The Common English Bible with the Apocrypha

Posted on by Jim

I’ve been using the Common English Bible since the New Testament paperback edition first appeared in my post office box some months ago.  I joined their ‘blog tour’ to help spread the word.  And I’m, I have to say, more than happy to help.

They haven’t required that I endorse it (though I do) and they’ve not asked me to say anything about it in a positive light (though I have).  And when I’ve opined that in my studied opinion the grandest of all the English translation to have appeared so far is the Revised English Bible they’ve not sent along an angry email (as once happened when I reviewed a book several years back and which publisher essentially ‘cut me off’ for speaking the truth as I saw it).

Today in the mail I received a copy of the CEB with Apocrypha and – once again – I’m happy to recommend it.  Even as a non-Roman Catholic believer (though I refuse to give up being a catholic Christian) I find much to commend the Apocrypha to Protestant and Reformed Christians.

Indeed, there is much that is fine in it.  Ben Sira is peerless for his wisdom, surpassing much in other wisdom texts.  The Wisdom of Solomon is essential for a basic understanding of early Christian thought.  And the Maccabees, Susannah, Tobit, and Bel and the Dragon are just fantastically fun reads.  The Apocryphal literature isn’t ‘scripture’ but it sure is excellent theology (by and large).

Hence, even Reformed and Protestant Christians ought to read it.  And in the CEB those readers have an exceptionally accessible rendering. Take this bit from Ben Sira, for instance-

5:1 Don’t be preoccupied with your money,
and don’t say, “ I’m self-sufficient. ”
2 Don’t follow your inclination
or your strength,
in order to walk in the desires
of your heart.
3 And don’t say,
“ Who’ll have power over me? ”
When the Lord punishes,
he will punish.
4 Don’t say, “ Sure I sinned,
but what happened to me? ”
The Lord is patient indeed.
5 Don’t be too confident
of being forgiven,
adding sin upon sin.
6 Don’t say, “ His compassion is great;
he will forgive the whole heap
of my sins. ”
Mercy and wrath are with him,
and his anger will rest on sinners.

The Apocrypha isn’t just for Catholics anymore.

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3 Responses to The Common English Bible with the Apocrypha

  1. This is the CEB I own, and it’s great because its a good translation and the most portable bible with apocrypha I own.

    If you read decent commentaries on the Protestant Canon, you will need at least one copy of the Apocrypha, because they are regularly cited.

    There is a reason much of the Apocrypha have always been accepted “for morals and insturction” even by those who didn’t accept them as scripture. There is much to learn in them.

    Also, if the Mel Gibson Maccabees film comes off, you’ll want to know what got changed ad/or left out.

  2. I forgot to add, having an Apocrypha in your bible library is good for figuring out what the heck your Catholic and Orthodox friends and relatives are talking about.

    “Tobit, Susannah– I don’t remember them in grade school….”

  3. I love my CEB with Apocrypha and am glad to hear that some voices in the Reformed and Protestant are realizing what us Lutherans knew all along! ;)

    Sorry…couldn’t resist!