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Everything you need to read along: free Bibles, a plain guide to translations, a trusted free commentary, and a simple way to study a passage on your own.
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World English Bible (WEB)
Modern English · fairly literal · public domain
This is the translation I read on every episode. It is free to read, copy, and share.
King James Version (KJV)
Word for word · classic 1611 English · public domain in the US
The historic English Bible. Beautiful and precise, with older words that take some getting used to.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Essentially literal · modern English · copyrighted
A careful, readable study Bible. Scripture quotes on this site use the ESV.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Thought for thought · very readable · copyrighted
Easy to read aloud and good for big-picture reading. Check a literal Bible when you study a hard verse.
How translations differ
| Bible | Method | Reads like | Strength | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KJV | Word for word | 1600s English | Close to the original wording | Old words ("thee," "wist") can hide the meaning |
| ESV | Essentially literal | Formal modern English | Good for careful study | Some sentences run long |
| WEB | Fairly literal | Plain modern English | Free to share, good to read aloud | Uses "Yahweh" for God's name in the Old Testament |
| NLT | Thought for thought | Everyday English | Clear for new readers | Word-level detail is sometimes smoothed out |
| The Message | Paraphrase | Conversational | Fresh wording | A companion at most, not a study Bible |
Free commentary
Constable's Notes
Dr. Thomas L. Constable's notes, book by book through the Bible. Free online and as PDFs. I check them alongside Grace to You when a passage needs a closer look.
Free sermons
Grace to You
John MacArthur's free sermon archive. Look up a sermon on the passage you just read.
How to study
A 15-minute method
Pray, read, observe, interpret, apply, and write one sentence. The full walk-through is further down this page.
Which Bible should I read?
Translators make one big choice: how closely to follow the original Hebrew and Greek word by word, and how much to reshape sentences into natural English.
Word for word (KJV, ESV, NASB) stays close to the original wording and sentence order. It is best for careful study. It can read stiffly.
Thought for thought (NLT, NIV) puts each phrase's meaning into everyday English. It is easy to read aloud and good for long stretches. Some word-level detail gets smoothed out.
Paraphrase (The Message) restates the text freely. It can be a fresh companion, but don't make it your only Bible.
A simple plan: keep one readable Bible you'll open every day, and one more literal Bible for study. When a verse is hard, compare the two.
On the podcast I read the World English Bible. It is a modern, fairly literal translation in the public domain, which means anyone can share the audio freely.
Method labels are teaching aids. Each publisher describes its own aims in its preface.
How to study the Bible in 15 minutes
You don't need a seminary desk. You need a Bible, a quiet spot, and a plan.
- Pray. Ask God to help you see.
"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
Psalm 119:18 ESV
- Read the passage out loud, the whole paragraph or chapter.
- Observe. Who is speaking? To whom? What happens? Which words repeat?
- Interpret. What did this mean to the first readers? What does the rest of the Bible say about it?
- Apply. Is there a truth to believe, a sin to confess, a command to obey, or a promise to hold?
- Write one sentence, then pray it back to God.
Tips
- Stay in the paragraph before you jump to a favorite verse.
- Use a more literal translation when a line is unclear.
- Try the text yourself first, then check a trusted free commentary like Constable's Notes.
- Be like the Bereans:
"they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
Acts 17:11 ESV, partial
Notes template (copy this)
Passage: Date: What I noticed: Other verses that connect: The main point in one sentence: What I'll do about it: My prayer:
The WEB and KJV are public domain in the US. The ESV and NLT are copyrighted, so this site links to them and quotes the ESV only briefly. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.