Earlier this year I wrote a review of the Poverty & Justice Bible (PJB). It wasn’t very favorable. This is an edition of the Bible that I’d love to love, but can’t bring myself to like.
My main problem with the PJB was the translation used, the Contemporary English Version. Reading it I found not only questionable translation, but a loss of meaning with key terminology muddled or lost entirely that helps unlock the meaning of Scripture.
This edition of the Bible highlights in orange the passages of Scripture that pertain to poverty and justice issues. Reading it is eye-opening, as the heart of God for justice is plainly revealed. More than any other topic in Scripture, poverty and justice are discussed. This can be surprising to many Christians, particularly in the United States, where sexual morality and “reclaiming” America’s “Christian heritage” have been at the forefront for years.
It’s easy to predict that this edition of the Bible will find a ready audience in Brazil, where social responsibility has been a value esteemed for quite a while, even finding a place in the operation of corporations in that country. The translation used is the Bíblia na Linguagem de Hoje, analogous to the Contemporary English Version. Having not read this translation, however, I can’t say either way whether it will be an improvement over its English counterpart. I have a copy of this version on my phone in the YouVersion app, so I’ll try to look it over and see what I think.
Next year I plan to travel with my family on vacation in Brazil, and I’ll try to obtain a copy of the PJB in Portuguese. If it looks good, it could be a help in advancing the work of HOPE worldwide through churches and into communities in that country.
See Also:
Book Review: The Poverty & Justice Bible (IgneousQuill.org)
Bíblia Pobreza e Justiça é ferramenta para entidades do Terceiro Setor (Cidadania Evangélica)
The Poverty and Justice Bible (American Bible Society)
Bíblia Sagrada Pobreza e Justiça (Sociedade Bíblica do Brasil)
November 20, 2011 has been designated as this year’s “International Day of Giving.” This is a time for churches and individuals to contribute to the ongoing work of HOPE worldwide. Although much is done through chapters and with other funding sources, administrative and logistic expenses need to be covered as well to keep operations going around the world. Watch the video below and click here for more about HOPE worldwide and the International Day of Giving.
