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Average Customer Rating:

Great notes, great translation, great study Bible

Customer Rating:

Let's face it, there are two reasons to buy a Jerusalem Bible, the notes chief among them, and the New Jerusalem Bible has the best out there. The other reason, of course, is the accessibility of the text, and again, the NJB is unrivaled on this count, as well. Unlike other modern translations that bend over backwards to achieve "inclusiveness" in the English, the NJB makes very few concessions on this front, again, one of its strengths. It wants to say in clear English what the original texts wanted to convey and succeeds admirably, unlike other versions like the NRSV that is on a mission from God to be an "inclusive language" translation, often taking liberties with the original language. Besides, I never liked the Oxford Annotated editions of the RSV because the notes were too often contrived. Example: Gn 3:14-15, the note reads "The curse contains an old explanation of why the serpent crawls rather than walks and why men are instinctively hostile to it." WHAT?! This is filler masquerading as information. Besides, what value does it offer the reader? None. Compare this with the NJB notes on the same passage: "The punishment is appropriate to the specific functions of each: the woman suffers as mother and wife, the man as bread-winner. The text does not imply that, without sin, woman would have given birth painlessly or that man would not have had to work with sweat on his brow, any more than that before sin, snakes had feet, v. 14. Sin upsets the order willed by God: woman, instead of being man's associate and equal 2:18-24, becomes his seductress, while he for his part reduces her to the role of child bearer; man, instead of being God's gardener in Eden, has to struggle against a new hostile environment. But the greatest punishment is the loss of intimacy with God;v. 23. These penalties are hereditary. The doctrine of hereditary guilt is not clearly stated until Paul draws his comparison between the solidarity of all in the Saviour Christ and the solidarity of all in sinful Adam, Rm. 5." Which is more helpful? I think it's obvious. Buy it for the notes, buy it for the translation, and know that you have the finest study Bible out there.

the jeruselum bible	Customer Rating:
The New Jerusalem Bible is a beautiful book. It is complete in that it includes the Apocryphal Books. Reviews by biblical scholars have affirmed its high level accuracy. The abundant footnotes assist the laymen in understanding difficult passages.

NJB or NRSV?

Customer Rating:

The New Jerusalem Bible is a fine study aid. Though it is the product of Catholic scholars there is nothing in either the translation or the excellent notes which could not have been written by competent scholars of any denominational background. I like the idiomatic English: Jezebel to Ahab - "Some king of Israel you make!" Compare NRSV - "Do you now govern Israel?". Any translation is a trade-off between the literal and the idiomatic. The latter scores in liveliness and instant intelligibility but will have a shorter shelf-life and may not travel so well across all the cultures where English is the preferred language of Christians. A more literal translation keeps closer to the Hebrew and Greek mode of expression but will make a greater demand on the reader's attention. NJB (Standard edition) avoids double columns and breaks up the text with headings, making reference much easier. It's not a Bible to take to church with you, but I would recommend it wholeheartedly for any serious student's study.

New Jerusalem bible

Customer Rating:

I love the New Jerusalem Bible. It's the only translation I love to read. I already own one but, it has very small type. I bought this one for the larger type and supposed more notes. It does have larger type. I was expecting it to have more cross references, foot notes and information. It only has one map. It's still the best version around, Catholic or not. Most accurate and I too, love to see "Yahweh" in the Bible. It's very fluid to read.

His Holy Name!!	Customer Rating:
This translation is inspiring! One of the few translations to include the Holy Name Yahweh. I regret that possible future editions will revert back to using Lord rather than using Yahweh. Get this treasure while you can.