non-Zondervan study Bibles?

Blindman · 02-20-2002, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThePlaidRanger
I'm Calvinist and in general agreement with the NCT views on most things, and I'm not looking for a gimmick bible (Worship Bible, African-American Study Bible, Left-handed Red-haired Banjo Playing Skateboarder's Bible )

The the best Bible for you would probably be an Arminian Bible that doesn't support Covenant Theology. Why? Because it's dangerous to say "I believe this, so I'm going to study from a Bible that supports my views about this." It's much better to have neutral Bible (no notes) or even a Bible with notes that you disagree with than to have a Bible that lets you get away with never questioning what you believe.

The very fact that we can talk about such a thing as a "Calvinist Bible" or a "(Your Denomination Here) Bible" makes me somewhat sick. What you're doing is purposefully buying a Bible that you know will slant everything in one particualr direction, and unless you know for sure that that direction is the best one, better not to read the notes and commentary at all.

If you take someone with certain views and surround them only with people and writers with whom they agree, what happens? Their views become more extreme. And as you get more extreme, there's a very good chance that you're getting farther and farther from the truth. If you have one particular group of like-minded people who only discuss theology within their group, they are halfway to becoming a cult.

This may sound like an unwarranted rant or even a side tangent, but I'm serious about this. We shouldn't shop around for a Bible by saying "Which Bible will say what I want / expect to hear?" We should ask "Which Bible will present the truth in as unbiased a manner as possible?"

ThePlaidRanger · 02-21-2002, 12:56 AM

Sorry if I came off that way. In my devotions, I use notes mostly for historical context/cross reference. However, it is useful to have concise commentaries on some verses along with the text, and I would rather these be written by someone whose assumptions as to basic theology I can trust. And I do make it a regular practice to read/watch/talk to people whose theological views are in disagreement with my own so I can't get away with being lazy in my theology. I'd just rather have to not reinvent the wheel every time I come across a passage I'm not too sure about (Notes/cross references are really helpful in Bible study groups, for example).

Blindman · 02-21-2002, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThePlaidRanger
Sorry if I came off that way. In my devotions, I use notes mostly for historical context/cross reference. However, it is useful to have concise commentaries on some verses along with the text, and I would rather these be written by someone whose assumptions as to basic theology I can trust.

OK. I really meant that as more of a general warning than a specific comment to you, I guess... what you said just sparked my thinking concerning the whole idea of Bibles tailored to certain beliefs. I didn't mean to attack you or to suggest that everything that I was reacting to was something I though you were guilty of; rather, this whole subject had reminded me of something that I wanted to rant about.

ThePlaidRanger · 02-21-2002, 10:04 AM

That's OK

I completely agree with what you're saying, though.

biblemanryan · 02-21-2002, 10:52 AM

I would suggest getting a KJV Thompson Chain Study Bible. It takes doctrinal views and shows you how to find different topics without taking one position or another.

ThePlaidRanger · 02-21-2002, 03:20 PM

Yeah, I think I've pretty much decided on the NASB Thompson Chain Reference - It's got a ton of cool features and good notes, and is $33 from CBD.

Brendt · 02-21-2002, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThePlaidRanger
(...the male pronoun IS still the correct pronoun when gender is unknown)

Matthew 16:16 in the TNIV -- If any brother or sister sins against you, rebuke the offender; and if they repent, forgive them.

I got whacked on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper by my English teacher for using a plural pronoun to refer to a singular person.

This phrase is over-used, but the thing that gives me pause about the TNIV is that it can be the beginning of a "slippery slope". There have been attempts (maybe successes?) to produce a Bible that is totally gender-neutral. Perhaps these attempts have not been made by Zondervan, and this is not what they have in mind, but it weirds me out significantly enough....:kduh:

Luke · 02-21-2002, 04:26 PM

Guy Gaduois said:: We've got a position paper on TNIV, It's about a page long, but I'm hesitant to post it . . . although it cites the specific texts we see as problematic/wrong... maybe it's worth posting four or five of the chief TNIV violating verses??
Luke says:: Could you post or link to the paper? I for one would like to read it, as I have yet to see the translation.

Luke · 02-21-2002, 04:28 PM

Blindman:
I have yet to see a Calvinist Bible (although I'm not denying they exist). I certainly would be turned off by such a title (just as I was turned off by the recently-released "Baptist Study Bible"--and I was Baptist when they came out).

The closest I have seen to what you describe is the Reformation Study Bible, and I haven't actually looked at it in depth so I will refrain from saying anything about it.

Luke · 02-21-2002, 04:34 PM

Guy: Scratch what I said, I just saw the "specific criticisms" thread.

ThePlaidRanger · 02-21-2002, 10:31 PM

Agreed- I'd _much_ rather have a bible with neutral notes. However, if I must have notes with a certain slant, I'd rather have them not be saying stuff that's out there theologically, as the places where I'd be using the notes exclusively are the places where I don't have other commentaries readily available - youth retreats, mission trips, bible study (sometimes), etc., and I want to be sure they're reliable. By the way, I don't _like_ being Calvinist neccesarily, it's just what the Bible supports

.

Chrysostom · 02-21-2002, 10:41 PM

That begs the question as to whether unbiased notes can exist

Luke · 02-22-2002, 04:24 AM

I would argue that they can't.

NASB Thompson Chain is good btw. I highly reccomend those Bibles.

Luke · 02-22-2002, 04:26 AM

ThePlaidRanger said:: By the way, I don't _like_ being Calvinist neccesarily, it's just what the Bible supports .
Luke says:: I like being Calvinist when talking about God and how awesome and sovereign God is. I dislike being Calvinist when talking about how bad we suck. Course, like you said, I don't really have a choice--not only are the two inseparable, but the Bible supports both.

Bryan · 02-25-2002, 12:28 AM

OK, does anybody know a Wide Margined NAS Bible with thumb indexes and a cross reference column?