When you stop to think about the Bible, it can make your head spin. The books in the Bible were written over a 1,500-year period by numerous writers who lived over three different continents. If that weren’t enough, it was written in three different languages.

The Bible is one of the only books that affects you on a daily basis. People use it when debating abortion rights, human cloning, prayers in schools, or most any other front-page news.

It’s difficult to understand the times we live in without some knowledge of the Bible. The Bible tells us traditions of three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The more we understand the Bible the more we understand the differences and similarities between the major religions. It also helps us understand the possibility of achieving peace.

The Bible also helps us appreciate and understand many pieces of art. Biblical themes and imagery fill our world through paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Literary masterpieces by Shakespeare and Milton were also inspired from the Bible.

There are many translations of the Bible. Finding the one that speaks to you is important. Ask yourself, “What is most important?” when reading the Bible. Is it the literary genius? Maybe research? Are you wanting to read for entertainment value? Or maybe all of these reasons fits your needs. Different translations accomplish different things. Knowing what you want from your Bible reading will determine the translation that will suit you best.

* Think on this for now and figure out what you want from your reading. Then in the coming days and weeks, I will compare different translations to help you with your quest.