How To Choose the Best Bible for Creative Journaling
Choosing the best Bible for creative journaling art can be a daunting decision. This will help narrow your search with some beautiful examples.
Since I wrote about how to choose a Bible for journaling, the choices for finding the right Bible for creative journaling art has totally exploded!
There are so many choices that you could easily be overwhelmed but if you follow my suggestions it will help narrow down your search.
Before Beginning Your Bible Search
Searching for a new Bible is exciting and especially when you are looking for a creative journaling Bible.
Before beginning your search, you might want to pray that God will help you in finding the best Bible for you.
There are many choices and making a decision on which Bible to purchase can be daunting.
Read everything you can in the description of the Bible and use a ruler to help you visualize the actual size.
I bought a Bible that turned out to be much larger than expected and another that was much smaller than I thought!
What Translation is the Best for You?
There are many different Bibles available and they have been translated in order for us to read them in English. I won’t go into the process used in translating them from the original texts as I will leave that for scholars.
I will do is go over a few of the most popular translations that I am somewhat familiar with in order to help you choose. You might already know your preference.
I can’t tell you which one is best for you. You can look up passages or verses over at BibleGateway.com and select different versions to see which is your preference.
1. King James Version KJV
The KJV is the first version of Scripture authorized by the Protestant church and commissioned by England’s King James I.
2. New King James Version NKJV
The NKJ is a modern language update of the original King James Version. It retains much of the traditional interpretation and sentence structure of the KJV.
3. American Standard Version ASV
The American Standard Version, also known as the Standard American Edition, Revised Version, is a revised version of the KJV. It was completed in 1885 and newly edited by the American Revision Committee in 1901.
4. New American Standard Bible NAS
The NAS is written in a formal style but is more readable than the King James Version. It is highly respected as the most literal English translation of the Bible.
5. English Standard Version ESV
The ESV Bible is a relatively new Bible translation that combines word-for-word precision and accuracy with literary excellence, beauty, and readability.
6. New Living Translation NLT
Using modern English, the translators of the NLT focused on producing clarity in the meaning of the text rather than creating a literal, word-for-word equivalence. Their goal was to create a clear, readable translation while remaining faithful to original texts.
Things to Consider in Choosing a Bible
Most journaling Bibles have an extra-wide margin that provides two inches of space for artwork or notetaking. Some people do not feel they have an artistic bone in their bodies and would rather just use the space for notes.
You will notice as you search for a Bible that some have two columns and others in one column. My favorites are Bibles with one column because there often more is more free space for art.
Personally, I’d rather not paint or color over the Words.
For those who would love to be artistic but lack the confidence or ability to create their own picture outline, there are Bibles with many pre-drawn outlined pictures that you can color within the lines. These Bibles still have many blank margins for you to create or use stickers or stamps for decoration as you spend time with God.
If you’d like even more space for your art, the Interleaved Bible might be the one you would choose. There is a blank page inserted between each page of the Bible to give room for your artwork.
Choosing the Best Bible
After you have made all the preliminary considerations including the translation, I would suggest you go to Amazon or whichever store you would prefer.
By going through any of my links, you will be helping to support His Unmeasured Grace even if you end up purchasing something besides a Bible!
So let’s say you choose Amazon, once there, type in “JOURNALING BIBLE” and the translation on the same line. For instance: Journaling Bible KJV.
What it will do is bring up a list of journaling Bibles that they carry for that translation. I will highlight a few of my favorite Bible but there are sure to be others that are wonderful too!
Examples of Journaling Bibles
Remember that this list is not exhaustive!
I am only going to choose a few. You can click on the picture of the Bible and it will take you to my affiliate link on Amazon.
Personal Reflections KJV Bible
This is a beautiful imitation leather Bible that I gave as a gift last Christmas. I have one that is similar and am very happy with it. There is such a large space for artwork that it really makes it fun!
The Personal Reflections KJV Bible is a refreshingly beautiful way to interact with and meditate on God’s living and active Word. This oversized Bible printed on high-quality paper offers ample wide-margin white space on the outside of each page of scripture.
KJV, Journal the Word Bible
This is a beautiful Bible that I would love to add to my collection! It comes in a couple of designs for you to choose from.
The KJV Journal the Word™ Bible allows you to creatively express yourself every day with plenty of room for notes or verse art journaling next to your treasured verses. With unique and sophisticated covers, this single-column edition features thick cream-colored paper with lightly ruled lines in the extra-wide margins, perfect to reflect on God’s Word and enhance your study.
NKJV, Journal the Word Bible
I have this Bible and LOVE. LOVE. LOVE it! It comes in other cover designs that might become your favorite!
The NKJV Journal the Word™ Bible allows you to express yourself creatively every day with plenty of room for notes or verse art journaling next to your treasured verses. With a selection of unique and sophisticated covers, this single-column edition features thick, cream-colored paper with lightly ruled lines in the extra-wide margins, perfect to reflect on God’s Word and enhance your study.
My Creative Bible for Girls, Journaling Bible – ESV
Maybe you have a daughter or granddaughter who might love to do creative journaling with you! This is such a beautiful Bible!
My Creative Bible for Girls is an illustrated journaling Bible, wonderfully designed to help young girls to grow closer to God through art and creativity. Inspire a girl in your life to let the light of the Lord shine in her life with uplifting stories and beautiful artwork. This girl’s Bible uses the ESV (English Standard Version) Bible translation and the text is formatted in a single-column. My Creative Bible for Girls will become a beloved treasure in the life of any young girl. The princess design and iridescent accents give this Bible a magnificent finishing touch.
ESV Journaling Bible
This is a beautiful journaling Bible with a flexible leather-like cover that you will just love. It is a little smaller than many of the other journaling Bibles and so it is much more portable for taking to church.
This is my best Bible and I have shown it in a couple of my videos.
Inspire PRAISE Bible NLT
This is a beautiful journaling Bible that I gave as a gift last Christmas. I can’t say enough good things about it!
The #1–selling Inspire Bible is a beautiful single-column, wide-margin New Living Translation coloring and creative journaling Bible that has become a treasured legacy Bible for many. The new Inspire PRAISE Bible has even more beautiful line-art illustrations to color, with nearly 500 all-new full- and partial-page Scripture illustrations attractively displayed throughout the Bible! Bonus features of Inspire PRAISE include even thicker Bible paper; thirty-two colorful,
This should really help you choose the best Bible to start your adventure in creative journaling art!
Let me know how it goes by leaving a comment below! Or if you already do creative Bible journaling, what is your favorite one?
