Thanks to Tim Archer for hooking me up with the Holy Bible Mosaic from Tyndale House. I picked up my copy last Thursday and immediately began leafing through the pages. Before this particular Bible I had not read much from the New Living Translation (NLT) other than quotes in blogs and bulletins. (More on the NLT later).

There are things I really like about this Bible:

1. The Advent Mosaic study system will be fun for me. I am looking forward to learning more about the so-called “Christian Calendar.” In the Restoration Movement, we do not observe this calendar, so I am mostly unfamiliar with it. My hope in going through this year long study to is gain better insight into the viewpoint of other religious people. I plan to begin with the first week’s devotional four weeks before Christmas, as suggested by the guide. I may sneak a few of the more interesting studies into the blog.
2. Friday evening I read through Timothy and Titus. Saturday, I started reading Hosea. I am going to like the NLT for a “reading Bible.” The translation model the translators follow make for easy understanding in modern context.
3. The artwork throughout the Advent Mosaic is impressive. My 12 year old son enjoyed thumbing through the artwork. His comment was that the older art is better than the contemporary — I knew he had discerning tastes.

The only issue I have concerns the NLT’s translation of some passages. In my selected reading so far, I get the impression that in the attempt to translate “thought for thought” from Hebrew and Greek into contemporary English sometimes leans toward a paraphrase and misses the point the original writers intended. This is why this will become a “reading” Bible and not one I would preach from regularly.

Scott