Common English Bible ~ Review & Giveaway

Common English Bible
ISBN: 9781609260163
$29.95

The Common English Bible is a new translation focused on making the Bible easier to understand for the average worshipper. It's perfect for New Christians, anyone that is searching for answers and even kids who may be reluctant to read their Bibles because "they can't understand it".

When I first received my copy of this new Bible I loved the "look" of the Bible. The cover doesn't feel cheap like many of the "leather look" covers do. It's very soft, almost like suede to the touch. The text is very small and I was wishing I had asked for a large print (available March 2012) as I'm finding I'm having more trouble with the small prints these days. At less than 1" this bible isn't heavy like many of the Study Bibles are and at 5 3/8 x 8 3/8 it's small enough to fit in a purse or briefcase to take with you.

Written as an inter-denominational Bible it was translated by 122 biblical scholars from 22 faith traditions and in addition members of 77 reading groups from congregations throughout North America reviewed and responded to early drafts of the translation. The key goal is make the Bible accessible to a broad range of readers: children, youth, new Christians and to enhance worship and personal Bible Study.

The only thing I missed was the lack of a concordance and cross-referencing. There are footnotes at the bottom of the page (kept at a bare minimum) and these are used to explain WHY they choose to translate a word in the way they did.

The next few months I will be participating in a book tour to introduce this new Bible to readers. I will admit I am partial to either the Ryrie Study Bible, the Life Application Bible or the Induction Study Bible. I prefer The New International Version as I find it very easy to understand and I love the concordances, maps and historical notes in the books. I'll be using these versions in addition to my Precepts Bible Studies as I get to know this new version and I hope it doesn't get to confusing for you as I do. (Actually hopefully I won't get confused - I'm not really strong with  theology and explaining what I believe.) At one time I dreamed of being an archeologist so I love the history and archeological studies that have been conducted and I think that's why I enjoy those other versions so much.

You can learn more about the Common English Bible online at: http://www.commonenglishbible.com . You'll learn about how it was translated, why the need was felt for a bible that everyone could understand and more.

Read a passage

You can order online at Amazon or at the Common English Bible website. There are many different styles (paperback, leather, hardback) and if you'd like small New Testaments to hand out as gifts those are $1.99 on the website. They also have community packs of the small bibles available. These make nice little gifts for the homeless, those displaced due to storms (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc) who lost their own Bibles and haven't gotten a new one yet, or children for memory work.

Thanksgiving Week - Giving Thanks

Give Thanks

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 (CEB):  ⁸ “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make his deeds known to all people! ⁹ Sing to God, sing praises to him; dwell on all his wondrous works!” Common English Bible (CEB)

What does Thanksgiving mean to you? Is it giving Thanks? Is it Rejoicing in what God has given you? Is it remembering the good times & the BAD? With the economy like it is things are tight for all of us, even those that have both parents (or one) working. But, it's still doable and that's thanks to God's provisions. It may not seem like He has his hand in it - but He does.


It's the groceries that He provides - or the extra large crop in the garden.
It's the gas in the car that seems to last longer than usual.
It's the surprise check that comes in the mail earlier than you were expecting.
It's the ability to make something out of nothing - can you sew? can you bake the world's best cookies? can you draw?


The last year has been tough for me. Many of you know that. But God has provided mystery shops and payment from one in particular who is very timely. God has provided health insurance for part time hours. God has given me reprieve from the terrible migraines I've been getting this past year and I could go on...


1st Chronicles 16: 34 Give thanks to the LORD because He is good, because his faithful love endures forever.” (CEB)


Is there a way to Give Thanks other than prayer?
I was reading an article today about Thanksgiving in Times of Tribulation and there were a few parts that stood out to me. Click here to read it. You might find it interesting too.


We can Sing Praises to God - We can give GLORY to God by praising him. 



We can give GLORY to God by praising him. 
a. We are designed to show “the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus” Eph 2:7 (CEB)


I want to continue the thought with Eph 2:10 (CEB): ...we are God's accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. (Doesn't it make sense that we can show praise to God by doing good things and we give Glory to God when we do?)


"What does it mean when it is said that the heavens declare the glory of God? 
The heavens declare that God is perfect. The heavens manifest His wisdom, His power, and His purpose in designing all creation for an intelligent end. The heavens are manifesting the glory of God in the sense that they reveal what God is and what He can do." Ps 19:1-2**  


b) When I yield MY Life to God and SEEK to serve Him, I am glorifying Him - MY life and testimony is an example of what the GRACE of God can do for us.




The next few months I will be sharing thoughts and verses from the new Common English Bible which has just been published. I'm excited to see this new Bible and see the difference a word or passage makes. I have a precept by precept Bible (Kay Arthur 'precepts ministry') that I will be using together with the CEB Bible to compare the meanings of words and passages. I'm looking forward to having a Bible that is in today's language and written to understand easily. I also want to compare it with a Ryrie Bible which has been my favorite translation for years. 


**(I like this version of this verse - it's elegant and so descriptive of HOW the heavens declare the glory of God, so I left it as is from the article.)


Your Thoughts:
Do you have a favorite translation? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts about Thankfulness and what God has done for you that has been most meaningful to you this year.