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