Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Garnet · 08-25-2004, 12:53 PM

Well, my old KJV bible has finally "given up the ghost" It's so worn that pages are falling out and the binding is separated. So...it's time for a new bible.

Some time ago, I was poking around on the internet and found a site about a fairly recent translation that was done by a group of scholars whose primary interest was correct translation as opposed to making it fit an agenda. Of COURSE, I can't find that site now.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? If so, what is the translation? I'm thinking R something and the term oxnard comes to mind. But R-somthing isn't a very good search. And oxnard didn't come up with anything relevent.

Hayulp?

Magdlyn · 08-25-2004, 12:59 PM

The New Oxford Annotated Bible. I have one and I love it. It has so many explanatory notes to explain literary styles, metaphors, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...ternetinfidels

Magdlyn · 08-25-2004, 01:06 PM

A review from Amazon:

Quote:

Reviewer: "jtate732"
There's lots of historical info here, true. Some good outlines of the backgrounds of the books of the Bible and some nice essays at the end. The Protestant canon of the OT is supplemented by the Catholic and Orthodox Deuterocanonicals.

The problem? This "bible" is loaded with unbelief. To a man, the "scholars" involved come from a radical theological background. They pretty much seem to doubt that any of the Biblical books were written by who they claimed to be. They attack the Bible's clear teaching on moral issues (e.g. homosexuality) and then try to explain them away with equivocation that would make Bill Clinton say "Enough!". Since the notes attack the ideas of inerrancy and infallibility left and right, most will be offensive for anyone from an Evangelical, Fundamental, or Traditional Catholic/Orthodox background; therefore, most of the Christian world will have little use for it.

A positive review! LOL

Garnet · 08-25-2004, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magdlyn

The New Oxford Annotated Bible. I have one and I love it. It has so many explanatory notes to explain literary styles, metaphors, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...ternetinfidels

Ahhhh! Thank you Magdlyn. Oxford, not Oxnard. Good grief. Apparently I've killed more brain cells than I thought.

Edited to add: And damned if that review didn't clinch it for me. I done went and ordered one.

moorezw · 08-25-2004, 01:36 PM

The New Oxford is a really great Bible, but the Biblical literature professor that I studied under recommended the New Jerusalem Bible as being the most faithful to text, not tradition.

I have yet to get a NJB, though, so I can't speak for it. I use the New Oxford exclusively.

Peter Kirby · 08-25-2004, 02:09 PM

This web site has a detailed comparison of the more popular translations with reference to their fidelity to the original language (though you can never expect an English translation to mean the same thing as the Hebrew or Greek meant to its readers):

http://www.bibletranslation.ws/comp.html

Based on his study, I would say that the New American Bible (NAB) is a good choice. I have one, and the notes are reasonable (as the notes in the New Oxford also are--but the New Oxford has more notes). The advantage of the NAB would probably be size (smaller). It is also online:

http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/

The NET Bible is purely online and has lots of notes:

http://netbible.bible.org/

Here is a site where you can compare some public domain English translations and the Greek:

http://www.greeknewtestament.com/

Here are a couple editions done by Jewish translators:

http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp
http://www.chabad.org/library/archiv....asp?AID=63255

In any case, if you just want one English translation, the New Oxford Annotated Bible is a good choice, as others have said already.

best,
Peter Kirby

Garnet · 08-25-2004, 02:14 PM

Thanks for all the links Peter Kirby! It never hurts to have more than one translation.

Edited to add: Netbible is awesome...just awesome.

Peter Kirby · 08-25-2004, 02:34 PM

A very useful bible tool (kind of like a bible software package for free on the web) is the blue letter bible:

http://www.blueletterbible.org/

Here are some more web sites on bible translations:

http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/Scriptures/
http://www.geocities.com/bible_translation/compare.htm
http://www.gospelcom.net/ibs/bibles/...ions/index.php

You can buy a NAB with this link:

New American Bible: Medium Size St. Joseph Edition (hardcover $12.50)

I've had this very edition since I was in high school, and it has held up well. You can also get it in leather or paperback.

best,
Peter Kirby

Garnet · 08-26-2004, 07:05 AM

Thanks for all the new links. I poked around in them..some good information. I've also ordered the NAB bible too.

08-25-2004, 12:53 PM	#1
Garnet Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 6,610	Need a new bible Well, my old KJV bible has finally "given up the ghost" It's so worn that pages are falling out and the binding is separated. So...it's time for a new bible. Some time ago, I was poking around on the internet and found a site about a fairly recent translation that was done by a group of scholars whose primary interest was correct translation as opposed to making it fit an agenda. Of COURSE, I can't find that site now. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? If so, what is the translation? I'm thinking R something and the term oxnard comes to mind. But R-somthing isn't a very good search. And oxnard didn't come up with anything relevent. Hayulp?

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08-25-2004, 12:59 PM	#2
Magdlyn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,230	The New Oxford Annotated Bible. I have one and I love it. It has so many explanatory notes to explain literary styles, metaphors, etc. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...ternetinfidels

08-25-2004, 01:36 PM	#5
moorezw Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 31	The New Oxford is a really great Bible, but the Biblical literature professor that I studied under recommended the New Jerusalem Bible as being the most faithful to text, not tradition. I have yet to get a NJB, though, so I can't speak for it. I use the New Oxford exclusively.

08-25-2004, 02:09 PM	#6
Peter Kirby Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: the reliquary of Ockham's razor Posts: 4,035	This web site has a detailed comparison of the more popular translations with reference to their fidelity to the original language (though you can never expect an English translation to mean the same thing as the Hebrew or Greek meant to its readers): http://www.bibletranslation.ws/comp.html Based on his study, I would say that the New American Bible (NAB) is a good choice. I have one, and the notes are reasonable (as the notes in the New Oxford also are--but the New Oxford has more notes). The advantage of the NAB would probably be size (smaller). It is also online: http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/ The NET Bible is purely online and has lots of notes: http://netbible.bible.org/ Here is a site where you can compare some public domain English translations and the Greek: http://www.greeknewtestament.com/ Here are a couple editions done by Jewish translators: http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp http://www.chabad.org/library/archiv....asp?AID=63255 In any case, if you just want one English translation, the New Oxford Annotated Bible is a good choice, as others have said already. best, Peter Kirby

08-25-2004, 02:14 PM	#7
Garnet Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 6,610	Thanks for all the links Peter Kirby! It never hurts to have more than one translation. Edited to add: Netbible is awesome...just awesome.

08-25-2004, 02:34 PM	#8
Peter Kirby Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: the reliquary of Ockham's razor Posts: 4,035	A very useful bible tool (kind of like a bible software package for free on the web) is the blue letter bible: http://www.blueletterbible.org/ Here are some more web sites on bible translations: http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/Scriptures/ http://www.geocities.com/bible_translation/compare.htm http://www.gospelcom.net/ibs/bibles/...ions/index.php You can buy a NAB with this link: New American Bible: Medium Size St. Joseph Edition (hardcover $12.50) I've had this very edition since I was in high school, and it has held up well. You can also get it in leather or paperback. best, Peter Kirby

08-26-2004, 07:05 AM	#9
Garnet Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 6,610	Thanks for all the new links. I poked around in them..some good information. I've also ordered the NAB bible too.

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