Bibles, Seattle WA: http://linktown.king5.com/bibles/seattle/wa
Disciples Literal New Testament, Hardcover, Michael Magill, Reyma Publishing, 2011, 476 Pages, ISBN: 978-1937368074, $39.99
We have an outstanding number of Bible translations available today, from the simplicity of The Message, to what some consider the more difficult King James Version with a variety in between. However, I’ve never read anything quite like what author and teacher Michael Magill offers in the Disciples Literal New Testament translation. (DLNT) The subtitle describes it well. “Serving modern disciples by more fully reflecting the writing style of the ancient disciples.”
Magill’s work complements the New Testament in every way and is easy to read and understand. It retains the ancient apostles “writing style” with unique paragraphing that reflects how the disciples thought and wrote. Unlike the more common chapter and verse layout modern readers are familiar with; this translations paragraphing and paragraph summaries reflect the literal flow of thought and language from the original Greek. Magill calls this style “intelligent paragraphing” which I found very easy-to-read.
Book chapters begin with an alphabetized outline for a quick overview with italicized “descriptive, interpretive headings” that summarize main points within the paragraph. Chapter and verse numbers have been eliminated, except for numbered verses which make comparing translations easy.
I think the DNLT would be especially useful in Bible study groups where you often hear, “…my version says this, and someone else says, “…wait…my version says it a little differently.” I also think pastors would find the DLNT useful because of its clarity, overviews, summaries and “big-picture” relationships.
Magill writes, “I want to serve frontline warriors [pastors] by sharpening their sword…providing them with a tool that saves preparation time…and opens the door for deeper interaction with their flock.”
Magill’s interpretation is for a general audience as well as for pastors and Sunday school teachers with 100% of book royalties donated to Wycliffe Bible Translators. This translation is intended to “complement” and not “replace” other translations. His overall goal is to encourage Bible reading and “provide [readers] a view of the NT formerly only available to those who knew [could read] Greek.”
For more information: http://reymapublishing.com/
The Seattle Christian Book Review Examiner: http://tinyurl.com/23gtm4d
The Washington Christian Book Review Examiner: http://tinyurl.com/6cvj94t
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