A satisfying new translation of God's Word: My review and *GIVEAWAY* of The Common English Bible #CEBtour

Are you looking for a fresh translation of God's Word?

Read on for my review of The Common English Bible

AND...

Enter the giveway for your own FREE copy of the Bible today!

ABOUT THE COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE...

Known for being “built on common ground,” the Common English Bible is a collaboration of 120 academic scholars and editors, 77 reading group leaders, and more than 500 average readers from around the world who joined together to clearly translate the Bible’s original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages into 21st century English. More than half-a-million copies of the Bible are currently in print. It’s also available online and in 20 digital formats.

“When we say ‘built on common ground,’ we mean that the Common English Bible is the result of collaboration between opposites: scholars working with average readers; conservatives working with liberals; teens working with retirees; men working with women; many denominations and many ethnicities coming together around the common goal of creating a vibrant and clear translation for 21st century readers, with the ultimate objective of mutually accomplishing God’s overall work in the world; in essence, helping Bible readers live on common ground,” says Paul Franklyn, PhD, associate publisher for the Common English Bible.

The Common English Bible is written in contemporary idiom at the same reading level as the newspaper USA TODAY—using language that’s comfortable and accessible for today’s English readers. It’s available—with and without the Apocrypha—in multiple editions and bindings.

Information about the Common English Bible is available on its website, Twitter stream, Facebook page, and video.

MY REVIEW

The Common English Bible offers a translation that is easy to read and is sure to appeal to the average believer who wants to enjoy God's word conveyed in every day language. From my perspective, this version appears to be an accurate, faithful version of the Bible, similar to the NIV or KJV. Passages that I've read in the NIV that I had to read a few times to understand were much more easily grasped in the Common English Bible. I especially plan on using this Bible with my children, as it is written in such an accessible manner. When I considered my favourite passages, I was quite pleased for the most part. For example, Jeremiah 29:11-12 reads "I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you". I love how this promise is conveyed in this version. However, I felt that some verses were not rendered as well as in others, such as Phillipians 2:9-10 where it speaks of God giving Jesus the name above every other name so that at his name "everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow" (CEB), instead of the strong language used in the NIV where it states everyone "will bow". While I know that in the end it is conveying the same promise of what is to occur in the future, I simply prefer the NIV for some passages.

Overall, however, I am greatly enjoying reading through the CEB and strongly recommend it for readers looking to purchase the Bible for the first time. 4 out of 5 stars.

A copy of the Bible has been provided courtesy of the publisher & the B & B Media group for the purposes of this unbiased review.

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY....

As part of the "Common English Bible Change Your Heart and Life" tour, extending from February through May, copies of the CEB are being given away to readers all over the United States.

You have the opportunity to be selected to receive the CEB through this blog!

To enter, you must be a resident of the United States (sorry international readers! As a Canadian blogger, I can feel your pain).

Simply leave a comment below with your email address and stating why you'd like to receive the Bible, and I will randomly pick a winner from those who enter. I'll then email you for your address to send to the publisher, and you will receive your copy of the CEB in the mail! How sweet is that?

Good luck :)