Okay this title is giving me the ick but this is something I wish more people talked about. I grew up in a non-Christian household. So when I first needed to purchase a Bible I was shocked at the prices. All I wanted was to read and understand God’s word. Why did I need to pay an arm and an leg for that? Worse still, once I finally did get a translation that I liked, I had more questions and knew this wasn’t going to be a one-time thing. Nope, now I wanted a Study Bible and a commentary and in fact, were there even supplementary reading materials? Needless to see my return to religion was becoming expensive.
If you’re also looking to learn more about the Word of God, here are a few budget friendly ways you can do so.
1. Find Resources Online
Whether this is a Bible app or simply reading the Bible online, this is a great way to learn more about God’s Word without having to pay for it. Spotify also has books of the Bible that you can listen to. One of my favourite digital Bible resources is the Bible Project which has a Bible as well as podcasts, videos and even notes.
2. Shop Secondhand
I love the idea of having a Bible that someone else owned and loved. In this case you don’t have a choice in translation or print size (this was a concern for me), but it’s such a great feeling when you have your first Bible.
3. Ask Around for a Bible
If you have friends or family who are Christian, ask them if they have a Bible that they’re not using. Some people change their Bible preferences over the years so this is a great way for you to find a Bible translation that is easy to follow.
4. Purchase an Outreach Bible
This is what I did and it only cost me R135 which was super-cheap compared to the other Bibles out there. This was just a basic Bible with no extra bits (which kinda disappointed me) but at the time my only concern was being exposed to the Word and finishing the Bible. If you’re just starting out you don’t need a fancy, expensive Bible. All you need is a Bible that you can understand (I wish someone had explained this to me).
5. Shop Sales
C.U.M Books always has sales which is another great way to get a Bible at a reasonable price. Sign up for their mailing list and you’ll be keep updated on their sales.
Are there any other resources I might have missed? Let me know below.