We’re all familiar with red-letter Bibles where the words of Christ (and God) stand out through the use of the different ink color; but recently Zondervan released an edition of the NIV2011 where verses appear in larger type sizes — there’s about eight different point size fonts — depending on their popularity in online searches at BibleGateway.com.
This edition is called The Peoples Bible and the name is appropriate, given that it’s a kind of Peoples Choice Award of Bible verses. I suppose it’s good to see what other verses people are seeking, but there’s a danger with memory verses when they’re ripped out of the fuller context; when you’re reading the verse in jumbo type or bold face, at the expense of the context.
The blogger at 365 Days of Praising references this with regard to the popular Jeremiah 29:11; the verse which begins, “For I know the plans I have for you…”
Jeremiah 29 is a favorite, particularly verse 11, but many times verse 11 is isolated from the rest of the context. What I find interesting about this passage is that a time of testing came first before the promise…a seventy year test. And notice the person receiving the promise has a part to play also…praying…looking…finding. So first the test, then the seeking, finally the bringing home of the captive…good plans from the Lord our God. Praise Him!
She then provides the fuller context of verses 10-14 in the NLT; I’ve underlined the details we often miss:
10 This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
Christianity 201 
I know some of you are curious about The People’s Bible, so here’s a page sample, albeit reduced somewhat to fit here.
Comment by paulthinkingoutloud — March 18, 2012 @ 7:38 pm |
I prefer to mark my Bible myself, the way I want it, so I wouldn’t be interested in The People’s Bible, and I’d find the different font sizes confusing. No doubt some will love it.
Verses out of context – I think Romans 8:28a is another one and also Mark 8:34 and its parallel verses.
Comment by meetingintheclouds — March 19, 2012 @ 10:06 pm |