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Common English Bible with Apocrypha
Take a fresh look at the Bible while you experience a new translation. The Common English Bible is relevant, readable, and reliable. The result is a new version that the typical reader or worshipper is able to understand. 115 leading biblical scholars from 22 faith traditions and 77 reading specialists in 13 denominations worked on this translation. Contains Apocrypha books.
1184 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2010
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 13, 2017
An excellent contemporary English translation. Since it was done by a large committee and then smoothed out in focus groups, the translation can be a bit hit-or-miss, depending on the book. Highlights include the book of Psalms and the minor prophets. The rendering of Romans, in this reviewer's opinion, is a fascinating disaster (as one of its translators, Richard Hays, pointed out [before his translation was mangled by a committee], some books simply can't be rendered into
simple conversational English). I'll continue using this translation devotionally. Overall, highly recommended.
simple conversational English). I'll continue using this translation devotionally. Overall, highly recommended.
June 12, 2017
I went ahead and read the whole thing, including Apocrypha. I also preached from it weekly for around a year. It is great in English read aloud, clear for public worship, well-written for private devotion. But it's just not a good translation, constantly choosing ease in English over accuracy, driving me insane when preaching and comparing it to original languages week-by-week.
As far as personal reading, I continue to recommend it alongside basically any other translation someone will actually read.
As far as personal reading, I continue to recommend it alongside basically any other translation someone will actually read.
July 9, 2020
Favorite Bible version
December 2, 2016
The Bible and the full Apocrypha in the Common English Bible translation.
As a volume this includes the full Apocrypha, including 3/4 Maccabees, the Prayer of Manasseh, Psalam 151, etc., and not just the Catholic apocrypha; in the actual ordering on the Kindle edition the deuterocanonical works are placed at the end of the New Testament (although, somewhat confusingly, in the "Go To" menu they are listed between the Testaments).
As a translation the CEB opts for a dynamic equivalence, thought-for-thought, philosophy, with much thought also given to common epithets and phrases more fully fleshed out in meaning. This means that the text does not provide a word-for-word translation more suitable for deriving inferences based on how the text reads; the translation exists to convey the primary meaning of the text. In my reading I did not notice many glaringly bizarre or misguided moments in translation, although, as is common in dynamic equivalence translations, certain texts become rather flattened or one-dimensional in the process.
For its purposes, facilitating an understanding of the primary meaning of the text, the CEB does well. As a primary or study Bible it, as all dynamic equivalence translations, falls short; one is better off using a KJV, NASB, or ESV for such purposes.
As a volume this includes the full Apocrypha, including 3/4 Maccabees, the Prayer of Manasseh, Psalam 151, etc., and not just the Catholic apocrypha; in the actual ordering on the Kindle edition the deuterocanonical works are placed at the end of the New Testament (although, somewhat confusingly, in the "Go To" menu they are listed between the Testaments).
As a translation the CEB opts for a dynamic equivalence, thought-for-thought, philosophy, with much thought also given to common epithets and phrases more fully fleshed out in meaning. This means that the text does not provide a word-for-word translation more suitable for deriving inferences based on how the text reads; the translation exists to convey the primary meaning of the text. In my reading I did not notice many glaringly bizarre or misguided moments in translation, although, as is common in dynamic equivalence translations, certain texts become rather flattened or one-dimensional in the process.
For its purposes, facilitating an understanding of the primary meaning of the text, the CEB does well. As a primary or study Bible it, as all dynamic equivalence translations, falls short; one is better off using a KJV, NASB, or ESV for such purposes.
March 30, 2025
A very readable translation
I have copies of The Bible in several translations: KJV, RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV, and this one. For day to day reading, I've found myself reaching for this translation, because it's simply the clearest and easiest to understand, especially when it comes to the letters of St. Paul.
It's not so good with poetic books like the Psalms, but it's not terrible. There are a few instances of awkward language in an attempt to avoid allegedly masculine terms ( "Son of Man" is "The Human One"), but not enough to be distracting.
The bottom line: this is an excellent translation for personal use that will reward the reader with new insights, even when reading familiar passages.
I have copies of The Bible in several translations: KJV, RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV, and this one. For day to day reading, I've found myself reaching for this translation, because it's simply the clearest and easiest to understand, especially when it comes to the letters of St. Paul.
It's not so good with poetic books like the Psalms, but it's not terrible. There are a few instances of awkward language in an attempt to avoid allegedly masculine terms ( "Son of Man" is "The Human One"), but not enough to be distracting.
The bottom line: this is an excellent translation for personal use that will reward the reader with new insights, even when reading familiar passages.
July 14, 2012
The common English approach is good "in theory," but "in practice," it seems to leave some essential terms out. For example, Jesus is not "the son of man," he is "the human one." If you are looking for "surface meaning" and the narrative of the Bible, then this version is excellent. If you are looking for a great translation from the original languages, this is not the Bible for you. I would recommend this Bible for new Christians and even people who have been Christians a long time but are not yet digging into the deeper methods of exegesis. I would also recommend this for "scholarly" Christians who sometimes just need to have a quick understanding of the context of a passage.
March 26, 2012
Love this translation. However, I'm not sure I'll ever get used to "Human One" for "Son of Man." I do understand the translation theory...emphasizing "humanness" vs. an inclusive language move. Yet, it sounds odd to my ears. Other than this, the CEB is a tremendous work in dynamic equivalence.
February 14, 2014
Good Read
Good Read
Enjoyed this reading. Will definitely read again and again. . . . . . . . . . . .
Good Read
Enjoyed this reading. Will definitely read again and again. . . . . . . . . . . .
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews