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fabrisseI got into a discussion at Esquire about bibles.
The original writer stated that evangelicals likely own multiple bibles. I'm less certain about that.
For instance, my cousin (Southern Baptist) who died at the age of 105 about nine years ago had several bibles -- the one she'd been given in Sunday School, her late husband's, and a large print version that she could actually read. However, they were all the same edition.
I, no longer a believer, own my Sunday School bible (Revised Standard from the early 1970s), the King James version, a Jerusalem Bible (the one that J.R.R. Tolkien helped with that has all the footnotes), my great-great-great grandmother's French language bible (that she won for being the best French student at Hollins College in 1838), a Great Bible, and a Wycliffe Bible -- the latter two as Kindle editions. This doesn't include the various apocrypha that I own, including the small one I bought myself in 6th grade because I was going to Catholic schools and wanted to know what they had that the Protestants didn't.
So, here are my questions: do you think believers are more likely to own multiple different editions of the bible?
If so, does denomination play a part?
No need to include your own beliefs or how many Bibles you have unless you want to.
The original writer stated that evangelicals likely own multiple bibles. I'm less certain about that.
For instance, my cousin (Southern Baptist) who died at the age of 105 about nine years ago had several bibles -- the one she'd been given in Sunday School, her late husband's, and a large print version that she could actually read. However, they were all the same edition.
I, no longer a believer, own my Sunday School bible (Revised Standard from the early 1970s), the King James version, a Jerusalem Bible (the one that J.R.R. Tolkien helped with that has all the footnotes), my great-great-great grandmother's French language bible (that she won for being the best French student at Hollins College in 1838), a Great Bible, and a Wycliffe Bible -- the latter two as Kindle editions. This doesn't include the various apocrypha that I own, including the small one I bought myself in 6th grade because I was going to Catholic schools and wanted to know what they had that the Protestants didn't.
So, here are my questions: do you think believers are more likely to own multiple different editions of the bible?
If so, does denomination play a part?
No need to include your own beliefs or how many Bibles you have unless you want to.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-13 08:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-07-13 08:57 pm (UTC)I grew up with parents who owned multiple translations of the Bible, so it didn't occur to me till I read your post that there was anything unusual about this. I do remember being shocked in my thirties when I visited the home of the parents of an SO, and discovered that this Catholic family didn't own a Bible.
I've winnowed my own collection over the years as my interests have shifted to other topics. What I still have:
"Holy Bible" (KJV), published by the World Publishing Company. Given to me by my parents when I was five years old and totally unlikely to appreciate an onion-skin Bible with pronunciation markers. I did dip into it a bit as a teen, but it really isn't a reading Bible. I keep it for the sake of reference and sentiment.
"The Children's Bible," by Golden Press. The one I actually read (and had read to me) as a child. This is an abridged, loosely translated version of the Bible, probably given to me by my mother. It has full-color illustrations on every page, so it kept my attention.
While we're on the topic of children's versions, I should mention that the Archway Books picture books - often humorous verse rewordings of Bible stories - had an immense impact on me as a child. So did the photorealistic illustrations in the "My Bible Friends" series (Review and Publishing Herald Association) and Tasha Tudor's exquisitely delicate illustrations for her little collection of Bible verses, "And It Was So," in which modern children play out the sentiments of biblical passages. I still own all of these, though in some cases I had to track the books back down in later years.
"The Book of Common Prayer," issued by the USA's Episcopal Church (1928). I have to mention this because the Myles Coverdale translation of the Psalms (1535) is incorporated into it and is the one I prefer.
"The Bible" (RSV), issued by William Collins and the British and Foreign Bible Society, "published in the format of the Bible Society's Third Jubilee Bible, edited by John Stirling," with illustrations by Horace Knowles. The edition I chose for myself, when I was a teen. I absolutely adore this. It has line drawings with helpful information like maps, mile markers (to show how far apart cities are), biblical animals, and lots more. The more specialized passages, like laws and begettings, are put in smaller print. The text has paragraphs and subheads and is immensely readable, without a single word of the text being dropped. I think there may have been a KJV version too, which I ought to buy some day.
"Interlinear Greek-English New Testament" (KJV), edited by George Ricker Berry. I bought this in college, when I was studying Ancient Greek. I like the format of this: the KJV version is in the margins, while a word-by-word literal translation is beneath each line of Greek.
"Synopsis of the Four Gospels." Column-by-column comparison of parallel passages, bought as a class requirement while I was (briefly) at seminary. KJV or RSV, I think, but my copy is currently in hiding. I've found it useful over the years.
"The Unvarnished New Testament," translated by Andy Gaus. I found this as an adult. It's an attempt to translate the New Testament without using ecclesiastical language. It ends up sounding like Jesus came from the American suburbs, but it's a brave attempt to provide an alternative to Christian translations.
"The Gospel According to St. Luke" (KJV), beautifully laid out by my father (who's a book designer, among other things), just for me. The dedication is to me on my 31st birthday, adding that this is "an extremely limited edition of two copies, of which this is copy no. 1." Somewhere on my hard drive I also have my father's edition of the Psalms (in the Coverdale translation, I'm willing to bet).
no subject
Date: 2021-07-14 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-07-14 01:48 pm (UTC)My RSV from Sunday School, with my name embossed on the cover and everything, also has maps in it, but I definitely did not get illustrations. Hmmmph!
I also own two books of common prayer, one with a Sheffield Silver-plate cover and one with an Easter lily (I think, I'm not strong on the lily family) embossed on the cover. The silver one is from about 1870 and the other is, I believe (no date on the copyright page), from the late 1890s. Victoria was definitely still the queen mentioned in the prayers for the country and the monarchy.
I envy you your Greek. I have a St Jerome translation of Mark somewhere in storage that was used in the Medieval Latin class which I audited back when I worked for a university.
Thank you for sharing. I completely understand the *squee!