For centuries, millions of people have looked for answers to life's most difficult questions in an ancient sacred text: the Bible. It's become the bestselling book in the world. Although most people own a print Bible, many find it hard to read. They know that somewhere within its pages are words from God that could help them understand themselves, make important decisions, gain peace, renew hope, and experience God's love. But finding the right words when they need them is often a daunting task. The FAQ section answers some commonly asked questions:
Bible Guarantee/Care
How important is a translation?
What do I need to know about Bibles?
How should the Bible be read?
Should I take the Bible personally?
Can the Bible be read in a short period of time?
Should I embark on the journey alone?
Are there any other sources I should be reading while studying the Bible?
What is out there for reference sources?
Where can I find the best selection of Bibles, Bible reference books, and software?
Bible Guarantee
Thank you for choosing a Zondervan product, We want to make sure you’re satisfied with the quality of your purchase. We stand behind every product we make; that’s why we guarantee each one for a lifetime against manufacturing defects.
Zondervan’s manufacturer’s warranty provides coverage for defective bindings on hardcover, softcover, Leather-Look™, and Italian Duo-Tone™ Bibles for four years, and on bonded and top-grain leather Bibles for six years. This warranty does not apply to normal wear. A lifetime warranty applies to defects within the Bible—for example: missing or misplaced pages, chapters, or books. Please return defective Bibles to the original place of purchase for replacement or refund. If this is not possible, please go to www.zondervan.com and click on "Contact Us."
CARE
We suggest loosening the binding of your new Bible by gently pressing on a small section of pages at a time from the center. To ensure against breakage of the spine, it is best not to bend the cover backward around the spine or to carry study notes, church bulletins, pens, etc. inside the cover. Because a felt-tipped marker will “bleed” through the pages, we recommend use of a ball-point pen or pencil to underline favorite passages. Your Bible should not be exposed to excessive heat, cold, or humidity.
How important is a translation?
The right Bible translation helps.
The books that make up the Bible were written over a period of about 1500 years. The last book was completed about 1900 years ago. The different parts of the Bible were originally written in one of three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. Since then, it's been translated into many different languages. Today, the bestselling Bible translation in the world is the New International Version (NIV).
The NIV has become the most-read and most-trusted version of the Bible because it's the best combination of accuracy to the original texts and readability for the contemporary reader. Visit our Translations page to learn more.
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What do I need to know about Bibles?
Knowing the basics helps.
As you read the Bible, you'll notice that it is divided into chapters and verses. These divisions were added to help readers locate a specific passage more easily. You'll also notice that the Bible is divided into two major parts—the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament books are the Jewish Bible (Tanak) and are also the first section of the Christian Bible. The New Testament records the story of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as the history and teachings of the early Christian church. The Bible is a compilation of books written by a number of different people for different reasons.
While not necessary, you may want to obtain a Bible commentary to refer to as you read. This is a book in which scholars explain the meaning of each verse. Since the Bible was written in different cultures, you may find it puzzling at times. A Bible dictionary may also be helpful in understanding unfamiliar terms. Please check out our Online Guide to Bible Reference Works & Software to find out more.
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How should the Bible be read?
If you're new to the Bible, you may find that reading from the first page to the last is difficult. There are five books that contain the essential teaching of the Bible. If this is your first time, we recommend that you start by reading Genesis, the first book of the Bible. It gives the origin of the earth and stories of early men and women of faith.
Then turn to Deuteronomy, the fifth book in the Bible. It expresses God's love and summarizes God's laws for his people, Israel. Next, turn to the fourth book in the New Testament, the gospel of John. It introduces Jesus as God's Son and shows the meaning behind his life, death, and resurrection. The next book, Acts, follows the gospel of John and gives a history of the early church. The fifth book, Romans, follows the book of Acts and is a letter from the apostle Paul to people in the early church. It explains the needs of the human race and how God has met those needs through Jesus. These five books will give you the history and basic principles you'll need to understand the rest of the Bible.
You may have a specific need or interest that you're unsure of how to locate. Please visit the various types, translations, or Bible product pages to find what suits you best. These pages will allow you to locate the resources that will enrich your Bible study. To see additional options and reading plans for the Bible, please refer to the Bible Reading Plans section of the website.
You can begin to explore the Bible through some great resources such as The Story and Beginning the Journey. You may also be interested in The Bible in 90 Days. Many people have found this Bible to be a wonderful way to read and experience the Word of God in only 90 days!
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Should I take the Bible personally?
Take it personally.
To fully appreciate the Bible, what you read must become relevant in your life. After you read a passage, pause for a moment and ask three simple questions:
1. Observation: What is this passage about?
2. Interpretation: What does it mean?
3. Implication: What are the implications for my life?
If you find it difficult to see the relevance to your life, there are editions of the Bible designed to help you. Research was done to find the most common questions people have at different stages of life. Bible scholars took these questions and linked them to passages in the Bible that give relevant answers. Please check out our Online Guide to Bible Reference Works & Software to find out more.
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Can the Bible be read in a short period of time?
Of all the reasons people give for not reading the Bible, the most common one is discouragement. The Bible is a big book—over 1,000 pages long. People who plan to read through the whole Bible starting with Genesis often get bogged down somewhere in the second or third book.
Zondervan has a wonderful new product titled The Bible in 90 Days! This Bible is both a Bible and a curriculum that allows you to complete what for many Christians is the goal of a lifetime—to read the Bible completely, from "cover to cover," in a manageable time frame. The basic plan consists of reading 12 pages a day of this specially prepared large-print Bible—a task that usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour—to help readers achieve their goals. Many people spend more time than that commuting back and fourth to work every day! This Bible is part of a larger program, a 14-week curriculum kit designed to help people read through the entire text of the Bible with an opportunity to discuss their reading in a community setting. Developed, field-tested, and used by its creator, Ted Cooper, a Houston businessman, this curriculum has proven successful at many different churches and with a range of denominational affiliations. We invite you to check out the complete details of this Bible.
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Should I embark on the journey alone?
Other people can help you understand the Bible.
After reading the Bible you may find certain passages that seem to have several layers of meaning. This is one reason the Bible can be read over and over again with new insights at each reading. If you have not already done so, you will benefit by finding a church or religious group to help answer your questions and discuss how the Bible applies to life today. Look for one that uses the Bible as the basis for instruction. By signing up for our daily email you may be able to find answers to your questions and also help answer the questions of others.
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Are there any other sources I should be reading while studying the Bible?
Other reference books can help you understand the Bible.
There are hundreds of Bible reference books to choose from. Here's a simple way to select the books and software that will best support your personal study. Your library should be comprised of five types of books that meet your three basic needs:
1. For an OVERVIEW of the Bible, get a Bible handbook or Bible companion.
2. To FIND something in the Bible, get a Bible concordance and a topical Bible or search topics and verses via the online Zondervan Bible Search at www.ZondervanBibleSearch.com.
3. To UNDERSTAND something in the Bible, get a Bible dictionary and a Bible commentary.
Each of these reference books should be directly connected with your preferred Bible translation. For example, if you read the NIV Bible translation, your reference books and software should be keyed to the NIV. Please check out our Online Guide to Bible Reference Works & Software to find out more.
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What's out there for reference sources?
here are five types of Bible reference books.
A Bible handbook is a companion to Bible reading. It's arranged in the order of the books of the Bible. It provides background before you read through a Bible book, offers commentary and illustrations as you read, and presents topical and historical notes to expand your understanding.
A concordance lists common words found in the Bible and shows the places they occur. For example, under the entry "faith" you'd find the locations in the Bible where the word "faith" is used. A concordance enables you to do word studies as well as locate verses you vaguely remember.
A topical Bible includes a guide to different subjects addressed in the Bible. Under faith, it will list not only the most important verses where the word "faith" is found but also verses that talk about faith without using the word, for example Genesis 15:6, "Abram believed the LORD ..."
A Bible dictionary gives more detailed information about people, places, words, and events in the Bible. You could use it to learn more about what the Bible says about children, Peter, Egypt, or miracles.
A Bible commentary is a single or multivolume work that explains the meaning of Bible passages.
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Where can I find the best selection of Bibles, Bible reference books, and software?
Christian bookstores specialize in all these products, and quite likely their staff will be more knowledgeable about them than most general market retailers. Bibles are available at most bookstores and at many large grocery and retail stores. Zondervan publishes a full selection of Bibles and reference books and makes them available through stores and online. Find a retailer near you.
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