The Books of the Bible project not only offers readers an alternative to the overtly-complex, cluttered, and supplementary-heavy Bibles peddled in any local Christian bookstore USA, but also challenges us all to take Biblical literacy seriously. It is all about immersion in the story. TBoTB actually encourages readers to aim their focus and devotion towards the larger story being transmitted by the books, rather than a random chunk of three or four mere verses. So, readers, because of TBoTB’s presentation, are naturally guided towards immersion, and entire books are engaged in a way that celebrates the story of Scripture.
The Books of the Bible (TBoTB), an International Bible Society literary project and Today’s New International Version presentation, is a refreshing expression of God’s Word. In a world full of Bibles, it’s difficult to understand why one would need a “refreshing” presentation or “new” expression of God’s Word, but it is nonetheless the case. No! We have no shortage of Bibles in America! We have all sorts of Bibles! We have too many Bibles! There are Bibles for “Elementary School Children,” “Teens,” “Teens with Special Issues,” “Adults,” “Adults Parenting Teens,” “Adults Parenting Teens with Special Issues,” and “Seminarians who Someday want to Minister to Adults are Parenting Teens with Special Issues Concerning Elementary School Children!” I jest, but only slightly. We do have plenty of Bibles, and many of them are overtly complicated. The pages of our Bibles are laden with excessive translation and supplementary notes, chapter and verse numbers, section headings, commentary materials, multi-column formatting, pictures, and a plethora of other sidebar-like filler and hard-to-label oddities aimed at more topics and issues than can be counted. Simplicity is not a feature in many – if any – of our many, many Bibles.
My rating: stars
International Bible Society’s The Books of the Bible (TBoTB) is different. TBoTB is a presentation of the Bible designed to encourage believers to read the text as it was meant to be read, and as it was read during the first fifteen hundred years of the church. There were not chapter and verse divisions in the early church’s Bibles. Individual books were read through, in their entirety, in one setting. TBotB reflects these historical and traditional characteristics and, as a result, ‘feels’ much more natural. TBoTB is a stripped down, inviting, and sublime visual presentation of the Bible that can be easily engaged, understood, and enjoyed. It’s actually a joy to read!
TBoTB specs: Chapter and verse numbers are gone (a chapter-and-verse range is, however, included at the bottom of each page); individual books are presented with original literary divisions still intact; all supplementary materials (e.g., section headings, footnotes, translation notes, etc.) have been removed and separated from the scriptural content; the chronological order of the books have been changed to reflect historical development, literary genre, and theological tradition; books that have been traditionally divided are re-joined (e.g., Luke-Acts); each book is displayed in a single-column format that offers readers a far more natural presentation than multi-column formatting can provide.
The Books of the Bible project not only offers readers an alternative to the overtly-complex, cluttered, and supplementary-heavy Bibles peddled in any local Christian bookstore USA, but also challenges us all to take Biblical literacy seriously. It is all about immersion in the story. TBoTB actually encourages readers to aim their focus and devotion towards the larger story being transmitted by the books, rather than a random chunk of three or four mere verses. So, readers, because of TBoTB’s presentation, are naturally guided towards immersion, and entire books are engaged in a way that celebrates the story of Scripture.
If I have one complaint about the The Books of the Bible (TBoTB), it would be the design of the Bible itself. It’s big; it’s bulky; it’s ugly. I received two copies: one was black, the other fluorescent orange. I gave the orange one to a leader in our church. He loves it too, though we shared some humorous remarks about it’s potential use in deer hunting (fluorescent orange). I would prefer a thin, leather-bound version of TBoTB. Perhaps a variety of versions will be produced as time passes and demand increases. ‘Till then, I happily use this Bible, because the presentation of the content is so good, while I prayerfully wait for a few different designs to be released.
Recommendation: Put this book on your shelf. You’ll go back to this book time and time again. Grab it.
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