The Holy Bible With the Apocrypha: Revised Standard Version : 50th Anniversary Edition

Rating:
Summary: Probably the best modern translation available
Review: I am very pleased that Oxford U. Press is re-releasing the RSV with Apocrypha, text edition. The RSV is a mainstream, literal translation that is also highly suitable for liturgical reading. Unlike the politically correct NRSV, it does not use "inclusive" language, and so it is much more accurate and faithful to the original (the use of "Inclusive" language in the NRSV and other modern translations has ruined messianic references in the Old Testament, e.g., Son of Man translated as "mortals" or "human beings")

It is unfortunate that this translation is not more popular. It is also suitable for Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic Christians since it contains the complete Canon of the eastern Churches and not just the western Canon.

The binding and paper are nice with good textual notes. The overly rationalistic and liberal notes of the Oxford Annotated Bible are not included. This is my first choice for a modern Bible. It is nicely complimented with the DouayRheims Bible.

Rating:
Summary: Classic reissued
Review: I recently purchased this new 50th anniversary edition of the RSV to replace a worn out copy. The RSV holds a special place for me because it was the version that I used for study in my university days. It is a well-respected translation sponsored by the National Council of Churches (U.S.). This version includes the complete Apocrypha with all the Catholic and Orthodox books.

These days scholars generally prefer the NRSV which is the successor to the RSV. The NRSV is mostly noted for eliminating archaic English pronouns in the Psalms and for implementing gender inclusive language. The RSV itself caused controversy in its own day, and it was not accepted by some conservatives at that time. As times change, however, the RSV is now considered pretty mainstream.

For its historical importance, good use of language and wide acceptance by mainline churches, I like to quote the RSV in my writing even if I normally read from another version. This Bible will serve that purpose. The pages in this edition, however, are quite thin and there is some bleed through of the print from the other side. The text is also pretty close together (although it is better than the worn copy that I'm replacing). This edition is probably best used as a general reference book and not for regular reading, studying, or taking notes in. There are some translator's notes and variant phrases but no annotations, articles, essays or introductions (Oxford publishes a wonderful annotated version with all those things).

The Apocrypha is between the Old and New Testaments (this matters to some people). Also included after the Apocrypha is a chronology of Israelite kings, Roman governors, etc. At the end there is a sample of 5 maps that have been reproduced in other Oxford editions.

Rating:
Summary: A oldie but a goodie.
Review: The very first version of the King James Bible was in 1611 it included the Apocrypha texts which were texts that appeared in the Greek bible but not the Hebrew version. The KJV included them as a seperate part of the bible and treated them in contempt very badly translating them as they were considered undivine. In 1883 the KJV was updated and the Apocrypha texts were taken out and only special KJV bibles have them today and they're expensive.

The KJV was a masterpiece and had become the standard version of the bible but even so it was old and it was showing signs of that age. Oxford University Press released a revised version of the 1611 KJV known as the Revised Standard Version (RSV) maintaining the same structure and format of the original KJV. It didn't eliminate the use of thy, thine, thou but mainly cut it back to mainly quotes and it went back to the original texts and corrected many of the errors in the KJV. After 50 years the exceptional job they have done in updating the KJV is clearly visible and its a shame they've spoiled this in their politically correct version the NRSV.

I would definately recommend this bible to anyone it maintains the same majestic wording of the KJV as well as the same structure and even includes the Apocrypha at a fraction of the price it would cost to get a 1611 KJV with Apocrypha today. The pages are very thin and the print of the previous page can be seen through but this is a minor drawback to a very good bible. I'd recommend this bible to anyone after an accurate reading bible.