For women only.

[Gregory Matthews]

Some of you may be interested to learn that the SDA Church has produced a so-called woman's Bible. As I am not a woman and this book is sold in our ABCs, you can ask Gail for more information.

[Gail]

I have one... :)

[aka]

Gail are you boasting? why do you say you have one and don't go into detail what it has different as content?

 

On what translation version is it based?

 

I can't imagine for what good a bible only with women in mind has been published.

[Naomi]

Gail are you boasting? why do you say you have one and don't go into detail what it has different as content?

 

On what translation version is it based?

 

I can't imagine for what good a bible only with women in mind has been published.

 

Whatever.................

[B/W Photodude]

Just what we need, assuming the text of the Bible was altered for this version. We are already being called a "cult"

on some Adventist hater websites because of the Clear Word bible. And it seems a bit disingenuous to criticize

other religions when they go and alter the Bible to suit their own needs, such as the Jehovah Witnesses, and

then we go and put one out that does the same thing.

[Gregory Matthews]

Lyndon, your post clearly demonstrates the critics of the denomination that assume the worst, without any attempt to check and document the facts in then come out with conclusions that are devoid of fact and truth.

 

For those who wish to learn more about this Bible see:

 

http://news.adventist.org/all-news/news/go/2014-10-23/adventist-church-releases-its-first-womens-study-bible/

 

For those interested, the text of this Bible is the New  King James.

 

President Ted Wilson has stated that he believes it will be a blessing to women.  Lyndon, do you believe that President Ted Wilson would say such about a Bible that had been corrupted?  Nonsense!

[Tom Wetmore]

Some would prefer to deny women even a token of special recognition...

It is ironic that those who are most likely to consider women as something quite different from men, bristle and bluster at the idea of women having anything uniquely designed for women. I might expect more opposition from some hard core equality ideologue...

But to me what that sort of reaction seems to reveal more than anything is simply a distain of women which cares little for them, having little or no regard for them, not whether they are special and unique, nor whether they are equal and very much the same as men in many ways. It is an attitude that says they deserve nothing special or different or helpful to them, nor anything at all. Just forget about them because they are not all that important.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

from the news release:

 

 "Adventist Church President Ted N. C. Wilson prayed over a copy of the Woman’s Bible last week at the denomination’s Annual Council, saying the project would be a blessing for women worldwide."

 

I'm curious as to the purpose of "praying over a copy" of a book...  Is that something akin to a baby dedication?  I've never heard of that being done..

[Naomi]

from the news release:

 

 "Adventist Church President Ted N. C. Wilson prayed over a copy of the Woman’s Bible last week at the denomination’s Annual Council, saying the project would be a blessing for women worldwide."

 

I'm curious as to the purpose of "praying over a copy" of a book...  Is that something akin to a baby dedication?  I've never heard of that being done..

 

Praying over a Bible would, in my opinion, be appropriate.  Not different from praying over literature, church pews, etc.  Asking that God will bless the material and that it will fall on fertile grounds.  And, yes, perhaps akin to Baby Dedication. 

[Naomi]

Just what we need, assuming the text of the Bible was altered for this version. We are already being called a "cult"

on some Adventist hater websites because of the Clear Word bible. And it seems a bit disingenuous to criticize

other religions when they go and alter the Bible to suit their own needs, such as the Jehovah Witnesses, and

then we go and put one out that does the same thing.

 

It amazes me about how long some people will chew on an old bone.  The Clear Word was never designed to be a Bible, but a "devotional paraphrase of the Bible expanded for clarity".  All of this dates back to the early 90ties .... have we not gone beyond that?

 

Secondly, why spend time on Adventist Hater websites?  There are many people out there who are waiting for someone to come to them in love and share God's Holy Word with them ... IMO isn't that closer to being disciples than some negative site?

 

Just curious, have you read the Clear Word or any devotional, study Bible?

 

Lastly, who is criticizing the JW and their Bible?  We are no one's judge and the holy Spirit will deal with issues such as this.  Who really cares if the Adventist Haters Websites  calls us a cult ... we know the truth and the truth will set us free.  Before our Lord returns we will be called much worst things .... just hold fast to the Bible truths and share the gospel.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Praying over a Bible would, in my opinion, be appropriate.  Not different from praying over literature, church pews, etc.  Asking that God will bless the material and that it will fall on fertile grounds.  And, yes, perhaps akin to Baby Dedication. 

 

 I've never seen praying done over literature or church pews either... interesting concept..  thank you, Naomi, for the explanation  

[Naomi]

Pam, perhaps it's different in different areas.  Sometimes before services the pastor or others may quietly go into the sanctuary and pray over each pew.  Or, before going out to canvass an area or distribute literature to pray over the materials.  Similar I suppose to what I do ... pray before starting the car

[Gail]

Pam, perhaps it's different in different areas.  Sometimes before services the pastor or others may quietly go into the sanctuary and pray over each pew.  Or, before going out to canvass an area or distribute literature to pray over the materials.  Similar I suppose to what I do ... pray before starting the car

And some meals need that prayer!

[Gail]

Mine is the orange and yellow-green one. As you can see from the photo the type is purple, words of Jesus in gold, which is innovative.

The text is your standard NKJV.

The study helps are mini character sketches of biblical women; nothing major or worrisome. I love study Bibles generally but usually go for the meatier ones when I study. This is more... Froofroo.

I would gift a Bible like this to a girl who likes girlie stuff.

As far as Bibles out out with the GC's blessing, I really like the Pathfinder Bible better. It has loads of useful helps, comes in modern, cool cover colours and is a handy size for carrying.

If there could be a bad side to this women's Bible, I suppose it doesn't have enough deep study notes. It is as if women can't handle them or something. For example, information regarding women's issues in Bible times.

[Gail]

So sorry about the inverted photo! It is right side up in my Photo library! But you get the gist- purple print plus gold lettering for words of Jesus.

[Gail]

One thing I just noticed in this Bible that is a real plus for me, is that there are footnotes for when the manuscripts differ. I like to be aware of those differences.

Another feature that I discovered is a series of topical studies at the back of the book including charts on the 1260 and 2300 days, the Sabbath and the state of the dead, among other things. Definitely a Seventh-Day Adventist study Bible!

[Jeannieb43]

I never knew there was a Pathfinder Bible.   I'll have to try to get one for my grandchildren.

[B/W Photodude]

Just what we need, assuming the text of the Bible was altered for this version. We are already being called a "cult"

on some Adventist hater websites because of the Clear Word bible. And it seems a bit disingenuous to criticize

other religions when they go and alter the Bible to suit their own needs, such as the Jehovah Witnesses, and

then we go and put one out that does the same thing.

 

As I wrote in my very first sentence, "assuming the text of the Bible was altered for this version", it wasn't really necessary to go

much beyond "no, the text was not changed." That would have been the end of the matter. If it had, it would not be the first time

any Christian group had worked to gender neutral the Bible. Some can not even pray to "Our Father" but have changed it to

"Our Heavenly Parent."

 

As for the "Adventist hater", you end up there sometimes just researching various topics. Even sites that seem reasonably

Christian will when you look further put SDAs in a cult category and list the Clear Word as a reason. Just to be clear, "hating on"

and "haters" seems to be a growing term for any group that puts down or harshly criticizes another or even just a topic. I

believe we even had one post with the last couple of days with "hating on" as part of the title.

 

As far as the link to info on this Bible, it could have been provided in the OP.

 

As far as criticizing the JW Bible, I have seen it often in literature regarding JWs and the errors of their doctrine, such as there

was no cross but a "crucifixion stake". That is just one really easy one and there are other issues regarding the divinity of Jesus. 

 

Just for the record, any unaltered biblical text can be paired with any study guides designed for any group at any time without a

problem. In fact, most Bibles seem to come with some sort of study guides these days, I have several.

[aka]

Very good enlargement in posts here for the book's content.

LOL for the upside-down pages of evidence.

 

The cat-claws came out for resisting the threat for now-already-yet-again another bible type appearing in an otherwise long list of bible translation versions. And we started to resist because of the dark shadows of Mormon bible, JW bible, SDA Clear Word bible as all coming from religious groups with the stigma of being 'sects' to avoid.  I clearly understand what Lyndon is trying to warn us about and agree with his train of thinking.

 

I opened the link and read the needed information that retracted my cat-claws defenses.

 

ADVENTIST CHURCH RELEASES ITS FIRST WOMEN’S STUDY BIBLE

 

NEW EDITION EMPHASIZES WOMEN OF FAITH, 

The Woman’s Bible also includes articles by more than 40 other writers around the world.

It also features original color art on women in the Bible and a series of Bible studies. 

The Woman’s Bible, published by Safeliz Publishing House, is a New King James Version of the Bible that offers more than 100 commentaries, study materials and profiles on major and lesser-known female biblical characters.
 

I am not one for promoting a secular Feminist political agenda.

The title is the danger. It raises too many questions of 'why' or 'what for'.

I see all its offers of tools for bible study are found elsewhere and those in the know, know where to find them.

 

If the title were more neutral like "Study Guide for Women who read the Bible"

Or "The Bible Tools For Women Studying the Bible". then I'd be more drawn to the book and would look into it to see if it could be helpful for me in someway. 

 

I can understand that the atmosphere of Biblical Patriarchal Male Headship in the whole of the bible  is still a bug-in-the-ointment that many females wish to tone down.

Maybe they'll accomplished it with this book for a small sector of ladies.

 

 

[aka]

Some would prefer to deny women even a token of special recognition...

It is ironic that those who are most likely to consider women as something quite different from men, bristle and bluster at the idea of women having anything uniquely designed for women. I might expect more opposition from some hard core equality ideologue...

But to me what that sort of reaction seems to reveal more than anything is simply a distain of women which cares little for them, having little or no regard for them, not whether they are special and unique, nor whether they are equal and very much the same as men in many ways. It is an attitude that says they deserve nothing special or different or helpful to them, nor anything at all. Just forget about them because they are not all that important.

 

What a great message! I am impressed. It's a beautiful appeal for all readers here to resist prejudice against female gender. <Grin> why, it's almost romanticly written.

 

BTW.... there has been no expression of misogyny by any male or female posters in this thread.

Not in the least. Just alarm that the bible text became yet another alteration. The Clear Word has EGW text sprinkled here and there. Is that not an alteration?

[Gregory Matthews]

Lyndon,  I am well aware of what you said in the first sentence of post # 18. 

 

I have decided to delete what I said and to send it to Lyndon as a private message.

 

GM

 

[JoeMo]

From WikiPedia:

"The Clear Word, originally published in March 1994 as the Clear Word Bible, is an English-language "devotional paraphrase of the Bible expanded for clarity". It is an interpretive text of the Bible written as a personal devotional exercise by Jack Blanco, former dean of the School of Religion at Southern Adventist University, to be an additional study tool and devotional alongside the Bible. Major portions of the translation are material added by the author.  It is printed in chapter-and-verse format, two columns to a page.

The free paraphrase  was initially printed at the school by the Southern College Press of Southern Adventist University and sold in Church-owned Adventist Book Centers. Though The Clear Word is not officially endorsed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, it is now being printed by the Review and Herald Publishing Association.

 

A paraphrase and a translation are not equivalent.  A paraphrase is usually the efforts of one (or a few) special interest people and is not necessarily from the original languages; wheras a translation is usually prepared from the original languages by a large committee (usually interdenominationalsand receives much peer review.  As a devotional, I see no more harm in reading "The Clear Word" than reading an SoP (or other) devotional book.

[Gregory Matthews]

There are two (2) types of Biblical translations:

 

1) Formal:  Good for preaching and doctrinal study.

 

2) Dynamic: Good for devotional reading.

 

The Clear Word, is dynamic.  As a paraphrase, falls at one end of the dynamic spectrum, although, it does not go as far off that end as does some.  Use it for devotional reading, but not for doctrinal study and preaching.

 

Yes, I am well aware that some SDAs misuse it.

[Gail]

I hear you, Yentyl... Myself, I appreciate historical insight from study notes.

[phkrause]

From WikiPedia:

"The Clear Word, originally published in March 1994 as the Clear Word Bible, is an English-language "devotional paraphrase of the Bible expanded for clarity". It is an interpretive text of the Bible written as a personal devotional exercise by Jack Blanco, former dean of the School of Religion at Southern Adventist University, to be an additional study tool and devotional alongside the Bible. Major portions of the translation are material added by the author.  It is printed in chapter-and-verse format, two columns to a page.

The free paraphrase  was initially printed at the school by the Southern College Press of Southern Adventist University and sold in Church-owned Adventist Book Centers. Though The Clear Word is not officially endorsed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, it is now being printed by the Review and Herald Publishing Association.

 

A paraphrase and a translation are not equivalent.  A paraphrase is usually the efforts of one (or a few) special interest people and is not necessarily from the original languages; wheras a translation is usually prepared from the original languages by a large committee (usually interdenominationalsand receives much peer review.  As a devotional, I see no more harm in reading "The Clear Word" than reading an SoP (or other) devotional book.

I noticed that one of the main reasons that the Clear Word was written, was left out of WikiPedia description! He wrote it for his son, to make it easier for him to understand. Also the RHPA didn't print the original because it had "Bible" on the cover. When the 2nd printing came around, I believe that Southern had gone out of business, so the RHPA said they would print it and the name was changed to "Clear Word," taking "Bible" out of the name. I could be wrong, its known to happen , not having my copies of the two with me here. One was a hard cover edition and the other is a soft cover. One says "The Clear Word Bible," while the other says "the Clear Word."