Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #10 Journaling Bibles and illustrative women

We have seen that at the end of last century many thematic bibles where published. As such people could find a “Soul Survivor” Bible, Housewife bible and several Life Application Bibles. We also could see that it was all about a trend or hype which made editors and publishers jump on the wagon to have their version on the consumer-market.

These days, for example, the drawing books or colouring books for adults have been popular for a while. Note-taking Bibles always have found a place on the market and the Christadelphian Wide margin King James Version is quit popular in that field.

An example from a Christian’s Bible book – How the owner of “Faith Counts” coloured a page.

Today in the United States there seems to be a new hype not so much of taking notes at the site of the bible text, but of making some drawings or putting some words in extra colours. They call it Bible journaling and find it an exciting way to engage with Scripture, enabling them to transform the way they spend time in the Word it all beginning within the margins of the Bible.

Journaling Bibles, it is said, provide the perfect way for you to keep a journal of your spiritual life right inside the Bible that you read and study each day. With covers and formats that look like the finest journals, Journaling Bibles feature ruled wide-margins for writing observations, reflections, prayers, praises, notes, and journal entries.

These unique Journaling and Note-Taking Bibles can make great gifts and lasting keepsakes for anyone who values God’s Word, and when passed down to the children they too shall be able to see how their parents had to grow in their faith and how they looked at certain things which triggers them too. With a wide-margin Journaling Bible and the right Bible marking tools and supplies it’s easy to create such a testimony for the future.

The ESV Journaling Bible – a large-print Bible with plenty of space for notes, prayers, reflections, or artwork.

In a way with Bible journaling, the present generation goes back to our generation in the 1960ies and 1970ies, scrabbling all over our Bibles. The contemporary youngsters have found again a creative and fresh approach to the age-old discipline of Bible reading. With different colour pens or markers in hand, they can visually capture Scripture, meditate on God’s Word and memorize the text. Some choose to journal as an expression of private devotion, others journal as an act of worship and there are even some who consider it a creative outlet that can be shared.

No matter what your purpose for Bible journaling is, the beauty of the movement is this: it doesn’t require a skilled artist. All that matters is that you’re willing to experience God and His Word in a creative way.

Now there is also a note-taking bible which gives enough place to put drawings at the site. For many colourful pictures may help them to see what about is written or to bring out the meaning of God’s Word.  Several people also would love some more pictures and more colours in their Bible in which they also have their part to say. When not having the artistic ability the printing press offers a solution with a Note-taking Bible that has drawings already in it which you yourself may colour them in, at one site and at the other page lines down the side are provided, so you can write notes, or write out a favourite verse from that page.

Laurel Keller, an avid journaler and artist says

“Bible journaling is all about reading and studying the Word, letting it lead you to be creative in the ways you memorize and record Scripture,”

and reflects

“The goal with Bible journaling is to experience God’s Word in a new way as you spend time with the Lord.”

The Illustrator’s Note-taking Bible is in the HCSB version, Holman Christian Standard Bible (from the for-profit publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention Holman Bible Publishers) and offers a Bible that combines two hot trends: Bible journaling and adult colouring. Each Bible spread contains a line-drawn illustration that can be filled in by the reader with whatever colours they choose. The exceptional design offers a unique balance for everyone from seasoned artists to the creatively challenged, allowing for guided creativity and meaningful personalization of the Bible reading experience. It includes three varieties of illustrations: (1) filigree, (2) Scripture quotes, and (3) drawings that illustrate the topic of the corresponding Bible text.

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Yvette Walker’s bible flip thru at HCSB Illustrator’s notetaking

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The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) (2004), for which a team of more than 100 top conservative scholars from 17 denominations came together with one common vision: to create an original English meticulously faithful to the ancient Scriptures and exceptionally clear to understand God’s Word, wanting to deliver what it promises and saying about itself

While there are hundreds of reasons to love the Holman Christian Standard Bible, it really comes down to just two: faithful and clear. By bringing together the latest advances in biblical scholarship with exceptional language clarity and precision, the Holman Christian Standard Bible helps you experience God’s Truth as never before.

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Learn more about the HCSB translation in this new video and visit HCSB.org.

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The HCSB employs a translation philosophy known as Optimal Equivalence, which seeks to achieve an optimal balance of linguistic precision with contemporary clarity. In the many places throughout Scripture where a word-for-word rendering is clearly understandable, a literal translation is used. In places where a word-for-word rendering might obscure the meaning for a modern audience, a more dynamic translation is favoured. This process assures that both the words and thoughts contained in the original are conveyed as accurately as possible.

This graph visually illustrates the translation philosophy of several of today’s popular Bible translations.

The HCSB wanted to reflect the latest linguistic advances in punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary while maintaining traditional and meaningful theological terms, making God’s Truth relevant and accessible to a broad modern audience, aiming for a balance between the more wooden “functional” and the more free (but also looser) “dynamic” equivalence philosophies.
The Holman CSB has used computer technology and telecommunications in its creation perhaps more than any Bible translation in history. Electronic mail was used daily and sometimes hourly for communication and transmission of manuscripts. An advanced Bible software program, Accordance, was used to create and revise the translation at each step in its production. A developmental copy of the translation itself was used within Accordance to facilitate cross-checking during the translation process — something never done before with a Bible translation.

In 2003 the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (B&H, 2003) featured 700 colour photos, 80 colour maps, a pronunciation guide, the latest archaeological excavation information, time lines, extensive cross-referencing, unique scale drawings, and much more for the use as a study tool.

Except 263 common words, the HCSB Comprehensive Concordance (2005) contains nearly 300,000 concordance entries.

Designed with an awareness of the obstacles people have to understanding the Bible the Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook (B&H, 2012) begins with an essay on “How to Read and Study the Bible” before proceeding to chapters that provide a thorough overview of each of the Bible’s 66 books, summarizing each one’s content, author, evidences of authenticity, and historical context.

In addition to the full-colour maps, photographs, reconstructions, and charts that equip readers throughout the volume, a smartphone-accessible QR code is included for each chapter that leads to related online teaching from noted Bible scholar Gene Getz. There’s also an article by Jeremy Howard (general editor of the award-winning HCSB Study Bible) explaining how each book of the Old and New Testaments was accepted into the Bible.

In the same line as HCSB Notetaking Bible brings the Inspire Bible  a single-column, wide-margin New Living Translation Bible that will be a cherished resource for coloring and creative art journaling. It is the first Bible of its kind—with over 400 beautiful line-art illustrations spread throughout the Bible. Full-page and partial-page Scripture art is attractively displayed throughout the Bible, and…

South-Africa based pastor and author, entrepreneur and development activist, Taka Sande, after The Discipleship Series (2013), and Little Tough Tips on Marriage (2014) gathered Bible verses grouped thematically in The Blessing Scriptures. In total 33 topics like divine blessings, God’s power, wealth, obedience, giving and charity, prayer, etc. are backed up by sound bible quotes.

The Blessing Scriptures wants to be there for those who want to change their devotional life. Every scripture in the book wants to offer a direct meaning to your everyday personal life, being specifically intended to encourage and restore hope and faith to face any daring circumstance, helping you to maintain a positive mind throughout the day.

In the past the Housewife bible may have focused on the woman working at home and may have been conceived from a very conservative view on the role of the woman. It may have been in line with the television advertisements we got to see in the 1950ies and 1960ies, and mostly  of the American way of life at that time.

Tyndale publishing house provided in 2007 a handy trim size New Testament version, divided into 365 daily readings with a quick intro and a concluding thought for each daily passage, that is convenient for busy moms with The One Year New Testament for Busy Moms NLT, next to the One Year Bible—for women, published in the same year, which includes encouraging inspirational thoughts to boost the reader’s faith and brighten her day.

NKJV, American Woman’s Bible, Hardcover

Now you can find a Bible on the market which claims to have inspiring American women’s history throughout to complement particular books and chapters of the bible and presenting theme articles showing how biblical virtues have shaped the North American nation. The American Woman’s Bible: Women, Godly Virtues, and the Making of America (New King James Version),a companion to the American Patriot’s Bible which was also edited by Dr. Richard G. Lee., according the makers (published by Harper Collins and by Thomas Nelson) not only contains a helpful concordance but also the Word of God translated in language much more accessible than the King James Version. It has coloured-print, illustrations, presents biographies of influential American women highlighting key points of their lives and gives inspirational quotes by or about great women, famous and not well known.

In conjunction with the General Conference Women’s Ministries Department, a New King James Version of the Bible has been taken up with a wealth of features specifically related to women such as: thirty beautifully illustrated pages featuring well-known women of the Bible such as Abigail, Bathsheba, Deborah, Hagar, Martha, Mary, and more, but interestingly this time also giving recognized women authors to write about issues related to women (weddings in the Bible; rape and violation; levirate marriages; women prophets), appearing alongside the Bible text. Newt to ore than 100 commentaries it brings articles on well-known and lesser-known women of the Bible, practical lessons we can learn from them and on more than 60 virtues, and the women who best represent them.

Bible for women is available in English, Spanish, and French and has an outline of each book of the Bible and has the words of Jesus printed in gold.

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Especially conceived and developed for today’s women,
this Woman’s Bible with the New King James Version of the Bible has a wealth of features specifically related to women

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Question is what women as the American daughter of the transcendentalist Bronson Alcott, abolitionist, feminist, novelist and poet Louisa May Alcott, and the daughter of John Francis (“Honey Fitz”) Fitzgerald Kennedy or Rose the matriarch of the Kennedy family that created a political dynasty in the U.S., and drew on her Roman Catholic faith to endure what she characterized as a life of agonies and ecstasies, has to do with the Word of God.
Naturally the tragedy that stalked the family:

their first son, Joseph P., Jr., was killed during World War II. In 1948 daughter Kathleen was killed in a plane crash. Their second eldest son, John F., served as president of the U.S. for almost three years before being assassinated in 1963. Another son, Robert F., served as U.S. attorney general and as a senator from New York before he too was assassinated during his 1968 presidential campaign. The youngest son, Edward, became a U.S. senator from Massachusetts but was touched by scandal in 1969 when he admitted leaving the scene of a car accident in which a female passenger drowned.  {Encyclopaedia Britannica on the Kennedys)

The Belgian-American Elisabeth Elliot Howard, who served as one of the stylistic consultants for the committee of the New International Version of the Bible (NIV) did not have an easy life and had to face her first husband, Jim Elliot, being killed in 1956 while attempting to make missionary contact with the Auca (now known as Huaorani; also rendered as Waorani or Waodani) of eastern Ecuador, with fellow missionary Rachel Saint could be of inspiration to many Christians. Also her work with her next husband Addison Leitch, professor of theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, who died in 1973 and when she became an adjunct professor on the faculty of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and for several years taught a popular course entitled “Christian Expression” could be a source of inspiration.  In 1977, she married Lars Gren, a hospital chaplain. The Grens later worked and traveled together whilst she battled for ten years with the loss of her mind to dementia.

The American writer known for the Little House on the Prairie series of children’s novels (1932 to 1943) based on her childhood in a settler family which settled in the Belgian 19th-century Jesuit missionary Father Pierre De Smet settlement, Laura Ingalls Wilder is also one of the mentioned women.

Whilst well-known Christian writers as for example Anne Graham Lotz, Elisabeth Elliot, Jill Briscoe, Rebecca St. James and Teresa of Avila where used to bring daily and weekend devotions on topics like prayer, worship, hymns, women inside Bible, and even more in the Sanctuary: A Devotional Bible for Women, New Living Translation, (2013) the younger version of the female sex is not forgotten.

Having a bible concentrating on women Laura Ingalls Wilder brings us to the younger ones.

In 2015 an easy-to-understand New Living Translation text with a soft-fur, bright-neon LOVEdesign and silver glittery lining was presented with ‘Girls Slimline Holy Bible NLT’ by Tyndale House Publishers, who seem to produce bibles constantly, like cars are produced at the assembly line, with all the different options.

For the girls the edges of the pages are purple, looking at it side on, with inside bright neon pink pages with a scripture and dedication page. though today many speak about Bible Journaling not much margin space is provided.

Having an eye for women and girls, publishers could not forget the boys and as such published “The Guys Slimline Holy Bible, New Living Translation”, published by Tyndale House. is designed specifically to appeal to young men.  Its New Living Translation is simply written and easy to understand, making it easier to apply to young lives.

This Bible comes with a leatherlike blue and black cover that is slim enough to carry or easily place in a book bag.  The inside covers are bright blue, the front quoting Psalm 62:7. The full colour maps include the world of the patriarchs, the exodus from Egypt, the kingdoms of Israel, the ministry of Jesus, and Paul’s missionary journeys.  Also included are a dictionary/concordance and a 365-day reading plan.

It is a red letter edition, emphasizing the Words of Jesus.  In addition, the Great Chapters of the Bible list and the Great Verses of the Bible to Memorize are very useful tools that suggest Bible stories and verses to begin hiding in one’s heart.

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Find also to read

1. Download our free Bible Journaling Workbook created by Laurel Keller to help get started in Bible journaling or give your current efforts a boost: Free Workbook
2. New Type of Bible
3. Introduction to the Holman Christian Standard Bible
4. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5. The Holman Christian Standard Bible Translation Philosophy
6. “Optimal Equivalence”A Few Thoughts on the Holman Christian Standard Bible
7. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (B&H, 2003).
8. HCSB Comprehensive Concordance of the Holy Bible (B&H, 2005).
9. Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook (B&H, 2012).
10. myWSB (my WORDsearch® Bible) free web app created to help you read and study the Bible online
11. Taka Sande – The Blessing Scriptures
12. Taka Sande – The Discipleship Series
13. American Woman’s Bible, NKJV: A Short Review
14. Women’s Sanctuary Devotional Bible NLT
15. The One Year New Testament for Busy Moms NLT -pdf excerpt

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New Simplified Bible Limited Edition I (January 2005) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Preceding articles:

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #1 Pre King James Bible

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #2 King James Bible versions

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #3 Women and versions

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #4 Steps to the women’s bibles

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #5 Further steps to women’s bibles

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #6 Revisions of revisions

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #7 Jewish versions

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #8 Selective Bibles and selective people

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #9 Restored names and Sacred Name Bibles

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Additional reading

Written and translated by different men over thousands of years

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Further reading

1. Which Bible Translation Should I Use?
2. The Conflict Over Different Bible Versions
3. Is the King James Version of the Bible the Only Bible Christians Should Trust and Read?
4. Which translation of the Bible should you use?
5. Equivalence in translation
6. Which Translation of the Bible?
7. How to Read The Bible Without Getting Bored
8. Bible Study Helps
9. 3 Creative Ways to Meditate on Scripture
10. bible journaling
11. Journaling Bible Phenomenon
12. Bible Journaling Is Back
13. Three Questions for Bible Journaling
14. Bible Journaling Basics: What is Bible Journaling?
15. What Is Bible Journaling and Why Should You Care?
16. Why Bible Journal?
17. Spiritual Nourishment
18. Highlighting Your Bible
19. The Benefits Of Bible Journaling
20. Getting Creative with Your Quiet Time
21. Brighten Your Bible Study
22. Brighten Your Bible: Hosea
23. How to Start Bible Journaling in 6 Easy Steps
24. Bible Journaling Basics | Bailey Jean Robert
25. Bible Journaling Basics: Art Journals
26. Bible journaling – the beginning!!! 
27. Bible Journaling Basics: Why do I Bible Journal?
28. Bible Journaling Basics: How do I start Bible Journaling?
29. Bible Journaling Basics: What do I need to start Bible Journaling?
30. Bible Journaling Basics: How to choose a Journaling Bible
31. Bible Journaling Basics: Supplies-Pens and Pencils
32. Bible Journaling Basics: Supplies–Markers
33. Bible Journaling Basics: Supplies–Paint
34. Bible Journaling Basics: Supplies–Stamps
35. Bible Journaling Basics: Supplies–Stickers
36. Bible Journaling Basics: Supplies–Neocolors and Gelatos
37. Bible Journaling Basics: Supplies–Printables, Paper Pieces & Tip Ins
38. Bible Journaling Basics: Supplies–Tabs & Clips
39. Bible Journaling Basics: Supplies–Tools
40. Bible Journaling Basics: Supply Kits
41. Bible Journaling Basics: Organizing Supplies
42. Bible Jounaling Basics: How to Start–Sermon Notes
43. Bible Journaling Basics: How to start–Devotionals
44. Bible Journaling Basics: How to start–Worship Songs
45. Bible Journaling Basics: How to start–Workshops
46. Bible Journaling Basics: FAQ–Where do you find Inspiration?
47. Bible Journaling Basics: FAQ–How do you find time?
48. Bible Journaling Basics: FAQ–What if you can’t draw?
49. Bible Journaling Basics: FAQ–How do you learn lettering?
50. Bible Journaling Basics: FAQ–What if you mess up?
51. Bible Journaling Basics: FAQ–How do you battle perfectionism?
52. Bible Journaling – Genesis
53. New Type of Bible
54. Created to Create
55. Bible Journaling | Stephanie
56. My Creative Side – Bible Journaling
57. Simple Bible Layout | Stephanie
58. A Non-Artist’s Guide to Bible Journaling: Weeping
59. Bible Journaling in Isaiah
60. Easy and Fun Faith Art
61. [Free] Bible Coloring Guide
62. Discouragement, repentance and scrabble
63. Study, Practice and Apply
64. Optimal Equivalence and Bible Translations
65. ChurchEthos HCSB vs. ESV Update
    Hold fast unto it
66. HCSB Notetaking Bible [Review]
67. Book Review: NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible
68. The Bible’s Proper Place
69. Bibles and Lattes
70. Prick their hearts
71. Today’s Word With Joel & Victoria Osteen – Get Wisdom
72. Is the KJV a perfect translation? According to its translators, no
73. Strong’s Concordance – a Good Tool Gone Bad
74. Paperback Inspire Bible Comparison
75. Bible Journaling Find
76. American Woman’s Bible, NKJV: A Short Review
77. American Woman’s Bible
78. American Woman’s Bible, NKJV – eBook -product review
79. NKJV, American Woman’s Bible Women, Godly Virtues, and the Making of America Booklook bloggers review
80. American Woman’s Bible, NKJV: A Short Review
81. Do You See It?
82. Franklin Graham: Another Shameful First for America!
83. Farmer’s Advice
84. The Lord Hears
85. The Battle Is The Lord’s
86. Bible Review—Tyndale Select Reference Edition
87. Sanctuary: A Devotional Bible for Women, New Living Translation
88. Girls Slimline Holy Bible
89. Book Review, “Guys Slimline Holy Bible,” Tyndale House publishers
90. Book Review, “Girls Slimline Holy Bible,” Tyndale publishers
91. Neither Conservative or Liberal … Let’s Be Just!
92. Review of ‘Girls Slimline Holy Bible NLT’ by Tyndale House Publishers
93. Girls Slimline Holy Bible-NLT-Review
94. The Holy Bible Is The Perfect Gift: Girls Slimline Bible NLT
95. Girl’s Slimline Holy Bible (New Living Translation)
96. Bible Journaling
97. Journaling for Jesus
98. 7/2/16
99. Making Templates Work for You (and a Freebie)
100. Bible Journaling – Mochas and Magnolias
101. Catholic Bible Journaling
102. My New Bible Study Tool
103. Bible Journaling Basics: Bible Flip Through
104. Bible Journaling Kit – Review
105. October Faith Art Box
106. trends in spiritual coloring books
107. The Bible is a Battlefield
108. Video: Paper Weaving
109. You Will Find Rest
110. Your Will, My God | Elli
111. I love you, Lord, my strength | Stephanie
112. Getting Ourselves Out of the Way
113. Shall I Hide?
114. Currently I am unwinding by…..
115. simple but true | Ashley
116. My Story His Glory | Bonita Rose
117. The Whole Armor of God | Tara
118. Gratitude Documented 2017 (part 1)
119. In the beginning…
120. When Love Broke Through | Jillian
121. Grace for the humble | Jen
122. Fruits of the Spirit
123. getting organized | Ashley
124. Gospel Explosion !
125. Bible Stories from the Heart Website: Devotions/Coloring Pages/ Faith Art Tutorial Videos
126. Schuyler KJV Reference Bible – Review
127. My Journaling Bible
128. Bible Journaling | Stephanie
129. Bible Study Or Art Exhibition?
130. Making It Personal: Devotional
131. My Bible Journaling Progress
132. Bible Journaling Genesis 1-5
133. Bible Journaling Genesis 6 – 12
134. This stone
135. Be Still and Know | Scripture Art Journal Layout | Deepti
136. It’s Hard to Make the Bed if Someone is Still Sleeping in it.
137. illustrated faith // human connections
138. Taste and See
139. Forward not Back
140. A Non-Artist’s Guide to Bible Journaling: In the Beginning
141. Illustrated Faith Revival Camp: Bible Journaling Supplies
142. Bible Journaling – Janet Suzuki
143. Journaling Bible. 
144. bible journaling // #1
145. Gracious Promises
146. Strong & Courageous | Tara
147. Be renewed …
148. Bible Cuteness
149. Give me Jesus | Jen
150. On a Hill
151. Immediate
152. I Will Pray | Stephanie
153. Fruitful Vine
154. Hold Onto Hope | Stephanie
155. Inheritance
156. Evangelical Misogyny and the Spiritual Oppression of Christian Women
157. The Lost Generation
158. Ancient Ruins . . . Rebuilt.
159. Making It Personal: Devotional 4
160. Illustrated Faith // God Gave Me You
161. Gratitude, A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal: My Review
162. Finding Joy
163. Christ has set me FREE |Journaling bible entry.
164. Do not hold back
165. A Creative Review
166. Washi Tape Bible Books Tutorial
167. Be strong and courageous!
168. If my people pray…
169. Unique
170. Time for a Coffee Break
171. Let Your Light Shine
172. Look Up!
173. Chapters and verses
174. Troubled places
175. Celebrating Completed Scriptures
176. Tha Fower Gospels
177. Bible in more languages than Hamlet and Harry Potter put together
178. Book Review | Translating Truth: The Case for Essentially Literal Bible Translation
179. Good Book
180. Continuing on from yesterday…
181. Medieval Manuscripts and Modern Evangelicals: ETS 2016 in San Antonio
182. Behind the Scenes
183. That’s for others
184. A Useless Commentary
185. Partnership possibilities to #endbiblepoverty @pciassembly @wycliffeuk

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• Give It a Few More Years:
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Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #8 Selective Bibles and selective people

Some Christian bibles which followed the new knowledge of Hebrew words and used more the Jewish way of saying were condemned or considered ‘from the devil’ by several Christian groups.

The 2000 edition of the New Oxford Annotated Bible, with the NRSV text

Even more aggressive than the New English Bible (NEB, 1961-1970), undertaken by the major Protestant churches of the British Isles, for which scholars translated from the best Hebrew and Greek texts, aiming to present the full meaning of the original in clear and natural modern English, the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Christian Bible (1989) for their translating Isaiah 7:14 as “young woman” was burned in fundamentalist pulpits and the RSV committee was accused of being in league with the devil. Despite all the uproar, in the first year, the RSV sold 2 million copies. Until the appearance of the NRSV, it enjoyed wide use on college campuses, especially in study editions such as the Oxford Annotated Bible (OAB) with contributors from mainline Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, and non-religious interpretative traditions.

The continuing committee of the RSV and NRSV has been working and publishing for half a century: the New Testament (1946), the Old Testament (1952), the books of the Apocrypha (1957), a second edition of the New Testament (1957), an Oxford Annotated Bible with a Catholic imprimatur (1966), an ecumenical [for Protestants, Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox] expanded edition with the Apocrypha (1977), a 40% condensed version of the bible: Reader’s Digest Bible (a project, led by John E. Walsh, which took seven editors three years to complete), which abridged the Old Testament to one-half of its original length (1982), and the NRSV (1989).

The Open Bible edition of the New American Standard Bible in the Church of Saint Mary, an Episcopal Church in Sagada, Mountain Province, the Philippines.

In those version one can find  more radical than the slight alterations in the most literally translated New American Standard Bible (NASB 1971 last updated in 1995) which sought to render grammar and terminology in contemporary English or the New King James Bible (NKJV 1982), which are both revisions of the KJV.
Richard Whitaker provided a concordance for the RSV in 1980. The NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible was published in August 1997.

Mostly conservative (Republicans & Tea party) Americans where against the better translations than those of the 17th century. They also resisted to accept that Biblical characters had Jewish names and lots of English people have difficulties to see those names restored. Bibles with names like Moshe for Moses and Jeshua (the real name of the Messiah) instead of the more popular English name Jesus (Issou = Hail Zeus) or where the noun was translated in a subject instead of what they were used to see as a name, like Satan for an adversary or sheol/hades/hell for grave and not a place of doom.

Around the turn of the 20th century to the 21st century many were keen not to have to spent too much time at bible reading and wanted only to see those pieces in it they like or which are good for the pastor to concentrate his sermons on.

As such we can call the turn of the century the time of the “Selection Bibles”, books which were called bible but only presented a selection of the bible and in most cases even only selections from the New testament.

Readers Digest Illustrated Bible

Not a small handy Bible, but more a coffee table Bible the Readers Digest Illustrated Bible could get some people interested to not only look at the nice pictures but to go and read the ‘illustrative’ text. Originally printed in 1990 it got many reprints and its popularity caused other editors also to present some illustrated and thematic condensed Bibles.

In shortening the text some went very far and some even tried to bring the language of their condensed bile translation in what they called a modern language,even presenting a bible in American slang and in the language of rappers. That Rapper’s Bible was one of the many short-lived versions which seemed to try to see the day light.

Today’s English Version

The Today’s English Version (also known as the Good News Bible) is a contemporary translation which according to the publishers seeks to state clearly and accurately the meaning of the original text in words and forms that are widely accepted by people who use English as a means of communication. It is is designed to be easy to read for those who are not familiar with the Bible. This translation does not follow the traditional vocabulary and style found in the historic English Bible versions. Instead it attempts to present the biblical content and message in standard, everyday, natural English and takes a lot of liberties in the way of translation the original texts. The aim of this Bible is to give today’s readers maximum understanding of the content of the original texts, which they try to do by telling what they think the text is wanting to say.

The international cover of the Good News Bible, used since 2004.

Some of the end of century translations said to have chosen to bring a dynamic equivalence, bringing the Hebrew and Greek  in a translation “thought for thought” rather than “word for word”.  But their paraphrasing went sometimes even further than the Good News Bible (GNB), which first had the Messianic writings presented under the title Good News for Modern Man in 1966. That version became anglicised into British English by the British and Foreign Bible Society with the use of metric measurements for the Commonwealth market, and got also known as Today’s English Version (TEV).

Like the GNB several editors tried to bring an English bible for non-native English speakers. The GNB was born out of the translation theories of linguist Eugene Nida, the Executive Secretary of the American Bible Society’s Translations Department. For some dialect versions and the Rapper’s bible we have no idea who created such translations.

Jargon-free English was used for the Contemporary English Version (also known as Bible for Today’s Family) in 1995, originally published by the American Bible Society and for the anglicised version by the British and Foreign Bible Society.

On of the books bringing a selection of the New testament was the “Youth Bible” which was also translated in many other languages and found its way in our regions as the “Jongeren Bijbel” with fluent contemporary Netherlands Dutch. It had a clear Pentecostal touch with its design and purpose to bring youngster to Jesus. With smashing yellow markings phases or words were enlightened to give an idea what the bible wanted to say. Though several notes, from Pentecostal view point, mislead people and wanting them to believe Jesus is God and that it was Jesus who had done and said certain things in the past, which God had done.

Looking at the way our society was going the  intention of that Youth Bible was not bad. The teenage years can be difficult and even in this day and age of more communication and better follow up in schools, the growing up youngsters encounter many difficult things they do not dare to talk or cannot talk about with their parents.  Lonely as most teens struggle to fit in and take on new responsibilities, media and peers both constantly bombard youth with the message that they are never good enough and will never measure up. No wonder most teens end up hopeless and lonely! Teens can use as much encouragement and love as we can give them! For that reason such a selection of bible verses was a real good thing. The given Bible verses for teens were a good selection to offer words of comfort and hope to our youth.  But the publishers better had called the book a selection of the New Testament.

On this line of thinking several other Youth bibles got published. As such we can find the New Century Youth Bible, first published in 1993, which has consistently been among the top three selling Bibles in the UK. The the New Century Youth Bible is based on the New Century Version which has its roots extending to the English Version for the Deaf (EVD) Bible translation (by the World Bible Translation Center, a subsidiary of Bible League International), and is a revision of the International Children’s Bible (1986) which was aimed at young readers and those with low reading skills/limited vocabulary in English. It is written at a 3rd grade level (from the introduction) and is both conservative and evangelical in tone.

The base for the New Century Youth Bible, the NCV had a translation team of 50 Bible scholars and translators which included people with translation experience on such acclaimed versions as the New International Version, the New American Standard Bible, and the New King James Version [(1982) The anglicized edition originally known as the Revised Authorized Version (RAV) New Testament 1979, Psalms in 1980, Old Testament and full Bible in 1982], claiming that the best available Hebrew and Greek texts were used, principally the third edition of the United Bible Societies’ Greek text and the latest edition of the Biblia Hebraica, along with the Septuagint.

The original New Century Version got first the New Testament published in 1978 followed by the Old Testament in 1986, released as the New Century Version in 1987. The NCV has been available as a stand-alone version since 1991.

This revised edition claims to bring the Youth Bible right up-to-date for the twenty-first century. Whilst retaining the original Anglicized text, this revised edition has over 25 of its Life Files replaced or updated. There are also new categories on subjects such as music, euthanasia and the environment. Also in the collage edition are new categories subjects included such as stress, music, image, euthanasia and the environment. What is very good about it is that this time there is also an  updated dictionary and topical concordance; Book-openers – practical introductions to help focus the  youngsters their reading; and a free limited edition CD featuring some new music.

Probably we may count the “Soul Survivor” Bible of “NIV Soul Survivor Youth Bible” in line with the “Youth Bible” but than with texts from the originally published in the 1970s, having received updates in 1984 and 2011 English translation of the Protestant Bible edited by Biblica [formerly the International Bible Society (IBS)]

Easy to Read Version

The English Version for the Deaf on which Ervin Bishop and deaf-language specialist Benton Dibrell worked closely together, was also the base for Ervin Bishop’s Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV). It uses the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (1984) as its Old Testament text with some readings from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Also, it follows the Septuagint when its readings are considered more accurate. Those who worked on the EVD/ERV followed conservatively the approach to translation that Nida calls ‘dynamic equivalence,’ referred to by Beekman as ‘idiomatic’ translation” and using a gender-neutral language.  Having Billy Graham Evangelistic Association behind the Everyday New Testament (Minneapolis: World Wide Publications, 1988) could have made it more popular. In 1988 Sweet/Worthy Publishing was acquired by Word Publishing, which in 1991 published another revision. This 1991 revision was more extensive, and it was designed to make the version more suitable for an older readership, with longer sentences and more fluent style. In 1992 Word Publishing was acquired by Thomas Nelson Publishers, which continued to print the 1991 revision under the name, New Century Version.

An other good bible translation in the language youngsters easily can understand (lower grades), which also was translated into a 12 year old children’s understanding Dutch is the Living bible or the Life Application Bible (1986/88) presented in Dutch as “Het Leven, Praktische lessen uit Het boek” (2001 Ed; Jongbloed-Heerenveen) as a a Study Bible published by Tyndale House Publishers. It has been available in a number of editions that use various Bible translations, and in Belgium was presented in English and Dutch with the paraphrased version “The Book” (“het Boek”) as basic bible text. The contemporary, easy-to-understand Bible is available in the fastest growing Bible translation, the New Living Translation, impacting the hearts and lives of people worldwide through the authoritative yet easy-to-read Bible translation that brings the Good News alive to readers of all ages. Designed for someone who is new to the Bible or for an unbeliever, The Book features a topical helpfinder, book introductions, and indexes that help people understand God’s Word.

We noticed that that version could bring many to understand the Bible better and to get interested to get to know the ‘real text’ which made them continuous bible students. fro such this could be a version we could recommend for young people, next to the Watchtower Youth bible, which offers a selection of bible texts in an easily told way.

Wanting to help developing healthy habits is one of the keys to successful living. Experts say that if we do something for 21 days straight, we can turn it into a habit for a lifetime. With that in mind the Life Application Bibles were created. One of the best habits anyone can develop is reading the Bible every day. “The Book: 21 Day Habit” is designed to help you get started. Set aside just a few minutes each day – before bedtime, on your lunch break, or whenever your day allows to read “The Book: 21 Day Habit,” When you finish the 21 days of reading, move right into “The Book” and keep on going.

In the continuing line of “The Life” an expanded book version of the Living Water for Those Who Thirst audio devotional was created. We best call it a topical devotional containing 150 refreshing encounters with God’s Word. Passages are introduced with a lead-in reflection, and each segment concludes with a short devotional that brings it all together. References for numerous related passages are also included for those who wish to expand their devotional time or study the topic further. It features 150 topics! Flexible–short devotions with references for deeper study.

We do like to remind all that for those life application books the language is not at all correctly accurate. The NLT is based upon Kenneth N. Taylor’s corrupted Living Bible (1971), which sold over 40 million copies in North America alone. Somehow the Bible searches for compromises but still has a very evangelical background, avoiding words which can make it clear that Jesus is a human being. As such for example is left out that we are saved by the blood of Christ and is translated “Salvation through Jesus Christ” (Page A47), having the ‘blood of Jesus’ a taboo subject in those days. Though when people would read it carefully they also could find “So we have these three witnesses.” instead what is translated in the KJB – “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” That could still bring the readers to think about the spoken characters which bring witness in unity of mind. Though many trinitarians where offended not finding three names bearing record in heaven.

In a time that more than 200 new English Bible translations were published just within 30 years, several of those publication tried to put the accent on Jesus as the God, omitting Old Testament texts or doing as if in certain Old Testament texts Jesus was saying or doing something when it was Jehovah God doing it, just to give their (false) proof that Jesus would be God.

The NRSV Bible with the Apocrypha (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many of those selective bibles directed to a special group of people. As such we could find a Housewife Bible (also translated in Dutch, presented in a handy pocket bible format: Huisvrouw Bijbel), a Workman’s Bible (with Dutch version Werkmans Bijbel) and even a Prisoner’s Bible (also in a pocket size edition in Dutch, presented as the “Gevangenis Bijbel, Gods Woord voor gevangenen”). The idea behind that last one was that God must have a special place in his heart for prisoners. according to the publishers this  is shown by the frequent mention of prison and prisoners in his word, imprisonment being one of the most wretched situations into which humans can fall in this world.

The Prisoner’s Bible wanted to buck up the many prisoners in this world. With the knowledge that prisoner movements and activities are restricted, not only are they deprived of family ties and forced to dwell in some of the most vicious company on earth, it wanted to show them there is hope. Also where they can feel they are left on their own in a slave-like relationship where others who care little for their well-being, order them about, and even abuse them, there exist Some One Who is with them all the time. The small book they can have in their cell or take with them can bring them comfort and shows how God, whose love and mercy cause him to commiserate with the downtrodden, sympathizes with the sufferings of prisoners, and how the Bible speaks often, and with compassion, of those in prison.

Though the majority of prisoners mentioned in the Bible were not rebels, but rather saints cast into prison as a result of their faithful witness, their feelings and thoughts could be of good help to our present prisoners, and the bible fragments looked well chosen for the subject and its readers.

The Scriptures – Leather-binding with thumbs

But all such prints with only a selection of the 66 books of the given Word of God, we can hardly really call a Bible. But the multiple versions published including the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 of the New Testament, we can find is mostly caused by publishers seeing an opportunity to fill their till. Some used the popular names for it whilst others went back to the writings using the name they could find by the Gospel writers themselves. The names given to the Old Testament in the writings of the New are “the scriptures” (Matthew 21:42), “scripture” (2 Peter 1:20), “the holy scriptures” (Romans 1:2), “the law” (John 12:34), “the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms” (Luke 24:44), “the law and the prophets” (Matthew 5:17), “the old covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:14, R.V.).

Concerning “the scriptures” we can think of any religious texts but in our next chapter we look at the ‘revolt’ in bible publishing world from the 1990ies onwards.

 

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Find also

1. Reader’s Digest Bible
2. A Curiosity – the Readers Digest Bible
3. The New Century Version (English Version for the Deaf, Easy-to-Read Version, International Children’s Bible, Everyday Bible)
4. Website of the World Bible Translation Center: Bible League International
5. World Bible Translation Center God’s Word or God’s Words? By Ervin Bishop, Senior Translation Consultant, World Bible Translation Center. Bishop’s article defends the “dynamic equivalence” approach by arguing that “the Bible is the Message of God expressed in the words of men.” (Also here.)
6. New Living Translation
7. The Book NLT
8. The Scriptures (Online version)

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Preceding articles:

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #1 Pre King James Bible

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #2 King James Bible versions

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #3 Women and versions

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #4 Steps to the women’s bibles

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #5 Further steps to women’s bibles

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #6 Revisions of revisions

Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #7 Jewish versions

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Additional reading

1. Creator and Blogger God 8 A Blog of a Book 2 Holy One making Scriptures Holy
2. Challenging claim 4 Inspired by God 3 Self-consistent Word of God
3. Book of books and great masterpiece
4. Absolute Basics to Reading the Bible
5. Accuracy, Word-for-Word Translation Preferred by most Bible Readers
6. Finding and Understanding Words and MeaningsArcheological Findings the name of God YHWHMeaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls for Judaism and ChristianityDead Sea scrolls at Drents Museum in Assen
7. Looking at notes of Samuel Ward and previous Bible translation efforts in English
8. Americans really thinking the Messiah Christ had an English name
9. The NIV and the Name of God
10. Wycliffe Associates supporting underground Bible translators
11. HalleluYah Scriptures
12. World’s tiniest bible to be presented at Israel Museum for 50th anniversary

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Recommended reading

1. The Conflict Over Different Bible Versions/Part 1: Introduction + Is the King James Version the “only inspired Bible”? + What about the claim that the 1611 edition of the King James Bible alone is “the Word of God”? + What About the Ancient Manuscripts of the Bible?
2. The Conflict Over Different Bible Versions/Part 2: False or Irrelevant Claims About the KJV [King James Version] and New Translations
3. The Conflict Over Different Bible Versions/Part 3: Do Modern Versions Corrupt the Purity of God’s Word? #1 The Deity of Christ
4. The Conflict Over Different Bible Versions/Part 4: Do Modern Versions Corrupt the Purity of God’s Word? + #2 The Deity of Christ
5. The Conflict Over Different Bible Versions/Part 5: Were There Heretics and Occultists on the Translation Committees of the New Versions?
6. The Conflict Over Different Bible Versions/Part 6 : Are Modern Versions Less Readable than the King James Version (KJV)? + Riplinger’s Errors on the NKJV

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Further reading

1. The Modern English Version — First Thoughts
2. In defense of smaller Bibles
3. ESV Single Column Reference Bible
4. Psalms of the Salter: Some Thoughts on Really Living for the Lord (Psalm 22)
5. Plans and circumstances -September 5, 1982
6. Christian Scholars Admit To Corrupting The Bible
7. Muslim Scholars Admit To Corrupting The Qu’ran
8. Lent: Let the Bible readings begin!
9. Make the Right Choice
10. protection
11. It’s A Matter Of Life and Death!
12. A New Bible Translation Classification System
13. KJV – King James Version available in OneVerse Bible app
14. NASB – The New American Standard Bible available in OneVerse Bible
15. Which Bible Version can I Trust?
16. Which Bible Should I Use?
17. It Pleased The Father
18. An answer to YouTuber WWUTT
19. Differences in KJV editions
20. Why I believe the King James Bible is God’s word preserved in the English language…
21. Hungry? Don’t Read KJV!
22. The NIV: the ‘holey’ bible
23. Catholic Doctrine in New Versions
24. The ESV “contrary to” Syntax
25. New Age Deism
26. Understanding Scripture
27. Translation Principles
28. An Argument about Bible Versions with Christians
29. The Logic of Perfection
30. Where’s “Clayton’s Bible”?
31. The Action Bible
32. The Received Text
33. Questioning what God has said. 
34. How I read the bible
35. The Deutero-canonical Books of the Bible
36. Which is the best English Bible?
37. Is the KJV superior to the originals?
38. New Version Errors
39. ‘Edgy’ Bible Translations Often Overlooked
40. A Succinct Critique of the Amplified Version of the Bible

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