More Bible Wisdom for Modern Times: Selections from the Early New Testament [Paperback]

John Howard Reid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

The best available texts have been used to translate "Mark's Gospel" into modern English. The picture of Jesus that emerges seems far from the usual stained-glass image of the Savior. Also featured are selections from "The Didache" ("The Teaching") and the so-called "Odes of Solomon" (actually a Christian book of hymns entitled "Odes of Peace"), very probably written by a disciple of St John around the years 100-120. Also included are a couple of characteristic chapters from "The Shepherd of Hermas". All three of these books were regarded by many of the early church fathers as part of the New Testament. In fact, "Didache" and "The Shepherd" were formerly two of the most popular books in the Bible. To round off "More Bible Wisdom" is a brief excerpt from "The Epistle of Barnabas", plus a selection of sayings and stories by Jesus, culled from a number of sources, but chiefly from the gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Product Details

• Paperback: 124 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430325976
• ISBN-13: 978-1430325970
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,928,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Howard Reid is the creator of Merryll Manning, the Miami-based police sergeant who made his debut in "Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island". This book was followed by "Merryll Manning: The Health Farm Murders" and "Merryll Manning: Beachfront Holiday". Next up is "Merryll Manning On the Rim of Heaven."

All 12 books in the series were published overseas from 1985 through 2001. All, except "Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island", were runaway bestsellers and ran through many editions, including hardcover, paperback (both trade and mass market) and Large Print.

All 12 novels except "Merryll Manning: Beyond Vengeance", on which the critics were divided, attracted highly favorable and indeed overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews. The author was favorably compared with both Agatha Christie and Graham Greene.

Reid's historical novels, especially "In All His Glory" (set in Ancient Egypt), have also won wide acclaim. His short stories and poems have gained many prizes and commendations. Published prose collections include "Mexican Autumn" and "Micaela Morris in Jo's Heaven". Poetry anthologies include "Anyone for Love?", "Escape to Paradise and Other Poetic Fancies" (published under his "Tom Howard" pseudonym) and "A Salute to Spanish Poetry: 100 Masterpieces from Spain and Latin America rendered into English verse."

Reid is also a widely acknowledged expert on Hollywood movies. His latest book in this field is "Mystery, Suspense, Film Noir and Detective Movies on DVD: A Guide to the Best in Cinema Thrills".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars, February 22, 2008

By 

AK "Bro" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: More Bible Wisdom for Modern Times: Selections from the Early New Testament (Paperback)

The Gospel of Mark, which most likely was the earliest of the four gospels, is rendered in plain prose and in an abbreviated version, thus making it highly accessible to the pressured, rushed for time modern reader who has little time for even the most important devotional time. It is also recounted as a personal memoir of Simon Peter's, the Apostle who was John Mark's spiritual father. In addition to this, some early Christian writings that though not canonical have value, are included in modern language. Among them are pieces of the Didache, the "Gospel" of Barnabas, and the Shepherd of Hermas, of of which are some of the select few appocrophyl books that received serious consideration at the Council of Nicaea. Such books as this can hopefully be valuable in bringing the Word of Life to the world that so needs it, and it is hoped will encourage true Bible study.

Amanda Killgore

1.0 out of 5 stars Mark Chapter 1, February 20, 2012

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review (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: More Bible Wisdom for Modern Times: Selections from the Early New Testament (Paperback)

Mark 1:41

This book translates that 'Jesus was visibly angered by this appeal' when the leper asked to be cured.

This is what other Modern Bibles read for this passage:

New Living Translation (NLT)

41 Moved with pity, Jesus touched him. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!"

New Century Version (NCV)

41 Jesus felt sorry for the man, so he reached out his hand and touched him and said, "I will. Be healed!"

I avoid 'new' bibles that chose to change who Jesus' character is from one that is loving and compassionate - to angry, harsh and hostile - this is the worst translation yet that I have come across.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good News from Simon Peter and John Mark!, February 6, 2008

By 

John Howard Reid (Wyong, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: More Bible Wisdom for Modern Times: Selections from the Early New Testament (Paperback)

Following on from my introductory selection of passages relating to Bible Wisdom from the Old Testament in "Bible Wisdom for Modern Times: Selections from the Orthodox Old Testament", I have turned to the New Testament; or rather the Early New Testament--if a book that was used by Christians and regarded as authoritative for well over 350 years can be regarded as "early".

For example, "The Odes of Solomon" (more correctly titled "Hymns of Christian Peace") were rightly and highly esteemed by many of the early church Fathers; although even more popular--in fact, astoundingly far-reaching amongst second and third-century Christians--were two books that were both dropped by the eastern church around 450 A.D., namely "The Didache" ("The Teaching") and "The Shepherd of Hermas". Although dropped by one division of the church, however, "The Shepherd" maintained its credentials in the west for another thousand years, and was still being copied and circulated in England and Europe right up to the end of the Middle Ages.

I regard "The Odes of Solomon" as inspired and have included 29 of these beautiful Christian hymns. Also included is the opening section of "The Teaching", published around 60 A.D. (at least 6 or 7 years before Mark's Gospel), which contains canonical material, including "The Lord's Prayer".

Despite its enormous popularity, I have mixed feelings about "The Shepherd of Hermas". However, I have translated a representative sample, including Hermas's false teaching on repentance which is still very much in favor among many present-day Fundamentalists.

Finally, the jewel of "More Bible Wisdom" which has pride of place in no less than 55 of its 123 pages, is a new up-to-date, easy-to-read translation of all Mark's wonderful Gospel: the Good News (or "The Life and Teaching of Jesus, the Christ")as written down by John Mark, largely from the personal recollections of Simon Peter.