I remember my first time at a Bible study at a local Methodist church. Having grown up in a different kind of church, I was curious. The room was nice, with chairs in circles and cookies on a table. When the study started, the leader asked someone to read from the book of James. The Bible they used was very clear and new. The message felt very real and close. That simple event made me think, and consequently, it led me to a question many people have: what bible do methodists use?
This question seems like it should have a simple answer, but it is not just one book. While some churches have one official Bible, Methodists are a bit more open. The Bible they use can change based on the church or even the pastor. However, there are Bibles they prefer. The story behind these choices is a fun trip into the past of the Methodist movement and its founder, John Wesley.
To find the real answer “Are All Bibles the Same?”, we need to do more than just list some Bibles. First, we need to see why Methodists pick the versions they do. We will look at their main beliefs about the Bible. In addition, we will also explore the main Methodist groups in the USA. We will see how their faith leads them to their choices. Ultimately, this guide will give you a clear and full answer.
More in Bible Category
The Methodist View of Scripture: A Key to What Bible Do Methodists Use?
Before we can talk about which Bible they use, we have to know how Methodists see the Bible. This is the start for everything else. For Methodists, the Bible is the top source for their faith and life. It is the main guide for what they believe and what they do.
This idea comes from the man who started Methodism, John Wesley. Wesley was a priest in the 1700s who started a movement that grew into the Methodist Church. He taught that the Bible is the base of the Christian faith. However, he also taught that we do not read the Bible all by itself. We use other tools to help us know what it means. People know this idea as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.
Think of it as a stool with four legs. For the stool to be firm, it needs all four legs. For a Methodist, their faith rests on these four things:
- Scripture: This is the first and main leg. The Bible is the top guide.
- Tradition: This means the wisdom of the Church over 2,000 years. Methodists look at how Christians in the past have seen the Bible.
- Reason: God gave us minds to think. Therefore, Methodists believe we should use our minds to study the Bible and think about what it means.
- Experience: This is a person’s own experience of God in their life. A person’s own faith can help them understand the Bible’s truths in a real way.
For Methodists, Scripture is always the most important leg of the stool. But the other three—Tradition, Reason, and Experience—help them understand it well. This balance is a key reason they are open to different, well-studied Bible versions, and it shapes the answer to what bible do methodists use.
What Bible Did John Wesley Himself Use?
To know modern Methodist choices, it helps to go back to the start. The work John Wesley did with the Bible set the path for the future.
Wesley’s Approach: A Historical Answer to What Bible Do Methodists Use?
John Wesley lived and preached in the 18th century. The main English Bible at that time was the King James Version (KJV), which came out in 1611. This was the Bible Wesley grew up with. He preached from it, wrote about it, and used it in his small groups. The nice, old language of the KJV certainly shaped how he spoke and wrote.
But Wesley was a man who cared about what worked. His main goal was to help normal people know God’s love and live good lives. He knew that the KJV’s language could be hard to understand. As a top expert who knew Greek and Hebrew, he also knew that since 1611, our understanding of the first Bible texts had improved.
Because of this, Wesley did something new. He made his own version of the New Testament, called Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament. He was not trying to replace the KJV. Instead, he wanted to give a text that was clearer and more helpful for the normal person. He fixed what he thought were small mistakes in the KJV based on better Greek texts. In addition, he put the text into smaller parts and added his own helpful notes.
This work shows the Methodist spirit well. It shows a deep respect for the Bible, but it also shows a wish to use study (Reason) and real-life care (Experience) to make the Bible as clear as it can be. This approach made it normal for Methodists to like Bibles that are both true to the old texts and easy to understand.
In the USA Today, What Bible Do Methodists Use?
When Methodism came to America, the King James Version came too. For a long time, the KJV was the main Bible. But as the English language changed, people needed newer Bibles.
Today, The United Methodist Church (UMC) is the biggest Methodist church group in the United States. A key thing to know is that the UMC does not have one “official” Bible that every church has to use. Instead, local churches are free to pick the Bible they think is best for their people.
However, there is a Bible that the UMC uses for most of its official church books. This includes the United Methodist Hymnal and the Book of Worship. That main Bible is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).
The NRSV: The Official UMC Answer to What Bible Do Methodists Use?
The NRSV came out in 1989 as a big update to the much-liked Revised Standard Version (RSV). The skilled team that worked on the NRSV had experts from many Christian groups, like Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox. This is known as an ecumenical way of working.
There are a few key reasons the NRSV is a good fit for the UMC.
- Good Study: The NRSV is known for its high level of study. The translators used the best and oldest texts they could find. This care for good study fits well with the Methodist value of using Reason.
- Easy to Read: While it is a Bible made by experts, the NRSV is also written in clear, modern English. It is not as word-for-word as some Bibles, but it is more so than others. Thus, it finds a good balance, much like Methodism itself.
- Includes All People: A key part of the NRSV is its use of words that include both men and women. For example, when the first Greek word adelphoi is used, it can mean “brothers” or “brothers and sisters.” The NRSV often says “brothers and sisters” or “friends” to make it clear the text is for all people. This lines up with the UMC’s goal to include everyone.
Because of these good points, you will find the NRSV in most official UMC books. You can find more info about the UMC’s beliefs at their official site, UMC.org. This is the most direct answer to what bible do methodists use for official things.
In local churches, what other bible do methodists use?
While the NRSV is the main choice for books, it is not the only Bible you will find in a Methodist church. Pastors and church members often have their own favorites. The flexibility in choice means that asking what bible do methodists use can have different answers from one church to the next, even in the same town.
One very popular choice is the Common English Bible (CEB). This is a newer Bible, finished in 2011. The CEB is special because many Methodist experts were on its translation team. Its main goal is to be very easy to read. It was written so a person with a 7th-grade reading level could understand it. For this reason, it uses very normal, modern language. For many churches that want to welcome new people, the CEB is a great choice.
You will also see the New International Version (NIV) a lot. The NIV is popular in all evangelical churches in America because it has a great balance of being true to the old texts and easy to read. Many Methodists grew up with the NIV. They find it easy to trust and use. Answering what bible do methodists use in real life often includes the NIV.
What about other Methodist denominations and what bible do they use?
The United Methodist Church is the biggest, but there are other Methodist groups in the USA. This includes churches like the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. It also includes groups like the Free Methodist Church that hold to older ways.
Like the UMC, these church groups do not have one main Bible version. Their choices are often much the same. Generally, they tend to like new, easy-to-read Bibles made by experts. You will find the NRSV, NIV, and CEB used in these churches too. The King James Version may also be used in some churches that like its history and nice words.
The Apocrypha: An Interesting Part of What Bible Do Methodists Use?
One interesting question is about the Apocrypha. These are old Jewish books written between the Old and New Testaments. While the Catholic and Orthodox Churches put these books in their Bibles, most Protestant Bibles do not. So what do Methodists think?
John Wesley’s view was much like Martin Luther’s. He did not think the books of the Apocrypha were God’s Word like Genesis or Romans. He taught that churches should not use them to make doctrine. However, he did think they were good to have. He said they were useful for learning about the past and for personal faith.
This middle view is still held today. Methodists do not see the Apocrypha as part of God’s Word. But their main Bible is the NRSV, which is often sold with the Apocrypha. So, they know about these books. Many Methodist pastors and experts see them as useful old books that give background for the New Testament. A great place to learn how different Bibles were made is the Society of Biblical Literature. Their site can help with these history questions.
How Do Methodists Read and Study the Bible?
Just as important as which Bible they use is how Methodists use it. Their way of reading the Bible is very real-life and based in groups.
What is the role of small groups in Methodist Bible study?
From the start, Methodism has been a movement of small groups. John Wesley’s first groups were set up in small “classes.” In these groups, people would meet each week to pray, sing, and study the Bible together. They would ask each other, “How is it with your soul?”
This way of doing things is still very strong today. Methodist churches are known for their great Sunday school classes and small group Bible studies. They think people can best understand the Bible in a group. In a group, for instance, people can share their ideas, ask questions, and help each other. This focus on groups is a key part of how they answer, “what bible do methodists use to grow in their faith?” They use it with each other.
The goal is not just to learn facts about the Bible. It is to use the Bible’s truths in real life. Wesley talked about “social holiness,” the idea that our faith must be shown by helping others. Bible study, for Methodists, should lead to doing good things. A great sample of Methodist books for personal and group study is The Upper Room. It gives daily readings used by millions all over the world. You can find them at upperroom.org.
Final Thoughts: The Methodist Approach to God’s Word
So, after our deep look, we can give a clear and sure answer.
The answer to what bible do methodists use is not one single book. The United Methodist Church uses the NRSV in its main books because it was made by experts and is clear. In local churches, however, you will often find the CEB and NIV too.
What ties all Methodists together is not which Bible they hold, but how they see the Bible. For Methodists, the Bible is the main source for their faith. They read it using tradition, reason, and personal experience as their guides. Their main goal is not just to know the Bible, but to live it out. Ultimately, they look for the Bible version that best helps them know God’s love and share that love with the world.
FAQ – What Bible Do Methodists Use
How do Methodists typically study and read the Bible?
Methodists emphasize group-based Bible study through small groups and classes, following John Wesley’s tradition. They aim to apply biblical truths to real life, fostering social holiness by encouraging personal and social application of Scripture.
Do Methodists consider the Apocrypha part of their Bible?
Methodists generally do not include the Apocrypha as part of God’s Word, aligning with Martin Luther’s view. They see these books as useful for historical and personal reflection but not for establishing doctrine.
Why are different Bible versions used in Methodist churches today?
Different Methodist churches and pastors choose Bible translations based on their values of tradition, reason, and experience. Some prefer the NRSV for its scholarly and inclusive qualities, while others may use the Common English Bible (CEB) or the New International Version (NIV) for readability and approachability.
How did John Wesley influence the choice of Bible translations for Methodists?
John Wesley primarily used the King James Version (KJV) but also worked on his own translation and notes to make the Bible more understandable, emphasizing the importance of clarity and study. His respect for Scripture and desire for accessible understanding influenced Methodist approaches to Bible translation.
What Bible do Methodists primarily use in their official church publications?
Methodists primarily use the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) for their official church books, including hymnals and worship materials, because of its scholarly accuracy, clarity, and inclusive language.
