[This is part of the series: 5 Keys to Choosing The Right Bible for You.]
When I was in high school, I was required to read The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. Amazing books written by J.R.R. Tolkien. They tell the story of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins who possess a ring created to rule the world. Subplots include Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf. The books have an amazing place in our society. They have spawned movies, etc.
I hated every minute of reading them.
In fact, I didn’t read them. I read the Cliff Notes. Then in college, something changed. I reread them and all of a sudden realized that I liked them. Suddenly, they were the best books ever. I finished the series and went on to read The Lord of the Rings series once a year for ten years.
WHAT HAPPENED?
My reading level grew up. Readability primarily refers to the level of words chosen for a work. I found new levels of words that I could read. I enjoyed these books because I knew the words I was reading more. The Fellowship of the Ring exploded in my head as I read it. I grew in maturity and so did my reading.
How does this relate to reading a Bible? I think that reading and maturity go hand in hand. I grew up hating to read the Bible. I believe that it had something to do with my reading level. I could not fully comprehend the words because they were too old to be part of my vocabulary.
I know what you are thinking. Seriously. Think about this with me. Should a first-grader grasp the concept of a virgin? If you think this is a funny question, mine asked what a virgin was after singing “Silent Night.” (Round yon virgin…)
Reading levels determine what we can read. Picking a Bible that is translated to a specific reading level can help you as you grow. This is not good or bad. Doesn’t mean it can’t change. Just let it be a helpful guide.
Ask yourself: What level am I reading at right now?
For our evaluations, we will use the Reading Level by Translation chart at Christians Book Distributors website.
[This is part of the series: 5 Keys to Choosing The Right Bible for You.]
Reading level no doubt steadily increases if we read more. Great thoughts on appreciating reading. Our media-savvy society is drifting away from the culture of reading. But reading the Bible is not like reading a John Grishom novel or reading Tolkien. Any ideas on how we can increase our ability to read the Bible?