Here are some samples from the TBoTB Blogs.
Bob Hyatt at bobhyatt.typepad.com/bobblog
I found this a few months ago, and actually got it as a Christmas present. As a Christian College graduate and pastor, I was really curious about a Bible formatted like this. After one day of reading it, I fell in love. I read through Genesis in 3 days. For the first time in reading through Genesis, I found some common threads throughout it all that I had previously missed because of the chapter and verse divisions and the headings. I would recommend this bible for ANYone. Pastor, student, young, old, small group, church. I think everyone will benefit from reading the bible without all the divisions. Reading in context has always been a problem for the church at large. This helps that to a large degree. It costs less than 10 dollars. Buy in a case and it gets even cheaper. Buy it now. You won't be disappointed.
Gordon Dickinson on gordondickinson.com/blog
For the past nine months or so I've been raving about a new printing of the TNIV Bible translation, called simply The Books of the Bible. This past week I got back into it and now the more I think about it the more I wonder why I'm not hearing more about it. The only place I've been able to find copies of it are at the International Bible Society's web store, and there is only one format for the book, unless you count three different colour covers as being different. The major differences for this format are that it eliminates chapter and verse numbers (though there is a verse range at the bottom of each page), is one-column for a typical novel book look, and the traditional book order has been rearranged somewhat based on the historical story, theology or genre. The main point is to present the Bible in a way that encourages reading. I've REALLY enjoyed it, and have been making my own extensive cross-references throughout. With no numbers to get in the way, I find I'm more likely to read at length; at times I've even read for three or four hours straight. The introductions to each book are also some of the best I've ever seen. They are insightful, helpful, and are very well written. I¹d even go so far as to say the book purchase is worth it simply for the introductions. So in all this I'm back to the question, why haven't I heard more about this publication? Why aren't they promoting this more? Why don't they have more options available? You can't even get the book in hardcover right now! Well, I for one will do my part with this little blog that no one reads. If you haven't picked up a copy of this, get yours today! And if you happen to have any sway over the publishers or marketing departmentŠ help get it out there!
The Naked Text
by Brian Lowery on preachingtoday.com
I'm quite certain this could be a critical tool for you as a preacher in your yearly planning and in your weekly preparation. Think about it:
- This type of Bible could revolutionize your typical pericope development.
- This type of Bible could make the Word come alive to you like never-before, and thus for your congregation, as well.
- This type of Bible could help you catch a glimpse of something you've never noticed before in the text because that little number has always magically trained your eye to stop short.
- This type of Bible may very well serve as a constant reminder of the power of genre.
- On a final personal note, this type of Bible may very well stir a deeper time of devotional reading, pressing you to read well beyond the typical reading of the day.
I ordered my Dad a copy for his birthday (he was, after all, the professor who started me down this road to the naked text). And in spite of my birthday not being until April, I ordered myself a copy, too. My wife insists I've got way too many books already, but I couldn't help it. I'll find room on the shelf for anything that sets the text free.
