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Title: The New Oxford Annotated NRSV Bible with the Apocryphal: Indexed, Third Edition by Michael D. Coogan, Marc Z. Brettler, Carol A. Newsom, Pheme Perkins ISBN: 0195284828 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: February, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $52.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4
Rating: 5
Summary: Great Translation -- Excellent Study Bible
Comment: By Sister Faith Magdalena OSF FODC
I have many translations of the Bible but this is by far my favorite. The Revised Standard Version is closer to the original language than the more recent New Revised Standard Version. Footnotes point you to other references on similar teachings. The major difference between the Revised Standard Version and the NEW Revised Standard Version is that NRSV, in attempting to be inclusive and gender neutral, deviated from some of the original meanings of scripture. In attempting to "improve," they succeeded in "confusing" and "modifying". The goal of clarifying the authors' original gender specific meanings is still a hallmark for some future Bible Translator. In the meantime, the Revised Standard Version remains, in my opinion, the most solid translation for beginners and serious Bible Scholars alike. It's language is modern, style and syntyx flow smoothly, and it retains the spirit of poetry and inspirational prose.
Rating: 5
Summary: Significantly improved edition of a standard study Bible
Comment: The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NOAB), Third Edition is a major publishing event. It contains all the features of previous editions but now adds significant improvements. This review will concentrate on those revisions. Most important is the thoroughgoing revision of biblical annotations, which in previous editions were sparse, particularly in comparison to other study bibles. Previous annotations offered cross-references and single line commentary on difficult or obscure texts. The third edition changes that. We now have truly helpful and detailed commentary. As one would expect from scholars of such high calibre, the annotations are generally brilliant offering new and deeper insights into the text.
The format of the Bible has also changed in the layout of the annotations. These now appear in SINGLE COLUMN format beneath the biblical text which itself is rendered in a clear double column format. The text size of this edition is practically the same as in previous editions, although font boldness is slightly accentuated. Introductions to biblical books have been expanded, as have the essays on various biblical subjects that have usually graced the end of the NOAB.
As the subtitle suggests, the approach is ecumenical, modern and critical. The editors have produced an edition of the Bible that makes modern biblical scholarship available in a condensed and accessible form to the average reader of the Bible. Scholars, students of the Bible, ministers, pastors and informed laity will find this an excellent first choice study Bible.
Criticism of the Oxford Annotated is not an easy or even desirable task. For the most part, it is the perfect Bible for those wanting to read the Bible as literature. If however, one is looking for a Bible that is interpreted within a theological, ecclesiastical or devotional context, one should look elsewhere. In addition, if a person has reservations about the assumptions of much modern biblical scholarship these reservations will in turn extend to the NOAB.
A few examples will illustrate my point. The NOAB no longer refers to the Old Testament as "The Old Testament" but as the "Hebrew Bible". This is consistent with a trend in biblical scholarship that seeks to heal the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. As necessary and laudable as this trend is, it flies in the face of Christian history, which consistently refers to the "Hebrew Bible" as the Old Testament. Another example is the interpretation of Psalms that are regarded as "Messianic" by writers of the New Testament. Reading the comments on many of these Psalms in the NOAB, one would never make any connection to Jesus Christ. Similarly in the notes of biblical passages such as Isaiah 7.14 and Isaiah 53 the Christological connection is ignored or underplayed. In these two instances, mention is made of the fact that early Christians interpreted these passages as referring to Jesus. The implication though is that they do NOT primarily refer to Jesus and that the Christian application is unlikely and secondary.
These modern trends are perplexing to people like myself who live and work within an ecclesiastical context and for whom the Bible is primarily the word of God meant to serve the Christian faith. Not only do they cut off the Bible from the Christian tradition, but also they suggest that the "Old Testament" can and should now be read BY CHRISTIANS in such a way that ignores Jesus Christ. I am not sure the writers of the New Testament would have felt completely at ease with these assumptions. In fact, I know they would have been disturbed by them.
These criticisms should not detract from a major publishing event. No scholar of the Bible can afford to go without a copy of the NOAB. For years it has been the standard critical Bible and I have no doubt it will continue as such. It is a splendid achievement of biblical scholarship at its best. Alongside the HarperCollins Study Bible (HarperCollins), I recommend it as a first choice edition of the NRSV.
Rating: 4
Summary: Its not so bad.
Comment: I bought this Bible looking for a high quality NRSV with apocrypha.
This is not meant to be your typical chain reference or topical Bible. I would not even call it a study bible in the traditional sense its more of an information Bible on current moderate scholarship in ancient biblical studies. It gives the reader deeper insight of times and places when the book was written. It is objective in its notes and tries to stay clear of doctrine. You can use it to complement a traditional study Bible but not replace it.
Sometimes it's nice to read the Bible as a casual reader instead of in-depth study of the texts.
If you want a Bible just for reading with a few highlights, cross-reference and some interesting history. I highly recommend this one.
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Title: The Oxford Bible Commentary by John Barton, John Muddiman ISBN: 0198755007 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: October, 2001 List Price(USD): $65.00 |
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Title: HarperCollins Bible Dictionary by Paul J. Achtemeier ISBN: 0060600373 Publisher: Society of Biblical Literature Pub. Date: 1996 List Price(USD): $47.50 |
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Title: Oxford Bible Atlas by Herbert Gordon May, R. W. Hamilton, G. N. S. Hunt ISBN: 0191434515 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: January, 1985 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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Title: The Oxford Companion to the Bible by Bruce M. Metzger, Michael D. Coogan ISBN: 0195046455 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: October, 1993 List Price(USD): $65.00 |
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Title: Understanding the Old Testament (Abridged 4th Edition) by Bernhard W. Anderson, Katheryn Pfisterer Darr ISBN: 0139483993 Publisher: Prentice Hall College Div Pub. Date: 16 September, 1997 List Price(USD): $63.00 |
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