I have never been a fan of the “pick your own word” translations of the Bible like the Amplified Bible. While the concept of providing a wider range of meaning for words is noble, it just doesn’t reflect the way that langauge is used or the way people communicate. People (specifically authors) pick one meaning out of the possibilities and intend for their audience to know which one they chose. Giving Bible readers the ability to pick whichever word the like best from a list seems like it leads to narcissistic Bible reading.
My first reaction to The Expanded Bible was much the same. I thought it was just an updated version of the Amplified Bible. That reaction has proved to be inaccurate.
The concept of the Expanded Bible is different. While the actual Bible text is a modified version of the New Century Version (which is a very loose Dynamic Equivalent translation), several useful features are built into the text to help the reader fully understand the authors intended meaning. Interspersed within the text are seven features designed to enhance the Bible reading experience. These features are…
- Expanded meanings of words
- Alternate translations
- Literal readings of the Greek
- Traditional readings
- Comments from scholars
- Biblical references
- Textual variants
All of these features do indeed bring a fuller understanding to the text. In this regard, this project does deliver on its purpose. The downside to this approach, though, is the creation of a very choppy, interrupted reading of the Bible. You can barely go five or six words without one of these embedded notes that stops your train of thought. This drawback takes this work from a reader’s Bible to a reference Bible. It would be nearly impossible to read a lengthy section of Scripture and focus on the text because of all the notes.
That being said, I placed the Expanded Bible right along side my other study Bibles on my desk. It is a welcomed addition to a biblical reference collection.
by James A. Beverley
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The New Testament assumes you know the Old Testament