motzmazov's review against another edition

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slow-paced

christanreksa's review against another edition

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5.0

After finishing the Bible-reading using the standard Indonesian translation last year, this year I tried to get out of the comfort zone, using the English translation of NRSV, complete with the Apocrypha (the Deuterocanonical Bible), with a more ecumenical context of annotation for Bible study purposes.

What I read surprised me in good ways. This NRSV Study Bible provides a more nuanced translation with alternative understanding & commentaries along with additional context during the time the Bible was written, the reception history, along with how the historical-critical reception & research developed over time, coming to an understanding that is more critical (& probably less "holy") yet continue to take the Bible (probably even more) seriously.

Reading the Apocrypha was also fun. Intertestamental period between Old Testament (OT) & New Testament (NT) was apparently rich in interesting context of Judaism & how Jewish people longs for Savior during their exile & emptiness of prophets. A lot of interesting wisdom & stories, both folklore & historical (especially the Maccabees, which I devoured) that actually gave me a better understanding of, especially, the NT & how all those hopes from the OT were being fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Consistency helped my soul in being fed with the Bible, each day. Not just spiritual fulfillment, but also in intellectual, seeing the Bible as also a brilliant work of literature, folklore, poem, philosophy, narrative, history, wisdom, memoir, & epistles all in one compilation of human work for centuries breathed by God.

Read the Bible in its entirety, and shed the necessity to see it as "holy". Enjoy how it nourishes our soul, challenge our thinking, yet also let our critical mind analyses its context & how it may shapes us in our current time.

Of course, I recommend reading the Bible for everyone, even from different faith (& lack of), as a literary work for those seeking God (or out of God, even), & also for interesting plot twists hahaha.

Join for another reading in 2023!

hav46789's review against another edition

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funny fast-paced

5.0

beaclarec's review against another edition

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4.5

these guys are crazy

kinghygelac's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

4.0

captain_afab's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring sad tense

cubehead27's review against another edition

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Clearly this isn't a project for this year - I got distracted by other things.

revrebeccatankersley's review against another edition

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5.0

Read it and always reading it!

lucaswhite1's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

cdch's review

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Love this version. Finished New Testament and enjoyed many essays. Will continue to read and re-read over the years.