A journal Bible provides a wonderful way to creatively record your spiritual life, safely within the Bible that you study every day. We’re excited to release our Journal Bible Selection tool that will help you narrow down the hundreds of choices to the perfect few for you. It’s only five questions and will take you less than three minutes to complete. Give it a try here.
If you’re not a fan of quizzes, that’s ok too! The following five-step guide will help you find the best journal bible based on your unique needs.
1. Establish a Budget
While a journal Bible won’t break the bank, when you add in all the necessary Bible journaling supplies, costs can go up. Take time to research your options. Find a journal Bible that inspires you, is written in the translation that you prefer, and whether it’s leather or cardboard bound, remember to set enough money aside for supplies like paints, pencils, and other fun embellishments.
Keep in mind that if you can’t afford an actual journaling Bible right now, a notebook or standard journal will suffice. Use it along with your regular Bible. You can also journal in a standard Bible as well.
2. Decide on a Bible Translation
As of this writing, the Bible has been translated into 542 languages. There are at least 45 different English Bible translations available now so we’ll just share information about some of the most popular versions.
- King James Journal Bible: According to the American Bible Society (ABS) State of the Bible report, 52 percent of Americans read the King James (KJV) or the New King James(NKJ) version of Bible. The KJV is the first version of Scripture authorized by the Protestant church, and the NKJ is a modern language update. The NKJ retains much of the traditional interpretation and sentence structure of the KJV.
- New American Standard Journal Bible: The NASB (New American Standard Bible) is written in a formal style, but it’s easier to read than the King James Version.
- NIV Journal Bible: The NIV balances word-for-word and thought-for-thought translation. It’s believed to be highly-accurate, and it’s easy to read.
- ESV Journal Bible: The ESV translation combines word-for-word precision with literary excellence, and it’s easy to read.
Stopping by a Christian bookshop is a great way to get help deciding on a Bible translation that suits you. You’ll be able to glance through the pages of different translations to find one that is easy for you to understand. Some of the most commonly used Bible translations include:
- AMP (Amplified)
- ESV (English Standard Version)
- NASB (New American Standard Bible)
- KJV (King James Version)
- NKJV (New King James Version)
- HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
- NIV (New International Version) and
- NLT (New Living Translation)
3. Journal Bible Features
When it comes to reading Scripture and Bible journaling, you’ll have access to a number of features that wouldn’t necessarily be available with a traditional version. From preprinted line art, to wide margins, to blank ’pages, journal Bibles have everything you need except thicker pages! They are available in leather, hardcover, soft cover or synthetic leather. They also come in a variety of colors, providing the opportunity to make your Bible feel personal. I personally prefer a plain black cover so that I can create a cover that’s unique to my personality.
4. Bible Type
There are several unique journal Bible types, some that you will treasure as a special keepsake that could be passed down through generations, others that make great choices for children, some that are best for note taking – all providing a creative outlet for anyone who truly values God’s Word. For Bible journaling, look for one with wide margins, leaving you plenty of room to get creative. Some Bible types to consider include a journaling Bible, interleaved Bible, wide-margin Bible, coloring Bible, writer’s edition Bible, part-illustrated bible, bibles for teens or younger children and a study Bible.
5. Select the Journal Bible that Meets Most of Your Requirements
A journal Bible encourages inspiration and creativity, adding love and respect to every page throughout the years as you devote yourself to God’s Word. Whether you just want extra room for note taking, to pen a particularly encourage piece of scripture, or to release your inner artist and reveal your love through colorful works of art on full-sized pages (interleaved), let yourself be inspired by the Word. Translation is important, but so is the freedom to create and color.
A journal Bible will help you experience God’s Word through creativity and along the way you’ll create a legacy of your journey. It’s a beautiful way to pass your experience on to your children and your children’s children. We hope that this guide to finding the best journal bible for bible journaling will help you get started. If you’d like to take a short quiz to find the perfect Bible for you, click here.
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