For my birthday a week or so back I dropped the hint about two Bibles that I wanted. Lets just say it was more than a hint, I sent links for one and outright bought the other. But I am a self-confessed bible geek...its what we do when birthdays/Christmas roll around.
The first (top) is my Oxford Pocket NRSV. I have been wanting another NRSV for around six months (you can read my posts here and here about my translation struggles). I finally decided that I wanted to go with the NRSV for my primary translation for daily reading, scholastic work, and preaching. I have an NRSV already (the great spiritual formation study bible my Mother-in-law got me a few years ago), but is big enough to go squirrel hunting with and isn’t conducive to all around use. I saw this bible on C. Wess Daniel’s blog and went for it. After just a day or so of use I can say how much I am enjoying it. It is a pocket size, but it seems a bit bigger than most I have owned before (it measures 7.1 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches). The edition I bought was in black bonded leather, with what seems to be a sewn binding. The binding and bonded leather is in good enough shape to be fairly supple (for bonded) and if it where larger I would imagine that it would be very flexible. It has a beautiful pebbled grain to it as well. While some complained that they couldn’t read the type because of it’s size, I just chalk that up to you get what you get when buying a Bible this small. I wanted a bible I could bring to school and wouldn’t get in my way when going to chapel. I am looking forward to this bible replacing my brown bible as a daily reader.
The Bible on bottom is the “Reader’s Greek New Testament”, Aimed at the second year greek student, this bible offers and interesting approach to the more tradition Greek New Testament. I have been wanting one of these guys for months. Based off of the manuscripts used to translate the NIV, this bible is made for daily greek reading. Every word that appears on the page that is in the GNT less than thirty times is glossed at the bottom of every page. Every word appearing more than 30 times in defined in a small lexicon in the back of the book. This bible is a bit larger than your average thin-line, and is just a little thinner. The bible is bound in “Italian Duo-Tone”, and interesting new style that came out when I was selling bibles. Unlike others, this duo-tone is not garish at all, but a simply brown. I am looking forward to using this Bible to keep my greek chops up.
I love the fact that one can buy in-expensive, interesting versions of the Bible now. And it has even expanded into the Biblical language market!!! My hope is that both of these Bible will see many years of good use. If you want to see more pictures, I have a flickr set here.
If you are into or will be getting into Hebrew, there is also a Reader's Hebrew Bible...same philosophy as the Greek. I love both.
Posted by: Laura | June 26, 2008 at 10:05 AM
I have seen that before. I am getting into Hebrew in the next couple of months and I will most likely end up getting that as well. Thanks for the tip
Posted by: Chad | June 26, 2008 at 03:38 PM