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The Bible for Everyone
This set contains all thirty-five volumes in the For Everyone series.
Westminster John Knox Press is pleased to present The Bible for Everyone Set. Written by internationally respected scholars, N. T. Wright and John Goldingay address and interpret Scripture from Genesis to Revelation in such a way that even the most challenging passages are explained simply and concisely. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. A glossary is also included at the back of each book. The series is perfect for daily devotions, group study, or personal visits with the Bible.
Westminster John Knox Press is pleased to present The Bible for Everyone Set. Written by internationally respected scholars, N. T. Wright and John Goldingay address and interpret Scripture from Genesis to Revelation in such a way that even the most challenging passages are explained simply and concisely. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. A glossary is also included at the back of each book. The series is perfect for daily devotions, group study, or personal visits with the Bible.
1408 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2015
29 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
John E. Goldingay
87 books68 followersJohn Goldingay is David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. An internationally respected Old Testament scholar, Goldingay is the author of many commentaries and books.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 14, 2022
Well, it’s not for everyone.
I had wanted to read this translation since I first heard of it. Last Christmas, my wife gifted me a copy, and it’s been a constant side table companion ever since. One hundred ninety-five days later and I finished Revelation and am ready to share a few thoughts.
As I said somewhat cheekily in my opening sentence, “It’s not for everyone.” If you’re looking for a translation that is easy to read with language that will be commonly understood by, well, “everyone,” this isn’t the translation for you. If, however, you’re looking for something fresh that will cause you to see Scripture in new ways and slow your reading down to appreciate details you may have missed before, this is an excellent choice.
Single author translations are never a good idea, but I cannot imagine two scholars more up to the task than John Goldingay and N. T. Wright. For Goldingay’s part, though, I suspect he missed the memo about “for everyone.” His translation is difficult to follow as he insists on keeping to original place names (Egypt is Misrayim) and uses the original form for names of people (Moses is Mosheh and Isaiah is Yesha’yahu). This is a nice touch, but at times I had to slow down and translate in my head to make myself aware of who he was referring to.
Where Goldingay really stands out, though, is in his choice of section headings; they’re often hilarious! He once admitted that, upon sharing a new book manuscript with his wife, she told him he had included too many Monty Python references. His humor comes through in subtle and fun ways through his section headings. Esther 4:12 begins a section he’s titled “The Possibility of a Non-Miraculous Miracle,” and (my favorite) Numbers 10:33 begins the section where the Israelites (Yisra’elites) complained about the food they missed in Egypt (Misrayim). Goldingay has simply titled the section “On Missing Garlic.” I can relate to that, John!
As for N. T. Wright’s work on the N. T. (New Testament), I had read parts of it through his “For Everyone” Bible study series. There’s a very “Tom Wright” feel to the translation as if you can almost hear him reading it (which would be pleasant). As with Goldingay, he makes some choices that will upset expectations, but in good ways. There’s an emphatic sound to his Beatitudes, “Blessings on the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven is yours. Blessings on the mourners! You’re going to be comforted (Matthew 5:3-4).” He also contextualizes in some interesting ways. In Matthew 12, the disciples are hungry on the sabbath, so they “began to pluck ears of corn and eat them” (verse 1). My midwestern ear appreciated that.
My favorite elements of both Testaments are the synopses the authors wrote for the beginnings of the books. They are both gifted at getting to the heart of the meaning of a prophetic work, Gospel, or epistle. I plan on referring back to those pages very often. The glossaries at the end of both Testaments are also a nice touch with lots of good insights.
It feels strange giving a Bible only four stars (I may have to repent of that later). I did that because, again, the work doesn’t fit the title. Still, it has been a unique and valuable read. I appreciate the perspective these scholars have brought to the word of God.
I had wanted to read this translation since I first heard of it. Last Christmas, my wife gifted me a copy, and it’s been a constant side table companion ever since. One hundred ninety-five days later and I finished Revelation and am ready to share a few thoughts.
As I said somewhat cheekily in my opening sentence, “It’s not for everyone.” If you’re looking for a translation that is easy to read with language that will be commonly understood by, well, “everyone,” this isn’t the translation for you. If, however, you’re looking for something fresh that will cause you to see Scripture in new ways and slow your reading down to appreciate details you may have missed before, this is an excellent choice.
Single author translations are never a good idea, but I cannot imagine two scholars more up to the task than John Goldingay and N. T. Wright. For Goldingay’s part, though, I suspect he missed the memo about “for everyone.” His translation is difficult to follow as he insists on keeping to original place names (Egypt is Misrayim) and uses the original form for names of people (Moses is Mosheh and Isaiah is Yesha’yahu). This is a nice touch, but at times I had to slow down and translate in my head to make myself aware of who he was referring to.
Where Goldingay really stands out, though, is in his choice of section headings; they’re often hilarious! He once admitted that, upon sharing a new book manuscript with his wife, she told him he had included too many Monty Python references. His humor comes through in subtle and fun ways through his section headings. Esther 4:12 begins a section he’s titled “The Possibility of a Non-Miraculous Miracle,” and (my favorite) Numbers 10:33 begins the section where the Israelites (Yisra’elites) complained about the food they missed in Egypt (Misrayim). Goldingay has simply titled the section “On Missing Garlic.” I can relate to that, John!
As for N. T. Wright’s work on the N. T. (New Testament), I had read parts of it through his “For Everyone” Bible study series. There’s a very “Tom Wright” feel to the translation as if you can almost hear him reading it (which would be pleasant). As with Goldingay, he makes some choices that will upset expectations, but in good ways. There’s an emphatic sound to his Beatitudes, “Blessings on the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven is yours. Blessings on the mourners! You’re going to be comforted (Matthew 5:3-4).” He also contextualizes in some interesting ways. In Matthew 12, the disciples are hungry on the sabbath, so they “began to pluck ears of corn and eat them” (verse 1). My midwestern ear appreciated that.
My favorite elements of both Testaments are the synopses the authors wrote for the beginnings of the books. They are both gifted at getting to the heart of the meaning of a prophetic work, Gospel, or epistle. I plan on referring back to those pages very often. The glossaries at the end of both Testaments are also a nice touch with lots of good insights.
It feels strange giving a Bible only four stars (I may have to repent of that later). I did that because, again, the work doesn’t fit the title. Still, it has been a unique and valuable read. I appreciate the perspective these scholars have brought to the word of God.
January 5, 2021
Two fantastic translations; one for the Hebrew Bible and one for the New Testament. Each breath a fresh perspective unhindered by the mixed perspectives of a large translation board. Goldingay's translation made me rethink who the God of the Jews (Yahweh) really is in relation to the other nations. I found myself exploring what sets Yahweh apart and allows him to tell Moses and Israel to have "No gods beside me". Wright's New Testament translation explored the faithfulness of Jesus and gave a great sense that followers pf Jesus are saved *for* vocation not merely *from* destruction. The kingdom language of Jesus' good news comes alive in this translation. A wonderful gift these two scholars have given and the rich introductions to each book are an added bonus.
December 30, 2020
I'll be honest, I bowed out of this translation about 2/3 of the way through the year. The idiosyncracies of Wright/Goldingays translations were more distracting to me personally (although they may be helpful to others). I look forward to consulting this in the future for preaching/teaching purposes, but probably not for reading through unless that's several years down the road.
December 9, 2021
Reading the Old Testament with the Hebrew sounding names made this a new experience. And NT Wrights NT translation is fascinating.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews