101 Bible Stories: From Creation to Revelation

When I first approach the review copy of a new Bible storybook produced by any publisher, I look for several important features:

. Bible stories appropriate to the age group

. language children can comprehend

. pleasing artwork to illustrate the text

. sturdy quality to stand up to actual usage

In addition to the above, ZonderKidz provided a poetic text to retell the creation story in 101 Bible Stories: From Creation to Revelation. For example, “Let There Be Light” retells the story in Genesis 1:1-5 with these words:

“Long, long ago, God created the heavens and the earth. But the earth was blacker than black with darkness. And there was nothing but emptiness.”

Into this lonely place, “God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And there was light!” Then “God gently made the earth to spin so that there could also be darkness. He called the dark ‘night,’ and the light he called ‘day’.” And God “spun layer upon layer of fresh, clean air around the earth, wrapping it in every shade of blue.”

As layer upon layer of biblical insights reveal our Creator’s care, the stories progress from God’s encounters with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and other character-building favorites to “An Angel’s Visit” where a young woman named Mary hears “God is happy with you.” Later, in “Joseph’s Dream,” the angel brings news that Joseph need not fear taking Mary as his wife, “For God has chosen her and blessed her to give birth to his very own Son.”

The remaining half of the book focuses on the life, teachings, parables, and healing work of Jesus to “The Darkest Hour” where “The earth grew deathly silent, and the sky remained hopelessly dark” as it had in the beginning of time until God spoke.

This time, however, Jesus speaks as He rises from the tomb to tell Thomas and all to “stop doubting and believe. After giving every follower “A Job to Do” in telling others the Good News, “Jesus Sends A Helper,” Who brings Holy Spirit power to do that work until Christ comes again.

With its use of slick quality paper, a sturdy binding, and colorful artwork by Dan Andreasen, this well-done Bible storybook lives up to its front cover label “Perfect for Independent Readers.” Nevertheless, we moms, dads, grandparents, and church school teachers will undoubtedly enjoy hearing again these 101 Bible stories with the children God has created to bless our lives.

©2014, Mary Sayler, reviewer

101 Bible Stories: From Creation to Revelation, hardback




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Global Study Bible

In any translation, the Bible begins with God, the story of creation, and the intersection of heaven and earth in the Garden of Eden. In that ideal beginning, all mankind – male and female – were meant to remain in close relationship with God as caretakers of the earth or, to put it another way, to be divinely appointed Gardeners. Unfortunately, that career careened off track, but the original intention remained: to fill the earth with Gardeners for God.

Similar to the Gospel Transformation Bible, the Global Study Bible from Crossway turns our thoughts and study to the original purpose of creation, giving us insights, from Genesis to Revelation, into God’s ongoing plan for cosmic redemption and restoration. To further emphasize this purpose, the Global Study Bible includes comprehensive coverage of key Bible topics written by scholars from Cameroon, South Korea, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Zambia, the USA, and other countries.

In addition, highly informative introductions, footnotes, sidebars, profiles, maps, and charts have been interspersed throughout this edition of the English Standard Version (ESV) which contains much of the scholarly information found in the ESV Study Bible, also published by Crossway, but, perhaps, with a more reader-friendly tone that draws us into the Bible story as our story.

As explained in the introduction to Exodus, for example, “God’s main purpose in delivering the people of Israel out of Egyptian oppression was so that he ‘might dwell among’ them (Ex. 29:46).” And, in “The Global Message of Leviticus” we see that the “purpose of Leviticus is to instruct Israel concerning how to maintain holiness within the community, so that the Lord would continue to dwell among them.”

In the Book of Numbers, we learn that the original Hebrew title of the book, “In the Wilderness,” describes “the essence of the book” as the “original purpose of Numbers was to warn the second generation of Israel not to lapse into the rebellion and unbelief of their first-generation parents…. Yet its deeper purpose was to encourage them that the Lord was with them.”

Again and again, this highly recommended study edition emphasizes God’s desire to be with us as expressed, for example, in the mosaic law and then the Davidic covenant, which instituted the monarchy and the temple. Or, we see God’s calling us to prayer and praise and wisdom in the Psalms, Proverbs, and other “wisdom books,” then re-calling us to fellowship through the sages and prophets, ending with John the Baptist who prepares the way of repentance before the coming of the long-awaited Messiah.

As we await Christ’s coming again, the Gospels (Good News) and Epistles (Letters) give us strength and courage as individuals and as the church Body of Christ with the Book of Revelation reminding us that “in the cosmic war currently being waged between the forces of good and evil, the outcome is secure.” Even though “the church faces internals squabbles, difficult cases of church discipline, or afflicted consciences due to sin, we remember that we are under the Lordship of the one who shed his blood for us.”

Forgiven, we can now forgive one another and ourselves.

With spiritual life rooted and revived in the Garden of Gethsemane, this Bible shows us a cosmic landscape where we’re to cultivate our lives in Christ as we await the arrival of our Global Gardener Who’s been waiting for us and loving us since the beginning of time.

©2014, Mary Sayler, reviewer


Global Study Bible, paperback


Mobi-ESV Global Study Bible, Kindle e-book edition

Spanish-English Parallel Bible

The RVR/ ESV Spanish/ English Parallel Edition from Crossway brings together the English Standard Version (ESV) and the Reina-Valera (RVR) Bible, loved by Spanish-speaking readers the way the King James Version (KJV) has remained a perennial favorite among English-speaking readers for generations.

Both translations first saw print in the 16th century with the RVR arriving about 40 years earlier than the king’s English version. In this parallel edition, however, both translations have been updated with accuracy and literary excellency sometimes lacking in versions using a thought-for-thought translation, rather than word-for-word.

This edition provides side-by-side readings of scripture in Spanish and English, keeping the verses aligned well on each page. With that consistent format, study notes were not included at the bottom of each page but at the back with RVR and ESV Notes. That’s what I suspect anyway, but this confused me as I found no asterisks or other marks in the corresponding text to match one with the other.

Maybe I missed something, but looking at the notes in the back pages now, they appear to be alternate readings such as those that usually occur in translating one language to another. Since the Bible text came to us in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, rather than Spanish or English, neither version gives us the original words but only the closest approximations that would be understood in our respective languages today. Therefore, each translation of the Bible could have used other words than the ones chosen, so notes often address those possibilities.

Without a doubt, though, the back pages of this recommended edition include “God’s Plan To Save You” with clear explanations and counsel for either Spanish or English-speaking seekers to become well-grounded in the Gospel and ready to grow in Christ.

©2014, Mary Harwell Sayler, Bible reviewer

The RVR/ ESV Spanish/ English Parallel Edition, hardback edition



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The Jesus Bible for children

An eye-appealing format and two-color sidebars that interact with young readers make this edition of the New International Version (NIV) a good choice for children 8 and up to read by themselves but also for teachers to use in small churches where Sunday School classes cover a range of ages or varying number of children. The color maps and thorough concordance will aid learning too. More exceptional though, The Jesus Bible from ZonderKidz includes an “Index of Hints of the Savior/ Jesus Revealed,” which marks the theme of this edition that highlights the many references to Christ throughout the Bible.

Other unique features include glossy insert pages that nicely highlight key concepts in the Christian faith. For example, “The ‘I Am’ Statements of Jesus” help young readers begin to see Christ as the Good Shepherd, Who guides them, and The Way, The Truth, and The Life to call upon in their own lives. However, I wish that important page had been placed in the Gospel of John, rather than the book of Daniel. Similarly, “Jesus in the Psalms” might be placed more effectively in the book of Psalms, rather than the OT book of Second Chronicles.

Hopefully, such publishing matters can be addressed in future editions and possible errors corrected, such as one found on page 28. In the sidebar to a story in Genesis 20, Abraham made the mistake of tricking King Abimelek, but the “Live Like Jesus” insert mistakenly says Moses did the trickery.

Therefore, in reviewing this review copy which Zondervan kindly sent, I’m a little concerned about the publisher's effort to do too much or hurry to publication, but I’m also greatly impressed by the earnest desire to find ways to reach people of all ages and backgrounds for Jesus Christ. That’s what the Gospel should do – must do to reach the ends of the earth as the Lord commands.

Clearly and correctly, this edition demonstrates we can and will “Discover Jesus in Every Book of the Bible.” Amen! Yes, for in every page of God's Word, Jesus Christ is there, and, as we read the Bible, Jesus is here. Wherever we are, Jesus Is God with us.

©2014, Mary Sayler, reviewer


The Jesus Bible, hardcover


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The Jubilee Bible

As an ecumenical Christian eager to promote, not uniformity but unity in the church Body of Christ, I began to read the foreword of The Jubilee Bible with trepidation. This translation published by Aneko Press resulted from ten years of studious work by Russell Stendal, a missionary to the people of Columbia, including the very people who once held him hostage!

As impressive and loving as that it, I really didn’t want to review a Bible with any slams against any particular church – especially over murderous debates and family feuds a few hundred years old that I pray will soon be put to rest! However, the “To The Reader” section pointed to those terrible times only by way of introduction to a Bible translation that got caught in the crossfire.

But why bother to translate that ancient Spanish Bible into English now when new translations seem to be cramming the shelves? Actually, that is why!

New versions range from contemporary (even faddish or slang) English that lessens the rich vocabulary of the Bible to easy-to-read versions that lose connotations important to the context to “politically correct” versions that seem more interested in pleasing people than conveying what God inspired.

Leafing through The Jubilee Bible, however, one might think it’s another King James Version with its use of “Thee” or “Ye and “Thou,” and in many ways, it is. Unlike KJV though, this translation aimed for consistency in the many synonyms translators can choose to say the same thing.

As the publisher explained, this translation “has each unique Hebrew word matched and mated with a unique English word so that the usage (number of occurrences and number of verses where the word occurs) sets forth a meaningful number pattern and a complete definition of what God means by each word.”

If you’re a Bible student or lover of God’s Word, as I am, who likes to compare texts to deepen your understanding, as I do, you might want to order a full copy as shown below.

©2014, Mary Harwell Sayler, reviewer

The Holy Scriptures Jubilee Bible, paperback

Jubilee Bible, imitation leather


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ESV Children’s Bible

What an excellent transition the ESV Children’s Bible from Crossway provides for young people between the ages for reading Bible storybooks and study editions for adults! For example, “The Bible, God’s Message to Us” introduces children to this “ancient book full of God’s mystery and truth. Full of wonder and power,” then goes on to explain why the Bible was written and some ways to respond.

Additional front matter also helps children get grounded before going on to the highly accurate but readable ESV (English Standard Version) text, while the back pages include such helpful information as “Who is God? What is God Like?”

The back matter also shows ways “God Makes Himself Known” and lists the Ten Commandments with explanations for each. Going “From Old To New Testament,” the study aids discuss “Jesus: God’s Righteous Son” and the meanings of the Gospel, salvation, and sanctification. In addition, a dictionary defines words often used in Sunday School, church services, and Bible classes with clear definitions for the A to Z terminology ranging from “abide” to “zeal.”

A defining moment for this edition, however, occurs in the lively Bible storybook illustrations interspersed throughout the text. That format makes the ESV Children’s Bible a good choice for children just learning to read and also those who absorb information better through pictures than words. For children who have begun to look up Bible books, chapters, and verses themselves, the layout eases the search with a red banner across the top of each page to highlight the actual Bible text.

©2014, Mary Harwell Sayler, Bible Reviewer


ESV Children’s Bible, hardback



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The New Catholic Answer Bible

Whether in a Protestant or Roman Catholic Bible study group, someone inevitably asks, “Why do Catholics ____?” In The New Catholic Answer Bible, Our Sunday Visitor provides intelligent, biblical answers to the questions most likely to fill in that blank.

For example, the page insert entitled “Does the Church Teach Evolution?” includes these responses:

“The entire universe, including the human race, is not the result of chance, but of God’s purposeful, loving design (see Gn 1:1, 31).”

and

“Human beings are not simply more advanced animals; they bear the image of God in a unique way (see Gn 1:26-27).”

For another example, the page for “What Is Original Sin?” says: “Unlike personal sin, resulting from the wrong choices of individuals, original sin does not result from our own doing. It is contracted, not committed; we are conceived with it (see Ps 51:7)” because of the Fall in the Garden of Eden where our original parents used free will to disobey God. However, “The sacrament of Baptism cleanses us from original sin. It restores us to original righteousness and fellowship with God (see Acts 2:38, 22:16).”

Throughout this edition, you’ll find an abundant supply of Bible references, relating to each colorful page insert. Many of the key questions relate specifically to the Catholic Church, such as “Why Does the Church Have Religious Orders?” or “Why Do Catholics Pray for the Dead?” but others address questions people ask in general, such as “Why Does God Allow Evil?”

The biblical response to that big question required more space, but to give you an idea of the thoughtful answers, “God allows evil in part because it is a necessary risk of creating sons and daughters who are free to love or not to love…. At the same time, no matter how terrible the evil caused by sin, God is great enough and wise enough, to bring out through that evil, an even greater good (see Gn 50:20, Roman 8:28). The resurrection of Christ is in fact a glorious example of how God can create joy from sorrow, beauty from horror, victory from defeat, and life from death.”

In addition to question-answer page inserts and insightful footnotes throughout the book, this edition includes articles on the divine revelation and history of the Bible in the front matter and a three-year reading plan in the back pages. If you want to learn more about the Catholic faith and doctrine to deepen your life as a parishioner or to broaden your understanding of a Christian perspective outside your denomination, The New Catholic Answer Bible will answer those needs and more.

©2014, Mary Harwell Sayler, Bible reviewer


The New Catholic Answer Bible, paperback



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