Customer Reviews

Seek Find: The Bible for All People (Contemporary English Version),

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although the Contemporary English Version (CEV) has been around for over a decade, Putnam's new setting does a lot to give this book special appeal. The compact paperback and hardback editions are easy-to-read and will fit nicely into anyone's backpack (eliminating two excuses for leaving your Bible at home). While the translation may seem a little "vanilla" next to Peterson's "The Message", it is modern (no "begats") without trying to be overly clever. In fact, I have often found Peterson's effort to bring the Bible "up to date" a little off-putting because he forces so many anachronisms upon the reader. The CEV is very direct and clear. It's a reliable translation made directly from the original languages by a team of professional scholars. As a translation, it is receiving recognition worldwide, even in parts of the world where English is not the first or most official language (Africa, the Philippines, etc.). It's a great translation to give to someone learning English because it reads the way native English-speakers really speak.

The introductions to the books of the Bible, brand new to this edition, are concise, non-sectarian, and provide just enough helpful information to get you oriented to any book. Putnam's editions also have a Word List, and helps on how to read the Bible, finding famous passages, and finding help in the Bible. Regretably, no maps. And this edition does not have the Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypa, those books revered by Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians, but ignored or neglected by most Protestant denominations. Perhaps an edition with these features will be coming out later (hint, hint, Putnam).

The CEV is an extremely good translation in contemporarly English that ranks with the very best ever done (while not a Greek scholar, I know enough to tell for myself that it is very faithful to the Greek text). It's simple, clear and direct language that avoids traditonal religious vocabulary makes it an excellent choice for children and adults, particularly those who were not raised in a church. I bought this large print edition for my kids. Whether I'm reading to them or them to me, it's nice to get through an entire passage without having to constantly re-translate "church English" terms. While it's a hefty volume in this edition, the larger print makes it easier for little readers to cope with -- not to mention those of us older folk with imperfect eyesight.

I am one of those Bible readers that loves easy-to-read translations. In recent years I've been using the NCV, which at times is a little over simplified. I hadn't picked up a CEV in a while, and recently I purchased the SEEK-FIND edition for a great price. The CEV is more lucid, more precise and little more grown up than the NCV. Right now it's a marketing issue. The NCV has been successfully packaged by Thomas Nelson in many bindings, formats and study editions. The CEV has been less available, primarily through the American Bible Society. This new edition has lots of room on each page which make the reading easier on your eyes. The flow of the text can only be decribed as "natural english". This isn't as dumbed down as the NCV. It's more descriptive and illustrative. This format makes for easy consumption of not only the text, but the clear intent of the author, and the deeper meanings as well. This is about as reader friendly as it gets. While some may miss the universally accepted Biblical language in the love chapter or in John 3:16, you'll find that Bible reading will have more meaning and will be more productive. This new format is already going the way of the bargain bin. Again, the marketing has a lot to do with the success of any translation. Even the NCV is being discounted, because the Church has decided that the NIV and NKJV are the translations of choice. And even though those two versions are more literal, they still make the reader stumble and miss concepts that are made clear in the CEV. Seek and Find this while you can. I think you'll FIND that your Bible time will be more productive and that should lead you to a better walk with God.

My favorite of all the more modern translations. Where several more recent works have paraphrased to the point that I feel there is a loss in the weight or brilliance of the text in order to be more readable, this one is an accurate translation in Modern English useage. I have given many copies to people who had difficulty relating to or getting something out of some of the older translations. This one has been very well received by everyone I've given it to. My only complaint comes in the nature of the typeset. The font is quite small and even with excellent vision I find it very tiring to read. I have since purchased more copies in a larger font and am completely pleased with it.

I have had experience of a number of English translations over the years, having studied at Bible college and gotten a feel for what constitutes a good translation. Everyone's 'feel' is different; I have used a NASB for many years because of the accuracy of the version, and more recently I tend to use the NIV as a good compromise between accuracy and readability. However, the CEV is, to me, the best of the more modern translations. It is very readable, and yet avoids the ultra-simplification of some of the other translations. When I'm reading out loud, for example to a congregation, I find the CEV usually excellent because people can follow it easily and it gets the sense across; I also use it for when I am just 'reading' the Bible rather than 'studying' it.

So, for me, pros:

- Very readable, excellent for just 'reading' the Bible

- Excellent for reading out loud to a group

- Treads the balance between easy understandability and accuracy very well

- Doesn't have tons of 'personal opinion' notes that I find distracting

- Does have good, brief, explanatory notes where needed

Cons:

- Well, not really a con, but if you want to study, say, a verse, you need to use something more precise such as NASB, NIV, NKJV, etc. This translation isn't designed for that kind of thing.

This is my favorite Bible. I've had no reservations reading this even though it has not been accepted large-scale as a "study Bible." I'm not a Bible snob; this Bible has helped maintain joy and God in my life. That's a sure measure of its worth. It handles difficult passages, like Gen 6:4, with unprecedented clarity. Just because its easier to understand does not mean its a poor translation; actually it's more on point than its poetic predecessors. It may not sound as pretty as the KJV, but it is a serious translation in American English. Check out the review of "The Learning Bible: Contemporary English Version (Hardcover)" by Roy Gathercoal. He explains it more eloquently than I.

I have the NKJV of the Bible which is a little hard for me to understand but along with the Seek Find Bible it is so much easier for me to understand. I enjoy it very much.

I just bought this bible and I love how easy it is to read. I can read it to my child and she understands, the translation doesn't sound "dumbed down", yet it's still simplified. And not seem so bland as paraphrases usually are. I like the structure and how the books are set up with the lil outline in the beginning of each. And how the chapters are divided based on the subject the verses are about. I definately recommend this bible translation. The "Seek Find" book with this translation is very simplified as well, basics. And if you want to just read the Bible at home, it's perfect.

If you've struggled with understanding the bible, this translation will open up the meaning with such ease, it's wonderful. So easy to read, really!

I am a Christian minister at our local juvenile detention center. Although Gideon Bibles are provided to each inmate, prisoners strongly prefer this bible because they say it is much easier to understand.