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Rating: 
Summary: The Good Book is Good
Review: I'm not so presumptuous as to review this as anything other than literature; the alternatives are far far too contentious. And if you're reading the Bible as literature then the KJV is definitely the way to go. Not only is the prose and poetry brilliant in places, but its impact on English language thought is immeasurable. Psalm 23 and John 3:16 and John 1 all have their greatest power in this version. That being said, parts of the Bible are hideously boring as literature. Nehemiah is a long litany of the third grandsons of temple musicians, having only one significant bit to it: that being that the Jewish nation no longer read or spoke Hebrew and had to have the Torah translated for them. Numbers and Leviticus also have equally tedious bits. Nevertheless, the literature and its impact on our thought far outweighs the tiresome parts and this is a must read for a person with educated pretensions, even if they do not buy into its theology. Lastly, the essays at the end of this version are both extremely useful and extremely helpful in explaining the historical context and import of much of what is written within.
Rating: 
Summary: The Word of God! Not too shabby.
Review: Loved the Book. Really love the author
Rating:
Summary: An epic not worth passing up
Review: One of the most profound impacts on peoples lives throughout history, written by a compilation of authors during trying times, this novel serves as a basis for morals and ethics throughout the world. Starting with the earth's creation and population, The Holy Bible tracks man's misnomers and short-comings, finest hours, and worst moments of weakness in an evolving world struggling to find faith in a The Lord, while rationalizing a paradoxical god who condemns and condones forms of both love and destruction. It has inspired attempts of genocide and acted as testament to justify prejudice on one hand, while instilling men with inspiration to turn their lives into the embodiment of kindness on the other. The world's most cherished and insightful literature to many -- a novel everyone should truly examine.
Rating:
Summary: 2 testaments, 66 books, 40 authors, and one message.
Review: The Bible is a book of many diverse books. It has two testaments containing a total of sixty-six books, written by over forty different authors over a 1,500-year span. Compare this to the Koran which was reveled through one man Mohammed over the space of twenty years, or the Analects of Confucius, which was compiled several years after his death, and therefore without his oversight. And I'm not even going to mention the Socrates-Plato problem. In any case, I believe that there is truth in all religions and all religious texts, but the Bible is rather unique among religious texts since its backgrounds are so broad and diverse. Yet, when have forty people agreed on any one thing? And since when have forty people agreed on religion? Yet the Bible is one long sermon, from Genesis to Revelation.I love the King James language! But for fans of Shakespeare, this goes without saying. In fact, the King James Bible and the Bard have been the greatest influences and preserves of the English language! This version has the Apocrypha, which id great for anyone one wanting to get the full scoop of the scriptures. I know they are disputed books, but I am one never to shy from controversy. So what does the Bible mean to me? It is a token of hope. There is no supposition, conjecture or guesswork involved with the things of God. We have two testaments, two witnesses to God's love and His plan for us. I read this book every day, and the more I read it, the more I love it.
Rating:
Summary: The Good Book
Review: The Bible is book containing various, stories, letters, poetry, songs and important historical accounts of various people sacred to the Jewish and Christian religions. Within all of this contain moral teachings and a profound understanding of the human spirit. This book is a guide for us all.
It is an extremely complicated book and much understanding is needed of the context in which much of it is written. One cannot simply read it cover to cover and say they understand it. There is much to be learnt and understood. Off-handed judgments applied from modern context are not applicable.
The book depicts many historical figures the most important of whom is Jesus Christ, believed by many to be the son of God. This book has had a profound influence on many human cultures and the many historical events within provide a rationale for the faith; it is not on empty faith that Christians believe, nor is it a product of irrational neurological impulse. God is not a product of the mind; denial of God however, is ego driven and irrational product of 19C scientific discoveries that are irrelevant to religious experience. The Bible and the religions that grew out of the teaching have provided a wonderful and successful cultural framework for many centuries of human experience throughout the world. While the faith is temporarily suffering decline in Western nations, it is growing at a large rate in third world nations oppressed by the brutality of Western experience which is largely the result of social Darwinism.
Babies fixate on the all-powerful, all-providing, all-knowing parent figure. This continues into adulthood as humans discover that like a young child, humans to have a creator that loves them unconditionally. Most humans believe in God and this belief is enshrined and celebrated in many cultures. Humankind projects many positive feelings onto God, the father, providing humans fulfillment, love and happiness in life. Much of the evil in this world is projected onto an angel called Satan who whether real or an imagined representation exists as the evil in this world, something Jewish and Christians must fight against.
To believe this book as the word of God is rational; testament to this is found within the evidence for the resurrection of Christ and the many followers who recorded and continued Christ's teachings, even under heavy persecution. Jews and Christians acknowledge that the Bible was written by man but know that they were divinely inspired. The Bible includes many characters, good and bad and shows that many of the prophets were not perfect. The fact that their faults were shown is further testament to its authenticity. As said in Psalm 14:1, "The fool says in his heart, `There is no God.'" This has a lot of relevance today.
Why lie to yourself about the existence of God when there is scientific, philosophical and a rational basis for belief? God created the human mind and allowed us the freedom of choice, therefore giving us the capacity to reject him and deify ourselves. God created man. Every human on earth is capable of knowing God and loving him.
There is historical evidence plenty of historical evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ and plenty of evidence for his resurrection, providing a rational basis for the belief that he is the son of God. Humans wish to make sense of suffering. God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16
Christianity is a religion based on rational evidence enabling mankind to:
- understand their own suffering
- come to terms with their own suffering
- grow as people and love
- know God
Among others.
The Bible and Christianity came about because of God:
The Bible gives us guidance and enables us to understand the world around us and our purpose within it. Give us moral guidance for living, preventing mankind from slipping into moral turpitude and learning to know and love each other and God.
Humans who deny God do so because of pride and self-importance and egotism about their own worth. Atheism is simply an irrational dismissal of revealed truth.
If all of humankind were extinguished God would still exist. Man denies God out of egotism, vanity, insecurity, folly and the desire to manipulate.
Chances are that people who dislike this review will promptly generate ever more fierce and tight circles of religious non-belief and thought-loops in order to dismiss it.
On 7th day, God created man in his image. Whether literal or an example, this holds true to this day for our place in this world. Read widely, hold on to the good. The Bible and its teachings will always be there when you need it. Acknowledge God and choose to follow him.
Rating:
Summary: Great Translation
Review: The RSV was the English version I grew up on in the church. It was the one we used in theological school. I've used it all my life.
I still use it for preaching, teaching, devotional reading and
study for sermons. I love it. The RSV retains a lot of the
same literary sound and flow of the KJV with a better, more
accurate translation of the Hebrew and Greek. I like the NRSV,
but not as much as the RSV. I have this edition of the RSV in
paperback. The NT is not the updated RSV (1971) NT, which is
a weakness of this edition, but this is still a worthy addition
to your library. This is especially true since the RSV can be
very difficult to find. I suggest that if you are having a hard
time finding the RSV you might want to purchase the English
Standard Version. I do use this paperback Bible and enjoy reading from it for my devotions. In my opinion the RSV is a treasure not to be lost!!
The best thing you can do is buy this edition or the Cambridge edition of the RSV that has the second edition of the NT and then
buy the NASB and ESV. Let these translations in the great tradition of Tyndale/KJV shape your Bible study. Then use others
to supplement your reading and study. The RSV is still available
but not easy to find. Blessed reading!!
Rating: 
Summary: Has potential
Review: The writing styles are a bit boring and repetative, and some parts were a bit confusing. For example, they didn't mention anything about the pyramids in Egypt. Obviously the author needed to do some more research. Fairly good plot wise, although the Genesis chapter got pretty irritating at the beginning. It's your classic kind of novel: murder, sex, betrayal, love, some comedy to lighten the mood (ie Job was pretty amusing, albeit a morbid brand of humor), and some elements of fantasy too, but it's a little too cliche for my tastes. It got much better in the second half of the book though, but the author didn't go far enough. If Jesus could fly, he'd be the next big thing for DC Comics or Marvel. Perfect for marketing.
I really enjoyed the return of John in the Revelations chapter. It is a little confusing, but in the same way 2001: A Space Odyssey was (artistic symbolism). It left a bunch of loose ends, which means a sequel is on its way. Good job, but not a 5 star job. The writing styles is what disappointed me the most. I would suggest the author read some Steven King or J.R.R. Tolkien for inspiration on the sequel. With a little practice, your story could become a classic. Keep it up!
Rating:
Summary: Nice size, readable text.
Review: This is such an attractive Bible that someone in church asked me where I got it! King James version (the old-fashioned text). A nice size that's easy to carry along with you.
Rating:
Summary: Jesus Saves!
Review: With all of the late great versions of the Bible on the market today, the RSV stands out to me as one of, if not the, best. It is truly faithful to the text, at least more than the other "Bibles" out there today. Yes, it is a little bit harder to understand at points, but it is being translated from Three ancient languages into English. If it were totally smooth then even the most passing of readers would be able to see that someone was changing what was origianlly said. For the most accurate Bible, I recomend the ASV, but that one is really "woody." For just a happy go lucky, easy to read, just for fun, but not for serious study, paraphrase of the Bible, I would say get an NIV. If you want to really study the bible and trust what you read as true to the original, yet still be able to follow along on a Sunday morning, Get the RSV (not the Femi-Nazi Bible NRSV. There are quite a few places where gender is,a nd should be, in the Bible. The NRSV took that out and made it unisex. This is not right, and caused a friend of mine to step aside from the editing group that was writing the NRSV. The Feminest powers that be really pushed these editors around. They took a great work and lowered the bar.), or the NASU. Both are great, but I prefer the RSV. It has a great flow, and is totally true to the text. Modern translaters take it too far. They closs the line from translator to commentator. It is better to translate the actual words and let the reader decide for themselves, than to translate huge chunks of thought and rewrite Holy Scripture in your own words in the way you THINK it should read. I think God chose well when He allowed the Biblical writers to pen these works, and I feel that His hand masterfuly put this Book we call the Bible in the way it was intended. Hands off. Keep it in modern English, but don't change meanings. Thanks.
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