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

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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

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.

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.