Gideon Bibles

[Greg the byzantine]

There were some Gideon's giving out these little New Testaments (With Psalms) outside of School today, and I didn't want to be rude so I took one. They are actually kind of cute, nice and small. Actually I have two now because somebody threw their copy on the floor and stepped on it, so I picked it up and put it in my bookbag.

So Gideon Bibles, are they OK?
For example do they alter the words/text in any way?

 

[irishseventysix]

Not to my knowledge. I have a KJV and NKJV, but I rarely use them. I used to keep one in my pocket at all times (as well as a comb when my hair was longer) back when I was an EvProt. I know people who call their big Bibles "swords" and their little Gideon ones "daggers". Of course, that makes me want to retch, but oh well.

They should be fine, Greg. At least, as far as I know. They just don't include the OT except Psalms and Proverbs, or what Prots call the Apocrypha.

 

[Dewi Sant]

I had (still have somewhere) a Gideon's Bible I was given at the start of my highschool.

I didn't think of it much at the start, but, later, it became my friend.

I turned to it so oftenly, for advice, meditation and prayer.

I had a really rough last 4 years at highschool, with late coursework and stuff.


I think the Gideon's use the NIV. And, the text is standard.
Don't worry about anything.

 

[RobNJ]

I cheat... I have the NASB, the RSV (NOT N!!!) w/ apocrypha & the Third Millenium Bible on my PDA

 

[Greg the byzantine]

Thanks for the speedy responses

 

[OnTheWay]

I cheat... I have the NASB, the RSV (NOT N!!!) w/ apocrypha & the Third Millenium Bible on my PDA

DUETROCANON people!!!!

 

[RobNJ]

DUETROCANON people!!!!

If you had had the foresite to post that earlier, I wouldn't have had to copy/paste apocrypha, to get the proper spelling!

 

[Akathist]

I think there might be a few things in the NIV version that is not the same as the Revised Standard (not New.. I'm with Rob on that one... new is bad bad bad! he he).


But at the same time, I think that it is not good to let the bible be stepped on and there is nothing wrong with having different bible versions. IMO.

My NIV bible is still on my bookcase, but I have removed the "Message Bible" and a couple other versions that I had given to me when I was a protestant that I just knew I would never use again.

I do think the Gideons do a good thing giving their bibles out regardless of the version. More than once when I have had to be at a hospital for a family member, I was comforted by having a bible available and they were always Gideon's.

 

[The Prokeimenon!]

Gideon's have always used KJV, until very recently. Now they use NKJV. TO my knowledge, they don't use NIV, but things change I guess (when you're not Orthodox.)

Rdr Moses

 

[Shubunkin]

I have only seen KJV and NKJV for Gideon Bibles, and I was handed one of the small, green ones at college. I still have it, and in fact just saw it yesterday after a long time of forgetting about it. It was nice to have a small one to carry around at school, so it has seen much use. Then I saw a Gideon's at the dentist's office yesterday. I guess they are everywhere.

 

[KATHXOYMENOC]

For their pocket New Testaments they have used KJV and the Berkeley version (Verkyll was the translator, or some name like that), and probably a few others as well - e.g., RSV, NIV, NKJV - whoever gives them license to use it, I suppose. Their full Bibles have been KJV, Berkeley, and NIV, IIRC.

 

[Oblio]

FAQ including purchase (though they are stripped of insignia)

 

[Theophorus]

For their pocket New Testaments they have used KJV and the Berkeley version (Verkyll was the translator, or some name like that), and probably a few others as well - e.g., RSV, NIV, NKJV - whoever gives them license to use it, I suppose. Their full Bibles have been KJV, Berkeley, and NIV, IIRC.

I have only seen the KJV, but the Berkley? Interesting.

I commend them for including the psalms witrh their NT.

 

[Greg the byzantine]

Thanks again guys. At least there is a concensus that they are O.K. It doesn't say anywhere on the front back or inside covers which translation it is.

The only thing I don't like about it, is that it has a space where it says "Date where I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior ________"

 

[RobNJ]

The only thing I don't like about it, is that it has a space where it says "Date where I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior ________"

And... THAT is what you cover over with a "From the library of _______ " sticker

 

[Adammi]

The only Gideon Bibles I have seen are KJV.

 

[OnTheWay]

If it's not KJV you must burn it at once. If there's anything Jack Chick has taught us, it's that the only faithful English translation is the KJV. All others are based on the conterfeit Alexanderian texts, the Catholics hunted down anyone that dared to use the Textus Receptcus. Okay, I'm laughing too hard to continue....

 

[NyssaTheHobbit]

I have three Gideon New Testaments from high school: green, white and orange. All KJV, I believe.....

My NIV bible is still on my bookcase, but I have removed the "Message Bible" and a couple other versions that I had given to me when I was a protestant that I just knew I would never use again.

Just out of curiosity, what are the other versions?

Is it appropriate to put a Message Bible in the recycling? I have a New Testament which I wrote all over, so I can't just give it away.....

If it's not KJV you must burn it at once. If there's anything Jack Chick has taught us, it's that the only faithful English translation is the KJV. All others are based on the conterfeit Alexanderian texts, the Catholics hunted down anyone that dared to use the Textus Receptcus. Okay, I'm laughing too hard to continue....

[sarcasm] Ah, yes, Jack Chick. I don't know what I ever did before getting introduced to that font of holy wisdom.[/sarcasm]

 

[choirfiend]

In all seriousness, if there is something sacred which needs to be disposed of, we Orthodox either A. burn it or B. bury it where it will not be walked on. We know exactly how it has been treated, and it precludes its mistreatment.

So even though The Message is but a pale ghost of the real Scriptures, I think the best way to dispose of it would be to burn it, rather than toss it in the recycling like it's any piece of paper.

 

[Aristokles]

Funny that this topic has come up...
A couple of years ago, on a Saturday morning, I was reading my Bible while my wfe finished her personal grooming for us to visit the nearby county fair. As I was reading I remembered my little Gideon's NT I received in elementary school - 45 years earlier. Wondered what I ever did with it.
An hour or so later, as we entered the fair, there was an unattended Gideon's booth loaded with these little NTs for the taking. I replaced my lost one...
He does work in His own ways.