Saturday, December 27, 2014
One Bible, One Year
Any one willing to do this with me? This is inspired by a recent post at His Excellent Word blog. I'd be interesting hearing from some of you if this is something you might want to do and be willing to share your experiences. I am seriously considering it and have a bible in mind. Your thoughts?
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16 comments:
Tim, I've actually thought about this myself, just using one translation for the entire year. I find myself constantly going from translation to translation and before you know it, I've accomplished nothing.
What translation do you have in mind? (Please say it isn't the Message. :)
Russ Ny
Russ,
I am considering using my Cambridge NRSV reference with Apocrypha exclusively for prayer, reading, and teaching in 2015.
Yes, I think this is a good idea. I would like to commit to one translation for the year. I don't have the edition you mentioned above but if we proceed I would be using the Harper Collins Study Bible NRSV with Apoc/Deut. It's a wonderful study bible and has a 70+ page concordance in the back. I like the size of it as well. The only think I can honestly say I dislike are the maps. I'm not sure where they found them but they are quite possibly the worst I've seen in any book.
So count me in.
This is a great idea! I pray the Divine Office, so using one Bible for _everything_ is out. The psalms are an ICEL translation and everything else in the breviary is the NAB, if memory serves. But, for reading, I think I'll use The Jerusalem Bible (AKA Big Red)this coming year. I'd also like to try again to read the whole Bible. The reading plans don't seem to work out for me, because I get behind and get discouraged, so I think I'll just come up with my own and not worry about completing it in a year. This should help with the biceps too.
Ed,
That is a good point, particularly since I pray the Liturgy of the Hours as well. Perhaps we'll have to make an exception there!
During Mass a few weeks ago the priest pulled out his personal bible and started reading from it. It was the NAB with the revised NT (1986), which had just come out. Someone gave it to him as a gift and has his name engraved in it. He's been using it every day for almost 30 years and it looked it. He flat out uses it. I bought this Harper Study bible a couple of years ago and it looks brand new. I haven't used it like a bible should be used. Hopefully a year from now it will have a "lived in" look to it.
All of you are better people than I am. I don't think I would last very long. All these other Bibles just sitting on the shelf gathering dust. Maybe a week... or two!
Russ,
Yes! I think that is the goal as well. I love seeing people with Bibles that have early been read and loved. I am thinking it is time to do this as well. Now, which one to pick.......
Be strong Rolf!
Am I the only one who sees the irony in the referenced post? The gentleman is going to overcome his Bible lust, "to find satisfaction in some physical thing when only Christ can satisfy." Because we know "Problems arise, though, when we begin emphasizing the form of the Scripture over its content, when slick layout and good paper and premium leather become more important to us than the word of truth."
OK, that is a valid point. But he is going to resolve this by choosing one premium Bible and fixating love on the physical book? (Re-read the post he talks about that several times!) What about Jesus' command to "Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal." Matthew 6:19-20 DR.
I use a variety of different Bible editions, according to what suits the purpose for my own study, or for the edification of my family, parish, or whomever it may be, Catholic, Protestant, or you name it! In each situation my choice is that combination of translation and explanatory notes which most effectively brings glory and honor God.
I think the last thing for us Catholics to be jealous of are Protestant Bibles that overcompensate for lack of content with fancy leather covers!
From the spanish speaking world: I'm reading the bible cover to cover, and the translation I'm using is the "Biblia del Peregrino" (Pilgrim's Bible), by Fr. Alonso Schökel. It will take me a couple of years -or maybe a bit less- to do it. My "method" is: start from the beginning, read at least a chapter per day. I read it a couple of times silently, and then one last time aloud. Spanish as a language is less compact than english, which makes our bibles a bit longer. So it probably takes longer to read the bible in spanish.
Javier
Argentina
The Common English Bible (CEB) with Apocrypha for me this coming year with a focus on studying Mark!
David, maybe I'll use that one next year as I know next to nothing about that particular translation.
Russ,
The Common English Bible is a brand new translation (as opposed to a revised translation or a translation based on another version like the ESV or NKJV) that came out a couple of years ago. It is probably the most ecumenical translation out there. It comes in a full, modern study Bible (with or without apocrypha) as well as quite a few different editions.
I would say it falls along the lines of the most recent NLT revision but has some very interesting wordings and phrasings that shed some new light on older, familiar passages.
The CEB has been 'growing legs' of late, especially in non-Catholic liturgical circles (Episcopal, Lutheran, etc.) and *could* be poised to eventually replace the NRSV in these circles as the NRSV is now 25 years old and starting to sort of 'show its age'. I LOVE the NRSV, but the CEB is a fresh and enjoyable read and a nice change. :)
Thanks, David. The next time I'm at the BN I will have to see if they have one on the shelves and check it out. I've probably walked passed it a million times and didn't even notice it. It's absolutely amazing how many different bibles are out there and for all the different occasions. It will take some effort not to buy it considering our plan for the next year. :)
I changed my mind. (Hey! It's not 2015 yet!) I'm gonna use the RSV-CE New Testament and Psalms. That way I'll have the same translation when listening to the Truth & Life Audio NT.
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