Help deciding on gift Bible

[mpatton921]

Hi everyone, :wave:

I want to purchase a Bible for my Mom for Christmas and I need some help deciding which one would be most appropriate.

She's 53 years old and enjoys reading her Bible.

I was thinking maybe the NIV Study Bible? That's what my husband and I both have, but I'm not sure it's the best one for my mother.

I would really appreciate suggestions! I'm running out of time.

Thanks!

[alaurie]

This chronological NIV is on my wish list. It's arranged chronologically by events ...for example the history portions about David's life are immediately followed by the Psalms he wrote during that time.

http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?isbn=084235090X&mscssid=RVE24L7F54058MBEFA4GXVWVW26X9VLC

[AquilaGT]

I would recommend The Learning Bible, published by the American Bible Society. It has tons of information on context and concepts in the Bible, with a lot of visuals that help. It also has Introductions for each book of the Bible, and mini-articles on various Bible topics. It comes in the CEV (Contemporary English Version) or NIV.

If you can find the Reflecting God Study Bible, it is a great adaptation of the NIV Study Bible to a Wesleyan/Methodist perspective. It might be out of print.

If your Mom is super serious Bible scholar, or a teacher or pastor, the New Interpreters' Study Bible is good. It uses the NRSV.

I have each of these study Bibles, and I like all three.

I have heard good things about the True Identity Bible for Women. It uses my favorite Bible translation, the TNIV (Today's NIV). I am thinking about getting one of these for my wife.

[desert_island_1]

If your Mom likes Devo Bibles then maybe you could get her the Woman's Devotional Bible... I got that for my mum for Mother's Day a couple of years ago and she really loves it!!

Kristy

[alaurie]

If you can find the Reflecting God Study Bible, it is a great adaptation of the NIV Study Bible to a Wesleyan/Methodist perspective. It might be out of print.



I didn't know of this one, and it looks very interesting. Thank you!

Found this review of Reflecting God Study Bible which confirms what I've long thought about the Calvinistic bias of the original NIV Study Bible.


http://www.fwponline.cc/v19n2revbible.html

[Combatchuc11]

I recommend no bible other than the life application. It has more notes and information than any other bible I've seen. It may not have embedded devotions, but I find the notes more useful than the devotional bibles I've read.

[alaurie]

If you can find the Reflecting God Study Bible, it is a great adaptation of the NIV Study Bible to a Wesleyan/Methodist perspective. It might be out of print.


You're right, the Reflecting God Study Bible is out of print. :( I submitted a used book location request to Amazon for it - hope one turns up.

[alaurie]

You're right, the Reflecting God Study Bible is out of print. :( I submitted a used book location request to Amazon for it - hope one turns up.


Got one in less than two weeks. :)

Am loving it and the chronological NIV.

[Davis]

I just ordered The Listeners Bible with Max Mclean. The NIV version. We use it to follow along with while reading scripture during Sunday School class. Really helps with the memorizing and taking in the scriptures. Its around 80 dollars but well worth it to use along side your Bible.

[desert_island_1]

Just another thought for those of you looking for a gift bible, try the TNIV. It is an updated version of the NIV (TNIV was printed in 2005) so some of the language has been changed to clarify it more but the base is still much of the NIV. I recieved a TNIV for Christmas from my mum and I love it so much!

Kristy

[AquilaGT]

Got one in less than two weeks. :)

Am loving it and the chronological NIV.

Glad you found one!

The Wesleyan scholars who put the Reflecting God Study Bible did a great job - it is one of my favs.

[AquilaGT]

Just another thought for those of you looking for a gift bible, try the TNIV. It is an updated version of the NIV (TNIV was printed in 2005) so some of the language has been changed to clarify it more but the base is still much of the NIV. I recieved a TNIV for Christmas from my mum and I love it so much!

Kristy

I agree. The TNIV has become my favorite translation. The combination of accuracy and clarity is fantastic.

[Rebirth In Flames]

The TNIV changed too much of the wordage to be politically correct, and watered down the definite Greek and Hebraic masculine and feminine titles in order to please those in our society now who take offense, (the TNIV is a perfect example of how Christianity is becoming trivialized). There’re three different types of translations: the paraphrase (like the Message), dynamic (like TNIV and NIV), and literal (like RSV and NASB). If she studies the bible deeply, then she’s going to want a literal translation like the NASB; if she reads it casually and just devotionally then she can stick with the mainstream NIV. There’s a reason the common person in church reads the NIV, and the scholars read literal translations like the NASB… it just goes back to why it is that you read, which will determine which version you should use. The mistake however, is to look at versions like NIV, TNIV, and the Message, and think you’re getting a literal translation. I’d recommend the NASB Life Application Study Bible for her.

[AquilaGT]

There is no political correctness to the TNIV. The TNIV is the result of rigorous translation work to update the NIV, done by the same committee that did the NIV. The English language has changed since the NIV was published almost 30 years ago in 1978, and translation research has too.


The English language changes, and if we as evangelical Christians intend to proclaim the glorious news of salvation through Jesus Christ, we need to have a clear and accurate Bible translation.


For example, Hebrews 11.37 talks about persecuted Christians and in, the NASB, NIV, and KJV it says “they were stoned.” Now today, that is a common reference to being high on illegal drugs, especially for readers less than 40. The TNIV is much clearer by saying “they were put to death by stoning.”


Other examples abound, such as saying Mary the mother of Jesus is pregnant, not “with child.” Or how the underlying word and context of the phrase “the Jews” in John 9 is actually “the Jewish leaders.”


And yes, if the original text referred to both male and female, such as addressing an entire congregation or all believers, the TNIV reflects that, such as James 1.2 – consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds. Or Romans 12.1 I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. The NIV and NASB both say I urge you brothers or brethren.


The authors of James and Romans wanted all Christians to have joy in trials and live holy lives pleasing to God, not just the men. Now, if you heard a Christian woman say “I really enjoyed worshiping with my brothers in Christ today at church,” most people today would assume she meant the males at church – brothers today refers to just guys.


Likewise, when I read Galatians 2.16 to my daughter in the NIV or NASB, it does not make any sense to her that “man is justified by faith” - in fact it contradicts everything she has learned in church about the good news of salvation thru faith in Jesus being for everybody. That's why I read to her the TNIV – a person is justified by faith.


Of course, any references that actually were meant to only refer to males in the original text still do in the TNIV, such as the “my son” advice sections of Proverbs, and all masculine references to God remain.


Different translations serve different purposes at different times. I enjoy The Message for more casual Bible reading, but it is probably not the best choice for in depth study. However, the NRSV is a more literal translation used by serious scholars, and is great for deep study. But literal is not always the most clear when translated to English – word order, idiom, nuance, etc. Sometimes literal can obscure the real thought in the passage.


The NIV has been a really solid translation in the middle of the paraphrases and more literal versions – accurate in a way most English speaking people could understand.


Far from trivializing the message of Christianity, the TNIV simply updates our reliable NIV in a few small ways so that is continues to be accurate and clear for readers today.


I use it for all my speaking and teaching now and recommend it to anyone looking for a Bible. You can get a copy at the International Bible Society's website ibs.org for about $2.50. I think you will be surprised at how little has changed from the NIV, but where it has changed it is much clearer for today's readers.

[Rebirth In Flames]

Anyone who doesn't understand the NIV or NASB, needs to repeat their fifth grade English class...
And yes, the TNIV is updated; it's updated to fit the theology of feminist movements who desire to change masculine and feminine roots into a more accepting term that classifies both sexes.. TNIV adds and changes the original meaning, and in that sense I believe it should be shunned.

[Rebirth In Flames]

The NIV has been a really solid translation in the middle of the paraphrases and more literal versions – accurate in a way most English speaking people could understand.

The fact that the masses can't read a literal translation, shows how utterly lazy they are. Literal translations are in English, yet because most people fail in English class, for some reason they can't read it and thus give into reading the paraphrase and dynamic translations which are theologically watered down.. the laziness of the human race sickens me.

[AquilaGT]

Historically, it has always been difficult for some segment of the Church to accept a new translation of the Bible. When the KJV came out, people using the Geneva Bible shunned the KJV as a horrible translation. Same thing happened when the ASV, RSV, GNT, NIV and others came out.


Every translation has it strengths and weaknesses, and some work better for different situations or people, but there is not a translation that should be shunned. The TNIV does not change or add to the original meanings – it actually makes them clearer. It might not be your preference, and maybe you have been in church long enough to understand some of the older English idioms, but it might help someone else not so well versed to come to accept Christ as Saviour of their life and grow in their faith.


You might think some people are lazy or so stupid that they could not pass 5th grade, but God loves those people and died to reconcile those people to God by salvation thru Jesus Christ. We must proclaim the timeless message of faith, hope and salvation in a way people today can understand.