As the Christmas season draws closer, buying gifts is on the minds of many. Bibles are a popular gift for older adults, said Christine Greiner, manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Oxford.
However, knowing the preferences of the person who will receive the Bible is critical to making the right selection among the array of choices of translation, print size, reading styles, study notes and cover color and styles.
"When someone is buying a Bible for an older adult, they are usually buying to replace a Bible that has been worn out," she said.
"You are replacing something that has been well used in the older person’s life, and they usually like the same translation and characteristics of the Bible they had."
Tim Jordan, marketing manager with Bible reference and Spanish products for Broadman & Holman Publishing Group, believes that when it comes to studying the Bible, senior adults are like any other age group.
They want a Bible they can read in the format they prefer, he said.
He advised that the gift buyers ask themselves the following questions when purchasing a Bible:
– For whom are you buying the Bible?
– For what purpose will the Bible be used? Will it be for personal devotional time or something like sermon or Sunday School preparation?
– Does the person prefer one translation?
– Is this Bible to commemorate a special occasion?
Gift buyers should also keep in mind that their personal preferences may be different from those of the person they are buying for, said Bob Gladney, executive pastor of First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, in Tuscaloosa Baptist Association.
Gladney said he primarily reads the New International Version, but as he studies or conducts services he may use other translations according to his audience.
For example, he often uses the King James Version when he conducts funerals for senior adults because that is the version they grew up with and with which they were most comfortable.
The most important factor is that the reader can understand the words of the Bible, he noted.
"Different versions speak to different people," Gladney said. "Everyone needs a Bible that speaks to him or her personally."
Another consideration is the ability of the person to see the text.
For those who have eye trouble, large or giant print is usually best, and large-print Bibles are available even in compact styles.
There is even a super-giant-print Bible with a very large 18-point print size available for the visually impaired, Jordan said.
An audio Bible is also a good choice for anyone who has a hard time seeing and focusing, or for those who like to listen to audio books as they travel, Jordan said.
As their popularity has grown, audio Bibles have increased in variety and now include dramatized and devotional readings.
"Most translations have some form of audio product, so if translation is important, you should be able to find something that the person will enjoy," he said.
Jordan added that as online technology, including downloadable audio files, finds its way into more homes, more publishers will make products available online as well.
In addition to Bibles themselves, Greiner said there are other products that make good gifts for senior adults and can enhance their Bible-reading experience.
For example, LifeWay carries magnifying sheets readers can put over the pages of their Bibles to enlarge the print for easier reading.
Another popular gift item is a Bible cover, some of which have handles for easier carrying and storage pockets for items like reading glasses and Sunday School books.
There are also countless daily, or one-year, Bibles, Bible study guides and other books senior adults might enjoy using as part of their Bible study and devotional time, she said.
Share with others: