New American Bible (NAB), and the New International Version (NIV).

Paraphrased Bible translations are on the far right side of the spectrum. They convey the meaning and message of the original text in easy-to-understand language without regard to specific words or sentence meanings. Translators examine and paraphrase entire sections so readers can get the gist of what was originally written. However, paraphrased translations can strip entire meanings from words and rearrange the text in a way that is not biblically accurate. These Bibles can be good for beginners and new believers who prefer an entry-level Bible or devotional-style text.

Examples of paraphrased Bible translations are the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), the New Living Translation (NLT), the Green’s Literal Translation (GLT), The Message (MSG), and The Living Bible (TLB).

The NIV is also the best-selling Bible translation in the world for daily devotion and is widely used in churches because of its approachable style for people of all ages. When I first purchased a Bible as a new Christian, the NIV Study Bible was the beginner Bible I chose for those same reasons without even knowing how popular it was at the time. Plus, I liked the red-letter text, where the words attributed to Jesus Christ are printed in red ink, and the ribbon marker for bookmarking my spot.

If you want the easiest and most comfortable NIV Bible to read, then I suggest you buy the leather version with a thumb index, which is a cut-out in the pages of a Bible that helps you find specific books faster. The hardcover version is also a good choice (and cheaper) but it does not include those nicer features.

Genesis 1:1-5
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

This Bible version also contains important clarifications that help you understand the original languages, context and settings, key Biblical figures, maps, charts, a dictionary, and concordance.

For beginners who want a lifelong Bible, I recommend you purchase the soft leather-look version with a thumb index because it is more durable and enjoyable to own than the hardcover. However, if price is a concern, the hardcover version is about half the cost and includes the added benefit of using red letter text for Jesus’s words.

Genesis 1:1-5
1I n the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.

One thing to keep in mind is that this Bible is not a study Bible, but rather a standard Bible without the extra materials for in-depth studying. It does include footnotes for clarifying specific words and meanings in the text; however, its purpose is to be easy to read and understandable within the content itself.

This is definitely a good starter Bible, and one of the most enjoyable to read to get a good grasp of what the Bible is all about. But once you get comfortable with the stories, lessons, and teachings within it, I would recommend you pair it with the NIV or ESV (featured below), to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the Holy text.

I suggest you get the basic brown imitation leather Bible. There are two styles: one with and one without a thumb index. The hardcover green version, which is about $10 cheaper, feels more like a reference book that you would keep on a shelf rather than a personal Bible you would keep readily available to read.

Genesis 1:1-5
1 When God began creating the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a shapeless, chaotic mass, with the Spirit of God brooding over the dark vapors.3 Then God said, “Let there be light.” And light appeared. 4-5 And God was pleased with it and divided the light from the darkness. He called the light “daytime,” and the darkness “nighttime.” Together they formed the first day.

One key aspect you should know about this Bible is that it uses gender-inclusive language when appropriate, such as “brothers and sisters” instead of “brothers”, but retains the masculine terms when they refer to God or specific individuals. The NIV Study Bible, for example, is known for using gender-neutral language when the original text does not specify gender, such as “people” instead of “men” or “they” instead of “he”. This may or may not be a concern for you when choosing a beginner Bible, but I wanted to point it out just in case.

The best version of this Bible is the gray and black linen with a thumb index. It has a sewn binding which allows it to lay flat when open.

Genesis 1:1-5
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.

This is the Bible I own and read today, and is the translation my church uses for Sunday worship. The wide array of study materials inside is like having your own Bible resource library at your fingertips.

If you want a good beginner Bible you will own for life, then I suggest you buy the leather version with a thumb index. It is well worth the investment and comes with a lifetime guarantee. But if you want something a bit cheaper just to get started, then opt for the personal-size softcover; it is a thick Bible and the hardcover makes it a bit too heavy to carry around.

Genesis 1:1-5
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.