Top 3 study Bibles college students love!
This post is all about the best Bible for college students.
As a college student, it’s so important to have a Bible that is going to keep you consistent and strong in your faith walk. Finding the best Bible for college students is going to depend on your exact needs in your faith walk, but here is a list of some great Bibles to help you stay consistent in your spiritual life and habits!
Research shows that in recent years, 66-70% of young adults who grew up in church leave the faith at some point in college.
It’s difficult to stay strong in your faith when you’re surrounded by a culture that doesn’t want you to. So, if you’re serious about growing in your faith after high school, hopefully this list of the best Bibles for students will help you in your spiritual growth!
This post is all about the best Bible for college students.
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LIST OF TOP BIBLES FOR STUDENTS:
CSB She Reads Truth Study Bible
The first study Bible on our list is the CSB She Reads Truth Bible.
What I love about this CSB study Bible is the fact that, unlike a regular Bible, it includes a wide array of study tools built in. Things like:
- Wide margins for making study notes and writing thoughts on God’s word
- A one-year Bible reading plan for reading all the books of the Bible
- 66 illustrated key verses to help you in your Bible study and memorization journey
- Book introductions for every book
- Topical index for better understanding the Word of God
- Maps and timelines to help you understand the biblical story better
I think this is a great study Bible for your daily readings if you’re looking for built-in tools that will help you become better acquainted with God’s word. Plus, it’s got lots of great reviews saying that it’s great for young Christians!!
Traditional ESV Wide Margin Bible
This is actually the exact Bible I have that I’ve used throughout college. If you’re looking for an English Standard Version Bible, this is a great Bible for your college years.
I love it because it’s a more traditional Bible (doesn’t have added devotionals or artwork, which is helpful for some and distracting for others). It still has wide margins (1″ margins), so you can make notes as you read.
I love the ESV translation because it’s pretty close to a literal translation of the original languages, so it’s great for trying to get an accurate understanding of different words in the biblical text.
This Bible also has lots of cross-reference verses at the bottom of each page, which helps with understanding the entire Bible and how it works together as a whole.
ESV Study Bible
If you’re looking for an ESV Bible that includes different ways of studying and explaining the text, this is a great option for any Christian college student.
It’s got:
- Over 350 reflections on key passages to guide your quiet times
- Scripture sidebars and illustrations
- Cross-references
- 120 Bible character profiles
- A glossary with definitions of key terms
This is a good study Bible if you’re looking for something well-rounded with lots of content to assist you in understanding the Bible and growing your faith.
NIV Study Bible
The New International Version is one of the best Bible translations for college students since it’s easy to understand.
This NIV Bible includes:
- Study notes that highlight important information
- Book introductions for every book of the Bible with background to help with difficult texts and books
- In-text maps, charts, diagrams, and illustrations to help young people understand the text
So, if you’re looking for a study Bible that will really help you apply biblical teachings to your everyday life, I think this is the best Bible for college students looking for that type of study guide!
Although I don’t have experience with this specific Bible personally, it’s got great reviews and seems to have a lot of helpful features that will help you in your spiritual journey.
NLT Study Bible
The New Living Translation is another one of those easy-to-understand Bible versions that might make it the best choice for you.
I used an NLT Bible for a really long time before getting my ESV Bible and I found it very digestible, especially for those Old Testament sections that can be more difficult to understand.
The Bible I linked here has some helpful tools, including:
- An overview of each book’s content and themes
- Sidebar articles and full-page articles that help you understand theological truths
- Character profiles of biblical characters
- Cross references
- Topical Index for additional insights
- Introductions to every book of the Bible
If you’re looking for a Bible version that is easy to understand, the NLT is a great translation to star with. The most important factor in your Christian life is not only that you read the Bible, but that you understand it. And this looks like it might be the best study Bible for that purpose!
Choosing the best Bible for you
At the end of the day, as a Christian college student, I think all the Bibles listed in this post are great. The ultimate “best Bible” is going to depend on where you are in your walk with Jesus Christ and what exactly you need in your current season of faith.
My husband is in Bible college and for that reason, sometimes he likes more intense theological study because he’s learned lots of the basics. Personally, I’m not in Bible college so when I was searching for a Bible, I really wanted something that would remind me of the core foundation of Christianity while giving me some of those more advanced resources to guide me in the right direction of growth.
It can be overwhelming to decide exactly what Bible to choose, but the most important thing is that you have a Bible that you’re reading consistently, no matter what kind of study tools it has. Any of the study Bibles listed here will keep you rooted in God’s love, but you have to actually use it!
The truth is that relying on God throughout your college journey (and life) is a choice that you need to make every day, and you can have the best resources in the world, but you still have to stay disciplined in your spiritual habits and aim to increase your biblical knowledge.
Whether you’re in full-time ministry, taking college courses, or whether you’re just an average college student, staying in tune with the Holy Spirit and the grace of God is the most important thing you can do in life!
This post was all about the best Bible for college students.
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