A study of study bibles: non-King James Version – part II (yes, there’s more!)

This is my final wrap-up of study bibles.  My first post covered King James Version study bibles.  The second post was about major non-KJV-based versions.  And now in this group it’s about the rest of the non-KJV based study bibles.  These are some of the most imaginative, well-produced and scholarly study Bibles to be found.  They utilize nine different Bible translations and nearly as many theological viewpoints.  Most are modern productions but one actually dates back centuries.  Here’s my comments:

Other Non-KJV study bibles

New Living Translation Study Bible – This is my favorite non-KJV study Bible even though the translation is a thought-for-thought (dynamic-equivalence) one. I usually judge a study Bible by how easily it illumines the Book of Psalms and the writings of St. Paul. In these two aspects the NLTSB is wonderful. The Psalms are given ample treatment with both an overall note on each Psalm and then verse-by-verse notes as needed. Short articles on Psalm types (laments, praises, thanksgiving, etc.) are also presented.  In regards to Paul’s writing, Continue reading

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A survey of study bibles – non-King James Version – part I

Our first list of study bibles were keyed to the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible.  That list included about ten study bibles available on the market today.

Our next list of study bibles are keyed to a translation other than the KJV.  As you will see the list of available non-KJV study bibles nearly doubles in length.  The major Bible publishing houses, such as Oxford, Nelson, Tyndale and others, have produced newer, sometimes more contemporary translations than the KJV.  That doesn’t mean the KJV is going away.  According to the top Bible scholars, the KJV still reigns and remains as “the magisterial rendering in English” (Robert Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative). I will provide some thoughts on the subject of translations in a near future post.

The great benefit from working with a non-KJV study Bible is that you not only get to read the top-notch, up-to-date scholarship of the major publishing houses, but you get to add a new translation to your library.  Both of these features help us in our quest to gain the spiritual sense of the Bible verses we study. Continue reading

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Some final comments to come…

I’m getting close to the end of my term as Second Reader at my branch church.  It has been a wonderful experience for me as I have grown in my study and practice of Christian Science and especially learned so much more about the Bible.

Though I haven’t posted very often in the last few months, there are some things I want to say over the next few months.  In particular, I will present my recommendations for Bible study and reference books that are useful to Christian Scientists.  Also, there will be a couple posts regarding Bible translations and their use in our Weekly Bible Lesson-Sermon.

I have posted the first part of my survey of study bibles.  Enjoy!

Jim

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A survey of study bibles – King James Version

In the work of Reader and as a student of the Bible, I tend to use study bibles as my favorite resource instead of commentaries and dictionaries.  Why? Study bibles give you the full text of the Bible verse under review, plus cross-references to similar verses, and succinct and concise explanations along the bottom or side of the passage.  If your standard text is the King James Version, there are study bibles for that version or others that use another translation.  If you buy a King James “study” Bible then the notes and comments are “keyed” to the KJV translation.

Why use a study Bible?  We believe that part of our work as a student of Christian Science is to discover the spiritual sense or deeper meaning of the Bible.  As one of our religious tenets states, “As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life” (Science and Health pg. 497)

Study bibles help to explain the verses in their theological, historic, symbolic and cultural meanings.  Often this illumination provides the “aha” moments or inspiration we receive when we get the true or deeper meaning of a Bible verse. Continue reading

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The Story of Ruth – A Repost

I thought I would repost this article in light of this week’s lesson!  Enjoy!

This is a great week to be a Second Reader (no, really, it is!). We get to read the story of Ruth. Not only is it a fascinating story with a wonderful ending, it is one that digs deeply into the culture and traditions of families in the Near Middle East in the early Iron Age.  While the story centers on Ruth, the circumstances regarding her mother-in-law, Naomi, are equally inspiring. Here’s some notes:

1. Naomi (“pleasant”) and her husband Elimelech (“God is King”) ventured into the land of Moab during a period of drought and famine in the land of Israel. Unfortunately, her husband died.  Her two sons, Mahlon (“sickly”) and Chilion (“wasting away”) grew up and married Moab woman. Continue reading

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The disobedience of Jonah

Oh, to find “a ship going to Tarshish” and to flee away from our troubles and fears!

Yet they keep pursuing us until we turn around and face them.

That’s what Jonah learned (Book of Jonah).  He found a ship to Tarshish and he fled back to his old, comfortable, material ways.  So satisfied was Continue reading

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