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WestBow Press

08 February 2014

God's Word For Our World




I was so excited to see The Modern Life Study Bible as one of the books available for review! I had been searching for a new Bible for a while, and this one struck me as one with a different perspective than I was used to. First and foremost, I am a traditionalist. My first Bible was the King James Version (KJV), and for years, I did not stray far from it. Something about departing from the very formal and structured language felt wrong to me. Over the years, I had picked up and read, or tried to read, some other translations like The Message, and just couldn't do it. It didn't feel right. To my mind, at the time, it seemed almost disrespectful. This wasn't some paperback pulp fiction, this was The Bible! Gradually, I branched out to the New International Version (NIV), became comfortable with its verbiage and rhythm, and have stayed with that translation for more than ten years.

What you can't see from the cover image shown here are the banners at the top and bottom that very plainly state that this Bible is the New King James Version (NKJV).  The NKJV is not a translation that I had read prior to receiving this Bible, so being the book-lover that I am, I dived right in!

The flyleaf introduction gave a hint that this Bible was not going to be just another study version. Calling it an "innovative, informative resource for modern believers" and reminding us that problems have been around as long as humans have been around - and the solution lies within God's word. Each book is prefaced with an introduction, setting the stage for what is to come. Genesis, for example, God creates a good world. Genesis sets the stage for everything that follows by taking us back to the beginning - the very beginning - of everything. As a reader familiar with the Bible, these introductions give me a different perspective. As a reader who may not be familiar with the Bible, these introductions would let me know what was in store!

Like some textbooks I have had, this Bible also has key events for each chapter outlined, focus articles that explain or highlight certain verses and how they relate to us today - such as your workstyle (Titus 2:9-11), and insight articles that give background on everything from brickmaking (Genesis 11:3) to the fall of cedar forests (Zechariah 11:1-3) to being rich in faith (James 2:5-6).

I expected a Bible. What I received was so much more. This Bible will be my companion for years to come, for there is much to learn, to read, to share, and to savor. Truly, a gift, indeed!

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven" ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”