It's been a very busy week in July 2011 as news spreads across the web about the Common English Bible. As usual, the good news is not very interesting to believers and seekers and critics unless the reporter or opinion writer can stir up some controversial news, which happens mostly in the comments and individual blogs. We attempt with this version of the Bible to build common ground by bringing together people who are different from each other in gender, in color, in theology, and in social location.  In the process of telling about our motives for the CEB, I also used labels like conservative and liberal as shorthand to describe our goal of bringing scholars and tribes to the same table to build consensus. I wish of course that I had avoided using the shorthand labels because they are terribly fuzzy and really mean that people tend to disagree about religion or politics — and we don't know in the labels whether the controversy is theological or political or just plain obstinate.  It's hard work to listen to each other and admit that we have a common purpose and mission as God's children. 

People are talking about the Common English Bible. Sometimes the comments make your jaw drop. Now we pray that pundits and reviewers will read the whole Bible, and especially the one they are reviewing.

Toronto Star

http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1028949--bible-rewritten-using-the-language-of-today

Comments Ignorance about Bible translations continues Created by Cory Howell in 7/24/2011 9:45:24 PM I have been following the development of the CEB for quite some time. Although I have not wholeheartedly embraced all of the choices made by the CEB translators, I believe that the process followed by the translators has been exemplary. More than any other modern translation I know of, the CEB has attempted present Scripture in a way that is fresh and readable, but remains as true to the text as possible. So many of these recent reports about the CEB betray a fundamental lack of understanding about the translation process. The average report compares the CEB to the King James Version, as if there haven't been dozens (or hundreds) of English translations since the KJV was finished 400 years ago. One reads in many of these reports about "changes" made in the CEB, as if the CEB translators simply started with a KJV, and figured out where they could make it more modern! Paul's comment above, praying that reviewers would read the whole Bible they are reviewing, could not be more apt. Reading many of the reports on the CEB, one gets the sense that the reviewer read a brief press release, and proceeded to write his review. Finding controversy where there is none is not responsible reporting. May we all approach every Bible translation, including the CEB, with open minds and hearts! Your Name Title Comment New Comment Enter the code