I was recently sent a review copy of The Books of the Bible.
Using Today’s New International Version (TNIV) translation, TBOTB departs from “traditional” bibles in several ways: none of the artificial chapter and verse breaks (which, of course, date only from the 16th century C.E.), and the books are placed in a “sense order” that allows for the reader to connect more effectively with the intent of the original authors. For example, the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are combined into one single document; the gospel of John comes at the very end of the bible, after all the other epistles and gospels, combined with the three letters of John and the book of Revelation. It’s not a chronological ordering (though that too would require that the Pauline epistles go before the gospels) — it’s an ordering based on historic views of authorship and upon what will “work” for the reader. Each gospel now heads up a set of other texts (Acts, Epistles, etc.) that allow for a new perspective on the life of Jesus.
I’ve been making my way through the New Testament portion of TBOTB, and am enjoying it immensely so far — especially reading Luke/Acts as a single coherent document. Best of all, folks, it’s soft-bound and available for only $8.99. I only endorse what I use, and I’m using this. It’s going in my carry-on.
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