Which Bible Do You Read? (Poll) Plus, Some Good News...

Which Bible Do You Read?


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Isilwen

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Both statements are pretty correct. I have had the Lutheran Study Bible by Concordia and I found it a good Bible, but the essays and parts where they explain the scripture are more conservative than an ELCA or TEC member would generally agree with. That said, they are also not ultra-conservative either. Somewhere in the middle. But if one is not familiar with the teachings and doctrine of the particular church in question then it might not be the best fit as you might not be able to weed out what your church does not agree with.

The theology and doctrine will be very similar, most of the things that separates the ELCA and LCMS are not really something delved into in the study Bible, but the overall tone is more conservative.

I have a travel ESV that I would be happy to send you way if you like. It's not quite pocket size, but it is small (6.5 inches tall X 4.5 inches wide).

I would love to say yes, but at that size, I'm pretty sure the type is quite small.

I'm finding out the older that I get the larger the letters need to be... Lol. I'm having to send back the BCP I bought after looking through it last night for a larger font sized one.
 
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Halbhh

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I have had the Lutheran Study Bible by Concordia and I found it a good Bible, but the essays and parts where they explain the scripture are more conservative than an ELCA or TEC member would generally agree with.
In our "ELCA" Lutheran church I have attended for about 8 years (but who cares really that its this label or that label?), we use primarily the Lutheran Study Bible in all 3 of our bible study groups, and generally read its introductions and it's side margin notes, as we go along.

No one objects to any of those notes and commentary.

So, it's...well, the opposite of what you were guessing. :)
 
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tampasteve

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In our "ELCA" Lutheran church I have attended for about 8 years (but who cares really that its this label or that label?), we use primarily the Lutheran Study Bible in all 3 of our bible study groups, and generally read its introductions and it's side margin notes, as we go along.

No one objects to any of those notes and commentary.

So, it's...well, the opposite of what you were guessing. :)

It certainly could be! My experience is only in one synod (Florida-Bahamas), so I am sure it varies. That being said, are you sure it is the Concordia Lutheran Study Bible? Confusingly, Augsburg Fortress (ELCA) publishes the Lutheran Study Bible as well. I have that one to and use it frequently. The hard copy is a light blue color.
 
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Halbhh

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It certainly could be! My experience is only in one synod (Florida-Bahamas), so I am sure it varies. That being said, are you sure it is the Concordia Lutheran Study Bible? Confusingly, Augsburg Fortress (ELCA) publishes the Lutheran Study Bible as well. I have that one to and use it frequently. The hard copy is a light blue color.

This one: https://www.amazon.com/Lutheran-Bib...ran+study+bible&qid=1571322289&s=books&sr=1-1

Are they significantly different? We do tend to get commentary from 3 sources in our groups as we go along.
The Lutheran Study Bible above,
the Life Application Bible is popular in our groups:
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Applica...rds=study+bible&qid=1571322382&s=books&sr=1-3
and the last is when people like me speak up using our smartphones and read from another commentary like Ellicott's or the Pulpit commentaries (pretty good generally) at BibleHub.

None of these commentaries, not even one, are what anyone could call 'liberal'. Instead, they are all studiously trying to be faithful to the word.
 
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tampasteve

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This one: https://www.amazon.com/Lutheran-Bib...ran+study+bible&qid=1571322289&s=books&sr=1-1

Are they significantly different? We do tend to get commentary from 3 sources in our groups as we go along.
The Lutheran Study Bible above,
the Life Application Bible is popular in our groups:
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Applica...rds=study+bible&qid=1571322382&s=books&sr=1-3
and the last is when people like me speak up using our smartphones and read from another commentary like Ellicott's or the Pulpit commentaries (pretty good generally) at BibleHub.

None of these commentaries, not even one, are what anyone could call 'liberal'. Instead, they are all studiously trying to be faithful to the word.

OK, that makes more sense, that is the ELCA/Augsburg Fortress edition, not the LCMS/Concordia version.

Yes, they are different. The Concodria edition actually has a lot of commentary in it compared to the Augsburg edition. I believe the Concordia is also ESV compared to NRSV for the Augsburg. You are correct though, the Augsburg edition is not "liberal" at all, it is more factual. The Concordia edition gets more "conservative" in the commentary on the passages as there is simply far more commentary.
 
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Halbhh

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OK, that makes more sense, that is the ELCA/Augsburg Fortress edition, not the LCMS/Concordia version.

Yes, they are different. The Concodria edition actually has a lot of commentary in it compared to the Augsburg edition. I believe the Concordia is also ESV compared to NRSV for the Augsburg. You are correct though, the Augsburg edition is not "liberal" at all, it is more factual. The Concordia edition gets more "conservative" in the commentary on the passages as there is simply far more commentary.
Ok, it would be interesting to learn more about that sometime (soon?), perhaps inside the Lutheran forum? (I have more anecdotes also to offer)
 
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tampasteve

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Ok, it would be interesting to learn more about that sometime (soon?), perhaps inside the Lutheran forum? (I have more anecdotes also to offer)
Sure! Feel encouraged to start a thread and I would be happy to participate.
 
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Andrewn

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But It's worth saying I think that almost all parishes use the NRSV in worship.
It's not a virtue to study from the same translation as your congregation. You, for example, tend to use the REB for your personal study.
 
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Arcangl86

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It's not a virtue to study from the same translation as your congregation. You, for example, tend to use the REB for your personal study.
I don't use the REB for study. I use it for devotional use, and that's because I like the way it sounds a lot better. I actually use the NRSV for study.
 
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Shane R

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Beyond the choices listed I am somewhat enamored with the Knox Bible, a Roman Catholic translation from the first half of the 20th century (HOLY BIBLE: Genesis 1). That said, Knox's Psalter is very clunky and, to me, audially awkward.

If I'm reading from the Apocrypha, I will often dust off my facsimile reproduction of the 1560 Geneva. Working through the antiquated type-set and some of the other eccentricities of such an old volume make me slow down and concentrate more.

I read a first edition HCSB to my children. The second edition is also acceptable. The third took away everything that made HCSB distinctive and might as well be a 1984 NIV lightly edited to reflect a 21st century Southern Baptist vocabulary.
 
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Andrewn

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Working through the antiquated type-set and some of the other eccentricities of such an old volume make me slow down and concentrate more.
I agree that slowing down is important in reading the Bible. A lot of people like thought-for-thought translations. But these encourage speed reading as they give the false impression that the ideas in the text are simple to understand.

The third took away everything that made HCSB distinctive and might as well be a 1984 NIV lightly edited to reflect a 21st century Southern Baptist vocabulary.
True, this why the 3rd edition is called CSB. It is one of a multitude of good versions that have been produced in recent years.
 
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Naomi4Christ

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Was given some good answers here at this thread: Liturgical Churches and the Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical Books?, however I am looking to get more viewpoints and a consensus from this particular denomination.

I have those Bibles available to me through a friend or one that was given to me in the case of the ESV Study Bible Lutheran Edition (newer one). I believe the church that my girlfriend and I are looking to attend uses the NKJV by looking at some scripture links on their website.

Oh, and I talked with my ex-wife and she is okay with me taking the kids to an Episcopal church sometimes. So, some positive stuff there!
NIVA
 
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GonzoVagante

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NRSV w/ Apocrypha for daily office.
KJV w/ Apocrypha for daily office if I'm praying Rite I
Common English Bible for reading OT narratives
JPS Bible for reading OT narratives
OSB when I'm curious if the LXX says something different
ESV on occasion
Revised English once in a blue moon.

I have a couple of GNT that I need to brush up on. To say I can read Greek would be an overstatement, but I can sort of read Greek.

I have a number of others for comparison purposes.
 
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Andrewn

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To say I can read Greek would be an overstatement, but I can sort of read Greek. I have a number of others for comparison purposes.
Welcome in the CF.
 
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