The Quick-Read Bible - A Review

 

The Quick-Read Bible

by

Janice Emmerson

A Review

The introduction begins by quoting the oft-stated notion, “All of Scripture is inspired, but some parts are more inspiring than others.” If the author’s goal in putting this book together was to make the Bible more inspiring - she has failed. In fact the most inspiring parts of Scripture are sometimes lost in translation. To give one example, the book of Philippians, including the wonderful hymn found in Philippians 2:1-11, is summed up in two paragraphs. It seems like something is lacking.

But that is not the whole story. This book does have a place in the home, church, or seminary library - much of the scripture is written as if it might be for a children’s Bible without the illustrations. Thus, it would make a great book for parents to read to their children as they get ready for bed. It would also make a great introduction for the new believer who has had zero to little introduction to the Bible. This Bible would also make a good introduction for new readers (i.e. someone who is learning English or learning to read for the first time).

The other role this book could have in the church would be in seminary. Fifty years ago, as I first entered seminary, it was suggested that students who had not been brought up in the church read a children’s Bible to become familiar with the Biblical story in a broad sweep. This Bible summary might easily be required reading for every first semester seminary student.

Though the book may miss its initial goal, it definitely has a role to play in the church for years to come. I easily give it 4-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Holy Bible Christian Standard Bible: Reader’s Bible - A Review

Holy Bible

Christian Standard Bible

Reader’s Bible

A Review

This volume is one of the simplest Bibles I have seen. It is simply the text of scripture. The beginning of each book is clearly marked; however, chapters are not numbered, but are noted with the use of a blue-highlighted letter of the first word of every chapter. This is true even when it would make sense to do so (i.e. the Psalms). Verses are not delimited in any way. No footnotes are included, not even translator’s notes. The reader will need to obtain a traditional edition of the CSB for these details. Margins are not extremely large, leaving little room for notes - this is probably my major complaint with the text.

This leaves the reader feeling as if a great deal is omitted. Yet, it allows the reader to tackle the Bible much more like the original readers did. I say “much more”, because, though chapter divisions are present, they are not marked - and no verse breaks exist. The text is clean and crisp against a white background. Reading is easy - not hampered with extra marks, superscripts, subscripts, or footnotes.  It is the kind of text I would like to have handy for a first read of scripture - details can be filled in with other Study Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries, etc.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

The Whole Bible Story - A Review

The Whole Bible Story

by

William H. Marty

A Review

The story, not the text, of scripture, is the focus of this book. The story is well-written and will assist the student to understand the events which provide the foundation upon which the Sacred Scriptures are built. The writing is terse, but clear. Presented as a history book rather than scripture, the story is easy to read and follow. This new edition of the text is supplemented with an assortment of images - both black and white and color images.  Here is a sample of the text from Genesis 1:

Creation

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In its original state the earth was empty and dark. Like a bird watching over its young, the Spirit of God hovered over the watery surface of the earth. God created light on day one. On day two, he placed the sky between the earth and the heavens. He made land and vegetation on the third day, and on the fourth day, he put the stars, the sun, and the moon in place. On day five, God filled the sky with birds and the oceans with creatures of the sea. God created animals on the sixth day, and finally, last but not least, he made humankind in his image. (This means they were like God in certain ways.) God enriched their lives by providing them food to eat and giving them responsibility for the rest of creation. When God finished his work, he saw that everything he had made was perfect. There was absolutely no defect in his creation. He rested on the seventh day and set it apart as a day to rest and to remember that God is the creator of the universe.

The author’s stated purpose is, “that it will motivate people to read the Bible.” My major concern with the book is that it does not refer the reader back to the scriptures. Each chapter begins with a summary of the “Main Characters” and the “Settings” of the events detailed in that chapter - but no reference to the scriptures from which the story is being told. This is true for text found at the opening of chapters, footnotes, sidebars, or in an index.  

For the lay person, college student, or seminary student, this book would provide a useful tool to review the story of scripture; however, the lacking scripture references do reduce its value. This could be corrected with an online index or prepared insert to be downloaded by the reader.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Bible Story Coloring & Activity Book - A Review

Bible Story
Coloring & Activity
Book

A Review

I eagerly awaited the arrival of my review copy of this book, but I was not sure what to expect. However, I found myself wonderfully surprised when I found this book in my mailbox this week. Rather than a 20+ page book of easy activities, I found an almost 400-page book of activities that would be satisfying to kids from pre-K through elementary school.

The activities range from simple coloring pages to various kinds of puzzles and combinations of both. About half of the activities are clearly tied to a Scripture passage, usually a chapter or two. Others are related to a nearby page and its scripture passage.  It should be noted, that almost all can be directly connected to a scripture passage, several of those do not have a direct reference to a scripture.

The back cover lists 10 different activities:

Word Searches Crossword Puzzles Connect the Dots Hidden Messages Fill in the Blanks

Secret Codes Unscramble Mazes Find It Matching

.

And as the cover says, “... and more”.  This collection of activities would be great on a road trip with kids, for a child to use while staying home when sick, as a boring summer day’s activities, etc. The book would serve as an excellent supplement to a morning Sunday School class or mid-week children’s activity time. Parents may want to consider the book as a stocking stuffer for Christmas.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

The Woman's Study Bible NKJV (e-book) - A Review

The Woman's Study Bible

NKJV

(e-book)

A Review

I have reviewed a number of Study Bibles and Devotional Bibles, but I have never been stymied to write a review by the nature of the e-book itself. At least until now.

I originally expected to receive a paper copy of this Bible - but received an e-book instead. The e-book was provided as both a mobi (i.e. Kindle) format and an ePub (i.e. Nook) format. I chose to explore the ePub version - and had a mixed reaction to what I found.

The footnotes, sidenotes, and essays, that I could find were well-written and helpful. However, unlike a paper copy, this reader found it difficult to “page” through the various notes and helps. I felt hampered - the most valuable material was hard to access. This was complicated by the fact that after following a link there often was no simple mechanism to return to the original location.

I expect that a paper edition would overcome most of these difficulties - so I have given it a three-star review. I would prefer to not rate this e-book at all (note - this is not saying zero stars). I would probably give a paper copy four or five stars. The material is useful and helpful - just not accessible.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

100+ Little Bible Words

100+ Little Bible Words

Illustrated By

Holli Conger

A Review

Colorful words plus easy words make for a great gift for the young toddler just learning to read. Each set of images is based on a familiar Bible story and includes 10 or more words for the toddler to learn. All the words come from the Bible text; approximately 85% of the words are helpful for general knowledge as well as for understanding of the Scripture. The the other 15% are more closely connected to the Scriptures, but are important for the future Bible reader to know. Most of the words are nouns, though there are some adjectives and verbs scattered throughout the book.

The pictures are colorful and bright - though the individual pictures are a bit smaller than one might expect for a preschool book. The book will make a great gift for the toddler or preschool child. A parent or other adult will need to read the associated Bible stories and pronounce the words found in each story, but that will only build the relationship between the parent and child as the child is learning to associate the words with their pictures.  

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Holy Bible: Christian Standard Bible - A Review

Holy Bible:

Christian Standard Bible

A Review

Though an easy to read translation, this edition was difficult to read with its small font. Though a “faithful and true” translation, the text reads more like a paraphrase. This makes it a fun and enjoyable version to pick up and read. Let me provide one example of the text provided, using a familiar passage: Psalm 23

Psalm 23  A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd;         I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;         he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life;         he leads me along the right paths         for his name’s sake. 4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,         I fear no danger,        for you are with me;        your rod and your staff ​— ​they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me        in the presence of my enemies;       you anoint my head with oil;       my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me       all the days of my life,       and I will dwell in  the house of the Lord       as long as I live.

My biggest concern for this edition (other editions will vary) is the small print used. In bright light it is readable, but I have, at times, found it difficult to read.

Created by the same people who created the Holman Christian Standard Bible, it is unclear as to the connection the two translations have to each other. An early rumor suggested there was a conflict with the use of the name “Christian Standard Bible”. The “Introduction” to the translation says,

Working with the original languages, an executive team of translators edited, polished, and reviewed the final manuscript, which was first published as the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) in 2004.

A standing committee was also formed to maintain the HCSB translation and look for ways to improve readability without compromising accuracy. As with the original translation team, the committee that prepared this revision of the HCSB, renamed the Christian Standard Bible, is international and interdenominational, comprising scholars who honor the inspiration and authority of God’s written word.

As the pastor/chaplain of a small conservative group of believers that meet in the common room of a local senior apartment complex, this Bible is not likely to become my standard preaching Bible. However, as I have found the HCSB to be occasionally helpful, I would expect this to be true of this latest update as well. In the coming months this translation will be made available in other formats (e.g. devotional and study Bibles) and on other platforms (i.e. available via your favorite Bible Software program).

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

The Beginner's Bible (NiRV) - Review

The Beginner's Bible

New International Reader’s Version

A Review

This is a colorful Bible that will appeal to young children. The text is an easy to read version of the scriptures designed for early readers - either adult or children. Along with the scripture text are a set of 20 full-page colored images highlighting various well-known Bible stories. Along with this is a child-sized dictionary to provide some guidance to the reader and a list of “150 Famous Bible Stories” along with checkboxes allowing the reader to track his or her movement through the stories.

The Bible will make a nice gift Bible or an addition to a children’s Sunday School classroom  

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

NIV Bible for Teen Guys - A Review

NIV Bible for Teen Guys

Publisher

Zondervan

A Review

A devotional Bible for Teen guys, this Bible contains a number of tools and helps that will encourage the teen guy. For the young teen it will be a suitable Bible to use for three or four years; for the older teen it might be more suitable for a single year as he works through the devotionals and character studies.

A number of helps are included:

• A year's worth of devotional studies
• Character profiles of key men in scripture
• Brief book introductions for each book of the Bible
• Key Bible promises worth remembering are highlighted

Of these, the last seems to be the least useful, as the highlights a very light yellow, difficult to see except in the very brightest light. The devotionals are a mix of theology, exegesis, and practical thoughts. Some end in thoughtful questions, others with hints about life; but all of those I read were of value.

Designed to parallel the similarly designed NIV Bible For Teen Girls, first introduced in August 2015, this current book is being introduced just in time for Christmas 2016 giving. It would be an appropriate gift for parents or grandparents to consider for holiday giving.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

NIV Lifehacks Bible - A Review

NIV Lifehacks
Bible

by

Notes by
Joe Carter

A Review

Though not attractive, this Bible is a useful. Fitting someplace between a Study Bible (given its own description) and a Devotional Bible (given its contents), this Bible focuses on the spiritual disciplines that will move the reader closer to God. It does not contain study or devotional noted keyed to the texts where a passage is found. Rather, it provides a wide range of tools that can be used by both the new believer and the established Christian to draw near to our Lord and Savior. Here are five very random selections from the 365 entries included in the book:

1. 4 Tips for Reading Prophesy
2. 5 Skills for Sharing God’s Word
3. When You’ve Made a Vow to God
4. Pray with ACTS
5. What Is Biblical Faith?

An alphabetical list of all these short essays can be found at the beginning of the book. Also included in the front pages is a plan for reading through the entire Bible in a year.   

What adds additional value to this edition is the inclusion of two indexes. The first is typical “Subject Index” which points the reader to key scripture references dealing with important topics. The second index points the readers to the included articles which highlight the various spiritual disciplines discussed.

My biggest concern is the lack of any color in the body of the book. If the editor had found time to add some color to the pages (e.g. Each essay could have a different font or background color depending on the spiritual discipline it addresses) the book would be more attractive. With exception of the cover, the entire book is black and white. Even the addition of a color dot (or square, like is seen on the front cover) to indicate the note’s theme would be of help.

The Bible would be a welcome addition to a pastor’s or layman’s library. This Bible would also be a suitable graduation gift for the high school, college, or seminary, graduate. I could also see giving this as a Father’s Day gift. Or add it to your own library as an encouragement for your own spiritual growth.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Under the Sea Holy Bible - A Review

Under the Sea
Holy Bible

by

Zondervan
NIrV
Kidz Bible

A Review

This Bible is okay, but not exciting. The cover suggests that this NIrV Bible might be of interest to a child who was enthralled with a Disney movie featuring fish. It is not quite so tightly connected to a Disney movie as the similarly formatted Frost Bible; but having now seen the Bible; but I no longer think this Bible would be exciting to a child.

With few exceptions, the Under the Sea Bible is more a pew Bible than a devotional Bible or a Study Bible for any audience, even less so for the apparent intended audience. The extremely small print will be difficult for a young reader to follow - making it less than ideal for a young audience. The only thing that distinguishes it from a pew bible are the 8-12 sheets of colored images containing devotional thoughts scattered throughout the book. Those images do include additional pictures of fish, but the images convey no devotional content except for the words printed there.  Also, the covers and binding do have a “fishy” appearance that might seem exciting if it added anything. An extremely small five page dictionary, much like you would expect to find in a pew Bible, is also included. Surprisingly, there are no maps.

I had hoped this Bible would be a suitable gift for a grandchild. I will not be giving it this year. There are other and better choices for the granddaughter or grandson - The Under the Sea Bible will not do.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.