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NRSVue Holy Bible with Apocrypha
A Beautiful Bible for a Beautiful Faith.
This edition of the NRSVue Holy Bible with Apocrypha invites you to explore the depth and beauty of Scripture. Continuing the legacy of the NRSV, the NRSVue aims to faithfully serve the church in personal spiritual formation, in the liturgy, and in the academy. With revisions based on new textual evidence, historical insights, and linguistic precision, this updated edition delivers a translation of Scripture based on meticulous care for accuracy and readability.
The Apocrypha is placed between Old and New Testaments, a nearly four-hundred-year-old tradition originating with the 1534 German Luther Bible. This practice separates the Apocrypha from the 66-book canon while allowing readers to benefit from its spiritual wisdom, exemplary piety, and historical insight.
The text of the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition, vetted by an ecumenical group of Christian scholarsApocrypha placed between Old and New Testaments
This edition of the NRSVue Holy Bible with Apocrypha invites you to explore the depth and beauty of Scripture. Continuing the legacy of the NRSV, the NRSVue aims to faithfully serve the church in personal spiritual formation, in the liturgy, and in the academy. With revisions based on new textual evidence, historical insights, and linguistic precision, this updated edition delivers a translation of Scripture based on meticulous care for accuracy and readability.
The Apocrypha is placed between Old and New Testaments, a nearly four-hundred-year-old tradition originating with the 1534 German Luther Bible. This practice separates the Apocrypha from the 66-book canon while allowing readers to benefit from its spiritual wisdom, exemplary piety, and historical insight.
The text of the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition, vetted by an ecumenical group of Christian scholarsApocrypha placed between Old and New Testaments
3992 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2022
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 27, 2023
The New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition of the Bible is the most recent of a line of English translations and revisions of the Bible that begins with the Tyndale Bible1522–1535. Along the way it includes the Geneva Bible 1567 – 1570, and the King James Bible 1611.
More recently, this includes the Revised Standard Version 1952, and the New Revised Standard Version 1989. Each of these was a revision of previous versions with the addition of what had since been learned by the discovery of additional ancient Bible manuscripts, and insights gained by learning more about the ancient languages.
Additional English translations, like the New English Bible, are not revisions of previous translations, but completely new translations.
I found reading the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition to be an enjoyable and an enlightened experience. Nevertheless, I have a few criticisms.
In an opening essay entitled, “To the Reader From the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA” we find the words:
“the goal of the NRSVue is to offer a readable and accurate version of the Holy Bible to the global English-speaking community for public worship and personal study.”
Then the essay contradicts itself by including:
“It also continues the work of offering a version as free as possible from the gender bias inherent in the English language.”
The Bible was not written by feminists. It was written by men, and perhaps a few women, who lived in male dominated societies. A translation that uses words like “humankind” does not deserve to be called an accurate translation. Fortunately, efforts to feminize the translation were so subtle that I rarely noticed them.
A more complex problem comes from Isaiah 7:14, which is translated “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall call him Immanuel.”
The Hebrew Masoretic version uses the word ‘almah” for “young woman.” Almah is used seven times in the Masoretic version. It does not assert virginity, but it implies it the way the English word “maiden” does. The woman Isaac is to marry is described as an almah and also as a “bethulim.” Bethulim clearly asserts virginity.
The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible made during the second century BC. We may assume that the man, or possibly the woman, who translated this passage was fluent in Hebrew and Greek. The translator chooses the Greek word “parthenos” which asserts virginity.
When New Testament authors quote the Old Testament they quote from the Septuagint. Matthew writes this passage 1:23 “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and shall give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
Ordinarily in a case like this the NRSVue Holy Bible has a footnote that reads, “Other ancient authorities read…” The NRSVue translation of Isaiah for Isaiah 7:14 used the term “young woman” without comment.
When many Christians consider buying a new translation of the Bible, they look at Isaiah 7:14. If they find the term “young women” they do not buy the translation. A translation of the Bible that includes the New Testament is by definition a Christian translation. It should use the word “virgin,” with an extended footnote that explains the complexity of that choice.
My remaining criticisms are actually suggestions. When a New Testament writer quotes the Hebrew Bible, the quote should be followed by the name of the Old Testament book, the chapter, and the verse where the quote comes from.
I recommend buying this translation, and look forward to an edition that includes study notes. I hope the new edition uses the word “virgin” in Isaiah 7:14, and that the study notes include a discussion of the choice of the word.
More recently, this includes the Revised Standard Version 1952, and the New Revised Standard Version 1989. Each of these was a revision of previous versions with the addition of what had since been learned by the discovery of additional ancient Bible manuscripts, and insights gained by learning more about the ancient languages.
Additional English translations, like the New English Bible, are not revisions of previous translations, but completely new translations.
I found reading the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition to be an enjoyable and an enlightened experience. Nevertheless, I have a few criticisms.
In an opening essay entitled, “To the Reader From the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA” we find the words:
“the goal of the NRSVue is to offer a readable and accurate version of the Holy Bible to the global English-speaking community for public worship and personal study.”
Then the essay contradicts itself by including:
“It also continues the work of offering a version as free as possible from the gender bias inherent in the English language.”
The Bible was not written by feminists. It was written by men, and perhaps a few women, who lived in male dominated societies. A translation that uses words like “humankind” does not deserve to be called an accurate translation. Fortunately, efforts to feminize the translation were so subtle that I rarely noticed them.
A more complex problem comes from Isaiah 7:14, which is translated “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall call him Immanuel.”
The Hebrew Masoretic version uses the word ‘almah” for “young woman.” Almah is used seven times in the Masoretic version. It does not assert virginity, but it implies it the way the English word “maiden” does. The woman Isaac is to marry is described as an almah and also as a “bethulim.” Bethulim clearly asserts virginity.
The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible made during the second century BC. We may assume that the man, or possibly the woman, who translated this passage was fluent in Hebrew and Greek. The translator chooses the Greek word “parthenos” which asserts virginity.
When New Testament authors quote the Old Testament they quote from the Septuagint. Matthew writes this passage 1:23 “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and shall give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
Ordinarily in a case like this the NRSVue Holy Bible has a footnote that reads, “Other ancient authorities read…” The NRSVue translation of Isaiah for Isaiah 7:14 used the term “young woman” without comment.
When many Christians consider buying a new translation of the Bible, they look at Isaiah 7:14. If they find the term “young women” they do not buy the translation. A translation of the Bible that includes the New Testament is by definition a Christian translation. It should use the word “virgin,” with an extended footnote that explains the complexity of that choice.
My remaining criticisms are actually suggestions. When a New Testament writer quotes the Hebrew Bible, the quote should be followed by the name of the Old Testament book, the chapter, and the verse where the quote comes from.
I recommend buying this translation, and look forward to an edition that includes study notes. I hope the new edition uses the word “virgin” in Isaiah 7:14, and that the study notes include a discussion of the choice of the word.
September 20, 2024
I slowly worked my way through latest edition of the NRSV uepdated edition. Including the prefaces and introduction. Why an updated edition; well we are getting better at locating earlier ancient manuscripts as well as translating t he original meaning. That said, my level of scholarship is not such that I was able to discern any meaningful distinction. All the same it was worth going through this edition again - complete with the apocrypha. There are some who wonder at the idea of reading the OT apocrypha as it does not appar in our Protestant bibles. Well here’s an explanation for making the effort. First, the Apostle Paul includes references to the apocrypha in his letters. As the one who supposedly penned 2 Timothy; the place where we find that passage where we read something to the effect “that all scripture is inspired by God and worthy of our . . .” Paul’s quoting of the apocrypha suggests that it was in his canon even if it was not in ours. The Testament did not exist at that time so for the apostle Paul the only scripture he’d be referring to in 2 Timothy would have been the Old Testament and the Apocrypha.
To me this suggests that maybe we ought to be a bit more generous with ourselves when seeking out the word of God. This will twist some literalists up; but then the literalists are often folks who like to engage in vain disputations. “Meditating on God’s word day and night” is not for those who simply like to play “gotcha” games.
I am currently working through Eugene Peterson’s ‘The Message’; and intend to finish it early next year. From there I will work through the indigenous translation titled the ‘The First Nations’ Version of the New Testament. Looking forward to seeing their further work. The ‘First Nations’ version is worthy of reading even for non indigenous folks like myself as they give the literal meaning of the Hebrew names - such as Bethlehem which if memory recalls is translated village of house of bread.
To me this suggests that maybe we ought to be a bit more generous with ourselves when seeking out the word of God. This will twist some literalists up; but then the literalists are often folks who like to engage in vain disputations. “Meditating on God’s word day and night” is not for those who simply like to play “gotcha” games.
I am currently working through Eugene Peterson’s ‘The Message’; and intend to finish it early next year. From there I will work through the indigenous translation titled the ‘The First Nations’ Version of the New Testament. Looking forward to seeing their further work. The ‘First Nations’ version is worthy of reading even for non indigenous folks like myself as they give the literal meaning of the Hebrew names - such as Bethlehem which if memory recalls is translated village of house of bread.
January 2, 2025
I recently listened to the audio version of the updated NRSV, which I enjoyed very much. I felt the translation was stylistically very good and flowed smoothly while read. Knowing that it is also the best academically acclaimed translation gave me confidence that I was as close as I could get to what the writers were trying to communicate.
December 23, 2024
Probably the best English translation, excellent bible.
November 4, 2025
I am not Christian, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Bible.
I feel that there's a deep power or an energy that flows through these many ancient stories, one that I am really drawn to. I have an urge to read passages of the Bible again and again, until its characters and stories become interwoven with my soul.
I must admit that I did find the genealogies and instructions for building the tabernacle/temple a bit tedious to read, but overall I am glad I read it cover to cover. I have read the entire Bible!
(Also, my version of the NRSVue does not contain the Apocrypha, so I have yet to read them.)
I feel that there's a deep power or an energy that flows through these many ancient stories, one that I am really drawn to. I have an urge to read passages of the Bible again and again, until its characters and stories become interwoven with my soul.
I must admit that I did find the genealogies and instructions for building the tabernacle/temple a bit tedious to read, but overall I am glad I read it cover to cover. I have read the entire Bible!
(Also, my version of the NRSVue does not contain the Apocrypha, so I have yet to read them.)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews