Learning Bible-Cev

Have giving this book to a lot of people they love it

I recommend this Bible for reading for devotion, understanding and (along with other translations) serious Bible study. I wonder why a couple of reviewers say this version is not as good as the New International Version (NIV)? Is this because of something someone else has told you, or because you have a scholar's knowledge of Aramaic, and have done a comparison? There is no inherent relationship between ease of reading and integrity of translations to the best available sources; being more difficult to understand does not make any version a better translation. Because of this and due to the quality of sources available to the translators of later versions, Some of those at our local seminary have chosen the CEV for its clarity and beauty of reading. Others are less comfortable with some of the unfortunate apparent bias in the NIV in the way they have interpreted certain passages. The work of translating Scripture--as is every task of translating the Word of God--is about finding the best connections between the two languages, the originals (or those closest to the time of the originals) and the language into which the passages are being translated. There isn't much a modern Bible translator can do about the source documents--they are available to everybody who can read them. A good translation reduces the barriers to language on the side of the modern text. Thus at least half of the opportunities to misunderstand the texts are more easily addressed. That language that is closest to that of contemporary English readers (in structure, construction, punctuation and word usage) is a better tool for Bible study than is a version that requires the reader to depart from his or her typical reading patterns in order to make sense of the passage translated. For example, Shakespearean scholars would benefit from access to the earliest available copies of the historic scripts. They certainly would examine texts which might give hints as to the mindset of Shakespeare at the time these works were written, as well as to the mindset of the audience of Shakespeare's day--those who were standing packed against the stage as well as those with more delimited places from which to view the production. The task of better understanding the plays for who are not not fluent in the English language as it was spoken at the time the plays were written will not be served by producing explanations of Shakespeare written in the manner and with the same stylistic features as the original texts. Yet who would turn to the 1639 version--complete with the audience packed in even to the stage and all women's parts being done by a boy whose voice has not yet changed at puberty--for appreciating the performance of a Shakespeare play? As with experiencing the power of Shakespeare's plays, reading the Bible in a translation that is both accurate to the available manuscripts and is written to be read by someone in the late 20th and early 21st Century will provide the best sea

Written in plain English just about anyone can understand, this Bible seems to have many informational notes not found in other Bibles. Because it is so easy to read, this make for a good Bible for elementary level Sunday School teachers. Teachers can have their students read and discuss scripture without having to do on the spot translations.But this Bible is not just for youngsters. Adults can gain new insight into Biblical lessons in ways that other Bibles fail to deliver. There are many "mini articles" that provide unique perspective and there are introductions to each book that helps place it in proper context. It is interesting to note that Barabbas is described as a well known "terrorist" as if to add new emphasis on his release from condemnation. The side notes and cross references are also very useful.All of these many components make this Bible a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning Christian scripture.

We have been using the CEV at our Bible studies for several years; both adults and teenagers find this translation easy to understand and relate to their lives. I ordered a copy of The Learning Bible, since we have been searching for a good study version of this translation. It is all we had hoped for and more! The format is inviting and easy to follow. The helpful notes on the side columns are clear and hard to ignore, as opposed to tiny footnotes in the usual study Bible. The introductory articles give helpful in-depth background, and the mini-articles spread throughout the book are well-written and informative. All-in-all, a Bible which invites exploration and in-depth study.