When I was growing up I loved going to the bookstore with my mom. We would hop in her car and drive a couple miles to the old movie theater that was converted into a bookstore down the street. The marquee sign was still intact on the front of the building—now announcing one of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books instead of Rodgers and Hammerstein's movie The Sound of Music. It was a whole world to explore and discover. Books of all shapes and sizes lined the shelves. Story upon story invited me to climb inside—with friends to meet, adventures to scale. I would leave with a treasured stack, ready to fill summer hours with words. 

Picking a Bible can be filled with this same awe and wonder. It is an opportunity to crawl inside story upon story—stories that will continue speaking to us after we turn the page. These are stories that shape our vocabulary, begin to interweave with our lives, even influence our life trajectory! Selecting a new Bible can spur on our reading, helping us engage in new ways. 
 
As a trained librarian and literature-lover, my mom taught me several things about making a book selection. Here are some tips I've gleaned from her—and my own observations—along the way:

1. Follow your curiosity.

Allow yourself to interact with different Bibles on the shelf—or explore them online. What do other readers think about this translation or edition? Which ones catch your attention? What colors or sizes stand out to you? Hold one and explore how it feels in your hands. Flip through it and smell the pages. Engage your senses and see what sparks your interest.

2. Prioritize the visual layout. 

Your Bible should be a book you can return to again and again. Pick a layout that is easy on your eyes—it will pay off in the long run! Consider the width of the margins and size of the font. Are there illustrations on the page? Footnotes? Charts? Do these visual elements distract from or enhance your reading? Take a moment to skim a page. Where are your eyes drawn? Does reading this Bible feel restful or stressful? 

3. Know your purpose.

Identify how you will use your Bible. Will you read it devotionally, academically, or in a small group? This will affect your choice of Bible translation. Will your Bible spend time on your nightstand or get thrown in your backpack? This will affect what edition you choose. It can also determine your requirements for durability—you may want to choose a hardcover to withstand a little wear-and-tear. Or you may want to choose soft leather to feel a little more personal. 

4. Consider an inscription.

Many Bibles have a dedication page at the front. Use it! Our Bibles unite us to a great community of faith—it is a communal book. People often write their names on the dedication page to show their solidarity and support during significant events like a marriage, baptism or graduation. So when choosing a Bible for yourself, consider asking someone to join you in this important step on your spiritual journey. Is there a pastor, mentor, family member or friend who could sign their name on the dedication page? Let their inscription be a symbol of their ongoing support in your Bible reading. Ask them if you can share some of your findings or questions along the way. Let it remind you that engaging with Scripture is a shared venture and you are part of a larger communion of saints (Hebrews 12:1).  

5. Leave with great expectation.

Once you have made your selection, leave excited to start reading! Expect God to meet you through the words in this book. Look forward to befriending the characters, pondering the lessons, journeying through new territories. Ask God to reveal deep truths that come to life in profound and ordinary ways. Most importantly, go forward with awe and wonder.

Still have questions about choosing a new Bible—or how to begin reading it?

Click here for more tips on choosing a Bible.