verse numbers swarm around the small print ; section headings abound . The sheer amount of information is immediately overwhelming and exhausting .
Here ’ s the thing : Ever since chapter and verse numbers were paired together in the 1500s , our Bibles have trended toward designs and features that invite us to engage with it less like a library of literature and more like a reference book . Less like poetry and prose and more like a dictionary . As Christopher Smith puts it , the Scriptures have been recast “ to reflect two key values of modernity : information and speed .”
Our Bibles are great for looking things up and finding information quickly — not so great for reading . If you have a hard time focusing on the Bible text , it ’ s likely because the Bible ’ s own modern design is inviting distraction .
So what ’ s the alternative ? Try using a Reader ’ s Bible . These relatively new editions of Scripture do away with all ( or most ) of the modern additives . No chapter or verse numbers , footnotes , etc . Just the text , laid out in a single column , ready for you to sit and read .
For many people , this simple change is the single biggest factor in recovering a better Bible engagement practice . They realize how their path to reading had been laden with obstacles and how removing them allows them to take a breath , curl up on the couch , and simply read .
2 . Our Bible Culture Is Built on McNuggets
One unfortunate result of our chapter-andverse Bibles is that we ’ ve made chapters and verses the standard unit of measurement for our Bible reading . We get verse-of-the-
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