The Common English Bible translation is complete as of March 22, 2011, and complete Bibles will be shipping by August 2011! With significant reverence concerning the task of handling these sacred words, the translation was completed in three years. 120 translators, including 10 editors and three full-time staff, worked cumulatively hundreds of thousands of hours (including most nights and weekends) to finish a major English translation in record time. The first typesetting is in production at printers. 

Here are some statistics: Compared to a couple of other popular translations, by our count the CEB contains approximately 30,000 fewer words. This economy is apparently due to the use of contractions, the attention to sentence length, the use of common English idioms, as well as the editing process that honed a smooth and clear syntax in the CEB text.  Due to careful line breaks for poetry and a generous spacing between lines on the page to enhance readability, the first Old Testament and New Testament edition makes up 1216 pages in type, and the edition with the complete Apocrypha produces a Bible of 1504 pages. These "thinline" editions will each be approximately 5/8 of an inch in thickness, due to use of very fine Bible paper.  Look for softcover, hardcover, imitation leather, and bonded leather editions. A leather center column reference edition with concordance will be available in December 2011.

What's ahead?

Work is already underway with the CEB Children's Bible (expected in 2012) and the very important CEB Study Bible (expected in 2013).  Typesetting is also underway for 2 large print editions, 9 Gift & Award editions, and more than 20 church (or pew) editions.  The Gift & Award editions and the church editions vary by color and denominational logo.

Outreach

Our first CEB Easter NT Outreach edition became available in January 2011 and was sold out 5 weeks before Easter. We printed 130,000 New Testaments (being unsure of the demand with a brand new translation), and we regret that there was not time to reprint before Easter to meet the strong demand. Churches use these testaments along with invitation cards to invite visitors into their ministries. So a Christmas New Testament Outreach edition is already coming for August. Plan ahead and spread the good news.  We pray that this translation will help thousands of people encounter the Bible as if for the very first time.

~~Paul Franklyn
Associate Publisher

Comments New Comment Created by Anonymous in 11/22/2011 12:30:06 PM Excellent article. May i ask if it is ready for download? http://www.churchmanagepro.com New Comment Created by Rusty in 8/24/2011 6:36:56 PM That's ralely thinking out of the box. Thanks! New Comment Created by Kaylee in 8/24/2011 4:13:27 AM I really couldn't ask for more from this atrcile. Apocrypha Created by Anonymous in 7/1/2011 4:12:45 PM In the Luke sampler edition, the introduction states that the CEB will include the "apocrypha that is used in Anglican, Orthodox, and Catholic congregations." I was under the impression that these traditions differ on the content and lengths of the apocrypha. Could you elaborate? Thanks! Wow! ... Created by Anonymous in 5/3/2011 9:40:47 PM Wow! Ditigal editions will be great for research. Audio Version Created by Anonymous in 4/14/2011 9:15:25 AM Will there be an audio version available, and if so, when? I would like to download it from iTunes onto my iPhone - and I'm sure I'm not the only one! It would be great if someone with a truely unique voice could narrate it too like James Earl Jones, Morgan Freeman, etc. Congrats Created by Cory Howell in 4/6/2011 3:05:33 PM I am looking forward to reading the complete CEB when it ships. Well done. CEB Created by Catherine DeVries in 3/29/2011 7:55:03 PM Congratulations!!! link to full CEB without Apocrypha Created by Paul Franklyn in 3/28/2011 4:29:24 PM Click on the following link and then click on one of the online store logos (e.g. Cokesbury) to find the CEB softcover for preorder: http://www.commonenglishbible.com/Bibles/BrowseBibles/tabid/126/CategoryID/1/List/1/Level/a/ProductID/25/Default.aspx?txtSearch=*&SortField=EAN%2cProductName Full Translation Created by Jerrod in 3/28/2011 3:32:09 PM WHAT?! I'm ecstatic! I fell in love with the CEB when a copy was dropped in my lap at a Cokesbury conference. I read through the entire New Testament in 3 months. Since then I have ordered 50 NT's to give out to members of my congregation and I even utilize the CEB in a class on spiritual disciplines. Unfortunately I can't find a pre-order version without the apocrypha, I don't mind the apocrypha, but I'd just as soon save the paper and get a copy with content that I will use. But if I have to wait much longer, who knows what I'll buy.... Common English Bible, full translation Created by Michael Frech in 3/28/2011 11:28:54 AM I am very excited about the arrival of the full CEB. The church I attend has been utilizing the CEB New Testament to the fullest extent possible, and I carry mine around with me everywhere. I can't wait!!! paper Created by Paul Franklyn in 3/28/2011 5:58:38 AM A full Bible (1216 pages) with the same paper as the NT softcover would be 2.5 to 3 inches thick. Paper Quality Created by Kurt in 3/27/2011 5:10:16 PM I would love it if a paperback version of the entire Bible was printed on the same quality paper as the New Testament sample I have. I suppose by printing on tissue paper the Bible is thinner, but I wonder if 100% of all readers prefer this to regular paper. Translation complete Created by Fr. David Kendrick in 3/26/2011 6:45:43 PM Congratulations! I have been using the CEB translation for my dramatic reading of Mark in our parish's Lenten study series, and those hearing it love the CEB version. I'm not sure what it will take to get the CEB approved for public reading in the Episcopal Church, but I hope it happens soon. CEB Created by Clay Knick in 3/26/2011 10:20:10 AM Great news! Congratulations! digital editions Created by Paul Franklyn in 3/24/2011 1:23:19 PM Digital and online editions of the CEB will begin appearing in June and July 2011. The Kindle will be among the first formats to appear. Online sites will be dependant on XML file formatting to be completed this spring. E Book Edition Created by William McCarter in 3/24/2011 11:19:24 AM When will the ebook edition(Kindle) be available? BibleGateway Created by David Smith in 3/24/2011 10:45:05 AM Outstanding! When when it be available on BibleGateway? Your Name Title Comment New Comment Enter the code