Customer Reviews

NRSV Spiritual Formation Bible

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this Bible the first week of the new year and have been using it to read the Anglican Daily Office each morning. The translation itself, the NRSV, is very faithful to the original Hebrew and Greek but is also very beautifully and poetically written, as well as more gender-inclusive than many translations. Many familiar passages seem to come to life again.

The Spiritual Formation Bible is a devotional Bible, not a study Bible. The focus is on drawing closer to God through meditating on Scripture. There are articles on Praying the Scriptures, Reading the Scriptures Devotionally, and Meeting God in Prayer, in Community, in the Created Order, in Everyday Life. Each page has a beautifully written devotional passage or a quote from a Christian writer. Contemporary as well as ancient writers are quoted, including several of my favorites, Aelred of Rievaulx (the patron saint of friendship), Bernard of Clairvaux, John Donne, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Philip Yancey.

For those who are seeking a breath of fresh air in their reading of Scripture, I highly recommend this new Bible.

Christians have used various spiritual methods and disciplines since the birth of Christianity. Unfortunately, many modern churches don't teach these methods to laypersons. One answer: the Spiritual Formation Bible. This Bible contains descriptions of spiritual methods and articles on how those methods can help nurture one's relationship with the Almighty. Each page contains a suggested technique for use with the scripture from that page. The NRSV is an excellent, scholarly translation (the widely popular NIV is also available) and the fonts and print size are attractive. Some of the described methods are ancient monastic disciplines, but they can aid in viewing the scriptures in a fresh, exciting way.

If you are looking for a study Bible, look elsewhere. This one is more for the heart than the mind. If you are looking for a Bible that will help you draw closer to God, this may be the one.

This is the Bible I've been seeking my whole life--even though I didn't know it. I received this as a gift (in more ways than one). This is NOT a study bible and probably not the best place to begin for those unfamiliar with the Bible. It is a wonderful devotional book for contemplative/meditative reading done in beautiful type and an easy-to-read single column format with wide margins. (A BIG plus--this is an "easy-on-the eyes" reading Bible.) Each page has (in the margin) a brief reflection that enhances and draws you into the reading. There are several articles that serve as useful introduction to reading devotionally and help you apply your reading--personally and in the wider world. Several "Meeting God in" articles (in "Prayer", "Worship", etc.) enhance the reading experience. Beautiful glossy plates with quotes from the spiritual seekers that marched before are sprinkled throughout. A wonderful edition, available in both the NRSV and NIV. Unfortunately, it is not available in genuine leather, but the quality of the bonded seems adequate. It's hard to see how anyone seeking to deepen their spiritual life could go wrong with The Spiritual Formation Bible.

Recently I attended a class in which the leader used this bible. It was a wonderful reference for the lesson we were studying on finding God where you are. The references and side notes in this bible help draw you into the wonder presence of God, to know Him in his creation, in the church, in other people, etc.

Great edition! But if you're looking for a Bible that is going to help you assess things historically or for cross-references, this is in no way a "Making-Up-Your-Mind" kind of Bible. This is a "My-Minds-Made-Up and now I want some scriptural support in my daily striving" type-Bible.

Beatuful piece of work... but I still like my Oxford Access Bible better for critical biblical text searching and finding.

I love this bible! The quotes and "entry points" as well as the articles and information on spiritual practices are all wonderful! I also purchased The Meeting God Bible: Growing in Intimacy with God through Scripture (NRSV), only to find that it IS The Spiritual Formation Bible (which was discontinued) published by Upper Room books under a different name. The only difference between the two is that this edition has 20 glossy pages with quotes in calligraphy and The Meeting God Bible does not. It appears God wants me to make a gift of one of them to someone! I highly recommend either of these bibles to anyone looking to deepen their relationship with God and gain experience in Spiritual Disciplines.

If this Bible were available on a Kindle I would buy a Kindle in a flash. The margin notes really help me to get more depth and a deeper spiritual understanding from the text. I have given multiple copies of this Bible to friends and family. They have also commented on how much they appreciate these assists. Please oh please make this available on the Kindle.

The each-page reflections compliment a reader's experience of the Bibilical message rather than confuse or crowd out personal thoughts. The authors are tops in their field. All too often the Bible has been seen as something to study. This edition invites us to see it as something to read prayerfully with our hearts.

I don't understand why anyone would charge over $200 for a Bible. Readers may want to see Upper Room's website <http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/search_page.asp> to pay a more reasonable price. The Bible itself is wonderful for those interested in spiritual formation and living a more Holy life.