Nov 2007
A Reader's Greek New Testament, 2nd Edition: Hands On Review
11/29/2007 03:18 Filed in: Faith & Reason
What No One Wants to Talk About
There's a dirty little secret among ministers throughout Christendom: most of them have let their biblical languages slide after graduating seminary. It's sadly understandable, I suppose. Learning a language is hard enough, but maintaining that language takes time and discipline. It's not that ministers are undisciplined (well, maybe some are), but when they get out of school and into the "real world" of ministry, they find new obligations and demands upon their time. Reading the Bible in Greek or Hebrew is replaced with an occasional word study to get at the "meaning" behind key biblical words.
That's where a book like A Reader's Greek New Testament (from this point forward, simply RGNT for the general work and RGNT1 and RGNT2 for the respective editions) can help fill the gap. I'm told there are 5,347 distinct words in the Greek New Testament. The average student taking elementary Greek will only learn a little over 300 vocabulary words in that first course. This accounts for roughly all words that occur in the Greek NT 50 times or more, or approximately 80% or so of words occurring in the NT. A second course related to syntax and exegesis will increase the number of learned vocabulary falling somewhere between 30 and 10 occurrences. The key feature of A Reader's Greek New Testament is the vocabulary apparatus at the bottom of the biblical text which gives definitions for all Greek words occurring 30 times or fewer.
This is a handier tool than one might at first realize. You see, there's another dirty little secret, and this one is among even the most trained academics and theologians: very few scholars ever memorize all 5,347 words. I've sat under quite a few professors in my time, some of whom are quite well known in the world of biblical studies. However, I could probably count on one hand the number of individuals I've known who could "cold read" any passage in the NT and do so well. I admit that years ago I tested this out on more than one occasion on more than one professor. I began to pick up on the fact that when we had a focal passage for study for a day, a professor could read from the Greek quite smoothly. But as soon as a question was asked about another passage, stumbling and stuttering began as an attempt was made to read the unplanned text. Again, I can count on one hand the individuals I've known who seemed to be able to smoothly read aloud any passage from the NT without advanced preparation.
I won't be a hypocrite. I admit up front that I don't have all 5,347 words memorized either. It's a worthy goal, but I haven't reached it, and frankly at the moment I'm not even attempting to. At some point way back, I worked my way through one of those boxes of 1,000 Greek vocabulary cards. Those boxes will get the Greek student down to about all words that occur 10 times or more. I use my Greek almost daily, but I haven't reviewed all 1,000 vocabulary cards in a long time. If I had to guess, I would assume that as of this moment, my current mastery of Greek words falls somewhere below that 30x mark and above that 10x mark.
The Value of the RGNT
I picked up the first edition of the RGNT based mostly on the sheer novelty of the fact that it represented a different Greek text than the "Standard Edition"; that is, the Greek text underlying the NIV Bible (more about that in a moment). But the more I used it, the more I saw the value of what it was designed for: the RGNT allowed me to read the NT in Greek without having to constantly look up words that I didn't know the definition of off the top of my head. They were simply defined at the bottom of the page. Of course, there's value in consulting the lexicons for more in-depth treatment, but I would suggest that very few non-specialists who learn Greek (or at least take Greek classes) ever really read Greek. Instead, they simply muddle their way through. I've been there myself, and it's taken quite a bit of study to proceed further. But the RGNT will help anyone with a basic foundation in Greek studies actually read the NT in its original language.
Although for years I'd carried with me one of those "standard" Greek texts (first the UBS 3rd edition, and later the 27th edition of the Nestle-Aland text), I found myself picking up the RGNT more and more after I bought it. I especially grabbed it for non-academic purposes such as church use. I found that when teaching a Bible study, if I was asked a question that required consulting the Greek text (which happens now and then), I was able to stumble around less on those cold readings if I had the RGNT. So I would imagine that over the last couple of years, when carrying a Greek NT with me, the RGNT has been my choice at least 50% of the time.
The value of the RGNT is fairly universal. Certainly, it's a great tool for the person in ministry, who's out of school, but wants to continue using his or her Greek skills. It allows a pastor to realistically work in actual Greek for exegesis when preparing a sermon because less time is involved. For the student who has recently begun studying Greek, it's a great way to stay in the Greek text and rely less on outside aids. Of course, I've warned folks that the average professor is probably not going to allow it for an exam. But even beyond new students and graduated students, the RGNT is an immensely practical resource for looking to the original languages first as opposed to a translation. Some might be tempted to call it a crutch, but I would contend that the more a person used the vocabulary apparatus at the bottom of the page, the less it would be used over time as new vocabulary was mastered.
The Underlying Text
It's very important that anyone considering the use or purchase of the RGNT know that text itself varies slightly from the accepted, so-called "Standard" eclectic Greek text. For those unfamiliar with this, the average Greek NT bought off the shelf today, whether a UBS 4th edition or a Nestle-Aland 27th edition, does not represent a single Greek manuscript, but is rather an amalgam of what is considered the best and most reliable readings from the manuscript evidence. But sometimes opposing variant readings have such strong evidence that scholars disagree over which variant represents the original. There are formal, but not always rigid rules for making such decisions and this process is known as textual criticism. Bible translators use these standard texts when creating or revising a translation of the Bible, but I suppose the third dirty little secret today is that every translation on the shelf contains some renderings in which the translation committee disagreed with the decision of those who put together the standard text. But until the first edition of the RGNT, it was difficult determining with any translation how many times a committee went rogue against the decisions in the standard text.
The first edition of the RGNT was released in 2003 containing a reverse-engineered Greek text reflecting the translation decisions found in the NIV Bible. So how many times did the NIV translators opt to go with variant readings? Evidently, the magic number is 231. Is that good, bad, on par with other translations? Who knows? This had never been done before (to my knowledge). The newly released second edition also features an underlying Greek text, but not for the NIV. Rather, the underlying Greek text of the RGNT2 is based upon its successor, the TNIV. Regular readers of This Lamp will correctly assume that I'm very pleased with this decision. I've been concerned in the past that Zondervan was still holding on too tightly to the NIV rather than giving deference to the newer and more accurate TNIV. Not only is this change of translations between editions forward-thinking, the RGNT2 represents one of the first reference work related to the original Greek associated with the TNIV, further legitimizing academic use of this translation.
But wait--there's more. One might expect the number of deviations in the Greek text underlying the TNIV to remain close in number to those in the NIV. Not so. Would you believe that the number of deviations from the standard text in the TNIV is 285? That means there is well over 50 separate instances in which the TNIV Committee on Bible Translation made decisions for readings that differed from their predecessors who worked on the NIV. Are these decisions good ones? Well, that will have to be examined, but at least now with RGNT2, we know where they are.
Further, this will settle some questions about the differences between the TNIV and NIV once and for all. For instance, a while back I wrote about the difference between the two translations in their rendering of Mark 1:41 (see here and here).
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Mark 1:41
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NIV
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TNIV
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| Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” | Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” |
At the time, I wrote to the International Bible Society hoping that my question about the extremely different rendering would be passed on to the TNIV CBT. However, and IBS intermediary answered the email himself and went to great length to defend a decision to translate σπλαγχνίζομαι/splagchnizomai (the underlying Greek word translated in the NIV as "filled with compassion") as indignant in the TNIV. It didn't make much sense to me then, and as I looked at the issue a bit more, I discovered that there was another variant to Mark 1:41 that included the word ὀργίζω/orgizō (be angry, be furious) instead of σπλαγχνίζομαι/splagchnizomai. Upon receiving the RGNT2 in the mail this week, one of the first things I looked up was Mark 1:41 and I was not all too surprised to see that the TNIV does in fact use the variant that contains ὀργίζω/orgizō. Originally, upon receiving the RGNT2, my plan was to sell the first edition. However, I now believe it would be valuable to hold on to both for just these kinds of comparisons.
Improvements in the 2nd Edition
In addition to updating the textual basis, a number of other improvements have been made in the RGNT2. I've complained before that I didn't care for the italic Greek font in the RGNT1. Most will be pleased to know that the text has been completely reset in a non-italic font. Unfortunately, I'm still not satisfied with the new font, but I'll speak more to that below.
The RGNT is known for including vocabulary words at that bottom of the page for all words that occur 30 times or fewer. But what if the reader forgets the definition of one of those words that occur more than 30 times? I'll never forget the time I was in a class about a decade ago and it was my turn to recite a text and I completely blanked on a very basic, frequently occurring word (ποιέω/poieo). Well the new RGNT2 includes a "mini-Lexicon" (it's actually called that) in the back that includes all those words occurring 30 times or more. It's a good way to review vocabulary as well. All definitions, like those in the apparatus with the text are taken from Warren Trenchard's Complete Vocabulary Guide to the New Testament. The mini-lexicon takes up only 6 pages, much fewer than I would have imagined.
Four color maps relating to the New Testament have been added. These maps will be recognizable to anyone who's bought a Zondervan Bible in recent years, but they are certainly a welcome addition. Old Testament quotations within the NT text are now referenced in a separate apparatus at the bottom of the page. This second apparatus also includes notations to differences in the standard NA/UBS Greek text as well as a few minimal textual notes such as "Later MSS Add... ." Again, no one is going to be able to do hardcore textual criticism with this New Testament, but the improvements in the RGNT2 help to make it a more complete package for most situations.
Like the previous edition, the new RGNT2 comes in an "Italian Duo-Tone" cover, which is a very leather-like imitation leather. Personally, I like the cover just like I did in the first edition. It feels immediately soft like a leather that has experienced a good amount of use already. I'm not sure any of us know what these new kinds of imitation leathers will look like in 20 years, but I'm not concerned. And I especially appreciate the lower cost (about $23 on Amazon.com).
What I found very interesting, though, is that contrary to early advertisements promoting a marker ribbon, no such item is included. In fact, as of this writing. the box cover image on both Amazon.com AND the Zondervan website (reflected at the top of this post) promises a marker ribbon. Evidently, the ribbon was cut at the last minute, but still done in time to update the box cover which now sports only two "Changes to Second Edition" in the copy on the front of the box (the new supposedly easier to read Greek font and the full-color maps).
I might also point out, too, that when I did my earlier "first look" (i.e not hands on) review of the RGNT2, I speculated based on released PDF files that this new edition might have wide margins. Sadly, it does not.
A Reader's Edition That's Difficult to Read
One of the supposed improvements in the second edition over the first edition of the RGNT is the new non-italic typeface (seen in actual size to the right). It's true, I've never liked italic Greek typefaces or saw the need for them. My first Greek New Testament years ago was a USB 3rd edition that had an italic, but readable typeface. However, I thought the 4th edition italic font was horrible and I've never used it. I have generally preferred instead to use a Nestle-Aland 27th edition Greek New Testament with non-italic type. I was never fond of the italic type in the RGNT1, but the work itself was so very practical that as described above, I've used it regularly over the last two or three years.
I was excited about the prospect of non-italic type in the RGNT2. Yet, when I saw the type of the main body text, I was astounded. I believe I said aloud, "My goodness, it's actually worse." The strokes that form the characters in this Greek font are so very thin that in my opinion, the second edition is even more difficult to read than the first. If you think about it, this completely contradicts the concept of a supposed "Reader's Edition" because what Zondervan has produced is a work that is difficult to read! I can only imagine that extended time spent with the RGNT2 would seriously make one's eyes ache.
And to illustrate the oddity of this thin Greek font, all I have to do is point to the English font in the introduction of the work. It looks like it is probably about a 10 point Times-based font. It's easy to read. But it's in stark contrast to the thin letters in the Greek text. And to add even further evidence to the impracticality of this font, I should point out that the compilers of the RGNT2 chose an entirely different and thicker (i.e. normal) font for the Greek in the mini-lexicon. If they had used the same Greek typeface in the main text that they had used in the lexicon, I would have no complaint.
I showed the new edition to one of my Greek students with the original edition for comparison. I waited for a reaction. He looked back and forth at the two editions and then he asked, "Wait a minute...is the new typeface smaller?" I'm not so sure it's smaller, but it's definitely thinner. In fact because of the new typeface that takes up less space, the second edition comes in at 11 pages shorter than the first edition--and that's including the mini-lexicon in the second edition!
I can only speculate that the desire to have so few pages comes from what I see as a preoccupation that Zondervan has with thinline Bibles. Personally I can't stand thinline Bibles because compromises have to be made to reach a smaller size and that usually means small, cramped type and pages that are way too thin. And, of course, think paper leads to text bleed-through from underlying pages. All three are true for the RGNT2, and all three make this edition even more difficult to use than the first.
I complained to Zondervan about the thinline format because of the sacrifices in the type and paper, but Zondervan's marketing shows that people really seem to prefer thinline Bibles. I'm sure they do. They are compact and easy to carry, but personally, I don't find them practical for regular/heavy use. If I were to make a publishing rule regarding such things, I'd say never produce thinline reference works.
Further, in regard to my complains about the type, I was told that at the recent SBL & ETS conferences, attendees were given the chance to compare the two editions:
"I can say this that the vast majority of those at the convention who looked at the two editions preferred the second edition's font over the first as being much easier to read. Even though the first edition was $5.00 cheaper than the second edition and we had lots of both editions at the conventions, we sold out of the second edition first at both conventions, and 'from my perch' I made sure that people looked at both fonts if they were unaware of the first edition."
My hunch is that people looking at the two simply prefer the non-italic type in the second edition over the italic type in the first, but time will tell. It's a different issue altogether when one is actually trying to use a work like this as opposed to simply looking at it in a conference booth.
I'm going to really attempt to use the second edition despite my initial misgivings. I didn't like the italic type of the original edition at first, but it grew on me. However, I don't know if that will be possible with a font that's simply difficult to read.
No Longer the Only Game in Town
About a year or so ago, I had a professor from a seminary extension contact me about the original RGNT. He was using it in his Greek classes, but he had heard that the United Bible Societies were going to sue Zondervan over their Reader's Edition in spite of the 231 places where it diverged from their text. He was so concerned about this, he had been buying up extra copies of the RGNT for his future students to buy from him. He wanted to know if I had heard about any of this. I had not heard about it, but I didn't believe at the time that any such lawsuit was be tenable in a court of law because the UBS text is made up of an arrangement of public domain ancient manuscripts. Later on I would find out that such an idea for a lawsuit had indeed been considered, but eventually abandoned because of the exact reason I suspected.
Nevertheless, there is a new UBS Greek New Testament: A Reader's Edition to compete with Zondervan's. Granted, it's $20 more expensive than Zondervan's (UBS prices are out of control in my opinion) even at discounters, but it may end up giving Zondervan's RGNT2 a run for it's money. I have not held one in my hand yet (when I do, I'll offer yet another review), but based on PDF's, I wonder if they haven't built a better mousetrap. My concerns about the typeface in Zondervan's RGNT don't look like they will be an issue in the UBS edition based on what I've seen. I would invite you to compare the PDF sample for the UBS Reader's Edition to the PDF sample for the Zondervan RGNT2 and let me know your thoughts. I should also point out that the UBS text is about 200 pages longer than the Zondervan version and it is definitely not a thinline.
Concluding Thoughts
Zondervan has developed a wonderful concept with its Reader's Greek New Testament which is aimed at allowing a person with at minimum basic Greek skills to simply read the New Testament in its original language without having to consult a full lexicon every few words. Most of the additions to the second edition are welcome and for the most part improves upon its predecessor. I especially like having the text that underlies the TNIV. Since I teach out of the TNIV at church, the RGNT2 would seemingly make for an excellent complementary resource. Unfortunately, the ghastly thin typeface in the second edition threatens to defeat the purpose of this being a reader's edition because it's simply difficult to read. If the new UBS Reader's Edition begins to cut into Zondervan's sales, I hope they will consider resetting the type as quickly as possible. Unfortunately such projects never take place quickly, and I wouldn't expect anything different from the current RGNT2 for at least three years or more.
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December 2007 Bible Sales Rankings by Translation
11/26/2007 08:37 Filed in: Faith & Reason
The Christian Booksellers Association has released December sales and units sold figures for Bibles by translation. December rankings reflect actual sales in CBA-member stores in the United States and Canada during the month of October.
Interesting jockeying going on this month. It's not surprising to see the NIV, KJV, and NKJV at the top three in sales on both charts (although deep down it still amazes me that the NKJV sells so well). The fact that the ESV ranks #4 on unit sales, but #7 on dollar sales continues to reinforce my hunch that a lot of the 50¢ New Testaments are being sold, probably based more on price than translation preference, although I'm positive both are significant factors for its continued acceptance. The HCSB which ranked #10 last month in both dollar and unit sales moved up both charts significantly. Perhaps this has to do with the release of the Apologetics Study Bible (Ken, where's my review?) which ranked #2 on study Bibles sold. The TNIV, the most recently released version on the list, didn't show up in either rankings last month, but lists as #9 on dollar sales and #10 on unit sales which is surely significant since half of the reporting CBA stores refuse to carry it (suggestion: the next time you're in the market for a TNIV BIble, special order it from one of the stores that won't carry it).
The Influence of Gordon Ramsay
11/23/2007 10:38 Filed in: Dining
Here's a little known fact about me--one that only my personal friends and family have known until now: I enjoy cooking. When I am not rushed and have the time to do it right, cooking can be a creative outlet for me. I don't mind spending hours in the kitchen getting a meal just right, and I don't mind a challenge. I like the variety of trying new recipes. I have a pretty solid collection of recipes, with a fairly wide variety of cultures represented. I'm known for my Louisiana dishes as well as my chili, but my repertoire is actually much wider than that. I also like using cast iron in my cooking because there's something extremely traditional about those heavy black pans. I mix my own Cajun seasoning, and I've played around with creating my own hot sauce. I like to experiment in the kitchen and try new things. Most of my experiments have turned out well, but for the exceptions, Kathy has some stories she'd be glad to tell you.
Over the past couple of years, I've found myself increasingly influenced by British chef and restauranteur, Gordon Ramsay. I don't mean that he's influenced the kind of things that I prepare. But he has begun changing my perception of food when I eat away from home in restaurants.
I discovered Gordon Ramsay on the American version of his television show, Hell's Kitchen and then on the more recent import, Kitchen Nightmares. I suppose it's odd that I would be drawn to Ramsay. I'm not one to watch cooking shows very often, but I suppose I can watch one if it's on and someone's already watching it. Further, Ramsay is not just a chef but a world class restauranteur with a total of twelve Michelin stars to his credit. My entire experience in commercial food service were the three weeks I spent working for McDonalds when I was 15. And of course, Ramsay swears like a sailor, often resulting in half of his dialogue bleeped out by the censors. I won't say that I've never cursed, but it's so rare that when it's happened it's surprised everyone, including me.
But Ramsay has intrigued me. He's certainly a charismatic individual, but there's more to him than that. His shows are not cooking shows, but rather "mentoring" exercises. I've noticed that for those who are willing to push aside their pride, Ramsay actually makes an incredible teacher in spite of his often initial bombastic nature. And over the past few weeks, I've realized that I've been learning from him as well, and my perceptions related especially to dining have been changing. I'm also learning the value of private eating establishments over large chains. Let me offer some examples.
Fresh not frozen. One lesson I've picked up, especially while watching Kitchen Nightmares, is that quality food is fresh, not frozen. In one particular episode, Ramsay went to Burbank, California, to try to help turn around a restaurant called Sebastian's. The owner of the restaurant cut corners by consistently using ingredients that were frozen and pre-packaged, right down to his pizza dough. Part of the guy's problem was that he envisioned opening a chain of restaurants (which would obviously depend upon pre-packaged, pre-made food) rather than creating a quality dining experience where he was.
So about three week's ago, I'm in a Louisville eating establishment, Beef 'O' Brady's (yes, the apostrophe is on both sides of the O). Kathy and her teacher friends often go there to relax on a Friday afternoon, and I usually tag along. As I'm sitting there, eating my shrimp wrap, I begin thinking to myself that the food simply isn't all that good. It's basically fried shrimp, cole slaw and some secret sauce in a tortilla wrap with fries on the side. It just didn't taste all that good, and I decided to blame the cole slaw. Why in the world was there cole slaw in this wrap instead of fresh lettuce? Then Gordon Ramsay's influence kicked in, and I realized that the shrimp, the fries, and quite a number of items on my friends plates were simply frozen food that was warmed and thrown together. Perhaps even the cole slaw was pre-packaged--I don't know. Granted, this is a sports pub/grill of sorts, but I think Beef 'O' Brady's could be so much more. I suppose this isn't surprising because in looking at their website, they have locations all over the country. Who knew? Frozen, pre-packaged food is easy to duplicate. At least their burgers and sandwiches are pretty good, but the fries and a lot of the other menu items are surely frozen, not fresh. And it tastes like it.
A few months ago, not only would I not have cared; I wouldn't have thought about it. I'm starting to look at menu items the way Ramsay does.
Environment matters. A few days ago, I met a friend for lunch at a little restaurant in St. Matthews (a section of Louisville) called the Sahara Café. When we walked in the place was packed. In fact, there was only one table left available which we took. But I noticed that half the establishment was dedicated to a little gift shop. I saw lots of people eating, but very few who were shopping. Moreover, the dining area was crowded--too crowded. The back of my chair was pushed right up against a woman's chair who was sitting behind me. Every time she moved, I moved. We had a third chair at our window table, but everyone who walked by seemed to trip over it, so my lunch companion took it upon himself to move it over to the gift section.
The food itself was very good, reflecting a Mediterranean influence, and it was prepared fresh in an open kitchen which was viewable from the dining area. I'd eat there again. But looking at the environment through Ramsay's eye, I observed that the gift shop needed to be greatly reduced while the dining area needed to be expanded. Finally, at the end of our meal, when we tried to pay our check, we were told that customers simply go up to the counter. But one pays at the counter at a Waffle House, not at an upper scale St. Matthew's café! This seemed very out of place.
Quality, not quantity. Yesterday was Thanksgiving. Some years, Kathy and I travel to Louisiana for Thanksgiving with family. However, this was one of those years we needed to stay here in Kentucky. Originally, I was planning to make a turkey gumbo, but in the last day or two we decided to go out for our Thanksgiving Meal.
We live right down the highway from the locally famous Claudia Sanders Dinner House. The restaurant was started by the wife of the late Colonel, and they're known to have chicken that gives evidence to the fact that the 11 secret herbs and spices must not have been a secret among family members. But this isn't a fast food place; rather, it's a well-known and well-respected local establishment that is now run by owners not related to the Sanders. It's an interesting place to go to, but I suppose that I've been there enough times by now that the novelty has begun to wear off. So today, before I realized it, I was looking at the food through Ramsay eyes.
The restaurant offered only a buffet today with all the traditional Thanksgiving fare, plus chicken (of course), roast beef, and ham. I noticed that the ham and roast beef were carved for the customer, but the turkey had been cut beforehand and was simply laying in a pan on the buffet between the cornbread dressing and giblet gravy. There weren't many large slices but many small, bite-size pieces--not exactly how I picture Thanksgiving turkey on my plate. Only one salad was offered--a Caesar that was so bland that I ate very little of it. Much of the food was over-seasoned. The dressing had way too much sage, and someone must have doubled the amount of nutmeg called for in the sweet potatoes. Further, most of the sides--the corn pudding, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes--weren't firm at all. They were downright soupy making a gloopy mess on my plate. The final insult came when I went for dessert. Evidently, they had run out of pecan pie. And on Thanksgiving!
As I went to pay our bill--which at $17.95 a plate was not inexpensive--I was asked how our meal was. Feeling quite honest at the moment, I said, "Well it was okay..." with special emphasis on that last word. Oblivious to anything I said, the young woman replied, "Well, that's great!" and proceeded to run my debit card through the slider. Evidently, she was no more attentive to details than the chef had been.
In my opinion, Claudia Sanders, which does an absolutely booming business, is running on novelty and past reputation at this point. One day that will run out. At that time, I'd love for Gordon Ramsay to step in to turn the place around.
In the meantime, I'm learning from the master. I've developed a critical eye for the dining experience and my expectations are higher for quality of food, environment, and service. I didn't mean for this to happen; it's just a result of watching Ramsay on television. I'd never want to run my own restaurant, let alone work in one, but I believe it's fair to expect a lot from the establishments I frequent. And I know he'd approve.
Biblical Illustrator Plus: Winter 2007-08
11/22/2007 02:35 Filed in: Faith & Reason
A couple of weeks ago I received my new CDROM issue of Biblical Illustrator Plus. The cover of this issue displays a black-on-red Cypriote askos (flask) in the form of an ox, dating from 750-600 BC. This water flask highlights a feature article in this issue of BI by Claude F. Mariottini, "'...and Not a Drop to Drink': Water's Effect on Civilization Development."
The Back of the CD jewel case has this analysis:
For those fortunate enough (which includes me) to have the Biblical Illustrator Plus CDROM, dozens of articles from previous issues are included as well. In addition to Explore the Bible and Bible Studies for Life, these archived articles also support Lifeway's other curriculums such as MasterWork and the January Bible Study (Romans).
Biblical Illustrator Magazine is available by subscription for $24.95 and Biblical Illustrator Plus CDROM for $34.35. I highly recommend it even if you don't use these curriculums simply to build up a personal library of biblical backgrounds articles.
The Back of the CD jewel case has this analysis:
In November 2005, news broke that the world's oldest map had been discovered. The Soleta Map, as it came to be called, was about the size of a postage stamp and showed the location of various cities along the boot heel of Italy. The map dated to about 500 BC. Since its discovery, however, some have suggested that the map may be a modern forgery. If it is a genuine artifact, it's a reminder of how far we have come in map-making technology. GPS systems in our cars can show us exactly where we are on a map. And online electronic satelite maps can zoom in our your backyard or on someone's property half a world away. Those who have studied maps have long noted how cities dot the water sources. Rivers and fresh-water lakes became the home to families, villages, cities, and eventually civilizations. This issue of Biblical Illustrator Plus explores how water affected civilization development and how those civilizations interacted with one another and how they came to know, understand, and relate to God. As you read and study, take time to evaluate where you are--and where you are going.
Click the image above for a larger view.
The BI+ CD contains background articles for a number of Lifeway Bible study curriculums. I teach from the "Explore the Bible" curriculum which essentially goes through the entire Bible in eight year cycles. This Fall, a brand new cycle began with our study of Matthew. I'll be honest and say that I was disappointed that we only spent only one quarter in Matthew's gospel. However, I'm very pleased that the corresponding Old Testament study in Genesis will span two quarters. The first book of the Bible is absolutely foundational for everything that comes after it, and I don't believe 50 chapters could have been adequately covered in only three months. Therefore, in the list of new BI articles below, many of them are related to our study of Genesis. Other articles relate to the "Bible Studies for Life" curriculum which looks related to be a study in the Gospels (but I don't have a schedule for that series, so I'm not certain).
Here are the current new articles found in both editions of Biblical Illustrator:
| Jeff S. Anderson | Understanding David's Enemies | Psalm 7 |
| Gary P. Arbino | Book Review: The IVP Atlas of Bible History by Paul Lawrence and Alan Millard | |
| Alan Ray Buescher | The Land of the Philistines | Gen 20-33 |
| Trent C. Butler | Polytheism in Abram's Day | Gen 12:1-9 |
| Joseph R. Cathey | ARTIfacts: The Goliath Inscription | |
| Mark R. Dunn | Who Were the Samaritans? | John 4:4-26 |
| Terry Ellis | Roman Tax Collectors | Luke 15:1-2, 11-24 |
| R. D. Fowler | Farming in the First Century | Luke 10:1-12, 16 |
| Thomas H. Goodman | Praising God from A to Z: The Acrostic Psalms | Psalm 145 |
| D. Larry Gregg Sr. | The Servant Songs in Isaiah | Isa 52:13 - 53:12 |
| Kevin Hall | Eden: All We Know | Gen 2-4 |
| Scott Hummel | Ur: The "Capital of the World" | Gen 11:1-9, 27-32 |
| Dorman Laird | Lot: the Master of Poor Choices | Gen 11, 13, 14, 19 |
| LeBron Matthews | The Invasion of the Kings | Gen 14 |
| Claude F. Mariottini | "...and Not a Drop to Drink": Water's Effect on Civilization Development | Gen 26 |
| R. Kelvin Moore | Melchizedek | Gen 14 |
| Harold R. Mosley | Mt. Ararat | Gen 8 |
| James Newell | Who Were the Hittites? | Gen 15, 23, 26 |
| Gary M. Poulton | Archaelaus: Ruler of Judea | Matt 2:1-23 |
| Mark A. Rathel | The Nazareth Jesus Knew | Luke 1-2 |
| James Wiles | Zechariah and Elizabeth: A Silence Broken | Luke 1:5-25, 57-80 |
For those fortunate enough (which includes me) to have the Biblical Illustrator Plus CDROM, dozens of articles from previous issues are included as well. In addition to Explore the Bible and Bible Studies for Life, these archived articles also support Lifeway's other curriculums such as MasterWork and the January Bible Study (Romans).
| N/A | Samaria in Jesus' Day | N/A |
| Jeff S. Anderson | King's Privileges or King's Crimes? | 2 Sam 11:1-5, 14-17 |
| Waylon Bailey | Languages of the Ancient Near East | Gen 11:6-7 |
| Albert Bean | The Arm of the Lord | Isa 53:1-12 |
| Albert Bean | Chesed Love | Psalm 86:1-17 |
| Martha S. Bergen | Rome: The Growth of the Eternal City | Romans |
| Robert Bergen | Potiphar in Egyptian Society | Gen 39:1-23 |
| Bryan E. Beyer | The Practice of Covenant Making | Gen 12:1-3; 15:1-18 |
| Ronald E. Bishop | Isaac | Gen 17:19; 22:2; 24:4, 67; 25:11a |
| Steve Booth | Of Inns and Inns | Luke 2:1-20; 10:25-37 |
| Bennie R. Crockett Jr | Immanuel | Matt 1:18-23; 2:1-2, 10-11 |
| Rick Davis | Destroyed Relationships | Gen 3:1-24 |
| Bob Dean | Paul's Use of the Old Testament in Romans | Romans |
| Robert J. Dean | Roads and Travel in the First Century | Luke 1:26-35; 2:4-7 |
| Joel Drinkard | Beersheba | Gen 26:12-33 |
| Bob Dunston | The Hills and the Valley | Gen 13:1-18 |
| Wayne Etheridge | Admah and Zeboiim | Gen 9:24-29 |
| Gary Lee Gramling | The Samaritans | John 4:7, 9-15, 28-30, 39-40 |
| Elmer L. Gray | Capital Punishment in the Ancient Near East | Gen 9:6 |
| Sharon H. Gritz | Life for a First Century Housewife | Luke 15:1-10 |
| Sharon H. Gritz | The "Word" in John's Gospel | John 1:1-18 |
| George H. Guthrie | First-Century Roman Government | Rom 13:1-14 |
| Stephen Z. Hearne | Forgiveness in the New Testament | Matt 18:21 |
| Norma S. Hedin | Birth Rituals of the First Century | Luke 2:8-20, 36-38 |
| Gene Henderson | A Description of Noah's Ark | Gen 6:1 - 8:22 |
| Timothy Paul Jones | The Meaning of "Raca" | Matt 5:21-26 |
| Francis X. Kimmitt | Ancient Near Eastern Flood Stories | Gen 8:20 - 9:17 |
| Thomas D. Lea | The Early Church's Use of Messianic Passages | Isa 53; Acts 28:23 |
| Jerry W. Lee | The Dust of the Ground | Gen 2:4-25 |
| David C. Maltsberger | Where Is Mt. Moriah? | Gen 21:1-7; 22:6-8, 15-18 |
| Claude Mariottini | Canaan in Patriarchal Times | Gen 12 |
| John Mason | Love's Abiding Nature | 1 Cor 12:31b - 13:13 |
| John Mason | Sychar and Jacob's Well | John 4:1-45 |
| David M. May | The Spirit of Restoration | Gal 6:1-10, 14-18 |
| T. Van McClain | Abraham's Homeland | Gen 12:1-20 |
| Glenn McCoy | First Century Priesthood | Luke 1:1-80 |
| Glenn McCoy | Introduction to Romans | Romans |
| Daniel R. McGee | The Servant Songs in Isaiah | Isa 53:1-11 |
| Larry McGraw | The Meaning of Violence | Gen 6:11-13; Psalm 55:9-11; Jonah 3:6-10; 1 Pet 3:9-12 |
| Warren McWilliams | The Galatian People | Galatians |
| Warren McWilliams | Grief Practices in New Testament Times | Psalm 23:4; John 11:24-26; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 21:4 |
| Allan Moseley | David and Absalom: A Family Tragedy | Gen 50:17; 2 Sam 19:4, 7-8; Luke 15:20-24; Eph 4:32 |
| Allan Moseley | Who Were the Philistines? | 1 Samuel |
| Harold R. Mosley | In God's Image | Gen 1:1 - 2:23 |
| Harold R. Mosley | Zoar | Gen 18-19 |
| Timothy L. Noel | Jewish Inheritance Laws | Luke 15:25-30 |
| John Polhill | Paul and the Romans | Romans |
| Michael Priest | To "Tabernacle" | John 1:1-18 |
| Carolyn Ratcliffe | Messianic Expectations in Intertestamental Judaism | Luke 1:26-38; Matt 1:18-25 |
| Charles A. Ray | Nero: Ruler of Rome | Romans 13:1-14 |
| C. Mack Roark | Forgiveness & the Jewish Tradition | Matt 18 |
| C. Mack Roark | Martha of Bethany | Luke 9:51 - 10:42 |
| Glenn E. Robertson | Jewish Teachings on Forgiveness | Matt 18:1-9; 21-22 |
| Glenn E. Robertson | Was John the Baptist a Nazirite? | Luke 1:5-25, 57-80 |
| Bob Ross | Journey to Bethlehem | Luke 2:1-7 |
| Thomas Sawyer | Feasting: First Century Practices | John 12:2; Luke 7:37; 15:23 |
| W. Murray Severance | Fiery Darts | Eph 6:16 |
| George H. Shaddix | Ancient Altars | Gen 8:15 - 9:11 |
| Bob Simmons | The Curse | Gal 3:15 - 4:7 |
| T. C. Smith | A Convenient Theology | Job 8:6; Psalm 145:15-20 |
| Don H. Stewart | Obedient Joseph | Matt 1:18-25; 2:13-23 |
| Robert A. Street | Deceiver | Gen 25-33 |
| Robert A. Street | Haran | Genesis |
| Philip J. Swanson | Esau and the Edomites | Gen 32 |
| J. Rodney Taylor | Noah in Jewish Folklore | Gen 5:28 - 9:29 |
| John Mark Terry | Absalom: David's Son | 2 Sam 13-19 |
| John Mark Terry | Eliezer: Faithful Steward | Gen 15:2 |
| William Tolar | A Different Gospel | Gen 1:6-7; 2:11-21 |
| William Tolar | Jews in First Century Rome | Romans |
| Wayne VanHorn | Curses and Blessings in the Old Testament | Gen 2:15 - 3:24 |
| Fred M. Wood | Abimelech | Genesis |
| Fred M. Wood | My Brother's Keeper | Gen 4:1-26 |
| Fred M. Wood | Valley of Gerar | Genesis |
| R. Garland Young | Naming a Child | Luke 1:5-13, 24-25, 59-64 |
Biblical Illustrator Magazine is available by subscription for $24.95 and Biblical Illustrator Plus CDROM for $34.35. I highly recommend it even if you don't use these curriculums simply to build up a personal library of biblical backgrounds articles.
From the Patriarchs to Patmos: BI Time Line of the Bible
11/14/2007 22:42 Filed in: Faith & Reason
Regular readers of This Lamp are aware that I'm a fan of Biblical Illustrator magazine as a tool for Bible study preparation. Well the editors of BI have just released a wonderful set of new teaching aids: The Biblical Illustrator Time Line of the Bible. This is a set of three individual timeline charts (two for the Old Testament and one for the New Testament) that graphically illustrate the history of biblical events as well as related history of the Ancient Near East.
The two OT timelines cover events from 2100 BC (roughly the time of Abraham forward) to 100 BC. The OT timelines are broken down by divisions: religious events, military and political events, lifespans of important persons, archaeological eras, Palestine, Mesopotamia, involvement with other nations, and Bible books.
The NT timeline begins at 100 BC and ends at AD 100. NT divisions include lifespans of NT persons, lifespan of important congregations, archaeological eras, NT books, important Jewish and secular events, and rulers and leaders.
The three timelines themselves measure 17" x 48.5" each. They are full-color matching the professional look of regular Biblical Illustrator articles and charts. Don't tell the folks at Lifeway I said this, but at $9.95, I actually believe they are underpriced.
When I teach at church, I always include historical context. There's always an appropriate map on the wall to go along with our study. Now that I have these timelines, I'm going to laminate them and leave them indefinitely on the wall of the main room I teach from at church.
If you teach the Bible regularly in any church or classroom setting, I highly recommend these timelines. You can find them at any Lifeway store or you can order them online.
Tyndale Select Insert
11/06/2007 09:13 Filed in: Faith & Reason
The new calfskin Tyndale Selects were released in October in both "ebony" and "mahogany" calfskin covers with Smyth Sewn bindings. No, I do not have one as the $135 price is a bit outside this student's range. However, this is undoubtedly the finest quality NLT ever produced, and a number of This Lamp readers have shown interest in this Bible in the past.
So while I don't have access to a copy of this Bible (and I am not even sure it will be stocked in the stores locally because of its price), I have gained access to the text copy from the Tyndale Select insert. I am reproducing it below because I know a number of you will find it interesting.
TREASURE
God's presence in our lives through Scripture is priceless. His Word is a treasure to be passed down to future generations. Introducing Tyndale Select. For those who want a Bible they can enjoy for a lifetime. This exquisite edition is crafted out of the finest calfskin leather with deluxe features throughout.
FEEL
Highest quality hand-bound calfskin leather. Supple. Durable. Beautiful.
FIND
Dual satin ribbon markers trace your study and mark key passages for personal reference.
REVEAL
A ready resource--full color maps and concordance make Tyndale Select a valuable reference tool.
SURPASS
The highest quality binding available in the clear and accurate New Living Translation
TYNDALE SELECT BIBLE CARE
Congratulations on owning Tyndale Select, the highest quality binding available in the New Living Translation. or a lifetime of use, take note of these tips to protect your investment:
- SPINE FLEXIBILITY
The durable Smyth Sewn binding should be gently stretched as soon as you bring it home so it will remain flexible for decades to come. Hold the closed Bible in one hand with the spine flat on a table. Then hold all of the pages together and let the covers slowly fall to the table. Next take a series of pages from the front of the Bible and lay them down, running your fingers across the top page, near the crease, pressing gently. Sill holding most of the pages upright in your hand, repeat, taking a section of pages from the back of the Bible. Continue repeating this process, first on one side and then on the other, until the entire Bible has been opened into two even halves.
- MARKING
A well-marked Bible with personal notes will become very valuable to you as a companion and customized reference tool. Do not use felt-tip or roller points, as these will often bleed through the pages. Instead, use a pencil or ball point pen or a special Bible marking highlighter or pen, available at most Christian bookstores.
- LEATHER CARE
The best way to care for the calfskin leather cover is to use it. The natural oils from your hands actually nourish the leather fibers. To clean dirt or spills, dab with a soft cloth dampened with water and mild detergent, without getting the leather too wet. Wipe with a slightly damp cloth to remove soap residue. Dry with a clean soft towel.
GUARANTEED FOR LIFE
Premier quality materials and meticulous old world craftmanship come together to create a cherished heirloom. Carry this Bible and appreciate every word knowing the truth it contains--and the Bible itslef--will be a part of a legacy to the next generation.
If for any reason this Bible does not meet your expectations, we will replace it or give you a full refund.
You can also download the PDF insert itself with pictures here:
Note: in the Amazon links to the right, the first link is the ebony edition and the second is the mahogany.
So while I don't have access to a copy of this Bible (and I am not even sure it will be stocked in the stores locally because of its price), I have gained access to the text copy from the Tyndale Select insert. I am reproducing it below because I know a number of you will find it interesting.
TREASURE
God's presence in our lives through Scripture is priceless. His Word is a treasure to be passed down to future generations. Introducing Tyndale Select. For those who want a Bible they can enjoy for a lifetime. This exquisite edition is crafted out of the finest calfskin leather with deluxe features throughout.
FEEL
Highest quality hand-bound calfskin leather. Supple. Durable. Beautiful.
FIND
Dual satin ribbon markers trace your study and mark key passages for personal reference.
REVEAL
A ready resource--full color maps and concordance make Tyndale Select a valuable reference tool.
SURPASS
The highest quality binding available in the clear and accurate New Living Translation
TYNDALE SELECT BIBLE CARE
Congratulations on owning Tyndale Select, the highest quality binding available in the New Living Translation. or a lifetime of use, take note of these tips to protect your investment:
- SPINE FLEXIBILITY
The durable Smyth Sewn binding should be gently stretched as soon as you bring it home so it will remain flexible for decades to come. Hold the closed Bible in one hand with the spine flat on a table. Then hold all of the pages together and let the covers slowly fall to the table. Next take a series of pages from the front of the Bible and lay them down, running your fingers across the top page, near the crease, pressing gently. Sill holding most of the pages upright in your hand, repeat, taking a section of pages from the back of the Bible. Continue repeating this process, first on one side and then on the other, until the entire Bible has been opened into two even halves.
- MARKING
A well-marked Bible with personal notes will become very valuable to you as a companion and customized reference tool. Do not use felt-tip or roller points, as these will often bleed through the pages. Instead, use a pencil or ball point pen or a special Bible marking highlighter or pen, available at most Christian bookstores.
- LEATHER CARE
The best way to care for the calfskin leather cover is to use it. The natural oils from your hands actually nourish the leather fibers. To clean dirt or spills, dab with a soft cloth dampened with water and mild detergent, without getting the leather too wet. Wipe with a slightly damp cloth to remove soap residue. Dry with a clean soft towel.
GUARANTEED FOR LIFE
Premier quality materials and meticulous old world craftmanship come together to create a cherished heirloom. Carry this Bible and appreciate every word knowing the truth it contains--and the Bible itslef--will be a part of a legacy to the next generation.
If for any reason this Bible does not meet your expectations, we will replace it or give you a full refund.
You can also download the PDF insert itself with pictures here:
Note: in the Amazon links to the right, the first link is the ebony edition and the second is the mahogany.
A Little Bit of Conviction
11/05/2007 22:30 Filed in: Culture Watch