Review: Timeless Truths Bible

The dust jacket reads:

ONE FAITH.
HANDED DOWN.
FOR ALL THE SAINTS.

I'm not exactly sure what that means, I'm not even sure if I agree, but here we are. This is the Timeless Truths Bible. It is written in the New English Translation, a translation published about twenty years ago with a ministry-minded approach. Entire books and chapters of this translation can be reprinted for ministry purposes with proper acknowledgement. In fact, translators' notes and Bible study resources are available through the website at netbible.org and netbible.com. 

I'll tell you from the door, I am thinking of keeping this one. If you've been here before, you may know, I usually share with others the Bibles I have reviewed. You may also know I am a "chucker." I dislike clutter, and I don't usually own multiple copies of anything. Months ago, I reviewed an Evangelical Study Bible. I liked it and kept it for desk use. But this Bible, the Timeless Truths Bible, combines art and Scripture. I'm not sure there's any pairing that appeals to me more than art and words. That makes this a tough text to pass on, ambiguous dust jacket blurb aside.

Okay, let's get to it. Bible Gateway has once again given members of its Bible Gateway Blogger Grid the generous opportunity of reviewing a Bible. I received a complimentary copy, but you can purchase yours at FaithGateway or Amazon. The copy I was given was a hardcover edition, single-column 9-point comfort print, with two satin bookmarks, a dust jacket, and full-color maps. The words of Jesus are not in red.

In the front of this Bible are two pages of Explanatory Notes regarding some differences in original and alternative manuscripts. I'm not sure I've encountered this before. Most Bibles I've used make these notations as footnotes to the text. 

There are two pages of introduction beginning each book. This information includes the earthly author, audience, date, purpose, themes, and some books are accompanied by historical background and insight from church fathers within these pages. There are no cross-references or verse-by-verse study notes; this is not a study Bible.

There are a few things that make this Bible appealing (to me) and unique. I've mentioned the art: full color pages of beautiful artwork by masters like Bruegel, Rembrandt, Tanner, and Caravaggio. Each one is listed with a brief description at the back of the Bible. 

Included throughout the text are creeds and major confessions to supplement apprehension of scriptural precepts. They provide a more foundational understanding of church history and its development through the years. Each chapter of this Bible is accompanied by a brief commentary from a figure in church history. There are commentaries spanning millennia from great minds like Basil the Great, John Calvin, John Wesley, Clement of Alexandria, Augustine, and Charles Spurgeon. As someone who paid little to no attention in my high school church history class, this Bible lights that fire and serves up tantalizing bits of exposition that have me revisiting these time periods and authors. 

Additionally, there are forty-six full-page biographies of historical church leaders! Sadly, it is with some of these supplemental portions that I have my greatest complaint. Why, for an edition focused so heavily on the writings of ancient and twentieth century church leaders, would you not index the full-page biographies and creeds/ confessions? There is a bibliography at the back, giving credit to those whose commentaries were included, but no index of these other important additions. For instance, the biography of martyr John Hus on p. 932 goes uncategorized; Zwingli, a major figure in the Swiss Reformation, is found in the bibliography because of his expository composition, but one has to page through to encounter his biography. Perhaps there was some desire to present a homogenous, cohesive picture, to join the lives of these leaders with the gospel that so radically inspired them. Perhaps this was an attempt to create a more devotional, meditative approach to God's Word and its influence on the lives of some of the "church greats." While the primary purpose of Scripture is not about those who lived in obedience to it and with a passion for it, it would be nice to have a quick-reference.

Overall, this is a beautiful Bible, what I would call a "collector's edition." It's gonna be tough to share, but looking at the piles of books on my desk right now, I think I'm gonna have to.