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Bibliotheca #5
Bibliotheca Volume V: The New Testament
Bibliotheca is the entire biblical library separated into volumes and designed purely for reading. The text is reverently treated in classic typographic style, free of all added conventions such as chapter numbers, verse numbers, section headers, cross references, and notes.
- GenresNew Testament
566 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2016
13 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 28, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised with this version and translation of the New Testament. I've been eyeing the Bibliotheca project for a while. I've mainly seen the Bible presented as one book, two columns on each page, chapter/verse/markings all over the place, on thin paper. This project completely reimagined the presentation of the Bible. Instead of one book with thin paper, it's broken up into 5 books on beautiful, thick paper. The typography was created specifically for this project. The translation is new (the American Literary Version, as of 2016). It had remnants of the King James Version with enough turns of phrases to have me read anew a number of verses. It was truly a pleasure to read this version and to hold a work of art. There are no verse or chapter references. You can just read it straight through. It's amazing how much it flows when entire books of the New Testament are included together and not split up into chapters. The splitting up can disturb the flow of what is being said.
April 11, 2017
I absolutely love this concept! I have found that I am inclined to read larger sections of the Bible in one sitting. The books are beautifully crafted and well made. My only issue is the ASV translation. It's not awful, it's just not my preferred translation.
September 14, 2022
The folks at Bibliotheca were so kind as to send me a copy of their latest volume (5) and final installment of their new translation of the Bible (an updated version of the 1901 American Standard Version) for review. Before reviewing the content of the translation, I would be remiss if I didn’t review the impressive production of the book itself. The sturdy cloth hardcover matches the solid binding, ribbon bookmark, and aesthetically pleasing layout in an impressive-looking volume. This Bible projects an ethos of serious scholarship and significant literature.
As a student of the Bible, I often find myself waffling between the desire to have a rigorous and academic translation that offers a reliable interpretation of the original languages and a more readable translation aimed more towards meditation and reflection. My initial impression of the Bibliotheca translation is that it hits a sweet spot in between those two desires. The American Standard Version of the Bible has long been respected for its dedication to the original texts and respected scholarly pedigree, but it has become less readable with every passing decade with an increasingly archaic words and phrases. In updating that archaic language, the Bibliotheca maintains the high scholarly history of the ASV, but provides a translation that flows much easier to contemporary sensibilities.
Their decision to remove chapter and verse numbers heightens the ease of which the translation can be used for use for personal reflection and devotion. Their goal is to provide a translation that brings the story front and center, and the lack of numbers dotting every page helps towards that goal. At the same time, the lack of chapters, verses, or even annotations at the top or bottom of pages makes flipping around the texts a challenge – this is a translation of the Bible clearly meant to be read through in large passages and not skipping around verse by random verse.
Recent decades have witnessed a proliferation of Bible translations, styles, and themes and publishers (and Christians) seem eager to find new ways of telling the old story. Many (maybe even most) of those attempts fall flat, but Bibliotheca seems to be on to something with this latest offering. I think scholars and those who have thought deeply about the biblical texts will appreciate the niche this Bible seems to have as a way for thoughtful Christians to consider the story for their lives.
A few notable editorial devices the translators make use of that highlight the scholarly foundations of the translations. John 8 – “the woman caught in adultery” is moved to the end of the chapter on John under the subtitle “Pericope Adulterae” and the break at the end of Mark 16 often given in modern translations with a note on the late addition of its ending is added as “Addendum to Mark.” Here is an excerpt from Acts 2 to help illustrate how the translations reads:
“No when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to him.’ And with many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation.’ Then those who received his word were baptized, and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
As a student of the Bible, I often find myself waffling between the desire to have a rigorous and academic translation that offers a reliable interpretation of the original languages and a more readable translation aimed more towards meditation and reflection. My initial impression of the Bibliotheca translation is that it hits a sweet spot in between those two desires. The American Standard Version of the Bible has long been respected for its dedication to the original texts and respected scholarly pedigree, but it has become less readable with every passing decade with an increasingly archaic words and phrases. In updating that archaic language, the Bibliotheca maintains the high scholarly history of the ASV, but provides a translation that flows much easier to contemporary sensibilities.
Their decision to remove chapter and verse numbers heightens the ease of which the translation can be used for use for personal reflection and devotion. Their goal is to provide a translation that brings the story front and center, and the lack of numbers dotting every page helps towards that goal. At the same time, the lack of chapters, verses, or even annotations at the top or bottom of pages makes flipping around the texts a challenge – this is a translation of the Bible clearly meant to be read through in large passages and not skipping around verse by random verse.
Recent decades have witnessed a proliferation of Bible translations, styles, and themes and publishers (and Christians) seem eager to find new ways of telling the old story. Many (maybe even most) of those attempts fall flat, but Bibliotheca seems to be on to something with this latest offering. I think scholars and those who have thought deeply about the biblical texts will appreciate the niche this Bible seems to have as a way for thoughtful Christians to consider the story for their lives.
A few notable editorial devices the translators make use of that highlight the scholarly foundations of the translations. John 8 – “the woman caught in adultery” is moved to the end of the chapter on John under the subtitle “Pericope Adulterae” and the break at the end of Mark 16 often given in modern translations with a note on the late addition of its ending is added as “Addendum to Mark.” Here is an excerpt from Acts 2 to help illustrate how the translations reads:
“No when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to him.’ And with many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation.’ Then those who received his word were baptized, and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
September 9, 2019
Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God Himself shall be with them-their God.
And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more; nor mourning nor crying nor pain-they shall be no more. The first things have passed away.
From the book of Revelation.
And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more; nor mourning nor crying nor pain-they shall be no more. The first things have passed away.
From the book of Revelation.
August 6, 2022
I remember hearing about the Bibliotheca project a few years ago on Kickstarter, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to review a copy of the New Testament. I also have friends who own the full set and highly recommend it. There are a million different editions of the Bible and as many translations. So does Bibliotheca do enough to set it apart?
As I read through the Bibliotheca New Testament, my thoughts mostly fell into one of three categories: the physicality of the book, the design of the pages and font, and the words themselves, the translation. Below I dive into each.
The Physical Book
One of Bibliotheca’s selling points is its physicality. The book is printed and bound in Germany by highly-regarded printers, the acid-free paper was made in Austria, the satin ribbon was weaved in France, and the pure cotton bookcloth was specially made for Bibliotheca in the Netherlands. The entire premise of the Bibliotheca editions of the Bible is one of elegant physicality that encourages the book to actually be held and read.
In general, this edition of the Bible hits it out of the park regarding its physical presence. The book has a nice weight and feel, the texture of the bookcloth is pleasant to touch, and it is easy to hold. I have many editions of the Bible, and if they are easy to hold they have tiny font, and if they are easy to read they are large tomes. The binding is secure and the pages are thick and sturdy, especially when compared to the standard onion-skin paper of most Bibles.
The one concern I have about the physicality of the book is the front and back cover boards. They may be a little too thin and flexible for long-term durability. Already the corners of the hardcover have bent and creased through the shipping process and a week of reading. However, this is not an edition of the New Testament someone is going to take backpacking or throw around, so this isn’t really a big concern.
Font and Interior Design
The interior design of the Bibliotheca New Testament is perfectly minimalist. As advertised, there are no footnotes, verse numbers, or supplemental information. The text is comfortably spaced on the pages, and each book/epistle in the New Testament has a standalone title page. The minimalist design reduces distractions and the ever-present temptation to follow rabbit trails when reading a Bible version with tons of counter references and footnotes. I was able to easily flow through individual books without stopping, which is more akin to their original use of letters that were read aloud at Christian gatherings. It made it easier to take in the whole of a passage or letter, rather than getting bogged down in the nitty gritty. Please don’t misunderstand me, I think digging deep into the original language and context and history of specific passages is very important for study, but that is not the intention of the Bibliotheca version of the New Testament. While there were a few occurrences where I wished for verse numbers so I could easily look them up and compare, it is easy enough to Google a few words of a passage and have the number identification pop up.
The serif font, designed by Adam Lewis Greene and called Katharos, works perfectly well. There isn’t anything particularly striking about the font, no individual letters that jump out as being interesting. But I suppose that is the point – the font isn’t distracting. It is easy to read and glides from one word to the next.
The Translation
Finally, I want to discuss the translation of the Bibliotheca New Testament, which is called the American Literary Version. The American Literary Version is a revision of the American Standard Version of 1900, which is itself a revision of the King James Version of the Bible. I found the translation reads quite well and is a good fit for this type of project. I have read dozens of different translations, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages because they are all translated from different languages, cultures, and historical moments, so there is no such thing as a “perfect” translation. Some translations, like the King James, use antiquated language and thus can be inaccessible to the average reader. While others can use such common and currently-prevalent language that they read like someone just wrote the text last week. The American Literary Version straddles this line excellently. The language is contemporary enough to be easily read by most literate adults. However, there are plenty of moments that recall the ancient-ness of the text. Terms like “brethren” “yea” and “unto” are small but remind the reader that this message is ancient. The translation contributes to a sense of solemnity, not to distance the reader from the text, but to remind them of its magnitude.
My one complaint with the translation is its gendered language. I understand the sources that led to this translation, and the arguments for the original language’s use of gendered language. But I have also become accustomed to translations that use “brothers and sisters” instead of just brothers. Or “humans” instead of “mankind.” Because of the Christian culture I grew up in, I am so used to this type of language I automatically adjust it in my head as I read. I know the verses don’t pertain only to literal men, for instance. However, I can imagine some difficulty with this language if someone is reading through scripture for the first time as a literary experience and is distracted or discouraged by the seeming focus on masculinity.
—
In general, I think the Bibliotheca New Testament is an excellent product, with high-quality components, and much thought and care put into its design. However, some discernment may be required about who this edition of scripture is best suited for. Visit the Bibliotheca website or Instagram to learn more about this edition of the Bible.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher through the Speakeasy blogging review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
As I read through the Bibliotheca New Testament, my thoughts mostly fell into one of three categories: the physicality of the book, the design of the pages and font, and the words themselves, the translation. Below I dive into each.
The Physical Book
One of Bibliotheca’s selling points is its physicality. The book is printed and bound in Germany by highly-regarded printers, the acid-free paper was made in Austria, the satin ribbon was weaved in France, and the pure cotton bookcloth was specially made for Bibliotheca in the Netherlands. The entire premise of the Bibliotheca editions of the Bible is one of elegant physicality that encourages the book to actually be held and read.
In general, this edition of the Bible hits it out of the park regarding its physical presence. The book has a nice weight and feel, the texture of the bookcloth is pleasant to touch, and it is easy to hold. I have many editions of the Bible, and if they are easy to hold they have tiny font, and if they are easy to read they are large tomes. The binding is secure and the pages are thick and sturdy, especially when compared to the standard onion-skin paper of most Bibles.
The one concern I have about the physicality of the book is the front and back cover boards. They may be a little too thin and flexible for long-term durability. Already the corners of the hardcover have bent and creased through the shipping process and a week of reading. However, this is not an edition of the New Testament someone is going to take backpacking or throw around, so this isn’t really a big concern.
Font and Interior Design
The interior design of the Bibliotheca New Testament is perfectly minimalist. As advertised, there are no footnotes, verse numbers, or supplemental information. The text is comfortably spaced on the pages, and each book/epistle in the New Testament has a standalone title page. The minimalist design reduces distractions and the ever-present temptation to follow rabbit trails when reading a Bible version with tons of counter references and footnotes. I was able to easily flow through individual books without stopping, which is more akin to their original use of letters that were read aloud at Christian gatherings. It made it easier to take in the whole of a passage or letter, rather than getting bogged down in the nitty gritty. Please don’t misunderstand me, I think digging deep into the original language and context and history of specific passages is very important for study, but that is not the intention of the Bibliotheca version of the New Testament. While there were a few occurrences where I wished for verse numbers so I could easily look them up and compare, it is easy enough to Google a few words of a passage and have the number identification pop up.
The serif font, designed by Adam Lewis Greene and called Katharos, works perfectly well. There isn’t anything particularly striking about the font, no individual letters that jump out as being interesting. But I suppose that is the point – the font isn’t distracting. It is easy to read and glides from one word to the next.
The Translation
Finally, I want to discuss the translation of the Bibliotheca New Testament, which is called the American Literary Version. The American Literary Version is a revision of the American Standard Version of 1900, which is itself a revision of the King James Version of the Bible. I found the translation reads quite well and is a good fit for this type of project. I have read dozens of different translations, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages because they are all translated from different languages, cultures, and historical moments, so there is no such thing as a “perfect” translation. Some translations, like the King James, use antiquated language and thus can be inaccessible to the average reader. While others can use such common and currently-prevalent language that they read like someone just wrote the text last week. The American Literary Version straddles this line excellently. The language is contemporary enough to be easily read by most literate adults. However, there are plenty of moments that recall the ancient-ness of the text. Terms like “brethren” “yea” and “unto” are small but remind the reader that this message is ancient. The translation contributes to a sense of solemnity, not to distance the reader from the text, but to remind them of its magnitude.
My one complaint with the translation is its gendered language. I understand the sources that led to this translation, and the arguments for the original language’s use of gendered language. But I have also become accustomed to translations that use “brothers and sisters” instead of just brothers. Or “humans” instead of “mankind.” Because of the Christian culture I grew up in, I am so used to this type of language I automatically adjust it in my head as I read. I know the verses don’t pertain only to literal men, for instance. However, I can imagine some difficulty with this language if someone is reading through scripture for the first time as a literary experience and is distracted or discouraged by the seeming focus on masculinity.
—
In general, I think the Bibliotheca New Testament is an excellent product, with high-quality components, and much thought and care put into its design. However, some discernment may be required about who this edition of scripture is best suited for. Visit the Bibliotheca website or Instagram to learn more about this edition of the Bible.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher through the Speakeasy blogging review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
August 6, 2022
A Review of The Eyes of God: A Fisherman's Tale by Marilyn Huntsman
and Bibliotheca. Volume 5
Translation from the Original Tongues
being the Version set forth
Anno Domini
1611
1881
The American Edition
1900
Newly Edited
2016
Ms. Huntsman springs for us a tale of Simon Peter beginning at the very start of his meeting Jesus and ending with his own death upon an upside-down cross.
She rounds out her talk with the description of his having two wives and two children, his boy died due to persecution against Peter, his daughter had a son before his death.
In the reading of the times in which the Church was founded, one reads of division, much as today, as people moved away from the central tenets of the teachings of Jesus, into their own cultural biases. One is taken by the violence throughout their time, which seemed very little different from today. The difference was there was no atomic bomb or means of destroying the climate.
Ms. Huntman concludes with Peter being moved to Rome for trial as the leader of the Christian movement, and finally, crucifixion on a cross upside down.
This is a very readable and touching book. She has done excellent research on the politics and the events of the time and bases her novel on the overall Biblical story.
--------------------------------------------
Bibliotheca. Volume 5
Translation from the Original Tongues
being the Version set forth
Anno Domini
1611
1881
The American Edition
1900
Newly Edited
2016
Bibliotheca. Volume 5 is a newly edited version of the King James Version. It conveys the poetic beauty of the original King James and is easily readable. Personally, the dignity and beauty of the language led me to read through this version in two days. It draws one into scripture.
The editors allowed the words to flow freely by removing all verse numbers, and it was like reading a typical book. Following the tradition of the King James Version, it does not use inclusive language.
Acknowledging the same translation faults as those of King James, this book is highly recommended for its magnificent readable language.
We live in a time of a continual flow of news, and of spreading gossip on social media. A time when anger rages, and Christianity is under attack.
There is little positive news on faith in Jesus of Nazareth on social media and in the news. We hear nothing of the social justice work of the various religious groups, nothing of people sharing their positive relationship with God.
Personally, I am shredded to pieces over my faith.
But what I have found over and over is that "if you want to save your life, Jesus said, "you must first be willing to lose it. You must be willing to take up your cross and follow me"--yes even through the
Valley of the Shadow. For the Kingdom of heaven will cost you not less than everything. But here is a great secret: even when you only catch it in glimpses, like lightning flashing from east to west the kingdom of heaven is already you.
And in this kingdom, all are welcome: The people walking by the window of the restaurant next door, on their way to a party. The homeless man on the corner, talking crazy, the young man on the corner selling drugs. All of us. Here, they that mourn will be comforted: the parents of the young man who committed suicide in Texas, the street youth who found out his parents are dead, and could not go to the funeral, and the young homeless girl with brain cancer. Here, where crosses can be so heavy, burdens are quietly made light. And when one's eyes open as a child's one will catch sight of the smile of another. Then: "Wow", he says, and smiles! These two books reminded me to "smile
again! Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God"!
------------------------
Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.
P.O. Box 642656
San Francisco, CA 94164
www.temenos.org
415-305-2124
and Bibliotheca. Volume 5
Translation from the Original Tongues
being the Version set forth
Anno Domini
1611
1881
The American Edition
1900
Newly Edited
2016
Ms. Huntsman springs for us a tale of Simon Peter beginning at the very start of his meeting Jesus and ending with his own death upon an upside-down cross.
She rounds out her talk with the description of his having two wives and two children, his boy died due to persecution against Peter, his daughter had a son before his death.
In the reading of the times in which the Church was founded, one reads of division, much as today, as people moved away from the central tenets of the teachings of Jesus, into their own cultural biases. One is taken by the violence throughout their time, which seemed very little different from today. The difference was there was no atomic bomb or means of destroying the climate.
Ms. Huntman concludes with Peter being moved to Rome for trial as the leader of the Christian movement, and finally, crucifixion on a cross upside down.
This is a very readable and touching book. She has done excellent research on the politics and the events of the time and bases her novel on the overall Biblical story.
--------------------------------------------
Bibliotheca. Volume 5
Translation from the Original Tongues
being the Version set forth
Anno Domini
1611
1881
The American Edition
1900
Newly Edited
2016
Bibliotheca. Volume 5 is a newly edited version of the King James Version. It conveys the poetic beauty of the original King James and is easily readable. Personally, the dignity and beauty of the language led me to read through this version in two days. It draws one into scripture.
The editors allowed the words to flow freely by removing all verse numbers, and it was like reading a typical book. Following the tradition of the King James Version, it does not use inclusive language.
Acknowledging the same translation faults as those of King James, this book is highly recommended for its magnificent readable language.
We live in a time of a continual flow of news, and of spreading gossip on social media. A time when anger rages, and Christianity is under attack.
There is little positive news on faith in Jesus of Nazareth on social media and in the news. We hear nothing of the social justice work of the various religious groups, nothing of people sharing their positive relationship with God.
Personally, I am shredded to pieces over my faith.
But what I have found over and over is that "if you want to save your life, Jesus said, "you must first be willing to lose it. You must be willing to take up your cross and follow me"--yes even through the
Valley of the Shadow. For the Kingdom of heaven will cost you not less than everything. But here is a great secret: even when you only catch it in glimpses, like lightning flashing from east to west the kingdom of heaven is already you.
And in this kingdom, all are welcome: The people walking by the window of the restaurant next door, on their way to a party. The homeless man on the corner, talking crazy, the young man on the corner selling drugs. All of us. Here, they that mourn will be comforted: the parents of the young man who committed suicide in Texas, the street youth who found out his parents are dead, and could not go to the funeral, and the young homeless girl with brain cancer. Here, where crosses can be so heavy, burdens are quietly made light. And when one's eyes open as a child's one will catch sight of the smile of another. Then: "Wow", he says, and smiles! These two books reminded me to "smile
again! Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God"!
------------------------
Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.
P.O. Box 642656
San Francisco, CA 94164
www.temenos.org
415-305-2124
September 16, 2022
This is the New Testament I’ve been waiting for.
We are all too familiar with the way the Bible is usually used – the “clobber” verses (taken vastly out of scriptural, historical and cultural contexts) and the way a card-carrying Pharisee would use them – to condemn anyone – or anything new or alien to them, or even a little bit beyond what they already know and are accustomed to.
Any topic is vulnerable to the “This is new and I don’t like it” use of scripture.
What these scripture-toting moralists miss is the full story, tone and texture of any message worth listening to.
The New Testament in particular is a rag-tag, theologically messy collection of stories of transformed lives.
These are not the recollections of lifetimes of theological reflection.
The Gospels and the letters almost all stories of believers, doubters and unbelievers on the run, under pressure, disrespected, even arrested as they made sense of (or couldn’t) a time of political upheaval, oppression and “salvation” (as always, perhaps) not looking like what anyone was expecting.
Any divine writing should be as bare bones as possible – with little to no “commentary” doing its best to explain (away) the powerful and pungent words that don’t just sit on the page.
From apocalyptic to flag waving to “recovery”, we have “versions” of the Bible that purport to tell us what we are reading.
But what we need is a version like this; “unplugged”, “naked” or the equivalent of “roots music” – the Word as it is.
Historic, muddled, idealistic, unsettling and, in places inspiring beyond words, the Gospels, literally the “Good News” is still, if we dare encounter it, pulsing both with a life of its own and the flickering promise of “abundant life” that leaves no cliché of refuge, no self-satisfying pretense of superiority of race or education or even theological purity.
These are writers (and stories) of those on the run from established religious institutions – with literally death warrants out for their heresies.
The disciples and apostles were not beaten, harassed and arrested (and, in some case executed) because they did “good” things; they were arrested because thy threatened the systems and beliefs of those around them – their families, their neighbors and, of course, their leaders, religious or not.
And these bare words are still a threat to any system of manipulation or control.
Conventional, even “acceptable” behavior or beliefs, or even “spiritual” development are not to be found on these pages – but generosity, compassion and even sacrifice that restores and revives is found there.
If you want words that confirm and assure you, this is the wrong book for you.
If you want words that electrify and challenge you – even after two thousand years – and multiple readings, this is the book for you.
If you are happily complacent, or “luke-warm” as this book put it in its final chapter, you won’t be happy at what those verses still say.
And if you want abundance – not of money or power or status, or even pleasure, but of those unmeasurable things that make life worth living, this is the book for you.
As I read this book, I kept getting the sense of “If only…”
If only human beings had this text available at any key points in history.
If only monarchs, generals and every day citizens knew, and kept, these ideals for how to treat one another, we would not have had the burdens that still haunt our histories and relationships.
Could any of us even begin to imagine human history without exploitation, oppression, violence, conquest and imperialism?
Instead of slavery (of all kinds) human beings – and all of creation – would have been respected and valued.
We could have had the “kingdom” on earth, if only…
We are all too familiar with the way the Bible is usually used – the “clobber” verses (taken vastly out of scriptural, historical and cultural contexts) and the way a card-carrying Pharisee would use them – to condemn anyone – or anything new or alien to them, or even a little bit beyond what they already know and are accustomed to.
Any topic is vulnerable to the “This is new and I don’t like it” use of scripture.
What these scripture-toting moralists miss is the full story, tone and texture of any message worth listening to.
The New Testament in particular is a rag-tag, theologically messy collection of stories of transformed lives.
These are not the recollections of lifetimes of theological reflection.
The Gospels and the letters almost all stories of believers, doubters and unbelievers on the run, under pressure, disrespected, even arrested as they made sense of (or couldn’t) a time of political upheaval, oppression and “salvation” (as always, perhaps) not looking like what anyone was expecting.
Any divine writing should be as bare bones as possible – with little to no “commentary” doing its best to explain (away) the powerful and pungent words that don’t just sit on the page.
From apocalyptic to flag waving to “recovery”, we have “versions” of the Bible that purport to tell us what we are reading.
But what we need is a version like this; “unplugged”, “naked” or the equivalent of “roots music” – the Word as it is.
Historic, muddled, idealistic, unsettling and, in places inspiring beyond words, the Gospels, literally the “Good News” is still, if we dare encounter it, pulsing both with a life of its own and the flickering promise of “abundant life” that leaves no cliché of refuge, no self-satisfying pretense of superiority of race or education or even theological purity.
These are writers (and stories) of those on the run from established religious institutions – with literally death warrants out for their heresies.
The disciples and apostles were not beaten, harassed and arrested (and, in some case executed) because they did “good” things; they were arrested because thy threatened the systems and beliefs of those around them – their families, their neighbors and, of course, their leaders, religious or not.
And these bare words are still a threat to any system of manipulation or control.
Conventional, even “acceptable” behavior or beliefs, or even “spiritual” development are not to be found on these pages – but generosity, compassion and even sacrifice that restores and revives is found there.
If you want words that confirm and assure you, this is the wrong book for you.
If you want words that electrify and challenge you – even after two thousand years – and multiple readings, this is the book for you.
If you are happily complacent, or “luke-warm” as this book put it in its final chapter, you won’t be happy at what those verses still say.
And if you want abundance – not of money or power or status, or even pleasure, but of those unmeasurable things that make life worth living, this is the book for you.
As I read this book, I kept getting the sense of “If only…”
If only human beings had this text available at any key points in history.
If only monarchs, generals and every day citizens knew, and kept, these ideals for how to treat one another, we would not have had the burdens that still haunt our histories and relationships.
Could any of us even begin to imagine human history without exploitation, oppression, violence, conquest and imperialism?
Instead of slavery (of all kinds) human beings – and all of creation – would have been respected and valued.
We could have had the “kingdom” on earth, if only…
July 31, 2022
This is an incredible reading of the New Testament. It is written in more of a story form without the traditional verses and chapters. The American Literary Version is a new version to me, and I found it appropriate and true to original texts. There is so much to love about the Bibliotheca New Testament, and now I hope to acquire the entire set! (Bibliotheca New Testament is Volume V of a Five-Volume set.) Such a beautiful, meaningful, and abundant learning and worshiping shelf in my library.
First, I’ll mention the format of this sturdy book.
• Hardcover: The hardcover is bound nicely, with a woven cotton textured exterior and an elegant gold embossed title on the spine. Lay-flat design.
• Pages: The pages are sturdy, acid-free pages. They are a bit thicker than traditional Scripture pages—smooth to the touch, with no bleed-through from the backside.
• Presentation: There are 566 pages of text (Katharos Text Face) left aligned and formatted in paragraphs rather than formatted in the traditional verse and chapter format of scripture. This gives it more of a literary feel.
• Sections: The book is arranged in the same orders as the traditional New Testament Books i.e., Matthew, Mark, Luke…
• Bookmark: There is an attached satin ribbon for place-keeping, which is always a huge plus for me.
Secondly, I’ll comment on the content.
• The paragraph style of Scripture makes it easy to read, and I find myself reading further each sitting before I find a stopping place.
• I haven’t found any discrepancies from my other Bible Version, and feel it supplements my study and worship time.
• I like how certain, more pronounced dialogue is separated into distinctly marked passages, emphasizing their importance or significance.
• In this version, Thou is changed to you, doth becomes does, etc.
Thirdly, I’m excited about the entire five-volume set!
Bibliotheca Volume I: The Five Books of Moses & The Former Prophets
Bibliotheca Volume II: The Latter Prophets
Bibliotheca Volume III: The Writings
Bibliotheca Volume IV: The Books Commonly Called the Apocrypha
Bibliotheca Volume V: The New Testament
The Bibliotheca New Testament is supplemental to my traditional KJV and NIV version, rather than a replacement. For instance, the memorization aspect. Knowing the verse numbers, chapter numbers, etc. is essential in finding and memorizing Scripture. That doesn’t necessarily take away from this presentation but is something worth noting. Also, it proves to be a little more difficult to navigate when searching for specific texts, such as John 3:16. It took me a bit to locate this section of Scripture (on page 192.)
Overall, I gained a lot from reading from the American Literary Version, because my go-to versions are so familiar to me. Reading a new version causes me to pause in certain parts because they sound or feel a little different. I look deeper into these sections I may have previously glided over.
Being a new-to-me version, I didn’t expect to like this as much as I do. I’m so pleased with the contents, appearance, accuracy, and importance of this book. And I look forward to obtaining the entire five-volume set.
Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book via Speakeasy.
First, I’ll mention the format of this sturdy book.
• Hardcover: The hardcover is bound nicely, with a woven cotton textured exterior and an elegant gold embossed title on the spine. Lay-flat design.
• Pages: The pages are sturdy, acid-free pages. They are a bit thicker than traditional Scripture pages—smooth to the touch, with no bleed-through from the backside.
• Presentation: There are 566 pages of text (Katharos Text Face) left aligned and formatted in paragraphs rather than formatted in the traditional verse and chapter format of scripture. This gives it more of a literary feel.
• Sections: The book is arranged in the same orders as the traditional New Testament Books i.e., Matthew, Mark, Luke…
• Bookmark: There is an attached satin ribbon for place-keeping, which is always a huge plus for me.
Secondly, I’ll comment on the content.
• The paragraph style of Scripture makes it easy to read, and I find myself reading further each sitting before I find a stopping place.
• I haven’t found any discrepancies from my other Bible Version, and feel it supplements my study and worship time.
• I like how certain, more pronounced dialogue is separated into distinctly marked passages, emphasizing their importance or significance.
• In this version, Thou is changed to you, doth becomes does, etc.
Thirdly, I’m excited about the entire five-volume set!
Bibliotheca Volume I: The Five Books of Moses & The Former Prophets
Bibliotheca Volume II: The Latter Prophets
Bibliotheca Volume III: The Writings
Bibliotheca Volume IV: The Books Commonly Called the Apocrypha
Bibliotheca Volume V: The New Testament
The Bibliotheca New Testament is supplemental to my traditional KJV and NIV version, rather than a replacement. For instance, the memorization aspect. Knowing the verse numbers, chapter numbers, etc. is essential in finding and memorizing Scripture. That doesn’t necessarily take away from this presentation but is something worth noting. Also, it proves to be a little more difficult to navigate when searching for specific texts, such as John 3:16. It took me a bit to locate this section of Scripture (on page 192.)
Overall, I gained a lot from reading from the American Literary Version, because my go-to versions are so familiar to me. Reading a new version causes me to pause in certain parts because they sound or feel a little different. I look deeper into these sections I may have previously glided over.
Being a new-to-me version, I didn’t expect to like this as much as I do. I’m so pleased with the contents, appearance, accuracy, and importance of this book. And I look forward to obtaining the entire five-volume set.
Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book via Speakeasy.
July 30, 2022
I remember hearing about the Bibliotheca project back when it first went on Kickstarter in 2014. I was fascinated by the minimalist concept and intrigued by the translational philosophy that went into it. Unfortunately, the price tag was a bit too hefty for me at the time, but I was thrilled when I recently saw the New Testament volume of Bibliotheca pop up on the Speakeasy network for review.
Being a single volume, the New Testament doesn’t come with the wooden case available for the full set, but it did come packaged in sort of a cardboard sleeve that was carefully molded and branded in the same title font as used in the volume itself. A subtle, but nice touch.
Enclosed was also a signed note from Adam Lewis Greene, the man behind the project, as well as a sticker of what I presume to be the logo for Writ Press—a line-art lion with the letter “W” on one side and “P” on the other.
Onto the book itself, the quality is fantastic. Smith-sewn binding, pure-cotton bookcloth and ribbon bookmark, acid-free paper. Let’s just say the price tag, although substantial, is not entirely unmerited. It feels great, smells amazing, and easily lays flat.
The book uses two fonts which Adam Lewis Greene designed specifically for this project. The text face, Katharos, is tastefully seriffed and easy to read. And the title face, Katharos Archaic, is a straightforward sans-serif all-caps font. Despite bearing the same name, the two fonts bear practically no similarity to each other, though they work together quite well.
The minimalist approach is interesting, but in my option, it takes things just a little too far. Removing chapter divisions and verse numbers for readability is great! But leaving nothing in their place leaves the reader with walls of text and no divisions. I’d have much preferred to see the various pericopes divided, at least with an embellishment, if not with titled headers.
Furthermore, while chapter indicators need not appear within the text, it would have been great to see them remain at the page headers to facilitate navigation. As it stands, there’s not so much as an indicator for which New Testament book we’re currently in, let alone the chapter. While I understand the intention here is to read straight through, I’d nonetheless much prefer to have an option for navigating to specific chapters when I desire to do so. This could have even been accomplished by an index at the end, if it were absolutely paramount to keep the pages header free, but no such index appears. And the table of contents at the beginning includes only the page for the start of each New Testament book.
Moving onto the translation, Adam Lewis Greene made the choice to update the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901. This is a reasonable way to avoid copyrights (as the ASV is in the public domain) and end up with a readable modern translation. I lament the lack of a section detailing the translational philosophy at the beginning of the book itself; however, you can find it spelled out on the Bibliotheca website.
Beyond Adam Lewis Greene, a team of scholars and proofreaders were involved in the process. The idea seems to have been to update the ASV as minimally as possible, removing archaic spellings and updating words themselves on rare occasions. The main reason for changing words was when they felt the ASV rendered idioms in a manner that was less literal than it could have been. Toward that end, they referenced the literal translations of Robert Young and Joseph Rotherham for the Jewish Scriptures, as well as Robert Alter for the Christian New Testament. The end result is a translation that is free from archaisms, but not necessarily more readable.
More crucially, every problem I have with the ASV remains problematic in this update, as no substantial (but necessary) changes were made. All the language remains androcentrically gendered. Matthew 5:38 still wrongly says not to resist the evildoer, rather than not to respond in kind. Romans 8:28 still wrongly suggests that “all things work together for good,” rather than that God works with us to bring good out of all things. 1 John 2:2 still wrongly uses the language of propitiation.
On the other hand, 1 Corinthians 6:9 thankfully did not follow the trend of many modern translations to incorrectly add homosexuality to the list of sins; however, the ASV rendering “effeminate” remains, which is hardly correct either. And the ASV “abusers of themselves with men” was made slightly worse, becoming “liers with men.” These two phrases have to do with abusive and unbalanced sexual pairing, such as men who have sex with young boys. It does not refer to any kind of consensual adult activity, and I tire of translations that continue failing to make this clear.
All that to be said, Bibliotheca remains a uniquely fascinating project. At the end of the day, it doesn’t seem to be primarily about readability or accuracy or catering to a particular viewpoint. Bibliotheca is first and foremost a work of art. Adam Lewis Greene had a particular artistic vision for the text, and he saw that through meticulously. The places where I may disagree with his choices don’t really matter, because they aren’t the point. This is a work of art—his work of art—and it’s a beautiful one at that.
I can’t really recommend this as a true reader’s edition Bible, nor certainly as anyone’s go-to translation—though it is fascinating as a secondary translation. But I have to deeply appreciate the artistry that went into every aspect of this project. Lovers of scripture and art will certainly find plenty to appreciate here.
Being a single volume, the New Testament doesn’t come with the wooden case available for the full set, but it did come packaged in sort of a cardboard sleeve that was carefully molded and branded in the same title font as used in the volume itself. A subtle, but nice touch.
Enclosed was also a signed note from Adam Lewis Greene, the man behind the project, as well as a sticker of what I presume to be the logo for Writ Press—a line-art lion with the letter “W” on one side and “P” on the other.
Onto the book itself, the quality is fantastic. Smith-sewn binding, pure-cotton bookcloth and ribbon bookmark, acid-free paper. Let’s just say the price tag, although substantial, is not entirely unmerited. It feels great, smells amazing, and easily lays flat.
The book uses two fonts which Adam Lewis Greene designed specifically for this project. The text face, Katharos, is tastefully seriffed and easy to read. And the title face, Katharos Archaic, is a straightforward sans-serif all-caps font. Despite bearing the same name, the two fonts bear practically no similarity to each other, though they work together quite well.
The minimalist approach is interesting, but in my option, it takes things just a little too far. Removing chapter divisions and verse numbers for readability is great! But leaving nothing in their place leaves the reader with walls of text and no divisions. I’d have much preferred to see the various pericopes divided, at least with an embellishment, if not with titled headers.
Furthermore, while chapter indicators need not appear within the text, it would have been great to see them remain at the page headers to facilitate navigation. As it stands, there’s not so much as an indicator for which New Testament book we’re currently in, let alone the chapter. While I understand the intention here is to read straight through, I’d nonetheless much prefer to have an option for navigating to specific chapters when I desire to do so. This could have even been accomplished by an index at the end, if it were absolutely paramount to keep the pages header free, but no such index appears. And the table of contents at the beginning includes only the page for the start of each New Testament book.
Moving onto the translation, Adam Lewis Greene made the choice to update the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901. This is a reasonable way to avoid copyrights (as the ASV is in the public domain) and end up with a readable modern translation. I lament the lack of a section detailing the translational philosophy at the beginning of the book itself; however, you can find it spelled out on the Bibliotheca website.
Beyond Adam Lewis Greene, a team of scholars and proofreaders were involved in the process. The idea seems to have been to update the ASV as minimally as possible, removing archaic spellings and updating words themselves on rare occasions. The main reason for changing words was when they felt the ASV rendered idioms in a manner that was less literal than it could have been. Toward that end, they referenced the literal translations of Robert Young and Joseph Rotherham for the Jewish Scriptures, as well as Robert Alter for the Christian New Testament. The end result is a translation that is free from archaisms, but not necessarily more readable.
More crucially, every problem I have with the ASV remains problematic in this update, as no substantial (but necessary) changes were made. All the language remains androcentrically gendered. Matthew 5:38 still wrongly says not to resist the evildoer, rather than not to respond in kind. Romans 8:28 still wrongly suggests that “all things work together for good,” rather than that God works with us to bring good out of all things. 1 John 2:2 still wrongly uses the language of propitiation.
On the other hand, 1 Corinthians 6:9 thankfully did not follow the trend of many modern translations to incorrectly add homosexuality to the list of sins; however, the ASV rendering “effeminate” remains, which is hardly correct either. And the ASV “abusers of themselves with men” was made slightly worse, becoming “liers with men.” These two phrases have to do with abusive and unbalanced sexual pairing, such as men who have sex with young boys. It does not refer to any kind of consensual adult activity, and I tire of translations that continue failing to make this clear.
All that to be said, Bibliotheca remains a uniquely fascinating project. At the end of the day, it doesn’t seem to be primarily about readability or accuracy or catering to a particular viewpoint. Bibliotheca is first and foremost a work of art. Adam Lewis Greene had a particular artistic vision for the text, and he saw that through meticulously. The places where I may disagree with his choices don’t really matter, because they aren’t the point. This is a work of art—his work of art—and it’s a beautiful one at that.
I can’t really recommend this as a true reader’s edition Bible, nor certainly as anyone’s go-to translation—though it is fascinating as a secondary translation. But I have to deeply appreciate the artistry that went into every aspect of this project. Lovers of scripture and art will certainly find plenty to appreciate here.
December 28, 2017
I love the format of this book: New Testament in one volume, no clutter like cross references or chapter and verse numbers, good sized text in a single column with wide margins. It took a little time to get used to the ASV translation (I normally read the ESV) but there is something about the unfamiliarity of it that causes me to pay more attention to what I'm reading. I'm looking forward to reading the other volumes very soon.
December 30, 2017
Great reading experience. Really enjoy reading single column without chapter and verse numbers. Translation is just unusual enough to catch your attention, but not enough to be a distraction.
Read
July 17, 2023I highly suggest these books, no crowded pages, no funky modern translations, just scripture beginning to end.
March 27, 2022
Like every other volume in this series, the quality of the physical book is impeccable. The font and typesetting are eminently readable, the binding is sturdy, the cover is beautiful. All this is half the reason to get Bibliotheca.
I did find, however, that I had more quibbles about this volume than previous ones. Most are small, really.
First, while previous volumes were good about having section breaks, this one is inconsistent. The gospels basically have none, which leads to a certain problem. For a smooth reading experience, it really is best to have clear "stopping points." Without these the reader will constantly be on the lookout for a natural stopping point himself. Not only is that a distraction, but for me it often meant stopping after a fairly short reading because I wasn't sure if I had time to read up to the next natural stopping point. This lack of section breaks makes sense for some books of the Bible, and maybe even for Mark, but not for the other gospels.
Speaking of the word "gospel," one thing this translation does is translate traditional Christianese words like this one. Instead of "gospel," it is "good tidings." I think that was a smart move. What I didn't like was their rendering of "Satan" as "the Adversary." This translation makes perfect sense in the OT, but it doesn't do justice to the fact that the NT authors simply transliterated the Hebrew title instead of translating it.
Lastly, the translation in a few of Paul's letters was extremely clunky. It wasn't up to the beautiful, literary standard of everything else.
All together, this is still a fantastic NT, though. Most anything else that was good about the OT volumes is still good here.
I did find, however, that I had more quibbles about this volume than previous ones. Most are small, really.
First, while previous volumes were good about having section breaks, this one is inconsistent. The gospels basically have none, which leads to a certain problem. For a smooth reading experience, it really is best to have clear "stopping points." Without these the reader will constantly be on the lookout for a natural stopping point himself. Not only is that a distraction, but for me it often meant stopping after a fairly short reading because I wasn't sure if I had time to read up to the next natural stopping point. This lack of section breaks makes sense for some books of the Bible, and maybe even for Mark, but not for the other gospels.
Speaking of the word "gospel," one thing this translation does is translate traditional Christianese words like this one. Instead of "gospel," it is "good tidings." I think that was a smart move. What I didn't like was their rendering of "Satan" as "the Adversary." This translation makes perfect sense in the OT, but it doesn't do justice to the fact that the NT authors simply transliterated the Hebrew title instead of translating it.
Lastly, the translation in a few of Paul's letters was extremely clunky. It wasn't up to the beautiful, literary standard of everything else.
All together, this is still a fantastic NT, though. Most anything else that was good about the OT volumes is still good here.
October 6, 2021
Well, I read the entire Bible plus Apocrypha in a little over nine months so I got that going for me… 😀 NT much easier to read in large chunks that other sections. I was particularly struck by how easy it was to read the epistles in one sitting. Committing to reading large chunks of the Bible everyday in this format was easier than I thought once I got into the habit. Highly recommended. Bibliotheca is such a joy to read. The way it feels, how easy it is on your eyes, the way it removes distractions, great way to read ancient literature.
May 9, 2022
It took me a little over two years, but I can now say I have read the Bible! Having read the Bible and Divine Comedy, I am feeling like I have two major works under my belt!!
I wanted to read it personally, not only for my faith walk, but also because it will enable me to now hear/receive scripture in a different way during church and from other sources. The @bibliothecaco project is amazing! Being able to turn the pages without conventional distractions is major, and the way the books were organized allowed for uninterrupted space for reading and independent studying!
I wanted to read it personally, not only for my faith walk, but also because it will enable me to now hear/receive scripture in a different way during church and from other sources. The @bibliothecaco project is amazing! Being able to turn the pages without conventional distractions is major, and the way the books were organized allowed for uninterrupted space for reading and independent studying!
November 30, 2021
As my husband noted: With this fifth volume, I finished the Bible including the Apocrypha in reading my way through the 5-volume Biblioteca edition in a year. I found it quite meaningful to read without chapters, verses, and notes, reading the text as sacred text without the rest. I highly recommend it.
November 28, 2021
With this fifth volume, I finished the Bible including Apocrypha in reading my way through Biblioteca in a year. I found it quite meaningful to read without chapters, verses, and notes, reading the text as sacred text without the rest. I highly recommend it.
October 28, 2024
Excellent
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