Religion & Spirituality

HCSB Minister’s Bible

/ Christopher Terry / 1 Comment

I just received a review copy of the HCSB Minister’s Bible in the mail.  Anyone who reads this blog knows that I really like the HCSB translation.  I am very excited about the forthcoming revision.  I cannot wait till it is released and anticipate the forthcoming HCSB Study Bible.

My first impressions of the Bible is that the formatting is the best I have seen.  I absolutely love the single column paragraph format.  It is also a black-letter Bible, thank you B&H Publishing!  The Bible itself has all of the technical textual notations at the bottom of the page.  It is not a reference Bible.  I have absolutely no problems with this at all.  Typically the references do not run parallel to my train of thought.  There are some articles in the back of the Bible that would be helpful for those in ministry.  The Bible does include the normal HCSB text Bible features:  plan of salvation, concordance, bullet note index, and several tables.

I will have much more on this Bible in the future.  Everything that I has seen so far is absolutely wonderful.

Update:

I have had plenty of time using this Bible to make a more informed review.  The Bible is smyth sewn which makes it possible for the Bible to lay flat and will also ensure that the binding lasts longer (kudos to Holman for making the majority of their Bibles with sewn bindings – we appreciate it).  The cover itself is genuine leather (it is not the best I have seen but certainly not the worst).

The font is very easy on the eyes in regard to size.  It is a different font character than I have seen in other Bibles.  This does not make it bad just different.  Christians are unique when it comes to Bibles.  There is a large segment which does not want to see any variation between Bible translations (font, format, translation theory, etc…) so I don’t know how this will effect potential customers.

I like that this is a black letter text.  The truth is that there was no such thing in the original letters.  A black letter text forces readers to recognize that every single word in the Bible carries equal inspiration and weight.

The text is in a paragraph format with a single column of text.  I prefer this layout of the biblical text.  It allows you to focus on the text at hand rather than all of the visual noise on the rest of the page.  It does feature the textual notes at the bottom of the page which is very a useful feature.  The notes provide pertinent information for alternate renderings, Hebrew or Greek textual manuscript information, or literal translations.

This is a wide margin edition.  It has ample amount of space on the outside of the text which allows users to record their own studies and thoughts on the biblical text.  I have been able to record notes from my own studies in the margins and have had sufficient room to write.  I think that this is an excellent feature in a Bible.

The Bible paper is thin.  There is some bleed through from the text on the opposite side of a page.  The boldness of the font on the facing page actually makes the bleed through less of an issue.  The font on the facing page grabs your attention and minimizes the distraction.  I did notice that after writing on a page that the edges of the page began to curl.  Over time the page goes back to normal.

There is a pastoral helps section.  I am a pastor but do not choose to use the helps.  The helps are well done and could be very useful.  I choose to use this as more of a study/teaching/preaching Bible, not a minister’s manual (not that there is anything wrong with such a use).

There is a full concordance in the back of the Bible.  Since the HCSB is an optimal equivalence translation such a feature is a useful tool.

All things considered, I think that this is an excellent edition of the HCSB.  I would encourage others, who like the HCSB and want a Bible to record their study notes in, to purchase this Bible.  This is the first edition of the HCSB text so it would probably be wise to purchase Minister’s Bible which features the updated text.

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HCSB Study Bible – Thoughts from contributor Jeremy Howard

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

I was at the HCSB Study Bible site today and found this new posting by one of the contributors Jeremy Howard detailing the approach to what was included and excluded from the study notes:

Approximately 15,000 study notes appear throughout the HCSB Study Bible. We could have included more. As you can see from the list of contributors, there was no shortage of scholarship for this study Bible. What led us to be so discriminate about the notes we included is that input from study Bible users reflected their desire to have necessary, relevant notes within the context of the Scripture being studied. That meant information – notes, maps, illustrations – should be concise and impactful, plus easy to find. Rather than overwhelming the text of Scripture, the study notes and other aids are designed to serve the student of God’s Word and not distract from the text itself…

It is interesting that the number of notes is less than the MacArthur study Bible, the ESV Study Bible, and the Zondervan Study Bible.  It is not a competition for sure and as I am certain others have found at times – less is more.

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The Role of Women in Ministry

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

God has established proper roles for men and women within the home and the church. He has appointed the man as the spiritual leader within the home (Eph. 5:22-33; 1 Pet. 3:1, 5; Col. 3:18; 1 Cor. 11:2-3; Tit. 2:4-5). Therefore, within the family unit the husband is the spiritual leader and the wife willingly submits to his God-given spiritual authority (Eph. 5:22-24; Col. 3:18). This structure is in accord with the created order (Gen. 2:4-25). God created the man first and subsequently created the woman as a helper for the man (Gen. 2:18, 21-25). The man named the women which demonstrated authority (Gen. 3:20; cf. 2:19-20; 1:28).

God has also appointed men as those who are in spiritual authority in the church (1 Cor. 11:2-3; 14:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:11-15). Elders are those who are established by God as the spiritual leaders of local churches (Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 3:5; 5:17; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-5). Scripture describes elders as men (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Acts 20:17, 25-31). Therefore, within the church the leadership is to be conducted by biblically qualified men. As a result, women willingly submit to the spiritual authority of their husbands and the spiritual authority of their elders.

Elders are the primary teachers of the church (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Tim. 3:2; 4:6-16; 5:17; Tit. 1:9). The N.T. Teaches that women are not to teach men biblical doctrine or to have spiritual authority over men (1 Tim. 2:11-15; 1 Cor. 11:5). Women should not a teacher of men (teach men), nor should they be elders (in authority over men). This is in accordance with the created order established by God. The husband is the spiritual authority over his wife in the home and the male elders are the spiritual authority over the women in the church.

In our time there are Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders. Yet, the same biblical principles apply even in these situations. In conformity with the above mentioned principles: women should not teach biblical doctrine to a group of men or a group which includes men; women should not hold the office of elder; women should not be publicly debating doctrine with the recognized male teachers (1 Cor. 14:31-40; 1 Tim. 2:11).

On the other hand, women are permitted and encouraged to teach other women (Tit. 2:3-5). Women are also permitted to teach children, especially their own (2 Tim. 1:5; 1 Tim. 2:15). They are also permitted and encouraged to serve the saints (Rom. 16:1-2; 1 Tim. 5:10, 16). Women are called to evangelize the lost (Phil. 4:2-3; Rom. 16:3). They may assist their husbands in explaining doctrine to individuals in a private home setting (Acts 18:24-28).

Christian women are encouraged to focus their efforts on: raising their children in the faith (1 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:5); managing their households (1 Tim. 5:14; Tit. 2:4); loving and submitting to their husbands (Tit. 2:4-5; Eph. 5:22-33); and serving others (Rom. 16:1-2; 1 Tim. 5:10, 16). Believing women and men are equal in their standing in Christ (Gal. 3:27-28; 1 Pet. 3:7) but they are distinct in their roles in Christ (1 Tim. 2:11-15; 1 Cor. 11:1-5; 14:31-40).

2) God has created man in His image as male and female (Gen. 1:26-27). He values men and women equally. Male and female Christians have an equal standing and privilege in Christ (Gal. 3:27-28; 1 Pet. 3:7). Women are described by God as the glory of man (1 Cor. 11:7). Yet, though male and female believers are equal in God’s sight, He has given them distinct roles in the home and church . God has established the male husband as the spiritual leader of the home and the female wife is to willingly submit to her husband’s spiritual authority (Eph. 5:22-33; 1 Pet. 3:1, 5; Col. 3:18; 1 Cor. 11:2-3; Tit. 2:4-5). God has also established men as the spiritual leaders in the church (1 Cor. 11:2-3; 14:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:11-15). Elders are to be biblically qualified men (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Acts 20:17, 25-31). Therefore, within the church women are to submit to the leadership of biblically qualified male leadership (Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 3:5; 5:17; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-5). In regard to teaching, a group of men or a group which includes men must be taught by a man (1 Cor. 11:2-3; 14:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:11-15). Also, in conformity with God’s established gender roles women are not to be publicly debating biblical doctrine with the recognized male teachers (1 Cor. 14:31-40; 1 Tim. 2:11). The biblical model of male leadership in the home and among God’s people was established at creation (Gen. 2:4-25; Gen. 3:20; cf. 2:19-20; 1:28).

We value women as precious in God’s sight and indispensable in the home and church. The role of women is so vital. Women are to: teach children, especially their own (2 Tim. 1:5; 1 Tim. 2:15); love and submit to the spiritual leadership of their husbands (Tit. 2:4-5; Eph. 5:22-33); manage their households (1 Tim. 5:14; Tit. 2:4); teach other women (Tit. 2:3-5); evangelize (Phil. 4:2-3; Rom. 16:3); and care for the saints (Rom. 16:1-2; 1 Tim. 5:10, 16). These ministries are so crucial and comprise the primary role of the Christian woman in the home and the church.

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HCSB Minister’s Bible

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

I just received a review copy of the HCSB Minister’s Bible in the mail.  Anyone who reads this blog knows that I really like the HCSB translation.  I am very excited about the forthcoming revision.  I cannot wait till it is released and anticipate the forthcoming HCSB Study Bible.

My first impressions of the Bible is that the formatting is the best I have seen.  I absolutely love the single column paragraph format.  It is also a black-letter Bible, thank you B&H Publishing!  The Bible itself has all of the technical textual notations at the bottom of the page.  It is not a reference Bible.  I have absolutely no problems with this at all.  Typically the references do not run parallel to my train of thought.  There are some articles in the back of the Bible that would be helpful for those in ministry.  The Bible does include the normal HCSB text Bible features:  plan of salvation, concordance, bullet note index, and several tables.

I will have much more on this Bible in the future.  Everything that I has seen so far is absolutely wonderful.

Update:

I have had plenty of time using this Bible to make a more informed review.  The Bible is smyth sewn which makes it possible for the Bible to lay flat and will also ensure that the binding lasts longer (kudos to Holman for making the majority of their Bibles with sewn bindings – we appreciate it).  The cover itself is genuine leather (it is not the best I have seen but certainly not the worst).

The font is very easy on the eyes in regard to size.  It is a different font character than I have seen in other Bibles.  This does not make it bad just different.  Christians are unique when it comes to Bibles.  There is a large segment which does not want to see any variation between Bible translations (font, format, translation theory, etc…) so I don’t know how this will effect potential customers.

I like that this is a black letter text.  The truth is that there was no such thing in the original letters.  A black letter text forces readers to recognize that every single word in the Bible carries equal inspiration and weight.

The text is in a paragraph format with a single column of text.  I prefer this layout of the biblical text.  It allows you to focus on the text at hand rather than all of the visual noise on the rest of the page.  It does feature the textual notes at the bottom of the page which is very a useful feature.  The notes provide pertinent information for alternate renderings, Hebrew or Greek textual manuscript information, or literal translations.

This is a wide margin edition.  It has ample amount of space on the outside of the text which allows users to record their own studies and thoughts on the biblical text.  I have been able to record notes from my own studies in the margins and have had sufficient room to write.  I think that this is an excellent feature in a Bible.

The Bible paper is thin.  There is some bleed through from the text on the opposite side of a page.  The boldness of the font on the facing page actually makes the bleed through less of an issue.  The font on the facing page grabs your attention and minimizes the distraction.  I did notice that after writing on a page that the edges of the page began to curl.  Over time the page goes back to normal.

There is a pastoral helps section.  I am a pastor but do not choose to use the helps.  The helps are well done and could be very useful.  I choose to use this as more of a study/teaching/preaching Bible, not a minister’s manual (not that there is anything wrong with such a use).

There is a full concordance in the back of the Bible.  Since the HCSB is an optimal equivalence translation such a feature is a useful tool.

All things considered, I think that this is an excellent edition of the HCSB.  I would encourage others, who like the HCSB and want a Bible to record their study notes in, to purchase this Bible.  This is the first edition of the HCSB text so it would probably be wise to purchase Minister’s Bible which features the updated text.

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