Sunday Knox: Malachi 3:19-20 (4:1-2)

Knox:

Trust me, a day is coming that shall scorch like a furnace; stubble they shall be before it, says the Lord of hosts, all the proud, all the wrong-doers, caught and set alight, and neither root nor branch left them. But to you that honour my name there shall be a sunrise of restoration, swift-winged, bearing redress.*

*Literally, ‘But to you that fear my name a sun of justice shall rise, and healing in her wings.’

NAB:

Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.

NABRE:

For the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble, And the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, the sun of justice will arise with healing in its wings.

Reminder on The Message Contest

Just a reminder that The Message contest ends Sunday at 11:59PM.  You can submit your entries in the comments section of the original post.

ABS Lectio Divina Revised Manual (Good News Bible)

ABS Lectio Divina Revised Manual

Lectio Divina is a method for the prayerful reading of the Holy Scriptures. This Lectio Divina manual includes a general introduction of Sacred Scripture, introduction to Lectio Divina, detailed description of the traditional steps of Lectio Divina, and practical exercises for prayerful reading of the Bible. This manual is a useful tool for both individuals and communities that desire to sincerely dedicate themselves to the exciting world of the prayerful reading of the Bible.

Hardcover. 115 pages. 9 1/2 x 7 1/2.

I haven't seen this yet, but hope to get a copy soon. My only gripe is with the choice of translation.  Why not utilize the NABRE or NRSV?  ABS publishes editions in both translations.   

Knox New Testament Commentaries (and Compact Edition)

Over the past month or so I have been acquiring used copies of Msgr. Ronald Knox's three volume A New Testament Commentary series.  They were published by Sheed & Ward in the 1950's and are full of great info.  In this series, volume one deals with the four Gospels, while volume two covers the Acts of the Apostle to 2 Thessalonians, and volume three concludes with 1 Timothy to the Apocalypse.     

The preface (and dust jacket) inform us that these volumes are "meant to be read in conjunction with the Knox New Testament, and wherever a quotation does not tally, it must be taken for a literal rendering either of the Latin or the Greek.  'The notes,' writes Monsignor Knox in his preface, 'are not meant to be exhaustive; they illustrate only those passages whose meaning is disputed, and those which the ordinary reader is apt to find obscure or unexpected.  Even within these limits, little space is left for the commentator to deploy his arguments; and the reader must resign himself to the need for close attention, and constant cross-references.'"  


As stated by the author of The Ronald Knox Society website: "These volumes contain Knox's explanations for various choices in wording, alternate interpretations of phrases, and the sometimes hidden meaning of entire passages. They are of tremendous use and interest to the scholar."  These comments are absolutely true.  This commentary is part textual commentary, part exposition of the text.  The commentary on the text, itself, is not a line by line commentary, but rather Knox comments on these various issues pericope by pericope.  What is most helpful, and something which I wish Knox or the publisher would have included in the Knox Bible, are the book introductions.  They are quite insightful, varying in length from 3-5 paragraphs each.  Of course, the lack of an Old Testament commentary series, which Knox never undertook, might have made including just the New Testament intros look a bit uneven.   Perhaps they would have been helpful in an Knox New Testament volume.


Which leads me to this little discovery.  One of the things I really enjoy about ordering older, used books is the surprise of actually getting the original dust jacket with it.  This happened when I got volume two of the commentary series. And to my surprise, when I turned to the back of the dust jacket, behold I found advertising for other Knox-related products from Sheed & Ward.  I have always known that there were New Testament editions out there, but this seems to indicate that Sheed & Ward published a pocket Knox New Testament in four different editions: Paperback, Leatherette, Cloth, and Leather.  And take a look at those prices!  I am also intrigued by the New Testament gift edition that is listed on the top with its inclusion of various art reproductions.  So, I would really like to get a hold of the New Testament pocket edition in leather.  I did a very quick internet search, but was unsuccessful.  I don't think Baronius is going to be publishing a compact Knox anytime soon, so this edition really intrigues me.  Anyone have an idea about how to acquire a copy?  I will surely offer more than the $6.00 listed!  :)

Jerome Murphy O'Connor, 1935-2013

PaleoJudaica.com: Jerome Murphy O'Connor, 1935-2013: SAD NEWS: Charlotte Hempel reports on Facebook via Émile Puech that Father Jerome Murphy-O'Connor passed away last night.

Known for his works on St. Paul and his association with the École Biblique, you can read more about Fr. Jerome Murphy O'Connor here.

Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine,
et lux perpétua lúceat eis.Requiéscant in pace. Amen.

The Message Contest

The fine people at ACTA Publications have been gracious enough to offer a free copy of The Message Catholic/Ecumenical Edition to one of my readers.  I received a review copy of one a week ago and am very pleased with the overall quality of the volume.  

Eugene Peterson's The Message® is a fresh, compelling, insightful, challenging, faith-filled paraphrase of the Bible into contemporary idiomatic American English and is first and foremost a reader's Bible. The Message®: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition features the deuteroncanonical books paraphrased by William Griffin, including the books of Judith, Tobit, Sirach, Wisdom, Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and additions to Esther and Daniel, will make the Scriptures come alive again.

So here are the rules:

1) If you have a blog, please advertise this contest on your site or mention this contest on Facebook (If you don't, you can still enter the contest.)

2) This contest is only for people who are in the USA.

3) To enter, please select your favorite rendering from The Message and explain in 1-3 sentences why you selected it.  You can submit your entry in the comment section of this blog.  (You can search The Message, minus the Deuterocanonicals here.)

4) The contest ends on Sunday, November 17th, at 11:59 PM. I'll announce the winner on Monday morning.  At that time, the winner must contact me, via email, with their address within one week to receive their prize.   I will then forward your contact information to ACTA who will send along your prize.

5) One entry per person. If you post anonymously, you must leave a name at the end of your comment entry.

Sunday Knox: 2 Thessalonians 16(15)-3:5

Knox:

So may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, so may God, our Father, who has shewn such love to us, giving us unfailing comfort and welcome hope through his grace,  encourage your hearts, and confirm you in every right habit of action and speech.  And now, brethren, let us have your prayers, that the word of the Lord may run its course triumphantly with us, as it does with you;  and that we may be preserved from malicious interference; the faith does not reach all hearts.  But the Lord keeps faith with us; he will strengthen you, and keep you from all harm.  We are sure of you in the Lord, sure that you are doing and will do as we bid you;  may the Lord direct you where the love of God and the patience of Christ shew you the way.

NAB:

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.  Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.  We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you are doing and will continue to do.  May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.