Standards Books

Without a doubt, the New American Standard Bible is the most accurate translation next to the 1995 update. It takes the Bible as being the inspired word of God, and due to that, it takes the translation process very seriously. The New American Standard has been proclaimed the most accurate translation by many. And, when it comes to eternal salvation, is not the accuratness of the translation the most important thing?

About this precise copy of the 1995 New American Standard Bible (NASB):

This exact copy is my all-time favorite bible. The feel, weight, non-red text, and the non-paragraph form layout (line by line with two columns per page) makes it comfortable, and relaxing. The font is nice and big which makes it easy to read, and, so when I'm 65 I'll be able to read this same bible. The front cover is blank, and if you have your name inscribed (or something like that), it looks pretty neat.


About another NAS version:

There is a 1977 NAS copyrighted version. It has pretty much the same translation as the 1995, BUT, it also includes the proper uses of you, thou, and thee, etc... Though this translation is no longer published, there are still some available for purchase. Please do note, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the updated 1995 version.


About different translations:

I have many translations. And I also have the privilege of sitting under a Pastor who is working/has (depending when you read this) his doctorate in Hebrew Studies. He particularly favors the New King James Version (NKJV), mostly because he grew up with that translation, but particularly because of it's original text family, the 'Textus Receptus' (Latin for, received text). The Textus Receptus is to be considered particularly authentic, for the simple fact that IT IS the handed down manuscripts which have been protected/preserved since the Early Church Fathers. There's more to it than that, but that's the gist of it. Nevertheless, going back to my Pastor, when he preaches, 9 out of 10 times the word he's doing an exegesis on, is translated correctly in the NASB, and not in the NKJV. Let me add, translating is a difficult matter, and shouldn't be taken lightly; when you consider all of the original manuscripts (that we have) were at onetime or another, copies of the original letters of the Apostles anyway. So, you'll have to trust/rely on the original translator's work if you are to trust the modern-day translations. These words which he does an exegesis on are never radically different anyhow, though a proper word may bring out a little more detail then what you may have in a different translation. For the record, I like both NKJV and NASB. But, the NASB seems to flow better, as apposed to a derivative translation of the King James Version (which gets a little difficult at times). MOST IMPORTANT... If you have never heard of the following translation, you should consider it as a great source for a literal translation (if that's what you're looking for), the Young's Literal Translation (YLT), which does derive from the Textus Receptus. I've never read any other copy of the scriptures quite as true to the original language as that is.


For first time bible buyers:

Take my advice, never get a New International Version (NIV) bible, the Living bible, and other goofy translations that may be out there, they paraphrase sections, and loosely translate the original language; to the point that they completely miss points/words that are clearly translatable. Which I personally believe that they should be held accountable for, and will. I truly believe they are watered down versions of God's Word. And so, I strongly recommend staying within NASB, NKJV, KJV, YLT, and the ESV. And, if you can, sit down and open a few different translations up, compare chapters, and see for yourself the difference in quality.

A.C. Wieand's "A New Harmony of the Gospels" is a gold mine of insights into the life of Christ. Using the Revised Standard Version (1946) the text is arranged in columns so that passages from all four gospels are easily compared.

Professor Wieand's notes make this text a valuable addition to the Bible student/teacher's library. Marginal notes include references to original Greek extractions, historical happenings, and logical inferences. The text is woven into an extensive outline helpful for picturing the chronology of Jesus' life. Maps also help the reader visualize the setting.

Wieand has a heart for teaching the Bible student. He understands what the scholar and teacher are desiring to understand. He even makes suggestions for how to make your sermons and lessons more appealing to the listener.

I'm so fortunate to have uncovered this treasure by an outstanding Bible scholar of the 20th Century.

A.C. Wieand's "A New Harmony of the Gospels" is a gold mine of insights into the life of Christ. Using the Revised Standard Version (1946) the text is arranged in columns so that passages from all four gospels are easily compared.

Professor Wieand's notes make this text a valuable addition to the Bible student/teacher's library. Marginal notes include references to original Greek extractions, historical happenings, and logical inferences. The text is woven into an extensive outline helpful for picturing the chronology of Jesus' life. Maps also help the reader visualize the setting.

Wieand has a heart for teaching the Bible student. He understands what the scholar and teacher are desiring to understand. He even makes suggestions for how to make your sermons and lessons more appealing to the listener.

I'm so fortunate to have uncovered this treasure by an outstanding Bible scholar of the 20th Century.

I really enjoyed the large print and the life examples of each study. I wish this book came in hard copy as the standard version. This book is very informative. I use the KJV and use this book as a reference tool.

Wonderful Bible study materials. The materials are well presented and gives rich background information as well as nice examples.

Since there are so many versions of the Bible today I asked my Pastor to suggest a 'good study' bible. She suggested the The New Oxford Annotated Bible. I have found it easy to read with excellent explanations included. I esspecially like that it is a version of many scholars working together to interpret every word in a manner that reflects the intention of the 'original text'. I think they did an excelent job. My only regret is that I did not purchase the edition with the apocrypha.

You won't waste your money if you buy this bible. YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. This bible is an ecumenical work of different denomination scholars, well known theologians.

We preferred this cover to the NRSV over the Noah's Ark cover, which seems a bit juvenile as children go from middle elementary to upper.
The references, articles, maps, and tidbits are excellent, and the children in our church love their Bibles!

I wanted a copy of the NRSV to use for reference. With this you get the bonus of helpful notes that anyone can easily understand. Good translation that is trusted as true to the original.

Listed in A-Z encyclopedia format, this book has thousands of entries that collectively define and describe Judaism, past and present. Well written, concise, balances maximizing its informative tone with staying readable. Not over the average person's head at all. A very good reference volume. Worth owning by anyone.

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia, 7th edition, is an ideal handbook for the student of Judaism. Under the editorial hand of Geoffrey Wigoder in Jerusalem it has been compiled with contributions from many hundreds of Jewish scholars from throughout the Jewish world. In a single, very portable volume, it covers everything from mysticism to contemporary Jewish authors, from cookery to historical figures. It is an enormous achievement and an invaluable aide to the researcher and the casual reader. The ample illustrations are an added bonus.

Nicest format, best layout, best and last one I'll ever have to buy. The yearly updates really keep me up to speed. Thank you CT.

I'm never buying another book. Finally a book that I don't have to read a story to make a drink. The layout is logical & easy to follow with quantity & liquor in the order to be added, followed by how the drink is prepared ( blended, chilled, layered, etc.) followed by the kind of glass and ice and garnish. No time consuming BS to read through. It's got pictures of all the types of glasses so you don't have to guess, & a table of terminology so I didn't have to wonder what something meant. Has a cross reference by alcohol so I can show it to people who aren't sure of what it is they want i.e. "It had some Bailey's in it and was in a short glass and was kind of light brown... You know?" And all the coffee drinks are separated and the shooters are marked so they are easy to find. It even has a separate blank section with it's own index page for my own stuff and the house specialties of every place I've worked, and they update it every year so I don't have to buy another one. Great chart shows how to make my own layered drinks too. It even stays open to the page your reading until you close it. Best bar book I've ever had, HIGHLY recomend it.

I was amazed when I first read Goodwin. Andrew Whyte had raved about how he could't put him down and I found the same thing. I had at first picked up his works primarily to study his view of experiential Christianity, after reading some of Joel Beeke's quotes from him and other famous Reformers and Puritans in Beeke's "The Quest for Full Assurance" also a highly recommended work, though a bit academic.

But what I found with Goodwin was an expositor of the Word with such depth and breadth of knowledge that it was simply captivating to read his expostions on nearly any verse or subject he addressed. He always gives his reasons, in detail, for his opinons, carefully explaining, from the scriptures, why they mean what they do, logically, and gramatically. He uses the terms "scope" and "coherence" with respect to the expostion of a verse to carefully show how a verse's meaning is derived from the immediate and the total context of the scriptures, drawing from the entire text of scripture, so that I found myself not just studying Ephesians, for example, but the whole Bible, while Ephesians was being expounded. Goodwin gets to the bottom of things and explains the "whys" and of course gives the applications and practical implications as well, as all the Puritans did, believing that Scripture is first, last and always, meant for practical applicaitoin to the life.

But above all, Goodwin is a lover of God, purely, simply and really. Thomas Goodwin, though of an intellect of the highest order, and with that intellect fully developed and trained as few have been in the history of the Church, and recognized in his day, and since, as one of the "Twin Pillars" of the English Reformation along with Owen, never the less, wrote with a style designed to be understood and comprehended by all, because he wanted others to experience the pure joy of knowing and loving God personally, and intimately, as He did.

As such, Goodwin is preminently a spiritual person and expositor, fully recognizing that "God is Spirit" and that those that worship Him must worship Him, "in Spirit and Truth", not truth without Spirit or Spirit without Truth, but both together, because such is the way of God. Many today, as in Goodwin's day, emphasize a cold dead truth, an orthodoxy of a sort, but without the warmth and love and spiritual emphasis of the scriptures. Not Goodwin, he was unappolgetically spiritual, because the Scriptures are.

Like Bunyan, Edwards, Payson, M'Cheyne, Brooks and other erudite and spiritual men who knew the reality of spiritual fellowship and communion with God, he writes of this spiritual knowledge with intellectual power and feeling warmth, borne of a familiarity available to all who will "seek Him with the whole heart". Thus, Goodwin writes with clarity and power, to the end that his readers may "know Him, whom to know is life eternal".

Highly recommended to all who desire to "fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ".

I've been so blessed by the Puritan writers, especially Goodwin, he's very easy to read, which I sometimes have a problem reaing older writers from 1600 through 1800's. I didn't with Goodwin. My first read of him was his Ephesians commentary, really awesome!
Be blessed by these giants of the faith!

Being the Rolemaster fan that I am I purchased this book just on the notion that it would be a quaint little collectors piece. I was far from being correct. Horror fantasy is one of my best run games thanks to this book. This book covers every kind of horror from the typical creepy kind to the gory blood splattering grotesque kind. It will help you define what kind of horror to place in your game. This book is a must for horror gamers for any RPG on the market!

Bruce

I came across a recommendation for this book while I was preparing to run a few horror scenarios in my AD&D campaign. While it is a Rolemaster supplement, I have to say that it's absolutely the best piece of writing I've ever encountered on running a game of any sort!

The author cleverly and masterfully breaks the horror genre down into its more basic elements and gives the GM clear and easily-grasped ideas on combining them into effective horror adventures. I recommend this book for GMs using any gaming system.

One thing to keep in mind is that this book contains no game stats. It is compatable with pretty much everything.

This is Greg's polemic against all opponents to the Theonomic position. It's very boring to read, but you would expect as much from a Logician! Reading Greg is like watching a scientist extracting venom from a poisonous snake - methodical, but with a lot of outraged hissing going on. A book for hard core Reconstructionists and insomniacs. His critics continually pay him the highest compliment by refusing to interact comprehensively with the thesis. We miss him....

The late Dr. Greg Bahnsen offers one of the finest responses to the critics of theonomy. In the great tradition of responses in the church such as Luther's response to Erasmus in The Bondage of the Will , Bahnsen demonstarted his willingnes to go toe to toe with anyone who was willing to due battle with him. In the end after the smoke clears theonomy is found still standing very tall awaiting the next challenger.