I’ve reviewed and endorsed the New Living Translation Study Bible, and I continue to use it with real appreciation. I’ve been a fan of the NLT ever since Noel Heikkinen convinced me to give the second revision of the translation a more serious look. I now use it a great deal in preaching and worship, and I appreciate its faithfulness to the meaning and literary intention of scripture. It is a fine translation for my many ESL students. My wife and I use it in family devotions.
Tyndale has given me the opportunity to review several other products featuring the NLT. I’d like to briefly describe each one, in the order of my own enthusiasm for the recommendation.
At the top of the list is the NLT Life Application Bible Studies series. (I reviewed John, James, Acts and Hebrews.) These are Bible study booklets that contain the NLT text of the book being studied, with cross references, the notes of the Life Application Study Bible and small group lesson and discussion material.
These Bible studies are superb, with tremendous usability potential in any setting from youth to adult. The material for the Gospel of John is approximately 120 pages.
The small group discussion material was certainly above average, and the LASB notes are useful and balanced exactly between exegetical help and user application rather than majoring on scholarly information.
The obvious limitation of this type of resource is the lack of ability to reference other parts of the Bible, but that’s a very minor matter easily resolved: Bring a Bible.
These book studies can be core curriculum for some excellent Christian education and spiritual formation.
The second resource is the NLT 24/7 One Year Chronological Bible.
This resource has been published in other editions. The one I reviewed was a small paperback edition using historic Christian symbolism throughout. I would assume that this edition is intended for a younger audience.
The chronological Bible concept divides the Bible into daily lessons using a Biblical “time line†(included) as a guide. The chronological Bible concept is not one I am very supportive of, at least as I’ve seen it in other “Chronological Bibles,†but this version takes a very modest and conservative approach. While no one will agree completely with the decisions made in this approach, I found nothing that was radical or dangerously naive. The approach used provides a good menu for daily reading.
The single column format and excellent typeface are very readable. The concept is to use this Bible to develop a daily discipline of Bible reading. For that purpose, I believe this is an excellent product, and especially appropriate for young people. The strengths of the NLT really are showcased in a daily reading format.
Finally, the “Live†Teen Bible is an edition of the NLT, aimed at teenagers who want their Bible covered with various kinds of contemporary artistic, symbolic and poetic expressions, and who want to interact creatively with the text. An interactive web site invites you to contribute your own creative responses to the text and various spaces and questions in the Bible give the reader the opportunity to make creative visual and literary responses in the pages of the Bible.
There are a large collection of devotional and Bible study materials for young people in the text. This would be useful to anyone who might use this edition of the Bible as a source for their own devotional study or ministry with other young people. It is a graphically attractive edition of the Bible, and some young people would enjoy it.
One very positive addition is a book-by-book focus on how Jesus is presented throughout the Bible.
I have not had much to say about the packaging of Bibles for young people, but as one who is surrounded by teenagers all the time, I have an opinion. Take it for what it’s worth.
I believe the constant packaging of scripture to make it appear “relevant†achieves the exact opposite effect. It makes the Bible appear to be another passing trend. Such packaging implies that the Bible is boring and must be made interesting by the packaging, graphics and presentation. In fact, young people are often embarrassed to be seen carrying a Bible that telegraphs “Look at my cool Bible!â€
This started in the 1970s with editions of the Living Bible, and continues to this day. It is a trademark of evangelicalism’s misunderstanding of its relationship to the dominant culture. The decision to make ourselves, in every way possible, the imitators of the dominant culture was and is an utter failure.
Compare the marketing of a product like this with the treatment of the Bible in other cultures, in historic Judaism, in Catholicism and Orthodoxy, even in historic Protestantism. But even more mistaken is the reading of the mood of contemporary Christian young people: they are not impressed by the marketing of the church, Jesus and the scriptures as evangelicals have been led to believe.
The Bible should be packaged and presented seriously. Muslims would never do to the Kopran what we do to Holy Scripture in the name of marketing. My advice to Tyndale is to make serious editions of the Bible and market them to young people seriously; make the product for “grown ups,†not for the imaginary adolescent of American marketing.
The Bible isn’t the latest skater magazine, and frankly, I’m not sure if those making many of these editions grasp that the more you try to appear relevant and “cool,†the less you are perceived as being either.
The NLT is a quality product with the potential to make scripture readers out of those who give it a try. Let the NLT’s strengths come through. Don’t obscure them with an attempt to grab some niche market of artistically frustrated Christian teens. Churches, find someone to teach a course of Christianity and art, or create a space to display the art created by your congregation. Evangelicals need to remember what it looks like to seriously pursue reading and creativity. They need to remember that marketing the Bible is a business, yes, but it’s also an indication of our attitude towards the Bible and the faith itself.
The Internet Monk Archives 
willoh,
Corporate reading is still very much possible – I have been doing for years with overheads, and then powerpoint.
LikeLike
I met with a Pastor once who told me he was saved by reading the New Living Bible, but once saved realized King James was the only way to go. Really, he said that.
DaveMc, we had to give up corporate reading, it sounded like we went all Pentecostal. I found a case of HCS hardbound for 3 bucks a pop to use as pew bibles, but most people use their own to keep notes etc. It’s a problem.
LikeLike
Then you get to an age where the best translation is the one with the largest print.
LikeLike
“One area that Catholics have got it tough is the NAC.”
Yep, pretty much all the English-language translations used in the Mass are dire.
Well, maybe that’s a bit strong, but definitely pedestrian. Sometimes I wonder if part of the reason you get lapsed Catholics saying “I never heard the Bible preached all the time I went to Mass” is because they don’t recognise the version from whichever Protestant translation gets quoted to them, from the version they’ve heard (or rather, had go in one ear and out the other) at Mass.
LikeLike
It’s all the Message. Just different editions.
One area that Catholics have got it tough is the NAC. When I go to mass with my wife and hear some of those readings……ouch.
LikeLike
Patrick,
not exactly a super reliable source, but I’ve found the Wikipedia articles on the various versions useful for a quick “Cliff’s Notes” overview of some of the differences and history of various translations and paraphrases.
LikeLike
Recently I’ve become really interested in how different translators ‘do’ the Bible. I know this is kind of meta-, but are there any books ON the translational differences between the various Protestant Bibles?
Not necessarily looking for a history of a particular translation, but sort of a commentary that explains the differences in contemporary publications like The Message… and The Message Remix…
LikeLike
I mean “wasn’t familiar WITH the version.” I can’t type.
LikeLike
I think all the Bible classes at my university use the NRSV. I wasn’t familiar to the version previously. I think it’s the New Oxford Annotated Bible that the students have to buy.
A friend gave me a paperback ESV New Testament, which I was happy to get, but I must admit that the cover is so “hip” looking, I’m little embarrassed to carry it with me. I totally agree with you about the attempts at “relevance” often backfiring.
LikeLike
Glad to hear you’re still digging the NLT. I’ve been using YouVersion (mostly for my iPhone but occasionally online) and I was stoked that they added the NLT last week.
LikeLike
Joe: Crossways leanings in that direction are fewer. I don’t mind the symbols on the cover as an artistic touch. But the Bible in the metal box? Ugh.
LikeLike
Bible packaging: Crossway’s kitchsy editions of the ESV are also highly irksome, IYAM. But I assume they sell or they wouldn’t be going down that path. As for teen Bibles, the mere volume of editions is dumbfounding,
LikeLike
Regarding our Christian culture’s attempt to market and package the Bible to make it look cool and relevant –
I briefly went to a church where the pastor was always trying to talk about how important it was for Christians to be relevant. Yeah, yeah, it was an emergent church. But being relevant to our culture was one of the main themes every single Sunday. You said “I believe the constant packaging of scripture to make it appear ‘relevant’ achieves the exact opposite effect.” I absolutely agree.
But not only that, but what exactly is it that Christians think is NOT relevant that needs to be made to look so? Is it Scripture? Is it preaching the gospel? Is it living out God’s commands? I mean doesn’t the fact that you are suddenly making this big effort to suddenly appear “relevant” mean that you think something has been irrelevant? Thus, how dangerous this mindset can be, especially when you’re talking about the Bible.
LikeLike
In my classes, everyone uses an ESV. That’s my teaching translation.
But in speaking to general audiences I use NLT.
LikeLike
I once saw “The Extreme Bible” at a Christian bookstore advertised as “Now in slimy, limey green!” ’nuff said
LikeLike
This may be off-topic, or grounds for another topic, but how do you guys approach scripture memorization when we all use so many translations and paraphrases?
LikeLike
This is so weird. To think that I would also endorse the NLT along with you (to the high school students I teach) is a shocker. At Bible College and Seminary, it just wanted thought of as a thinking Christian’s translation because it was easy to read and understand. But after I went to the NLT’s website and saw the list of thinking scholars who worked on it, all very respectable experts, I decided to give it a shot. It has brought a great freshness to my own study and to my classroom lessons. I am thankful to the Lord for it.
LikeLike
@Charlie: You can get some general information about the differences between the first and second editions of the NLT here, and I’ve also discussed it in some detail on the NLT Blog here and here.
LikeLike
You convinced me to give the NLT a try – and I’m so glad I did. It’s quickly become my translation of choice and many different settings. Now I hope you can convince Tyndale to grow up in their marketing of the NLT. Your comments are spot on – target the adult with quality covers, paper, and layout in a range of various. Skip all the Bible covers that appear to be inspired by the back pocket of designer jeans.
LikeLike
Thanks Michael for the reviews.
I just got an ESV Study Bible for an early Christmas present so my time for the fore seeable future will be spent exploring it. The NLTSB was on the short list though as is the Nelson Chronilogical Study Bible.
Have you had a chance to see Nelson’s NKJV Chrono? If so what did you think? Also, what are your issues with most chronological bibles? I’ve always been learly of them but lately I’ve thought it might be useful for exploring some of the OT after the kingdoms split.
Thanks.
DD
LikeLike
I am always sorry to see a segment of Christianity that almost idolizes the scriptures treat them so irreverently at times.
LikeLike
Michael,
I couldn’t agree more with your comments about the NLT. My wife and I have been using it since it’s first publishing several years ago and have found it to be very readable and accurate. I am amazed at how often our pastor (he uses the NASB), while preaching, has to “correct” the NASB with a word that is already used in the NLT. That is it’s intent-to convey the meaning of God’s Word in our time. I also agree with you about the packaging issue for Bibles. Sadly, just another example of how we have marketed the Scriptures to the point of near fadish irrelevance.
BTW, can you tell us what the difference is between the NLT 1st and 2nd editions? I have searched Tyndale’s web site but have not found any comparison or explanation.
Grace and Peace
LikeLike
Thanks for the reviews, iMonk. I’ve purchased the ESV Study Bible and Ryken’s Bible Handbook based largely on your reviews, and I getting closer and closer to picking up a NLT Study Bible as well.
By the way, my mind saw that first review as “NLT Life Appalachian Bible Studies” for some reason.
LikeLike