The Revised New Jerusalem Bible (RNJB)–Initial Thoughts

I received an early Christmas present from myself today. I had pre-ordered the hardcover edition of the full Revised New Jerusalem Bible from CBD a while back, with the expectation that it would arrive near the end of the month. That was several weeks later than other distributors were offering, but the discount CBD was offering was irresistible. To my delight, it showed up earlier than anyone was advertising delivery. In fact, Amazon is still promoting delivery on the “release date” of December 3rd. Three extra cheers for the good people at Christian Bo...

The Common English Bible: Yet another failed attempt at “The Bible for Dummies”

A group calling itself the Church Resources Development Corp is preparing to release yet another new English translation of Sacred Scripture, this one being marketed as the  the  Common English Bible (CEB) (not to be confused with the 1999 Common Edition New Testament, or with the American Bible Society’s Contemporary English Version from 1995, which goes by CEV). This “fresh” translation was an interdenominational effort (predominantly by members of old-line, liberal Protestant denominations, it would seem). It was translated from NA27, using vari...

Not the Sort of Divinity One Would Sketch

Quote of the Day for Thursday, December 9th, 2010: Mark T. Coppenger, from the article The Perennial Challenge to Inerrancy in the Fall 2010 issue of Southern Seminary Magazine: Whenever I read that someone like Freud or Feuerbach says that God’s a comforting figment or projection of our imagination, I wonder if they’ve ever read the Bible. For our God is not prone to indulge earthly conceits and agendas. Rather, He is insulting, intrusive, inconvenient and insistent – not the sort of divinity one would sketch if left to his own devices. Amen to that! I’...

Celebrating Christ’s Redemption and Immortality?

Quote of the Day for Saturday, December 4th, 2010: Handel and Haydn Society Artistic Director Harry Christophers, from the Conductor’s Notes in the program for this season’s performance of Handel’s Messiah: When listening to our performance, take note of [librettist Charles] Jennens’ amazing contribution. We need only look back to mediaeval carols where texts take us from Christ’s nativity through to his crucifixion and resurrection but Jennens takes us further – his is a unique journey which takes us from prophecies of Christ’s coming through the Nativi...

Things an Atheist Should Know Before He Tells Christians Things They Should Know Before Talking to an Atheist

I came across a tease tonight on the WordPress.com dashboard for a post entitled “Things Christians Should Know Before Talking to an Atheist” and, having more curiosity than prudence, I bit on it. It turned out to be from a blog called Proud Atheists, written by an atheist who either thought he had some sage advice for Christians who might be inclined to try to convert him, or perhaps he was only looking for pats on the back from his fellow atheists for his cleverness. I would have given him the benefit of the doubt and assumed the former, bu...