budaatum:
Let me first say that this is going to be a work in public. The thread title might change, even this very post may be continously revised. The beauty is the version you quote will be uniquely stamped with your name on it, hint!

Saturday, I bought the book in the first picture. I already got one, but found this in a charity shop for £3 and couldn't resist and started reading the introduction when I got it home. it excludes 1 and 2 Esdras (3 and 4) and the Prayer of Manasseh, which irked me, so I went looking and found the book in the third picture. It was recommended to Dylan by the Door to door salesman. Dylan read it in January 2009 and said this:

"This book was terrible. The characters are two dimensional, the plot is all over the place and the author can't keep his story straight. Then halfway through they just introduce a new protagonist out of nowhere who dies within 4 chapters and they spend the rest of the book trying to work out what his deal was.

Genesis and Numbers are a huge yawn fest, I'm not even sure what the lengthy genealogies and census information had to do with the fisherman because everybody dies in the end anyway.

This book is huge. Oh my god, it's soo long. I thought Lord of the Rings was big. The only consolation is that it's so big and heavy my wife sometimes uses it to press flowers, which is fine by me because I wouldn't lend this book to anyone.

This is it's small print
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Pentateuch: Marc Z. Brettler
Introductions and Annotations
Genesis: David Carr
Exodus: Carol Meyers
Leviticus: Jeffrey Stackert
Numbers: Thomas B. Dozeman
Deuteronomy: Bernard M. Levinson
Introduction to the Historical Books: Marc Z. Brettler
Introductions and Annotations
Joshua: K. Lawson Younger, Jr.
Judges: Gregory Mobley
Ruth: Yair Zakovitch
1, 2 Samuel: Steven L. McKenzie
1, 2 Kings: Thomas Römer
1, 2 Chronicles: Gary N. Knoppers
Ezra, Nehemiah: Tamara Cohn Eskenazi
Esther: Mary Joan Winn Leith
Introduction to the Poetical and Wisdom Books: Marc Z. Brettler
Introductions and Annotations
Job: David J. A. Clines
Psalms: Richard J. Clifford
Proverbs: Christine Roy Yoder
Ecclesiastes: Davis Hankins and Brennan W. Breed
Song of Solomon: J. Cheryl Exum
Introduction to the Prophetic Books: Julia M. O'Brien
Isaiah: Marvin A. Sweeney
Jeremiah: Louis Stulman
Lamentations: Adele Berlin
Ezekiel: Stephen L. Cook
Daniel: Amy C. Merrill Willis
Hosea, Amos, Micah: Gregory Mobley
Joel, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi: David L. Petersen
Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah: Julia M. O'Brien
Jonah: Yair Zakovitch
Introduction to the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: Carol A. Newsom
Introductions and Annotations
Tobit: Amy-Jill Levine
Judith: Lawrence M. Wills
Esther (Greek): Mary Joan Winn Leith
Wisdom of Solomon: Michael Kolarcik
Sirach: Benjamin G. Wright
Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah: Matthew Goff
Add Daniel (Azariah, Song of Three, Susanna, Bel): Amy C. Merrill Willis
1 Maccabees: John R. Bartlett
2 Maccabees: Daniel R. Schwartz
1 Esdras: Tamara Cohn Eskenazi
Prayer of Manasseh: David Lambert
Psalm 151: Judith H. Newman
3 Maccabees: John J. Collins
2 Esdras: Theodore A. Bergren
4 Maccabees: David A. de Silva
Introduction to the Gospels: Pheme Perkins
Introductions and Annotations
Matthew: J. R. C. Cousland
Mark: Suzanne Watts Henderson
Luke: Marion L. Soards
John: Colleen Conway
Acts: Christopher R. Matthews
Introduction to Letters/Epistles in the New Testament: Pheme Perkins
Introductions and Annotations
Romans: Ann Jervis
1 Corinthians: Laurence L. Welborn
2 Corinthians: Alexandra R. Brown
Galatians: Emma Wasserman
Ephesians, Colossians: Jennifer K. Berenson
Philippians: Carolyn Osiek
1,2 Thessalonians: Richard S. Ascough
The Pastoral Epistles, 1,2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon: Margaret M. Mitchell
Hebrews: David A. de Silva
James: Timothy B. Cargal
1 Peter: M. Eugene Boring
2 Peter, Jude: Terrance Callan
1,2,3 John: Pheme Perkins
Revelation: Jean-Pierre Ruiz
General Essays, Tables, Glossary, Index
General Essays
The Canons of the Bible: Marc Z. Brettler and Pheme Perkins
Textual Criticism: Michael D. Coogan and Pheme Perkins
The Languages of the Bible: Sidnie White Crawford
Translation of the Bible into English: Michael D. Coogan and Pheme Perkins
Interpretation
The Hebrew Bible's Interpretation of Itself: Marc Z. Brettler
The New Testament Interprets the Jewish Scriptures: Pheme Perkins
Jewish Interpretation in the Premodern Era: Marc Z. Brettler
Christian Interpretation in the Premodern Era: Carol A. Newsom
The Interpretation of the Bible: From the Nineteenth to the Mid-Twentieth Centuries: Michael D. Coogan
Contemporary Methods in Biblical Study: Carol A. Newsom
The Geography of the Bible: Michael D. Coogan
Cultural Contexts
The Ancient Near East: Michael D. Coogan
The Persian and Hellenistic Periods: Carol A. Newsom
The Roman Period: Pheme Perkins
Tables
Timeline
Chronological Table of Rulers
Weights and Measures
Time [includes Calendar]
Parallel Texts [now including parallels from the Gospel of John]
Translations of Ancient Texts
Glossary
Index to the Study Materials

I'm going to religiously turn page it.

Are you a mason?

DeSepiero:


Are you a mason?

A level squared non-card carrying builder, amongst lots of other things.

budaatum:

A level squared non-card carrying builder, amongst lots of other things.

Interesting.

Dami12345:

Irrigating shit.

Whatever.

Anas09:

Whatever.

Stop peddling that crap you call the good God and tell him to actually prove he is good.

Dami12345:


Stop peddling that crap you call the good God and tell him to actually prove he is good.

Hit rocks demon.

Anas09:

Hit rocks demon.

Lol.
Envy isn't a good look for you

Anas09:

Hit rocks demon.

Stop deceiving people.

How is it going, buda?

HappyPagan:
How is it going, buda?

Not encouraging, I daresay. Beginning to think one needs religious genes to be religious, and I don't have any. And I think I might have chosen a rather objective rendition of the Bible with the notes and all. One shouldn't expect credible scholars to bullshit one I guess, not after the history they've lived through.

budaatum:

Not encouraging, I daresay. Beginning to think one needs religious genes to be religious, and I don't have any. And I think I might have chosen a rather objective rendition of the Bible with the notes and all. One shouldn't expect credible scholars to bullshit one I guess, not after the history they've lived through.

Or an environmental that enforces it strictly from childhood.


For me, it was everywhere day one. I remember the morning devotions, the clapping, the singing. Church was just on Sundays though, and we rarely had devotions at home, so it was cool.

Then, just when I was hitting puberty, pentecostal churches and their "redemption" message began to spread.

It was horrible and scary. Church, devotions, cell fellowships, campus fellowships... What ever little time one had was taken up by a religious activity or another.

TBN was regular on most screens, speakers(even in public places) play religious songs 24/7. All year, every fucking day.

I was enrolled in a private Christian school.. Church, church, church, class, church. Pray morning. Afternoon. Night. Walk into most Pentecostal churches and lead a praise session.. It can be powerful, very powerful, getting hundreds of people to sing and dance so emotionally. But it never touched me. I never felt I belonged there. I hated everything about there.

Got to uni, and it was almost a similar experience... Yup Covenant. Lol.

Second year, called my parents, and told them I was withdrawing... I left there hating Christ, religion, and life too I guess.


Funny thing is I got back home, and found religion, love and God again....




Or at least, I thought I did

HappyPagan:

Or an environmental that enforces it strictly from childhood.


For me, it was everywhere day one. I remember the morning devotions, the clapping, the singing. Church was just on Sundays though, and we rarely had devotions at home, so it was cool.

Then, just when I was hitting puberty, pentecostal churches and their "redemption" message began to spread.

It was horrible and scary. Church, devotions, cell fellowships, campus fellowships... What ever little time one had was taken up by a religious activity or another.

TBN was regular on most screens, speakers(even in public places) play religious songs 24/7. All year, every fucking day.

I was enrolled in a private Christian school.. Church, church, church, class, church. Pray morning. Afternoon. Night. Walk into most Pentecostal churches and lead a praise session.. It can be powerful, very powerful, getting hundreds of people to sing and dance so emotionally. But it never touched me. I never felt I belonged there. I hated everything about there.

Got to uni, and it was almost a similar experience... Yup Covenant. Lol.

Second year, called my parents, and told them I was withdrawing... I left there hating Christ, religion, and life too I guess.


Funny thing is I got back home, and found religion, love and God again....

Or at least, I thought I did

I went to a baptist school but amazingly, it wasn't religion everyday in my days. Worst we had was some old teacher of religious knowledge who forced us to memorise about Samuel and the Kings. Thankfully, he held his once a week class on the groundfloor and we could just elope out the window. And then I go to Nigeria in the mid 90s and the gods are everywhere!

I had to save my sisters from their pastor in the end after he'd stolen my car, raided my account and taken out loans on my house. It took lots of yelling for the Redeem hierarchy to make things good.

HappyPagan:
See work...

all for what?

budaatum:

I went to a baptist school but amazingly, it wasn't religion everyday in my days. Worst we had was some old teacher of religious knowledge who forced us to memorise about Samuel and the Kings. Thankfully, he held his once a week class on the groundfloor and we could just elope out the window. And then I go to Nigeria in the mid 90s and the gods are everywhere!

I had to save my sisters from their pastor in the end after he'd stolen my car, raided my account and taken out loans on my house. It took lots of yelling for the Redeem hierarchy to make things good.

Ah, religion.

Dad was ill(mental health). Over twelve years... I wasn't at home most of that time, spent some time (6 years) in India.

Came back to meet lots of pastors, prayer warriors, and traditional healers. Prayers , some weird fruits and stuff . was a crazy period trying to convince them (esp Mom) to take the ill man to a hospital.. Lol.

Took me threatening to say some nasty shit at his burial (in case he died, thankfully, he's still alive) , before they took him to see a proper psychologist.

O... He had one already.. Some idiot. Hes a professor of Psychology at a popular Federal University.. Motherfucker was feeding my dad crazy drugs that just made shit worse.


Lol. Fucking pastors praying and suggesting crazy shit...

Hope this come out as a rant.. Not had the space to let off ..

Anyways, Pops is better now.

HappyPagan:

Ah, religion.

Dad was ill(mental health). Over twelve years... I wasn't at home most of that time, spent some time (6 years) in India.

Came back to meet lots of pastors, prayer warriors, and traditional healers. Prayers , some weird fruits and stuff . was a crazy period trying to convince them (esp Mom) to take the ill man to a hospital.. Lol.

Took me threatening to say some nasty shit at his burial (in case he died, thankfully, he's still alive) , before they took him to see a proper psychologist.

O... He had one already.. Some idiot. Hes a professor of Psychology at a popular Federal University.. Motherfucker was feeding my dad crazy drugs that just made shit worse.


Lol. Fucking pastors praying and suggesting crazy shit...

Hope this come out as a rant.. Not had the space to let off ..

Anyways, Pops is better now.

Must have been a trauma. Glad dad is now well. The more I look into religion the more I run from it in the end.

How was religion in India? Bet same as in Nigeria, just different god.

budaatum:

Not encouraging, I daresay. Beginning to think one needs religious genes to be religious, and I don't have any. And I think I might have chosen a rather objective rendition of the Bible with the notes and all. One shouldn't expect credible scholars to bullshit one I guess, not after the history they've lived through.

I guess u are enjoying the notes.

budaatum:

I went to a baptist school but amazingly, it wasn't religion everyday in my days. Worst we had was some old teacher of religious knowledge who forced us to memorise about Samuel and the Kings. Thankfully, he held his once a week class on the groundfloor and we could just elope out the window. And then I go to Nigeria in the mid 90s and the gods are everywhere!

I had to save my sisters from their pastor in the end after he'd stolen my car, raided my account and taken out loans on my house. It took lots of yelling for the Redeem hierarchy to make things good.

Sorry abt your experience.

It sounds suprising to me.

Ubenedictus:
I guess u are enjoying the notes.

More than the text of the Bible itself I daresay. It's like my Quran which also has copious amounts of contextual notes.

budaatum:

More than the text of the Bible itself I daresay. It's like my Quran which also has copious amounts of contextual notes.

good thing the Quran isnt that big compared to the Bible, but the text u chose is a monster, why all those books?

Ubenedictus:
Sorry abt your experience.

It sounds surprising to me.

Nothing to be sorry about! At least I got to save my sisters from that fake pastor. He used to come to my house, we'd discuss the bible, and he'd go preach what I told him in church on Sunday claiming it's what an angel told him, while informing my sisters I was the devil! We later found out that when he claimed he was on the roof praying he was all along watching porn! He abandoned his wife and daughter in the end and ran off to Ghana, I was told.

Ubenedictus:
good thing the Quran isnt that big compared to the Bible, but the text u chose is a monster, why all those books?

Funny enough, it was that religious knowledge teacher who done it in the end. He started with Samuel and got me with wise Solomon and I've spent my whole life seeking wisdom and understanding storing up wealth where moths can't get at it. And what do I go and do in the end? I gave all my books away and now have bare walls.

budaatum:

More than the text of the Bible itself I daresay. It's like my Quran which also has copious amounts of contextual notes.

But i must warn, if u really want to gain the right insight invest more in the bible text instead of the notes. i usually find more meaning in a text compared to whatever an expert commentator say. The bible has been know to say different thing to different situations.

budaatum:

Nothing to be sorry about! At least I got to save my sisters from that fake pastor. He used to come to my house, we'd discuss the bible, and he'd go preach what I told him in church on Sunday claiming it's what an angel told him, while informing my sisters I was the devil! We later found out that when he claimed he was on the roof praying he was all along watching porn! He abandoned his wife and daughter in the end and ran off to Ghana, I was told.

That is just terrible, is it that he has no superiors to whom he is answerable?

budaatum:

Funny enough, it was that religious knowledge teacher who done it in the end. He started with Samuel and got me with wise Solomon and I've spent my whole life seeking wisdom and understanding storing up wealth where moths can't get at it. And what do I go and do in the end? I gave all my books away and now have bare walls.

I hope u also know that storing wealth in the bible also means giving to others whether intellectually or materially or spiritually.

Ubenedictus:
That is just terrible, is it that he has no superiors to whom he is answerable?

He hoodwinked everyone, and they were happy with his returns. His fall came 3 months after they made him an overseer of two other churches, and even then his superiors tried to defend him until I threatened them with the law.

Ubenedictus:
I hope u also know that storing wealth in the bible also means giving to others whether intellectually or materially or spiritually.

Didn't you see the link? I gave all my books to a local government library and begged others for their's to give too, and just yesterday did ma deliver my last shipment.

budaatum:

Didn't you see the link? I gave all my books to a local government library and begged others for their's to give too, and just yesterday did ma deliver my last shipment.

Are u kidding me? that is nice, i know it will be hard to part me from my books.

budaatum:

He hoodwinked everyone, and they were happy with his returns. His fall came 3 months after they made him an overseer of two other churches, and even then his superiors tried to defend him until I threatened them with the law.

that is a lesson to me as a christian.
the bible does say "it is because of you (me) that my (GOD's) name is blasphemed among the gentiles".

Ubenedictus:
But i must warn, if u really want to gain the right insight invest more in the bible text instead of the notes. i usually find more meaning in a text compared to whatever an expert commentator say. The bible has been know to say different thing to different situations.

Funny you say this. I'm in discussion with 9inches where I'm claiming the subjectivity of the bible is what makes it so valuable a book, but he's telling me to go Catholic where I'd get the objective meaning.

It is in my opinion, subjectivity, that makes one 'hear' different things in different situations, and what makes the book the so called "living word of God". I see it like the mud that God breathed life into. If not read in the proper way it is just another book or dirty mud, but if read properly, it's like mud spat on by Jesus and rubbed in the eyes so one can see.

The notes in my current version are not commentaries. They are more historical development and contextual notes. The introduction says how it was cobbled together over many years of verbal transmission and states the likely difficulty involved in forming the text we have today. My Quran is of a similar nature. The forward (of the Quran) states how it was initially spoken, then recorded on tablets, bones, and the wide, flat ends of date palm fronds before it was brought together as the book we now know. Nothing like perspective, I say, and likely not a suitable version for 'believers'.

Ubenedictus:
Are u kidding me? that is nice, i know it will be hard to part me from my books.

Lol! It was hard for me too. Letting go wasn't easy. But when I do go home and some kid comes to tell me how they benefitted from my letting go, I do confess that I feel justified.

I used to have a notebook where I listed every book I read and wrote at the end that I'd one day fill it up. I started at age 9 and kept it up to date well into my mid twenties until one day I felt vain and stopped. I also couldn't go past a bookshop without going in, and couldn't leave without buying a book or two. Oxford Street was my favorite walk. From my home in Baker Street where I lived at the time to the end of Oxford Street, there used to be 9 bookshops, then there's Charring Cross, the second hand bookshops street of the world, and it didn't help that I worked in Piccadily Circus so they were on my root to and from work.

My weekends used to be, go for a walk, buy books, go to my favorite bar on Wardour Street and drink a bottle of chilled red wine with my newly purchased books spread out in front of me. Heaven! I even eventually worked in bookshops, one, a charity, which paid just travel and books, so you can imagine how many I had. Then I went to the Orolu Kingdom and discovered I had more books in my house in Lagos than there was in the entire kingdom, so I gave all my Lagos books to the library, and shipped all my London books there too, and got books from other sources and shipped them there as well. They just about throw them away here. Yesterdays was my eight shipment.

However, they are like pearls and what they are associated with. The report I just got is the library is shut as the local authority aren't staffing it so now I'm considering paying someone to keep it open. It's either that or I go back home and hustle to become the local government chairperson so I can get my hands on their allocation and divert it there, except no way would they have someone like me since I'd stop them sharing the money and showing nothing for it.

I blame Christ! I can't help selling all I got and giving it to those who have none. It's just such a pity God refused to create me as a Christian.

It may suprise you to know that i also agree with 9 on the objectivity of the bible.

for instance, the bible say God is merciful, objectively it is talking about divine character or attribute, that stuff that is in God that makes him always give beyond what justice demands, subjectively, i may make committed a terrible sin and that verse for me simply means do not dispair, in a moral sense it means i must be merciful myself.... the meaning make be much but it has an objective interpretation ie mercy is a divine attribute.

The goodnews for a catholic is that each of those different interpretation is acceptable in different context but if i were discussing doctrine i will give priority to what that text means exactly and how that has always been understood from ancient time.

Jn 6 for instance can mean for me Jesus wants faith in him but that is not exactly what the text says, the text says Jesus wants us to gawn his flesh and that has been understood since the 1st century as communion

budaatum:

Must have been a trauma.

It was. He struggled to recover... began with depression, and grew into psychotic disorder. Was weird him watching roll on the floor, scream, claim to see things that weren't there, forecast his own 'death'... I think I have enough practical experience to go study psychology now... a course on the mind..

budaatum:

Glad dad is now well.

I'm glad as well. Best part was his healing chased the pastors away

budaatum:

The more I look into religion the more I run from it in the end.

It's Christ playing the devil.

budaatum:

How was religion in India? Bet same as in Nigeria, just different god.

Hehe.

My first week in class was the first time I met an atheist in real life. And it wasn't just one.

Two guys on the row I was seated were atheists. The other three were Hindus. In front of me sat two Sikhs, their turbans blocking my view of the blackboard.

When we spoke about religion, it was weird discussing the Bible with people who had never heard of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac. I had been taught those stories all my life, in fact, I was told Jesus was a name known every where. How the hell did this people know absolutely nothing about the Bible?

The school had a Hindu temple, as well as a building that was divided into two parts, one for Christians and the other for Muslims.

I had a friend who was Christian. Her Dad was Hindu, Mum muslim. We met at the Christian campus fellowship. She always wondered why my 'brothers' shook so violently while praying. It scared a few of them, the whole screaming, jyrating, 'die die die'... got me ashamed at times.

My closest classmate was Hindu, and when the doubts/questions began to rise in my hand, it was him I engaged in discussions. I used to think they had so many gods - I learn they had about 30 or thereabouts.. It was a bit complicated explanation that I couldn't quite my head around.

They are religious, quite religious, but less noisy I guess. Some of my friends who were vegetarian, I manage to make them fall in love with chicken.. .thanks to my good, good cooking..

I lost my faith about fifteen months after living there. Was agnostic for a while, read up a lot of stuff, which kinda bleeped me up academically... thank goodness I found my way back.

Anyways, maybe this last story might cheer you up, or confuse you.

A coursemate was heartbroken - his girlfriend was 'taken' by his best friend. It was weird. The girl was in the same class as us. He met me and shared how bad he felt, even hinted that he was thinking about suicide. My general experience with Indians is that they are very protective of their image and how people perceive them -- it's a very strong part of their identity.

Anyways, I was atheist then. But I pulled out my phone and took him to a Bible site. I asked him to read the Book of Ecclesiastes and get back to me when he was done. When he came back to report me, he was very excited. He said he had no idea the Bible was that interesting, and asked me if I had read the whole book.

I replied him in the negative - I have never been that bored.