Monday, June 01, 2009

Say what you like about the NIV

I don't like the NIV as a translation. But trying to find things quickly in the standard RSV is very frustrating. Versions that have paragraph headings are a gift from God. May the rest be shelved forever. Good grief, even the Aland Greek text has headings.

3 comments:

  1. Sometimes the divisions and headings are misleading or artificial, however, keeping us from seeing other ways the text can be divided.

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  2. You're absolutely right, although I personally wouldn't want to have to read the Greek in scriptio continua :-)

    As far as a Bible for lay people and most pastors, I think the divisions will always win. And for a New Testament prof trying to find which chapter of Numbers has the guy getting stoned for gathering sticks on the Sabbath, the NIV works much better than the RSV :-)

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  3. I have an Ignatius Press RSV which has paragraph headings and an old Cokesbury one which doesn't. The Ignatius Bible is a beautiful book; beautifully bound, with a very expensive look and feel inside and out.
    For all that it was cheap. I think I only paid 20 bucks for it.

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