Buying a large bible?

[Mr Pig]

For what it's worth, the King James has never been copy-written. This means that the printers don't have to pay any royalties so they are usually cheaper. You should get a nice big King James cheaper than you'll get any other translation.

I have a friend who works for a Christian publisher, he's always got stuff kicking around. I've got cheap Bibles through him before. If it's of any use I could give him a call for you just in case he's got anything suitable?

 

[Yellow Fang]

I think if I was in the market for a bible I'd go for this. Not particularly cheap, but rather nice to look at.

 

[dellzeqq]

So.......I went down to Manna in Streatham High Road and can report that

- A4 bibles come with large print other than one rather nice leather bound jobby which has teenytiny print
- bibles are really expensive! The A4 KJVs start at around £34.

Now, if either of these requirements (as in A4 format and normal print) shifts, let me know and I'll pop down there again.

 

[gavintc]

Howabout 'The God Delusion' by Stephen Dawkins?

, that is naughty

 

[Bandini]

Also, what is a "normal" bible, there seems to be study ones, ESV ones and allsorts. I'd assumed they were all they same?

King James bible is 'the' version. Is she fairly well educated? It is 17th Century - if she 'gets' Shakespeare it is the only version.

 

[Panter]

Wow, many thanks all, once again the collective CC knowledge base comes to the rescue

Right, apparently it's the new International version she's after, apparently the original was from a publisher near Sevenoaks, but I didn't catch the name.
Mr Pig, if you did get chance to make a call it would be appreciated?

Dellzeqq, many thanks for taking the time to go in and look, it's very much appreciated.
If Mr Pig can't source anything, and you do find yourself passing that way again, maybe I could drop you a pm?

Thanks again for all the help,

 

[Mr Pig]

Mr Pig, if you did get chance to make a call it would be appreciated?

I'll give him a call tomorrow night, a bit late now.

The NIV is a popular version, you should have a reasonable choice. If it's definitely a hard-back she wants it shouldn't be too expensive either. Leather ones are always soft-back. By the sounds of things she may just have had a bog standard hard-back NIV, which is not a huge book but thicker than most leather-bound ones. They are thicker because the paper is thicker, more expensive bibles usually have thinner paper. A standard type NIV should be less than £20.

Wonder why she wants a hard-back. Most people prefer a soft one and zip-up leather one doesn't cost much more. Take a look on Amazon and you'll see what I mean.

Incidentally, the NIV was very popular about twenty years ago, it was probably the most popular after the King James. The New Living Bible is very popular today but has more paraphrasing etc. The New King James (Nkjv) and the New American Standard Bible (NASB) are both pretty similar to the NIV with the Nkjv being a bit better in my opinion. If you saw a nice one of either of those I doubt she'd have any complaints.

 

[chap]

I'm sorry, there is a point many seem to have missed (admittedly an aside): sombody stole a bible, and in a hospital!!! What sort of pervert does such a thing?

Even Dawkins on crack wouldn't stoop so low.

Now with that mindless exclamation aside, here's another: did you know there was a manga bible: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manga-Bible-NT-Raw-Tniv/dp/0340910437

I hope you get a suitable replacement, I tried to find something online, alas to no avail.

 

[661-Pete]

There's a bible found its way onto the bookshelf in our canteen at work. Funny thing, it seems to belong to a "Mr Gideon", but there's no-one of that name working at our place...

 

[Panter]

Thanks Mr Pig, that would be greatly appreciated.
I assmed a hardback would be better, but if you recommend a zip-up leather then that does sound nice.
I just want to get her something reasonable, up to £30-40 if possible.

I'm sorry, there is a point many seem to have missed (admittedly an aside): sombody stole a bible, and in a hospital!!! What sort of pervert does such a thing?

It's a bugger, but sadly these things happen. Thanks for having a look anyway.

 

[Mr Pig]

somebody stole a bible, and in a hospital!!!

That would be quite funny, getting saved through reading a stolen bible! ;0) Years ago a mate of mine had his car broken into and they stole his car radio and his bible! They knew who it was, it was the teenage guy living downstairs, but the cops came, searched his house and couldn't find anything. They found the cassette out of the radio in the bin out the back. My mate said to the guy "Well if you did steal my bible you better read it!" The cops told him to wait for the guy with a baseball bat! ;0)

I just want to get her something reasonable, up to £30-40 if possible

You'll get a really nice bible for that. The zip-up ones are good because you can chuck notes, bits of paper, a pen etc in them and they stay there. Keeps the whole book nice and tidy, stops the pages getting all smashed up if you drop it. It's just a case of trying to figure out what she wants and why. Maybe she just happened to have a hard-back, that's typically what they use in churches, or maybe she likes it. The NIV might have been the bible used in her church so that was the one she got at first.

I would strongly recommend going to a shop so that you can see what you're getting. The type in some bibles is really quite small and not easy to read. I have a large print one but the book is no bigger than a normal bible, it's a lot nicer to read.

 

[Auntie Helen]

Panter, the NIV has recently be reissued by Hodder & Stoughton (previously based near Sevenoaks, which is presumably where that comment comes from) as 'TNIV' (Today's NIV) with more inclusive language, etc.

I would be very surprised if you can't find what you're looking for in a reasonable cost if it's the NIV as it's so popular. The large size is a bit of an issue but I imagine a Christian bookshop should be able to help. The most popular online Christian store is currently www.eden.co.uk who do very good prices as well, but you won't necessarily get the detailed and knowledgeable service that you would get in many Christian bookshops.

Most bookshops won't stock that many different Bibles but can order them in next day for you.

 

[Fnaar]

The most popular online Christian store is currently www.eden.co.uk

Do they do apples too?
[I'll get my fig leaf]

 

[rich p]

I seem to recall hearing that in a modern US version there was a bit where Saul and David (?) were traipsing round the desert and needed a dump and the translation was "S and D had to use the bathroom" which conjured up a lovely image of a desert WC complete with white porcelain fittings.


David and the men that followed him would hide in caves or fields to escape being killed by
Saul’s men.
One time, Saul heard that David was in the desert. He and 3,000 men trampled into the land to
destroy David. David secretly hid in a cave to hide from Saul.
Believe it or not, Saul went into the same cave. He had to use the bathroom!!
David quietly crept up to Saul and cut off a little piece of his royal robe. He was so secretive
that Saul did not know that he was there!
When Saul exited the cave, David felt guilty for cutting off a piece from the bottom of the
special robe. Back in David’s time, there were special markings on the clothing. David felt bad
that he had cut off part of the robe which symbolized that he was the king appointed from God.
David walked to the entrance of the cave and called out to Saul. He bowed down to Saul and
asked Saul why he wanted to kill him. Then he showed Saul the piece of fabric

 

[Auntie Helen]

Yes, the US versions have some unfortunate renderings at times. Particularly the more paraphrased versions. The NIV is a global translation but it's easy to get a US-spelling edition which is irritating at times.