A Significant Announcement

For today's blog, I thought it best to share an important memo I received this weekend, affecting anyone who has any interest in the Bible whatsoever. It is as follows (I've deleted the letterhead, as I do not have permission to re-publish the usual identifying logos):

    

 INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

DATE: APRIL 1, 2012

RE: RELEASE OF THE BETTER BASIC BIBLE

TO: CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS OF ALL DENOMINATIONS, ALL LANGUAGES, AND ALL LOCATIONS

It is the great pleasure of the International Bible League, The American Bible Society, and Biblica (formerly known as the International Bible Society) to announce that after nearly 10 years of thorough and scholarly review, the Holy Bible will hereafter be published in a revised format.

Beginning with the marvelous discovery in April, 2001, of the earliest ever Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, and the April 2005 discovery of previously hidden minutes recorded at the First Council of Nicea, 325 AD, it has become apparent that the basic organization of the Bible’s books have been heretofore incorrectly organized.

While we recognize this announcement may cause confusion and concern among the faithful, it is the prayerfully considered opinion of Christianity’s preeminent scholars that these changes will contribute to a greater understanding, appreciation and adherence to the inspired Word of God, the Bible.

The changes are effective immediately, and include:

     - All the Bible Books will now be arranged in alphabetical order

     - All chapter and verse numbers will be removed, to allow for a smoother and more natural reading flow.

     - The New Testament will be placed at the front of the Bible, with the Old Testament to follow

     - The Old Testament – in recognition that the word “old” has negative connotations for many – will now be named “The Mature Testament”.

To assist in this significant shift, a Bible Amnesty program will be initiated to allow believers to exchange their own Bible for the re-organized Bible free of charge. All underlining, margin notes, and outdated church bulletins included in the returned Bibles will be duplicated in the replacement copy.

More information on the Bible Amnesty program can be found at the website, www.thebetterbasicbible.org/checkthedate.

We trust this announcement will inspire believers everywhere with a renewed love for the Word of God.

Sincerely,

Jess Keddeng

President, International Bible League