Bible Options for Career-Minded Moms: Style and Layout

Choosing a new Bible can be fun and overwhelming at the same time. The variety of available styles and layouts can go on and on, but the most important thing to remember is that what works best for someone else may (or may not) be what works best for you. While the Word of God can speak for itself, finding an interesting way to take it in can encourage us to make it part of our daily routine! That’s why we’re sharing information and examples of layouts below that you may want to consider before making your next Bible purchase:

Traditional – This style is what I would consider the most basic…it’s words God wrote with little else included, and it’s all you need, really. The words in red note when Jesus spoke. There may be section headings or a short summary at the beginning of each book. This is a great option for someone who wants to keep it simple.

Study – This is my personal favorite. Study Bibles offer the most context because they have footnotes, cross-references and expanded explanations of each book. They often contain call out boxes that take a deeper look at specific theological concepts and pull quotes that highlight pivotal verses within the text. What I love about this style is that you can easily learn about the author, time period, history and culture at the start of each book. This is one similar to mine.

Note-Taking – If you like taking notes within text, this is your best option. You can highlight, write and doodle in any Bible, but this style gives you dedicated space for that. You may also want to check out my review of the Spiral Bible because it’s a good option if you like writing directly in the book.

Chronological – This style of Bible is best for those who are familiar with the Bible already. A “regular” Bible is not laid out chronologically. However, when readers begin to question what happened first, who lived before whom and how one event may have impacted another, it may be time to purchase a Bible that lays out those events in a proper timeline.

Comparative – I once bought a Bible that had the NIV in one column and The Message in another column on the same page. If I wanted to read John 3:16, I could look it up and read it side by side from both versions. It’s a great option for those wanting a more literal translation paired with a translation that conveys ideas well. I have one like this.

Women’s/Men’s – Since women and men can differ so greatly in their thoughts, concerns and lifestyles, gender-specific Bibles can be helpful because they highlight content that can be most relevant for each gender. Like a study Bible, they can call out or use pull quotes for places where God addresses each gender specifically, or they may expand on gender-specific ideas in the notes. Here’s a great option.

Children’s – My favorite children’s Bible is, hands down, The Jesus Storybook Bible. It phrases things in ways young children can understand, and every single story points to Jesus. As my kids have aged, they now use the Kid’s Adventure Bible, which they also enjoy.

Need more guidance? Check out the posts on Bible translation and personal preference (coming soon)!