Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 2, 1991 TAG: 9103020289
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Frances Stebbins
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Chances are if your familiarity with Scripture is sketchy, you'll end up with the King James Version of 1611 or The Living Bible, a paraphrased edition from about 15 years ago.
If, however, you're serious about Bible study yourself or hope that the recipient of your good book will be, you'll go about your purchase with care. There's a lot to pick from these days.
The newest is the New Revised Standard Version, which first appeared about eight months ago. Its sales are catching on, two book store managers say, though any new version faces increasing competition and a long period for acceptance by a majority of readers.
In his preface to the New Revised Standard Version, general editor Bruce Metzger describes it as: "An authorized version of the Revised Standard Version published in 1952, which was a revision of the American Standard Version published in 1901, which in turn embodied an earlier revision of the King James Version published in 1611."
In the past 38 years, Metzger continues in his preface, there have been 26 English translations of the Bible plus 25 other translations and revisions of the New Testament.
Despite all this choice, Ted Powitz of the Baptist Book Store and Sam Shackleford of Fishers of Men bookstore say the oldest Bible in common use, - the King James with its archaic, if poetic, language - far outsells the newer versions.
Shackleford has a theory about that - many older people who buy Bibles are used to the King James and haven't been motivated to try anything else. It's also often the most readily available Bible to people who aren't aware of modern-language revisions.
Those who are aware, may well be swayed by the aggressive marketing of The Living Bible, which comes in several styles targeted to young people and the unsophisticated reader, Shackleford notes.
Powitz says the second-best seller at the Baptist Book Store is the New International Version, issued about 15 years ago. The version has caught on with many conservative and charismatic Christians.
It rates high on accuracy as well as readability, according to Bill Tammeus who recently researched the Bible market for a copyrighted article in the Kansas City Star.
Bringing out new versions of scripture is not confined to Christians; the New Jewish Version of the 1970s was brought together by scholars from the three major branches of that faith and represents a reworking of Hebrew texts first assembled in England nearly 150 years ago.
A look at the New RSV reveals that its major change is the use of inclusive language. The persons of the Trinity are still referred to as males, but "thee," "thou" and "thine" are dropped in the Psalms, Metzger writes in his preface, as are "art,""hast" and "hadst."
"Mankind" becomes "humankind." Other updatings include the use of the word "dome" for "firmament" in the familiar Genesis story of the Earth's creation.
Two women pastors, the Rev. Janet Ramsey of St. Timothy Lutheran in Vinton and the Rev. Christine Payden-Travers of St. Peter's Episcopal in Franklin County, commended the New Revised Standard for the subtle but distinct adjustment from such words as "mankind."
Ramsey noted that bulletin inserts used in many Lutheran churches - so people in the pews can follow along when the Scripture of the day is read aloud - recently were changed from Revised Standard to New Revised Standard.
"If people aren't made aware of the change [to more inclusive language], it's hardly noticed," Payden-Travers said. She is careful to use words in sermons that cover females as well as males, but, knowing the strong feelings some of both sexes have on the issue, she continues to use traditional male words in familiar prayers.
The Rev. William Lee of Loudon Avenue Disciples of Christ congregation said he's partial to the New American Standard, the Good News Bible and the New English Bible for study, but because "so many people have memorized from the old King James," that's often his choice for worship.
by CNB