Amish & The Bible: Do they read it? Which Bible do they use?

Amish use both English and German-language Bibles. The Amish use the German Martin Luther Bible in church. For an English version, they typically use the King James translation, though some Amish may use the New International Version (NIV).

The language which Amish speak, Pennsylvania German (aka Pennsylvania Dutch), is traditionally not a written tongue. However, there have been attempts made to create a Bible in the Pennsylvania German language.

The Amish do read the Bible, but not necessarily in the same ways that other Christians do. Seeking personal interpretations that challenge the community, or putting on bold displays of Biblical knowledge are not encouraged – though reading for personal inspiration is generally encouraged. Individual Amish churches can differ in how much members are encouraged to read the Bible. More below.

The “Amish Bible”

The Amish use both the Old and New Testaments, and preachers will use Old Testament stories in their sermons. But all Biblical texts read in church service come from the New Testament. The Amish place a special emphasis on the Gospels (books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

As mentioned, the Amish use both the High German Martin Luther Bible, as well as the King James version. They will typically have a dual-language Bible which presents the King James version on one page, and the Martin Luther German text on the opposite page.

Many Amish people may in fact be more comfortable reading an English-language Bible. This is because the use English fairly frequently (daily), as opposed to High German, which is more often used in a church context.

Amish & the Apocrypha

Notably, the Amish also (to some degree) use the books of the Apocrypha. The Martin Luther Bible used by the Amish contains these additional books, which Luther himself called “books which are not considered equal to the Holy Scriptures, but are useful and good to read.”

These additional books are used in some Christian churches, but not in others. Amish may draw from certain books of the Apocrypha in certain situations. For example, the story of the marriage of Tobias and Sarah may be recounted in Amish weddings, which may also include verses from the book of Tobit. The book of Nicodemus may also be used.

Do Amish read the Bible?

You may have heard the claim that “Amish do not read the Bible“. This claim is often coupled with suggestions that Amish are “forbidden” by their bishops to read the Bible, with Holy Scripture in essence being controlled by the church ministry.

Where do these claims come from? Now, as with most things Amish, we always ought to note that the customs in different Amish communities can vary. In some communities there may be a greater emphasis, or at least acceptance of studying the Bible in an individual or small-group context.

When do Amish read the Bible?

I’ve personally taken part in reading the Bible with Amish people on multiple occasions. For instance, when I’m staying with my Amish friends, it’s typical that we read some passages from the Bible after breakfast.

Or, on the “off” Sunday (the Sunday when Amish don’t hold church service in their district), they’ll read the Bible, and have devotionals, and they’ll have prayer time together as a family. There’s not a lot of extensive analysis and discussion, though there may be some. Also, Amish people will reference stories and lessons from the Bible in private discussion as well. It is not taboo to discuss the Bible.

In other communities, however, Bible reading and discussion may be discouraged, at least to some degree. Why might this be the case?

The Bible & Amish Community

Let’s have a look at a book on Amish spirituality called The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World, which has a good explanation for this, broadly speaking. The authors note:

But even though they use the Bible in devotional settings, they understand it to be primarily the church’s book. A resource that, like every other part of life, cannot be properly or fully understood by a lone individual, or even by a small group of individuals apart from their local church.

So the context with the Bible, like with other things Amish, is “community”. The Bible is seen or approached through the lens of community, and private revelations or interpretations of the Bible are discouraged.

The Bible is also not taught in school – no Bible classes in Amish schools, or Sunday School (with one notable exception, see below). School teachers will simply read to the class from the Bible at the beginning of the day, but without teaching or in-depth interpretation. As the authors note, “the Bible is an authority to be obeyed more than studied or analyzed.”

The Amish do read the Bible in church worship – at least one full chapter (The Amish Way notes that this is significantly more than is read in most Protestant or Catholic worship services).

What about Bible study groups?

Private devotional reading of the Bible is generally accepted by Amish church leaders, or even encouraged. However in-depth Bible study in the traditional evangelical Christian mode is not encouraged. Amish feel this may lead their church members to “individualistic interpretations.” More on that from The Amish Way:

Those who show off their Biblical knowledge or claim special revelation for their acts are seen as haughty and divisive because they turn the Bible on its head, using it as a tool for self-interest rather than as an authority to which individuals must surrender.

Furthermore:

Occasionally, some individuals study the Bible and declare a private revelation, such as, “The Lord led me to start a new prison ministry program.” “We are not to make the Bible suit our way of thinking,” one minister warns. The Amish believe that the Lord guides a body of believers who diligently seek God’s will. And in Amish life that body is the local congregation.

There is also a concern that Bible study may be used as a vehicle to amplify grievances against church leadership:

Amish skepticism of small group Bible study arises because sometimes unhappy church members or former members use small group Bible study to challenge church authority. The Bible, said when Amish man, is a mirror to examine ourselves, not a spotlight to shine on other people’s shortcomings.

So for these reasons, loud proclamations of personal Biblical revelation or insight are not looked upon favorably. Again, the Amish are a church community-focused group which acknowledges the individual – but emphasizes unity and the community good. The Amish also emphasize the value humility. This applies to daily life and also to their spiritual lives.

This approach is also seen in the Amish celebration of twice-yearly Communion. Prior to Communion, the Amish review and affirm the church Ordnung (rules and standards) at a service known as Council Gmay. Communion may be postponed if there is disunity in the church, until any internal discord is resolved.

The Amish are not the same as evangelical Christians

If you look at how the Amish read the Bible from the perspective of a Christian group which emphasizes Bible study, personal interpretation and promoting individualized revelations, you are probably more apt to see the Amish as a group that “doesn’t read the Bible” (or maybe, “doesn’t really read the Bible”).

That is likely where a good bit of this idea comes from. Claims that the Amish don’t read the Bible also seem to often originate with former Amish people, who have emerged from the Amish and adopted a more traditional evangelical Protestant mode of Christianity. 

That noted, in some of the most conservative Amish churches, reading of the Bible may in fact be actively discouraged in ways that it is not in the more mainstream churches. The Amish are a diverse group of approximately 3,000 individual church congregations, each with its own leadership and with varying rules, standards, and customs. But, the above holds generally true for how the Amish approach reading the Bible.

The New Order Amish & Bible Study

There is one exception to the idea that Amish do not promote formal Bible study. The small group of churches known as the New Order Amish (or, less commonly, “Amish Brotherhood”), do hold Sunday School. These gatherings, which are held for both adults and children in the church community, are more alike to the traditional evangelical idea of “Bible study”.

Adults and children will gather separately and passages from Scripture will be discussed as a church group (males and females also meet separately for Sunday School). The New Order Amish church, which makes up approximately three percent of all Amish, differ from other Old Order Amish churches in demonstrating a more evangelical and mission-minded outlook than is typical.

Other books and publications read by the Amish

Besides the Bible, the Amish use and read a variety of other books, both in church contexts and for non-religious reading. Here are some examples.

Ausbund: The Amish Songbook

Amish also use a special songbook known as the Ausbund. The Ausbund is the longest-lived songbook in continuous use. The hymns it contains are hundreds of years old, and were composed by Anabaptist forefathers.  Common themes include human suffering and faith in God.

The Ausbund contains no musical notes, and tunes are passed down from one generation to the next.  Amish often get together in order to practice singing from the Ausbund.

Martyr’s Mirror

The Martyr’s Mirror is an important book for Amish as well. It is an historical account of the suffering of Christian martyrs.  There are many stories of persecution of early Anabaptists, predecessors to the Amish in Europe. Amish take inspiration from the tales found in the Martyr’s Mirror.

Bible Story Books

Amish families often buy their children Bible story books.  Popular sets include the Arthur Maxwell series as well as the Family Bible Library. Classic children’s books are commonly seen in Amish homes as well, as well as traditional readers.

Popular Religious Books

Some Amish read spiritually-themed magazines and books.  A number even read the more popular religious authors such as Max Lucado, John Maxwell, and Rick Warren.

Fiction books

Works of fiction are not very common, but are found in some Amish homes.  There is likely a significant contingent of readers of Amish fiction among Amish themselves.  Books on history are popular as well as biographies and books on the natural world.

News sources

Additionally, Amish read newspapers, often local editions.  Amish produced newspapers such as The Budget or Die Botschaft are very popular.  Some Amish may subscribe to national news magazines.

For more, see:

• The Amish Church: How it Works
• Amish Church Rules: The Ordnung
• Amish Church Leaders: The Bishop, Minister & Deacon
• The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World, Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher
• The Riddle of Amish Culture, Donald B. Kraybill
• The Amish and the Media, eds. Diane Zimmerman Umble and David Weaver-Zercher; esp. chapters eight (“Inscribing Community: The Budget and Die Botschaft in Amish Life”, Steven M. Nolt) and nine (“Publish or Perish: Amish Publishing and Old Order Identity”, Karen Johnson-Weiner)

Common Questions on the Amish & the Bible

1. In which language is the “Amish Bible”?
2. Which version of the Bible do Amish use?
3. Are Amish allowed to read the Bible?
4. Do the Amish use both Old and New Testament?
5. Which Scriptures do Amish most frequently use?
6. Do Amish use the Apocrypha?

1. In which language is the “Amish Bible”?

Amish peopleread the Bible in both English and German. The bilingual split Bible is common, with English text on one side and German on the facing page.

2. Which version of the Bible do the Amish use?

The Amish use the German Martin Luther Bible for church and home Bible readings. For an English Bible, they traditionally use the King James version, though some may use other translations including the NIV (New International Version) Bible.

3. Are Amish allowed to read the Bible?

It’s sometimes suggested that Amish are restricted from owning or reading Bibles, in effect dependent upon church ministry to impart the word of God.

It’s likely this idea originates from the value Amish place on community and their apprehension of the type of Bible study popular in other Christian churches. The concern is that an individualistic approach to Bible study may foster self-serving personal interpretations which conflict with established traditional beliefs and church values.

Contrary to this perception, many if not all Amish homes contain Bibles. Holy Scripture is used as source material for daily devotionals carried out by Amish families. Amish also discuss passages from Scripture and may own additional books to help aid in their understanding, such as concordances or Bible encyclopedias.

Amish are also apt to refer to sermons that they remember from church delivered by ministers as a point of reference in such discussion. However the willingness to discuss passages from Scripture and use of the Bible outside a church setting may vary across Amish groups.

4. Do the Amish read the Old and New Testament?

Yes, Amish read from both Testaments, and both serve as source material for sermons at church service, though the New Testament is emphasized.

5. Which are the most popular sections of the Bible in Amish church?

Though readings come from both the Old and New Testament, Amish worship leans heavily on the New Testament and the Gospels. As described in The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World, “Preachers make frequent allusions to Old Testament stories and psalms, but sermons are mostly based on New Testament texts” (see The Amish Way, Appendix II: Amish Lectionary, p. 205).

On the Gospels, “there is an obvious preference for texts from the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John, all of which present the teachings of Jesus. Of these Gospels, Matthew receives the highest priority” (The Amish Way, Appendix II: Amish Lectionary, p. 205).

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) also plays an important role in Amish Christianity, as Amish derive their beliefs and practices of forgiveness, nonresistance and non-violence from the Scripture. An Amish minister quoted in Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy observes: “Forgiveness is all about Matthew 5 and the Sermon on the Mount and loving our enemies” (Amish Grace, p. 88).

6. Do the Amish use the Apocrypha?  

The Apocrypha consists of a collection of additional books used in some Christian churches and included in some editions of the Bible. The Apocrypha does occupy a place in Amish society.

For example, the Martin Luther German Bible which Amish use contains the books of the Apocrypha (Luther described them as not equal to other books of the Bible, but “useful and good to read.”)

John Hostetler also notes that the Apocrypha plays a role in Amish wedding ceremonies, “which [include] the retelling of the marriage of Tobias and Sarah in the Apocrypha” (see Hostetler, John A., Amish Roots: A Treasury of History, Wisdom, and Lore, p. 117).

Furthermore, in Amish Society, he recounts an Amish wedding service that includes readings from the Book of Tobit (Hostetler, John A., Amish Society, p. 195). Additionally, the Gospel of Nicodemus is also reportedly used by Amish.