Handwritten Bible

[VirginiaHuguenot]

The Associated Press: Michigan publisher's next Bible to be handwritten (September 30, 2008)

 

[biggandyy]

GOSH! If one scribe can set off a firestorm of controversy that lasts a millennium imagine what 31,000 regular folks can do

 

[Athaleyah]

I think I would find this very distracting. All the different writing styles would keep me focused on the writing styles instead of the biblical text.

 

[Augusta]

 

[Semper Fidelis]

I don't know whether to make a wise crack about scribal errors that will result in this or to comment about how gimmicky this is.

I'm not sure I understand how this is going to work. Are they going to have the 31,000 people write out portions of the Bible and have a complete Bible from Genesis to Revelation or are they going to have these 31,000 people choose their "life verse" and simply create a collation of multiple Scripture verses.

The idea that you're going to have "famous people" write out the Bible to make it more special strikes me as a bit superstitious.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

OK, here's the press release:

Zondervan - Zondervan Launches Bible Across America Tour

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., September 30, 2008 — More than 31,000 Americans will have a hand in publishing a new NIV Bible – America’s NIV – the first NIV Bible ever written “one-verse, one-person” at a time.

Zondervan, the world’s leading Bible publisher, is embarking Sept. 30, 2008 on a 90-city, 44-state cross-country tour – Bible Across America – to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the New International Version (NIV) translation, enlisting the help of the American people to publish its next Bible. A team of four will drive a 42-foot luxury motorhome, generously donated by RV supplier Spartan Motors, more than 15,000-miles, criss-crossing the United States over the next five months.

The Bible Across America tour will make scheduled stops at events, churches, universities, retail stores, American landmarks and other venues to allow people of all ages and walks of life to write a verse in the Bible, which will then be published and sold nationwide. The tour kicks off at Zondervan headquarters in Grand Rapids, Mich. and includes stops ranging from a NASCAR race in Charlotte, N.C. to a young church leaders conference in Atlanta to the National Pastor’s Convention in San Diego, as well as signing events in the heart of New York City and for legislators at the Capitol in Washington D.C. (Tour stops and real-time blog updates: www.BibleAcrossAmerica.com)

“The Bible is America’s favorite book of all time. And because of its accuracy, clarity and literary quality, the NIV has become the most successful Bible translation of all time. We believe that a completely handwritten version of the NIV Bible by people from all across our country will help America rediscover the Bible in a fresh, new way,” said Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan. “The Bible Across America is a symbol of Zondervan’s commitment to make the Word of God more accessible and more relevant to more people. We couldn’t think of a better way to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the NIV Bible than by inviting Americans to join us on this monumental tour and open more hearts to the Word of God.”

The NIV complete Bible was released in 1978, and since that time has become the most trusted, most widely read contemporary Bible translation today. With more than more than 300 million copies in print worldwide, more people use an NIV Bible than any other English-language translation. The NIV was commissioned by the International Bible Society, which owns the copyright and is a long time partner of Zondervan, and was translated by a team of more than 100 scholars.

Writers of America’s NIV will pen a single verse on actual thin-stock Bible paper. Each verse and each page will be published together as a complete America’s NIV Bible available in stores nationwide. The Bible will include an unprecedented index of 31,173 contributors, one for every verse of the Bible. Zondervan plans to create two original editions. One original transcript of America’s NIV will be offered to the Smithsonian Institution and the second will be auctioned off to benefit the International Bible Society in support of their Bible translation and distribution efforts around the world.

 

[biggandyy]

I don't know how comfortable I am with this type of marketing gimmick in order to sell more Bibles.

"We believe that a completely handwritten version of the NIV Bible by people from all across our country will help America rediscover the Bible in a fresh, new way"

I use the NIV for personal reading and in-depth study but the above statement is troubling on so many levels, not the least of which is "America doesn't need to rediscover the Bible, the Lord needs to send revival to America". Nearly every household has at least one Bible somewhere, even if its being used as a wedge to keep the sofa level. We need to read the Bibles we have. Read and obey.

But, even that said, I am sure the publishers aren't thinking about revival (except maybe in their sales figures).

 

[JohnGill]

Did printing presses stop working?

One step backwards to the Dark Ages and one giant leap for Bible gimmicks. How about a Bible that every time you read 85 verses you get one dollar credit to the itunes store or your internet bookstore of choice?

 

[AThornquist]

"Uh... anyone have white-out? I was supposed to write celebrate!"

 

[Grymir]

Oh the humanity of it all!! It's for the children.

O.k. it's really for the money.

At least they are doing the NIV, so nobody here at PB will be reading it!

 

[Tim]

Okay, this is just dumb. It just shows how silly the publishers are getting just to make a buck. How could this in any way be spiritually beneficial?

I can imagine someone saying, "so, I'm reading Proverbs right now. It was scribed by someone in Kentucky! And the sermon last Lord's Day was on Zechariah. I don't normally read the prophets, but this was handwritten by a woman from Iowa, so I was really excited to do some extra study!"

 

[biggandyy]

With my luck I would get to write out the exceedingly long verse, "Jesus wept."

 

[Thomas2007]

A novelty for a novelty

 

[Jimmy the Greek]

I don't know how comfortable I am with this type of marketing gimmick in order to sell more Bibles.

. . . and I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to take that avatar of yours.

 

[biggandyy]

Here is the secret, if you hit your ESCape key he will stop.

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

Guidepoint To Track 'Bible Across America' RV - MarketWatch (October 1, 2008)