The Narrative and Illustrated Bible
Synopsis
This is one of the most radical editions of the Bible since Gutenberg. It has 500 original illustrations, and is deliberately aimed at children and families from non-western, non-Christian cultures and backgrounds. The text is set crisply and without interruption using a simple method to denote the primary narrative (single column as in a novel or short story). The rest of the Bible (genealogies, laws, poetry, letters etc) is set in double column. There are thousands of notes in the margins and maps where needed so that the first-time reader(s) know(s) help is always at hand should it be needed. The Bible version used is the NIrV (for 8 year olds or readers of English as a second language) and the notes are aimed at an 8 year old etc. The intention is that this Bible will reach way beyond the church and be accepted by Muslim, Hindu and other communities.
Project Background
The idea for this Bible was born in an extended family in the East End of London, UK. If you are a Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or a believer in other religions then you will find this Bible a simple way of reading the Bible. If you have no background in religion you will find it equally simple to use. Portions of this Bible have been tested for over fifteen years with people all over the world. The purpose of this edition is to give every kind of reader what they most need to know to keep on reading through the Bible. Many of our IBS ministry alliances have constituents that would benefit from this Bible. The team that has worked for over 15 years to produce this Bible includes Dr. Keith J. White who wrote the introductions and all the notes in the margins. Notes have been checked by CBT member Dr. Martin Selman, Vice-Principal of, and Dr. Debra Reid, Lecturer at Spurgeon’s College, London UK. There have been two editors who have checked the Bible text and notes: Martin Manser and Emma Redfearn. Keith retains the copyright for these notes. Tony Cantale designed the Bible and produced many of the maps. Andy Bisgrove painted all the illustrations. Andy retains copyright for all art. Over the last 10 years, Hodder invested upwards of $500,000 in this project. When Hodder canceled all Bible projects, Millgrove (Keith White) negotiated to have all the rights and product developed returned. Keith White arranged for the G.M.T. Evangelical Trust Ltd. to provide finances for the final layout and design to produce the first edition. IBS has been granted royalty free non-commercial ministry rights to sell this Bible in our catalogues and to ministry alliances.
Unique Characteristics of the Bible
Format—First it presents the whole Bible in the usual order from Genesis to Revelation in a way that makes it clear what is God’s story, and what is a different kind of writing. If you start at the beginning you will discover that the first chapters are like a traditional book with the text running right across the page. After a few pages there is a section that uses two columns, and then it goes back to the traditional format. This is the way the whole Bible is set out. If you want to follow the Bible story right through then you simply read and turn to the next section of writing across the whole page. If you are interested in details, poetry, proverbs, laws, family trees and letters, you will find these wherever there are two columns on a page. The translation of the Bible used is called the (NIrV).
Art—Over 300 pieces of original art. The pictures are all original, and designed not only especially for this Bible, but also like the maps included, for the exact place where you find them. The maps are there to help you understand where things are taking place and how far and in what directions people in the stories travel. The whole idea is that you can read through the Bible without having to turn to the back of the book, or to look somewhere else for the information you need to understand what you are reading.
