Bibles

A Bible is an excellent Christian gift for any occasion. There are Bibles in a wide range of prices and many different types available. Inexpensive paperback editions are great for vacations or for students going off to college- lightweight and not extremely upsetting if it gets misplaced. Conversely, elegant calfskin leather bound editions make great gifts for a formal occasion such as a wedding, complete with gilt pages and a Family Record section inside.

Large print editions of the Bible are an excellent gift for those whose vision is failing, and for those people who are bedridden and miss going to church weekly.   Large print editions are also good for ministers, as they will be reading from the pulpit often, and the large print makes it easier to read and find the exact passage.

Reference and study Bible editions are available for research and learning about what is contained on the Bible’s pages. Often written in common English to help people understand the stories in the Bible, they often have a wealth of reference material as well.  Commonly, a dictionary of names and phrases, a glossary, a concordance to find passages easily, and set of maps will be included to help with comprehension and cross-reference of material.

There are at least 50 different versions of the Bible, just in English, and each has positives and negatives. The King James Version boasts beautiful language; however, it is often difficult to read because the phrasing and language used is typical of the 17^th century when translation occurred.  Versions that are more recent are easier to read and believed highly accurate. These include the New American Standard Version and the American Standard Version. The New King James Version is a more updated version of the classic one, and the New International Version is easy to read and understand.

Additionally, there are audio Bibles available. These serve as both an electronic Bible, where you can search for specific words or passages, and an audio Bible for listening. Often these devices are equipped with a number of versions of the Bible, and switching from one to another is easy. Listening either with the built-in speaker or by attaching earphones, repeating playback of verse, chapter, or book is possible.  There are also cross reference features and Bible quiz functions to test your knowledge.

Along with newer and easier to read editions, there are also many versions of Bibles compiled especially for children. There are picture storybook Bibles, bedtime story Bibles, adventure Bibles, Veggietales Bibles, baby and toddler Bibles, and kids study Bibles. There are also lots of accessories to go with these Bibles for little people: special covers and cases that will keep their Bible in great shape no matter what happens to it.

Other Christian Books

In addition to Bibles, there are many other Christian books available on almost every aspect of Christian living. Books about how to pray and talk with God, raise good Christian children, relationships with God involved, and growing up Christian are available. Books written by people who’ve literally died and come back to life share their experiences of what to expect in the afterlife. There are books that address being Christian in a seemingly chaotic world, and believing even when there is so much evil and strife in the world, and reaching out to those who are different from us.