Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site phs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!dcdwest!ittvax!decvax!mcnc!duke!phs!lisa From: lisa@phs.UUCP (Jeff Gillette) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: The best little bible in the world ... Message-ID: <975@phs.UUCP> Date: Fri, 30-Nov-84 20:56:27 EST Article-I.D.: phs.975 Posted: Fri Nov 30 20:56:27 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 2-Dec-84 05:52:15 EST Organization: Duke Physiology Lines: 78 <> > What's you favorite scholarly research Bible? I'd like something that > will get me as close to the original research and ancient texts as I > can and without all of the flowery crud one usually finds in the Bible. Really there's only two "scholarly research Bibles" - one in Greek and the other in Hebrew. My guess, however, is that you want something in English that will give a little more insight into the original languages. Let me suggest a handy little tool that "real scholars" don't use (at least they don't admit to using it) - an interlinear Bible. There are several on the market for Old Testament and New Testament. The basic format is alternating lines of Hebrew (or Greek), transliteration, and a literal English translation. Usually an English version (RSV, NASB, NIV, ETC) is in the margin to help you make sense of the text. I'm afraid these aren't cheap (last time I looked a reasonable New Testament volume might run upwards of $45, three volumes for the Old Testament might run as much as $100), but they are the only tool I know of to get someone who doesn't know the languages into the original text. > The NIV Oxford Scofield Study text looks good, but expensive. > Is this thing just a waste of money or what? I know nothing about the NIV Scofield Bible, but, two words of warning. First, I was brought up on the old KJV Scofield Bible. CI Scofield was a layman around the turn of the century whose devotional and theological footnotes on selected texts popularized a particular approach to theology called dispensationalism. Without getting into an theological argument, let me simply suggest that dispensationalism (and Scofield) have been very controversial, and are generally considered "scholarly" only in some "fundamentalist" circles (and at one seminary of reputation - in Dallas). In short, Scofield is an interesting character, but unless his particular theology is what you want, consider another "scholarly" Bible. The second word of warning. I haven't found a "study Bible" yet that I consider worth buying. The reason is that the only thing to study are the personal observations of the writer(s) - most of which are interesting the first time through, but become old quickly, or, worse, are mis- representing theological hobby-horses for an explanation of the text. A Bible with a good concordance is better than a Bible with "explanatory" notes (a little cross-reference work and you can write your own notes), and a good set of maps will probably tell you more than an "introductory paragraph" for each book. If you want to do careful study of texts in the Bible, consider getting some good commentaries. The Expositor's Bible Commentary (6 of 12 volumes now available) is an excellent lay commentary written by top-notch scholars. In Old Testament, the Tyndale OT Commentary (24 volumes) is outstanding. For New Testament, the Proclamation Commentaries give a lot of good background, but the Word commentaries (much deeper) pay more attention to the text. If all of this sounds expensive, most of these commentaries can be bought one volume at a time (and most of them are paperback). For thematic study, look for tools that show a knowledge of the original languages. The best New Testament tool is the 3 volume New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. This contains articles arranged by English word, with sections on the term in the OT, literature between the testaments, NT, and early Christian writings. The best encyclopedia I've found is the new International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (3 of 5 volumes out). There is an old ISBE (circa 1920), so be sure to look for the new edition. Most important, of course, is a good concordance. Most good versions of the Bible have complete concordances available, but the most useful tool I can suggest is the Englishman's Greek Concordance and the Englishman's Hebrew Concordance. These jewels let you look up a Hebrew or Greek word, but give all the information in English. The bad news is that everything in this paragraph is *expensive*. But, then, consider how much money you spent on that last *computer* book! I guess I've gone on a bit much for a simple question, but I hope the information is helpful. Jeff Gillette duke!phs!lisa The Divinity School Duke University