Speedy but spiritual: British cleric unveils '100-Minute Bible'

[Zacharias]

LONDON (AFP) - Business folk are used to reading executive summaries of important documents, and now would-be Christians are to have the same privilege, in the form of a chopped-down Bible that can be read in under two hours...

For full story: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050921/od_afp/britainreligionbibleoffbeat_050921112127

[SirTimothy]

That'd be like... 10-20 minutes for me...

Timothy

[gitlance]

Is it a paraphrase, or did he just cut and paste scripture?

[SeenAndUnseen]

"...claims to neatly summarise every teaching from the Creation to the Revelation."

This could be interesting. I'd read it just to see what it is like. :D

[AveMaria]

I would be curious to take a peek at it. Might be useful in limited circumstances.

[Zacharias]

Is it a paraphrase, or did he just cut and paste scripture?
I'm guessing that it's paraphrased, but I don't know.

[Naomi4Christ]

They were reporting this on the radio yesterday.

The 100-minute version contains the main historical parts of the old testament, 2 psalms (presumably one of them is 23). The gospels are all rolled into one, which sounds fair enough.

One of the things they reported is that it contained the story of Jonah - OK in a big bible, nice message about not running away from God etc. but in a 100-minute version. Maybe that is there to satisfy those barely-churched who remember the story of Jonah from their infancy (it figures well in toddler books).

[karen freeinchristman]

I could see this being perhaps a good taster for curious people, which might draw them nearer to opening the real thing. What is so bad about that? If it leads someone on to read the Holy Bible, someone who probably wouldn't have done so ordinarily, then that surely must be good.

[Father Rick]

They were reporting this on the radio yesterday.

The 100-minute version contains the main historical parts of the old testament, 2 psalms (presumably one of them is 23). The gospels are all rolled into one, which sounds fair enough.

One of the things they reported is that it contained the story of Jonah - OK in a big bible, nice message about not running away from God etc. but in a 100-minute version. Maybe that is there to satisfy those barely-churched who remember the story of Jonah from their infancy (it figures well in toddler books).Actually, I happen to think that the book of Jonah is extremely important theologically...

It is the clearest OT example of God promising judgement for sin, yet when the people repented God showed mercy.

[Naomi4Christ]

I could see this being perhaps a good taster for curious people, which might draw them nearer to opening the real thing. What is so bad about that? If it leads someone on to read the Holy Bible, someone who probably wouldn't have done so ordinarily, then that surely must be good.

I think it is a good thing, as long as it doesn't make a mockery of the faith (which I assume it doesn't). Anyone whose interest is piqued will seek out a longer edition. I really don't get when modern translations and paraphrases of the bible are criticised. Personally, I use the Nearly Infallible Version for most bible reading (it's the version we use in church as well), but I like to look at other versions (from KJV to The Message) to deepen my understanding.

I often suggest to new Christians, who are eager to learn lots quickly but soon overwhelmed, to read the Lion Children's Bible. This version is written for about 10 -12 year olds and it takes only a few days to whizz through the whole bible. It gives a framework of the bible (especially the famous characters in the OT), so that more conventional bible study is much easier to grasp.

[Naomi4Christ]

Actually, I happen to think that the book of Jonah is extremely important theologically...

It is the clearest OT example of God promising judgement for sin, yet when the people repented God showed mercy.

It is a good book, no doubting that. Perhaps I am still reeling from doing a whole term of Jonah with my children's group a couple of years ago. Thank goodness I had the Veggietales DVD... :D

[Father Rick]

It is a good book, no doubting that. Perhaps I am still reeling from doing a whole term of Jonah with my children's group a couple of years ago. Thank goodness I had the Veggietales DVD... :DBroccoleeeee, celereeeee, gotta beeeee-- Veggietales!

[karen freeinchristman]

there's never-ever-ever-ever-ever-been a tale like Veggietales!