The Books of the Bible

On my way to work this morning I heard on 88.1 WAYfm that there is a new version of the Bible out called The Books of the Bible. This version utilizes Today’s New International Version (TNIV) of the Bible.

About The Books of the Bible (from website):
Researchers such as George Gallup, George Barna and the Bible Literacy Project have shown a disturbing deficiency in biblical knowledge among the American public.

The Books of The Bible project encourages better Bible reading, particularly by emphasizing the reading of whole books. The result is an inviting and clean visual presentation of the Bible that can be understood and enjoyed more easily. The Books of The Bible differs from the format of most current Bibles in significant ways:

- chapter and verse numbers are removed from the text (a chapter-and-verse range is at the bottom of each page)

- individual books are presented with the literary divisions that their authors have indicated

- footnotes, section headings and other supplementary materials have been removed from the text (translators’ notes are available at the back of each book)

- the books of the Bible have been placed in an order that provides more help in understanding, based on literary genre, historical circumstance and theological tradition

- single books that later translations or tradition divided into two or more books are made whole again (example: Luke-Acts)

- single-column setting that clearly and naturally presents the literary forms of the Bible’s books.

For more info, go to their website at: thebooksofthebible.info.

It seems like a good idea to me. It's certainly a change from the book/chapter/verse that we're all so very used to. But indeed, those chapter/verse additions weren't made until the year 1205AD. Pulling them out would give us a better look at how it was originally read.

I like the idea of the Bible being more like a regular book. Not that it is a regular book, but that it hopefully won't intimidate its readers as much. I know, I know. It sounds ridiculous, but perception is key. And I'm sure this version will certainly help people come to a better understanding of the Bible. If only it helps people actually read the Bible then it will have done its job.

It'll also allow its readers to focus on whole passages and not merely single verses. I always hated when someone brought up a particular verse of the Bible. "Oh! See! That's a contradiction! Your Bible is false! God doesn't exist!" Oh, well gee, maybe if you read the verse in the context of the entire passage you'd see the meaning, genius.

I think I'll add this to my wishlist.
(Don't worry Shannon. I'll read my other books first.)