I received this as an email. So, I'd like to share it here so that more and more people will appreciate the Bible, especially the Recovery Version (RcV).
A Testimony
The Recovery Version (RcV) is usually published as a composition of four distinct items: the RcV Bible translation; the RcV Bible footnotes; RcV Bible outlines; and RcV Bible cross-references. Different editions of the RcV include various combos of each of these items, sometimes New Testament only, and sometimes the whole Bible. I will comment separately on each of these components, referring mainly to the New Testament editions.
BIBLE TEXT TRANSLATION
I read the Bible in five languages (including Hebrew and Greek), and this is definitely one of the best translations out there. In fact, although I personally prefer translations based on the Byzantine/Majority Text (for which I highly recommend Jay Green's Literal Translation of the Bible and the New King James Version), the Recovery Version is the best Critical Text (Nestle Aland) translation with which I am personally familiar. The RcV doesn't follow the dynamic equivalence philosophy, which I personally cannot stand (NIV, TNIV, CEV, and so on. Note: The NIV was my first Bible, and after five years of careful reading and marking up, I finally had to drop it, especially after I learnt Hebrew and Greek myself). It is solidly in the literal translation camp, and is written in very clear English.
In my opinion, it most stands out above other translations in the following two of its translation principles:
*Its treatment of Greek prepositions is the best I've seen in any English translation, such as eis (into/unto) and para (from/with), bringing out the fine riches usually accessible only to a Greek reader.
* Its careful and faithful treatment of words referring to the parts of man is unparalleled: psyche (soul/soul-life); sarx (flesh); pneuma (spirit); neshema (breath); ruah(wind/air/spirit/breath). This translation makes crystal clear the Biblical distinctions in the three parts of man - spirit, soul, and body - and presents the flesh in both its good and bad aspects, as the Greek and Hebrew clearly do; thus the English reader can see for themselves the full range of Biblical usage of these critical words. For example, compare the translations of Heb. 4:12; 1 Thes. 5:23; 1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Pet. 1:4 with other Bible versions.
FOOTNOTES
Although the RcV is in itself an excellent translation, by far the most outstanding feature of this edition is the footnotes. These range in length and scope from one-line grammatical notes to two-page theological essays. Although I am not a theologian, my personal studies of theology and history fully affirm for me the RcV's claim to be a "crystallisation of the understanding of the divine revelation which the saints have attained to in the past 2000 years." I have met for many years in Christian circles as diverse as the emotional, experiential Pentecostals to the rationalistical, theological Calvinists, and the RcV footnotes spans them all. It focuses on experiencing Christ as life in the Bible, but it solidly grounds the key Scriptural doctrines. It affirms all Biblical truths (e.g., BOTH predestination and free will; and BOTH that tongues still exist as a genuine gift and that tongues are the least of all the gifts, certainly not for everyone). It has intimate and tender notes that just cause your heart to soar in love for Christ (for example, see Matt. 26:8, note 1; 1 Cor. 2:9, note 3; Heb. 12:2, note 2), and detailed, thick theological expositions that span the entire Bible on key items (for example, see 1 John 1:6, note 6 [truth/reality] and 2 Cor. 13:14, note 1 on the classic doxology).
One of the aspects in which the RcV notes never cease to amaze me is in how intricately they use the Bible itself as the basis for interpreting the Bible. An excellent example is in how the footnotes on John 3:14-16 completely expand and enlarge on the classic verse John 3:16. You thought you knew everything about that verse until the RcV interprets it in the context of the verses immediately surrounding it, in the context of the chapter, of the book, and of the entire Bible.
I own many Bible commentaries, including three that focus specifically on Bible difficulties or hard questions, and the RcV trumps them all. I only used to refer to them occasionally, but now I refer to the RcV daily, as it sheds light on passages both apparently simple and hard. Of course, no Bible commentary will answer every question you have, but the RcV answers far more than any other one I own. And its interpretations are particularly compelling, because of its principle of using the Bible itself to interpret the Bible, rather than man's clever imagination; thus the footnotes usually refer extensively to other Bible verses.
OUTLINES AND CROSS-REFERENCES
Although the footnotes are the most outstanding feature, the Bible outlines and cross-references contain amazing light. In every other Bible I've had, I've learned to skip the outline headers as I read, since they didn't add much other than helping me quickly find the verse I'm looking for. However, the RcV outlines contain amazing revelation. For example, I can never forget the first time I read through the outline of the Gospel of John, and saw that Jesus Christ, the God-Savior, is Life Himself. Life is not a thing; Life is a living person who has come to meet the needs of every man, meeting us in every situation.
I usually read the electronic version of the RcV (available directly from the publisher, Living Stream Ministry), and the cross-references have made me click-happy, clicking from one reference to another. I used to own a Thompson Chain Reference Bible, which was the best cross-reference Bible I had known priorly. However, I eventually gave it away when I realized that I just wasn't using it anymore. The RcV cross-references reference more or less the same key verses, and even more, linking not only literal co-references, but linking verses based on those that convey the same revelation. The footnotes are also heavily referenced with related Bible verses that shed further light on the verse at hand.
CONCLUSION
I could say a lot more in praise of this study Bible (I've read the whole New Testament with all the notes, and should finish the Old Testament with notes in about a month), but I think this suffices. I heard that DL Moody said something to the effect that if he were stuck on a desert island, as long as he had a Bible and CH Macintosh's Notes on the Pentateuch, he would be a happy camper. Well, if all you had today was a copy of the Recovery Version with footnotes, you would have the Bible plus a devotional and theological library in your hands. I repeatedly thank God for giving the Body of Christ such a gift, and for placing it in my hands.
Posts
No comments