44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excelent translation, April 17, 1998
This review is from: The New Revised Standard Version Bible with Apocrypha (Leather Bound)
A graceful and clear translation of the Holy Bible, the NRSV maintains fidelity to the original Greek and Hebrew texts while producing an edition equally at home when read from the lectern at church or on the couch at home. The translators have carefully reviewed words which refer to men only, and, when appropriate, translated them to include all the faithful. For example, when the Apostle Paul addresses the "brothers", the NRSV substitutes "friends" or "brothers and sisters." They never tamper with masculine references to God. It is their contention that this slight modification actually makes their translation more accurate. For example, when St. Paul says, "Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant concerning the resurrection," this version reminds us that the sisters should also not be ignorant. The complete version with the Apocryphal / Deuterocanonical books contains the fullest collection of books received as sacred Scripture by any historical branch of the Christian Church. By including such difficult-to-find books as 3 Maccabees and Psalm 151, they have produced the only easily obtainable Bible for the whole Church.
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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Typical Oxford -- 3 1/2 Stars, February 22, 2002
This review is from: The New Revised Standard Version Bible with Apocrypha (Leather Bound)
I purchased ISBN:0195283600. This particular edition differs a bit from other reviews I've read--no portraits, etc.
It's an Oxford, so if it were possible for me to have gotten an NRSV with the Apocrypha in genuine black leather from someone else, I'd have done it gladly. Oxford generally cuts corners in the Bible-making process.
Because it will be a secondary Bible for me, I'm not terribly peeved about Jesus' words NOT being red, there being no concordance, and there being no dictionary of any kind. The leather is nice but a bit stiff. The spine, however, is sewn and very flexable--a major plus for a long-lasting Bible.
I like the fairly handy size very much. Bibles are gennerally made way too big. The paper is very quality and the font selection and paragraph-style page layout is very nice as well.
Reguarding the translation itself: I'm particularly pleased with the traslating of the Old Testament and Apocrypha, well done and very readable. I'm not at all offended with the gender-inclusive rendering with certain passages, as footnotes mark each diversion from the originals. When I began reading the Bible, I started with an original Living paraphrase because the KJV was just too much for me. I soon learned that the translation was so terribly compromised for readability, I was missing out on a lot of important meaning. The NRSV is a fantastic balance between readability and accuracy, if you ask me. Thinking of giving a Bible to new believer or someone just starting to study it? Give them an NRSV!
If you're considering this particular printing for your main Bible, I'd suggest shopping around first. But overall, I'm satisfied.
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