Tuesday, July 22, 2008
How is the NLT Study Bible Different?
Many people ask a variation of the following question: “How is the NLT Study Bible different from / better than [other study Bible X]?”
I don’t want to parody any other study Bible, because (as the editor of one) I know just how much effort they require, and I want to honor the truly excellent contributions of all who have been involved in making study Bibles. So I’m not going mention other products—not because they aren’t worth it, but because I cannot do them justice. I’d better leave that job to more impartial observers.
Okay, that’s my disclaimer. Now, here’s my perspective on the matter: Basically, the NLT Study Bible focuses on the meaning and message of the text as understood in and through the original historical context. I don’t see other study Bibles focusing so fully on that. Some study Bibles focus on helping people to accept a particular doctrinal system, while others focus on “personal application.” Others simply provide interesting details about the context, language, grammar, etc., without asking how that information will impact people’s understanding of the text. Still others focus on a particular type of study methodology—topical study, word study, etc. Our goal, by contrast, was to provide everything we could that would help the readers understand the Scripture text more fully as the original human authors and readers themselves would have understood it.
One way in which this goal works out is this: In many passages, we don’t discuss the theological implications “for us” in our culture, where it is different from the biblical world. We simply discuss what the text meant in the original context and let people extrapolate from there. This means, for instance, that we don’t have a discussion of "Creation vs. Evolution" in Genesis 1—because that question was really not at play for the original human author and readers of Genesis (I’ll probably post more about Gen 1 in the future).
Another way to put this distinctive is this: We don’t try to take the place of the Christian tradition/community in providing a systematic doctrinal understanding of Scripture. Within the scope of “evangelical Protestant Christianity,” there are a lot of different systematic ways to understand the Bible. What we are trying to do is supplement that understanding, deepen it, and (on occasion) challenge it in light of a contextual reading of Scripture. We are not trying to mold the readers to a particular systematic theology, but to deepen and enrich their own reading of Scripture. So people from a variety of traditions/communities should be able to benefit from studying the Bible with the NLT Study Bible.
I don’t want to parody any other study Bible, because (as the editor of one) I know just how much effort they require, and I want to honor the truly excellent contributions of all who have been involved in making study Bibles. So I’m not going mention other products—not because they aren’t worth it, but because I cannot do them justice. I’d better leave that job to more impartial observers.
Okay, that’s my disclaimer. Now, here’s my perspective on the matter: Basically, the NLT Study Bible focuses on the meaning and message of the text as understood in and through the original historical context. I don’t see other study Bibles focusing so fully on that. Some study Bibles focus on helping people to accept a particular doctrinal system, while others focus on “personal application.” Others simply provide interesting details about the context, language, grammar, etc., without asking how that information will impact people’s understanding of the text. Still others focus on a particular type of study methodology—topical study, word study, etc. Our goal, by contrast, was to provide everything we could that would help the readers understand the Scripture text more fully as the original human authors and readers themselves would have understood it.
One way in which this goal works out is this: In many passages, we don’t discuss the theological implications “for us” in our culture, where it is different from the biblical world. We simply discuss what the text meant in the original context and let people extrapolate from there. This means, for instance, that we don’t have a discussion of "Creation vs. Evolution" in Genesis 1—because that question was really not at play for the original human author and readers of Genesis (I’ll probably post more about Gen 1 in the future).
Another way to put this distinctive is this: We don’t try to take the place of the Christian tradition/community in providing a systematic doctrinal understanding of Scripture. Within the scope of “evangelical Protestant Christianity,” there are a lot of different systematic ways to understand the Bible. What we are trying to do is supplement that understanding, deepen it, and (on occasion) challenge it in light of a contextual reading of Scripture. We are not trying to mold the readers to a particular systematic theology, but to deepen and enrich their own reading of Scripture. So people from a variety of traditions/communities should be able to benefit from studying the Bible with the NLT Study Bible.
posted by Sean Harrison at 7:00 AM
I can't wait to my hands on one. This morning I was telling my wife about some of my favorite features in the NLT Study Bible. Now she is excited which is good since it looks like she will not object to my buying yet another Bible. She ,being the historian of the family, particularly liked the maps, diagrams, and timelines.
Sean --
Excellent explanation. Sean gave a slightly more marketing version here and I responded (saying good stuff about the NLTSB).
I discuss a comparison with a treatment from another publisher so I'm linking rather than cross posting. But the main message was I think the NLT's treatment was faithful to the text in exactly the way Sean describes their goals. And when comparing to another (highly respected) product with similar goals their treatment addressed the same issues.
Since Sean directly mentions the NIVSB, let me just say the NLTSB map looks way better but the two bibles (at least visually) seem to be disagreeing about the proportions in geography. The NLTSB notes (as mentioned above) were thematic and frankly more relevant for a bible study than the NIVSB's.
While I need to see a copy this is really looking like the best evangelical study bible on the market.
Sounds good! I like the focus on the historical context to help better understand the meaning of the text. That is just so important. I think you all did the right thing on Genesis.
Sean, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the decision to use a 2-column format for the NLT Study Bible.
I personally favor 2 columns, but I know that the recent trend in Study Bibles has been towards the single-column format.
I've used and preached from the NLT for years -- looked over the Genesis preview -- and think that this approach to developing a study Bible is outstanding. Unfortunately, the NLTSB apparently utilizes red ink in the gospels -- and like many people I have trouble focusing on blocks of red. I'll take a look at it once it is released but I suspect that it won't work for me. Sigh.
Thanks, Brian, and welcome to the NLTSB blog!
Welcome Brad! I'm sorry that the the red text will make it hard for you to use the NLT Study Bible. I'll give the folks over here this feedback as we think about future editions.
Hi, K-Funk. As you know the optimally line width is no more than about 75 characters. It's much easier to do that in a two-column format. It also uses less paper, because you fit more text on each page -- especially in the poetry sections. So the total page count is less for the same content -- better for the publisher (cost), for the consumer (weight), and for the trees.
Sean, this type of study bible is going to be exciting. There is a desire in people to learn about the historical context of biblical passages because it puts things into perspective for us today. I look forward to seeing it.
Sean wrote: As you know the optimally line width is no more than about 75 characters. It's much easier to do that in a two-column format. It also uses less paper, because you fit more text on each page [...]
Sean, I'd be curious to get more of your thoughts on the decision making of the text layout, especially comparing what you've chosen for the NLTSB against the "Discover God" SB, which used a single column text block and, except for some of the typeface choices, was very attractive, in my opinion.
ElShaddai, I initially asked for a design that would allow us to pack as much content in as possible, given a page count target of 2,500 pages. Two-column text is generally more efficient with space. Even at that, the NLTSB design has an "openness" in its look that belies its density. Tim Botts, the interior designer, is a genius.
Hey Sean,
I'm sitting here looking through a copy of the NLTSB now so I can write a review. Just wanted to quickly say that I think that if these are your reasons for the study Bible, you all have done a marvelous job with it. If it's ok, I want to incorporate a quote or two from this entry into the review, just to give readers who might not have seen this post a look into the method and purpose.
Bryan
Hey, Bryan. Go for it.
Hey Sean,
Here is the review:
Review
If my comments are critical, may I still post here or must I go to a different blog for that? I did make one post, but it was removed - though it was not rude, just critical.
@bryan: Thanks for the review, very thorough and well done.
@tom n: Yes, you can be critical. I don't recall seeing your other comment, so if I missed it I'm sorry (I moderate, but with a light hand).
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home