24/7: A One Year Chronological Bible
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With thanks to Laura Bartlett at Tyndale House for this review copy!
There’s not much that one can say about the Bible that hasn’t already been said, but in the case of this specific Bible, i.e., the 24/7: A One Year Chronological Bible, I can jot down a few original (?) thoughts.
For starters this Bible comes to us in the wonderful New Living Translation, 2nd ed. This is probably my second favorite translation next to the KJV, as regular readers of this blog should know by now.
Secondly, this is a Bible for the undisciplined. What do I mean? Well, for those such as myself, who have problems with regimented reading, this Bible takes all the fuss out of it. A reading for every day of the year is clearly marked out and it leaves no room for excuses such as:
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I lost my reading list.
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I don’t feel like turning to the back of the Bible for a reading plan.*
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They didn’t pass out reading plan bookmarks this year.
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etc…
Trust me, I’ve used them all. But what we have here is a daily devotional Bible without all the fluff of some author’s devotional drivel. It’s straight Bible with some background graphics, no frills.
A third feature to note is the introductory timeline (p. A15-A18). I’ve mentioned before that I’ve often had problems keeping track of varying time periods in the Bible, not the least of which is due to the canonical order not being chronological. These timelines along with the chronological layout of the Bible eliminates this problem.
But fourthly, this last feature is also the biggest challenge. It’s just weird to read Philippians (Dec. 11) and then turn to James (Dec. 12-13) which is followed by 1Timothy (Dec. 13-15). It takes some getting used to. For this reason you’d think the 24/7 Bible isn’t suited for quickly looking up those passages that pop into your mind out of nowhere, but it only seems this way. A complete Scripture index in the back of the Bible fixes this problem (p. 2169-88).
All in all I think this is a nice little Bible. I plan on using it daily and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s in the market for either a chronological Bible or a daily devotional type Bible. But honestly, if you already have a Bible then you really don’t need another.
B”H
* I was quite surprised to find a daily reading guide in the back of the Bible (p. 2157-68); it just seems so unnecessary and out of place.
[...] Review at Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth [...]
By: Review: The NLT 24/7 One Year Chronological Bible | Scripture Zealot on December 16, 2008
at 1:16 pm
got to get going on mine – been too enamored with the new TNIV I got…
By: Brian on December 16, 2008
at 8:48 pm
Brian: Stop wasting time with that TNIV drivel!
By: Nick Norelli on December 17, 2008
at 12:38 am
[...] Seed Sown and the Harvest Reaped A couple of months ago I reviewed the 24/7 One Year Chronological Bible and concluded the review by saying that I planned to use it [...]
By: A Seed Sown and the Harvest Reaped « Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth on February 8, 2009
at 8:58 pm
My license plate says XMAS247 my way to tell the world God offers life with Him 24/7. A few months ago I went to Wal-Mart asking God to show me a study Bible I could read in a year. Wow, there it was, 24/7. I bought 4/daughter, wife, friend and myself ofcourse. My daughter off for Navy life onboard the USS Reagan in San Diego, her tag says XMAS365. Perhaps the name of your follow up devotional. 4-27-09
By: Mark A. Huff on April 27, 2009
at 12:29 am
Mark: Nice. I passed mine along to a friend and he uses it every day. In fact he’s preached three messages at church since I’ve given it to him and he’s made use of it in all three. It’s a nice little Bible.
By: Nick Norelli on April 27, 2009
at 2:07 am