Searching for the Best Journaling Bible?

If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best journaling Bible is, then I’d recommend the ESV Journaling Bible Interleaved Edition as the best one.

Are you looking for the best journaling Bible? Perfect! You have come to the right place. I have compiled five options that you might like to consider.

These journal Bibles can help make your study time engaging as you let your imagination and the Holy Spirit take control.

Before we check them out, I’d love to create a base to help you when researching. It’s the same strategy I used.

Here are the Best Journaling Bibles we’ll be reviewing:

• ESV Journaling Bible Interleaved Edition by ESV Bibles
• Tyndale NLT Inspire Bible by Tyndale
• ESV Journaling Bible (Customizable Cover) by ESV Bibles
• ESV Journaling Bible (Cloth over Board, Flowers) by ESV Bibles
• NIV, Journal the Word Bible by Zondervan

How to Choose the Best Journaling Bibles

A few years ago, getting a journal Bible was much simpler. One of the most popular Bibles was the ESV journaling Bible from Crossway, which came out in 2006.

But times have changed. There are a dozen journal Bibles, and more continue to come out. This means that making a purchase decision is becoming harder. 

So consider the following factors for choosing the best journaling Bibles.

Your Preferred Translation

The Bible was translated from Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew. As of 2019, the full Bible has been translated into 698 languages, and the work is still ongoing. I won’t go into detail about this but leave it for Bible scholars.

Why is this a concern? 

A few readers are wary of the Bible translation for personal reasons. For example, most Bible scholars might have conflicting philosophies with one translation but would prefer another.

But everyday Christians who just want to study God’s word won’t go to this extent. Either way, you might consider the following standard Bible translations.

• King James Version (KJV)
• New King James Version (NKJV)
• New Living Translation (NLT)
• English Standard Version (ESV)

I can’t say which one is the best. But it would be wise to talk to your pastor or spiritual leader before you settle on one.

Is the Bible “Complete”?

I never want to indulge in controversies. But if you’re a staunch Bible reader, you might have noticed that some Bible versions have some verses missing. Here is a list.

I don’t want to speculate on the reasons for such a happening. According to YouVersion, it’s all about mixups in the translation process. Whether it’s true or false, it’s still essential to get a “full” Bible.

The good news is that most of the available versions have cleared up the mess, which will make your work simpler.

Binding Options

Do you recall the days you used to get new books at the beginning of the school semester? The next thing you would do is to get the books bound. I bet you still have them today.

That’s the power of binding. It improves shelf life and keeps the professional look of the book. It’s no different when it comes to Bibles. Consider the following three options before you visit the local binding shop.

Basic Bindings

Basic binding is made of a hardback or paperback, which is not costly. Journal Bibles with this style might be an ideal choice when you are working on a tight budget.

Deluxe Binding

Bibles with deluxe bindings are un-upgraded versions of basic bindings. It’s because they have a leather touch and bonded leather. 

The materials have a smooth texture that is rougher than genuine leather. The leather touch option comes in different colors.

Premium Bindings

Premium-bound journal Bibles are made of calfskin and genuine leather. As hinted, the binding is mostly used in the most expensive Bibles. On the flip side, the binding ensures you use your Bible for the longest time possible.

The Bible Edition

Journal Bibles are mainly divided into two editions

Writers’ Bible Edition

Writer edition Bibles feature two-inch spaces at the bottom of each page. It’s a practical way of writing prayers, notes, and your favorite Bible scriptures. It’s, therefore, easy to keep track of your growth in the word of God.

Interleaved Bible Edition

Personally, I haven’t had experience with Interleaved Journal Bibles. But I do like the idea and would like to try them out.

With the edition, there is blank space on each page to give you ample room for taking notes. You can also pen down the most touching verses on the blank page.

I appreciate the feature because I don’t love coloring a verse or writing above the Bible page. 

Apart from the above four differentiators, also consider the price. Most Bibles are not pricey. If one is, there must be a good reason that circulates around design, quality of paper, and cover material.

Here are five of the best Bibles for journaling.

ESV Journaling Bible Interleaved Edition by ESV Bibles

ESV Journaling Bible is the best journal Bible option for pastors with several weekly sermons. A staunch Bible reader will also fall in love with it. 

There are two reasons for this.

First of all, it has a durable leather binding that can persevere heavy beating without a sign of wear. 

The elastic strap in the middle helps to keep it closed. This is useful when you have a kid around with crayon pens in her hand. I guess you know what can happen. Plus, the sewn binding keeps the Bible open when placed on uneven ground.

Secondly, it’s an interleaved edition Bible, which creates more space for writing sermon notes. I like the feature because it can be a time saver when looking for scripture when preaching. It cuts down the time you will spend turning the Bible pages.

The last thing you will find helpful is the year Bible reading plan. Although it’s a basic feature, it can help you set targets as you delve deeper into God’s word.

Pros:

• It gives ample space for illustrating your faith.
• It’s very clear without losing the traditional and familiar phrasing of the older translations.
• The cream-colored pages have a decent thickness.
• The original leather binding increases the lifespan.

Cons:

• It’s a bit cumbersome.
• The blank pages don’t have lines to write on.
• The 7.5 size font is a bit small.

Tyndale NLT Inspire Bible by Tyndale

Tyndale NLT Bible might be the best fit for an upcoming Christian who is into coloring and creative journalism. Thanks to the single-column format that gives you more full margins.

Talking about the artwork, Tyndale NLT Inspire Bible has 400 pages to be creative with. On top of that, it has a partial and full art page that allows you to mix your creativity with your favorite scriptures.

The first thing you will notice is the beautiful visual design. The cover designs are different, which is great because they reach a broader audience with different tastes.

In all the designs, they have the same hardcover edition that ensures durability and safety. The secret lies in the board material engraved in thin leather materials. 

The cover’s color is mainly aquamarine blue and has the word “Inspire” engraved in a large font.

To ensure readability, the Bible uses the recommended 8.65. 

You will also appreciate the thick pages, which can withstand the stresses of journaling, crayons, and pens.

The Tyndale NLT Inspire Bible is also not costly. Due to the fact that it was the 2017 Christian Retailing BEST Award Winner, I think it’s something worth trying if you have a fixed budget.

Pros:

• The cover is attractive.
• The Bible is affordable.
• Uses very simple text.
• The large font makes it readable for the older generation.
• It has a small size for portable.

Cons:

• The designs are too small to color.
• Pages might start to come out after long-term use, so handle them with care.

ESV Journaling Bible (Customizable Cover) by ESV Bibles

ESV Single Column is a simple Bible but with substantial features. It would make the perfect gift for a new believer with a longing for God’s word. Thanks to the simplicity of the text for easy understanding.

Another useful feature is the thick pages with no bleed-through. It can keep up if you erase a lot. Of course, you should use erasable pens.

This edition comes with white cream, a durable, and robust hardcover. If you prefer another color, you might consider the black cover edition.

A few of the features are similar, but what creates a significant difference is the price. The black cover edition is cheaper, but it has compromised on a few royalty features.

The edition uses the single-column format. This means that verses come in huge chunks of paragraphs for successive reading. The outside margins of each page are 2 inches and lined for writing. 

Outside the features I have mentioned, there is a smaller but powerful feature you will love if you want to start a serious Bible study series.

The footnotes at the bottom of each page are interlinked to numbers in the text. Footnotes have more explanations with translations from the Greek language. Such a simple feature makes Bible reading fun and engaging.

Pros:

• Pages hold up well to paint.
• Big margins give plenty of room for writing.
• Has a ribbon to continue reading later.
• It is portable and easy to carry.
• The bindings are sturdy.

Cons:

• The translation wording is slightly old-fashioned.
• Might appear smaller if you want a Bible for heavy artwork

ESV Journaling Bible (Cloth over Board, Flowers) by ESV Bibles

For most people, a journaling Bible should enable you to keep both notes of your sturdy and a record of things that happen in your everyday life. This is not the case for everyone, though. Don’t get me wrong.

What I’m trying to say is that a few readers don’t prefer Bibles with many drawings. They just need a simple Bible to study God’s time without any distractions.

It’s for this reason that I included the ESV Journaling Bible in this review. It’s not fancy, but you will love the ample space it gives for writing notes, reflections, and prayers. That’s why it might best serve pastors and church leaders. 

If you have used several Bibles before, you will agree that the ESV journaling Bible keeps the old-fashioned look of the Bible, which is nice.

The cover is a cloth-covered board for extra protection. With the additional durable binding, it keeps away any hint of wear or tear. This makes it the ideal option for missionaries to remote places in the world. It’s also not bulky, thanks to the small size.

Pros:

• The cover is robust and flexible.
• The small size makes it easily portable.
• It comes with a keep-safe box.
• The right option for the academic study of the Bible.

Cons:

• Has a small font cover.
• The pages are very thin. 
• It’s a bit too costly.

NIV, Journal the Word Bible by Zondervan

This edition fits it all. Whether you want a Bible to ramp up your personal study, gift someone on their birthday, or use it for missions.

NIV Journal Bible is an expertly devised edition that allows smooth reading. It doesn’t contain sophisticated authorized version terms like thou, thee, and thine. Let’s be honest – most Christians find it difficult to navigate the Bible with those terms.

Plus, the Bible has one of the largest fonts at 9.5. It might be the right choice for older Christians. You don’t need glasses either as they are large enough. 

Like most Bibles, it has a ribbon marker that will help you return to the place you were reading. You will also appreciate the fact that the books and chapters are written at the end of the page to speed up your search time.

The cover is sturdy but very soft to the touch. The cross on the cover is simple and has a bit of elegance. It would be a good option if you needed something with a touch of royalty but at half the price.

Pros:

• The words of Jesus are written in red.
• Large font size.
• The Bible is compatible with Bible tabs.
• More room for journaling.

Cons:

• The print from the next page appears as shadows on the next one.
• The pages are very thin.

Conclusion

As a believer, you understand the importance of studying the Bible. You’re probably reading this because you’re interested in diving deeper into the scriptures.

With this in mind, I would like to recommend the edition that takes the cake among the best journaling Bibles. The ESV Journaling Bible Interleaved Edition fits the bill as it meets all the best journaling Bible thresholds.

The fact that it’s a bit pricey doesn’t compromise the quality. It gives you room for expressive writing that aids your productivity. It will serve you for as long as you handle it with care. 

Still, if you prefer any of the other four, feel free to go for it. The important thing is that you will study the word of God.