THE BOOK OF MARK plus excerpts from Exodus and Leviticus CEB Sampler.indd 1 4/23/13 11:42 AM BY THE NUMBERS: THE CEB STUDY BIBLE GGaallaattiiaannss 33::2288 ThTheerree iiss nneeiitthheerr JJeeww nnoorr GGrreeeekk;; tthheerree iiss nneeiitthheerr ssllaavvee nnoorr ffrreeee;; nnoorr iiss tthheerree mmaallee aanndd ffeemmaallee,, ffoorr yyoouu aarree aallll oonnee iinn CChhrriisstt JJeessuuss.. 700 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS IN THE CEB STUDY BIBLE PROJECT 340 Scholars 260 Pastors 100 Laypeople TRANSLATORS CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL BOARD 120 Biblical Scholars 69 Contributors 8 Editors 94 Men 26 Women 48 Men 21 Women 5 Men 3 Women 24 Denominations COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE 66 books of the Bible 1,189 chapters in the Bible 18 books of the Apocrypha (separate edition) 204 chapters in the Apocrypha THE CEB STUDY BIBLE Thousands of study notes 297 sidebar articles 5 in-depth articles 21 maps Concordance CEB Sampler.indd 2 4/23/13 11:42 AM BY THE NUMBERS: THE CEB STUDY BIBLE GGaallaattiiaannss 33::2288 ThTheerree iiss nneeiitthheerr JJeeww nnoorr GGrreeeekk;; tthheerree iiss nneeiitthheerr ssllaavvee nnoorr ffrreeee;; nnoorr iiss tthheerree mmaallee aanndd ffeemmaallee,, ffoorr yyoouu aarree aallll oonnee iinn CChhrriisstt JJeessuuss.. Shedding new light on the journey of faith 700 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS God’s Word doesn’t change but our words do. Sometimes we need a little help to understand ancient meanings, cross cultural bridges, and line up the rich layers of IN THE CEB STUDY BIBLE PROJECT mystery and revelation. The CEB Study Bible was specifically designed to help the reader gain new insight, 340 Scholars 260 Pastors 100 Laypeople benefit from the wisdom of others, and embrace a new season of transformation. It sets the stage for new discoveries and causes the reader to experience the power of scripture in fresh ways. In short, The CEB Study Bible is a readable, reliable, and relevant invitation to grow in God. TRANSLATORS CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL BOARD Your word is a lamp before my feet 120 Biblical Scholars 69 Contributors 8 Editors and a light for my journey. 94 Men 26 Women 48 Men 21 Women 5 Men 3 Women Psalm 119:105 24 Denominations Table of Contents COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE 66 books of the Bible About The CEB Study Bible 4 1,189 chapters in the Bible The Authority of Scripture by Joel B. Green 10 18 books of the Apocrypha (separate edition) The CEB Study Bible Editorial Board 16 204 chapters in the Apocrypha The CEB Study Bible Contributors 17 THE CEB STUDY BIBLE The CEB Board of Editors 18 The CEB Translators 19 Thousands of study notes Mark 21 297 sidebar articles Excerpt from Exodus 60 5 in-depth articles Excerpt from Leviticus 63 21 maps Concordance This is an uncorrected proof for promotional purposes only. Please do not quote or reprint without permission from the publisher. CEB Sampler.indd 3 4/23/13 11:42 AM 4 About The CEB Study Bible Relate to the Study Bible that Relates to You Who is using The CEB Study Bible? • A pastor or small-group leader at a local church who is preparing for a sermon or to lead a Bible study • Christians who want deeper understanding of the Bible and how it fits into the context of the culture and history of the time • Adults and teens looking for a Bible and study notes that are extremely readable and undeniably reliable to original texts • College professors teaching “Introduction to Religion” and “Introduction to the Bible” and their students • Collectors of study Bibles • Seekers wanting to know more about the Bible Who are the translators? Translated by a diverse group of: • 120 biblical scholars • 22 faith traditions represented • Reviewed by 27 reading groups What faith communities were represented in the creation of The CEB Study Bible? The translators, reviewers, and editors represent the following faith communities: • African Methodist Episcopal Church • Moravian • American Baptist • National Baptist • Anglican • Presbyterian (USA) • Baptist • Progressive National Baptist • Baptist General Conference • Quaker • Church of the Nazarene • Reformed Church in America • Disciples of Christ • Reform Judaism • Episcopal Church • Roman Catholic Church • Evangelical Free Church • Seventh-Day Adventist • Evangelical Lutheran Church • United Church of Christ • Free Methodist • United Methodist • Mennonite CEB Sampler.indd 4 4/23/13 11:42 AM 5 Readability It means more than traversing phrases on a page. It means truly comprehending the words, the sentences, the ideas, and their meaning. Within its refreshingly approachable format, The CEB Study Bible offers guidance through more than 300 thought-provoking articles and abundant study notes throughout, written by respected biblical authorities who amplify the meaning of the text and set the reader on the path to new understanding. Running up to the carriage, Philip heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you really understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “Without someone to guide me, how could I?” Then he invited Philip to climb up and sit with him. Acts 8:30–31 CEB Sampler.indd 5 4/23/13 11:42 AM 6 About The CEB Study Bible The CEB Study Bible Has Unique Features that Give the Reader Deeper Understanding • The CEB Study Bible includes five insightful articles that give readers an in-depth foundation from which to approach this unique resource • The Authority of Scripture, Joel B. Green • How We Got Our Bible, Daniel G. Reid • Guidelines for Reading the Bible, Brian D. Russell • Chronology of the Bible, Pamela J. Scalise • The Unity of the Bible, Marianne Meye Thompson • 21 full-color maps from National Geographic, with indexes • Weight and measure conversions to modern scales • Additional in-text maps and informational charts • Comprehensive concordance • Beautifully printed in full color throughout A full-color photograph or image An outline of the book helps readers pertinent to the book is present in each see its structure and find significant introduction sections CEB Sampler.indd 6 4/23/13 11:42 AM 7 Reliability T he CEB Study Bible was built on the assembled knowledge of a diverse, cross-denomi- national group of 340 scholars, 260 pastors, and 100 laypeople drawing inspiration from scripture—not tradition or church doctrine. Exhaustive attention has been paid to ensure the work is impeccably balanced, rich in insight, and easily applied to everyday life. The reader is free to contemplate study materials and invite God’s guidance to gain personal understanding. Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 CEB Sampler.indd 7 4/23/13 11:42 AM 8 About The CEB Study Bible The Right Resources for Richer Study An inviting, well-organized page layout makes The CEB Study Bible even easier to read. Biblical text in a reader-friendly single column Cross references are easily accessible in margins Footnotes below biblical text Double-column study notes that bring clarity and relevance to key points in the text Sidebar Articles • 297 thought-provoking articles unique to The CEB Study Bible • Sidebars address topics that require a little more discussion than allowed in the usual format of study Bible notes • Subjects range from general topics throughout the Bible to articles relevant to a specific passage CEB Sampler.indd 8 4/23/13 11:42 AM 9 Relevance The times change but the Word of God remains the same. It meets you where you are, providing guidance for every situation you face and every season of life. With its cross-ref- erences, footnotes, and articles, The CEB Study Bible builds bridges to everyday life, placing meaningful discovery at your fingertips. Whether used for individual reflection or group ex- ploration, The CEB Study Bible provides a thought-provoking entrance into scripture. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 CEB Sampler.indd 9 4/23/13 11:42 AM 10 The Authority of Scripture Joel B. Green UNCORRECTED PROOF Around the world and across time, millions of Christians have gathered and continue to gather regularly to hear the scriptures read in worship. When the reading is finished, the worship leader recites the familiar words and God’s people respond. Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. These words, simple as they are, bear profound witness to the church’s belief that, in the reading and proclaiming of scripture, we encounter God’s own voice. The word spoken at creation (Gen 1), the word that is “sweeter than honey in my mouth” (Ps 119:103), the word that doesn’t return empty but accomplishes what the Lord intends (Isa 55:10-11), the word that John identifies with Jesus (John 1:1-14), the word that sometimes leads to the harassment of God’s people (Rev 1:9) and yet continues to grow (Acts 12:24)—this is the word we embrace as we attend to the scriptural voice of God. And the liturgy reminds us that we attend to scripture most faithfully when we do so together in worship. Of course, the Bible can be read in many ways. The Bible is a collection of books, an anthology. We find in its pages poetry and letters, historical narratives and visions, proverbs and oracles. For good reason, then, we might turn to the Bible as literature. Or we might turn to it as history. We find among the biblical writings a keen interest in the beginnings of Abraham and Sarah’s people, the gathering of a tribal people as a nation, the rise and fall of leaders and kings, the movements and counter-movements of nations, the story of Jesus’ life and ministry, as well as the origins of the church and its spread across the Roman Empire. When we attend to these books as the church’s Book, however, we do so because of our shared belief that this collection of documents is nothing less than the Christian scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Together, the Old and New Testaments make up the authoritative witness to God’s work in the world. We ought to consider the literary qualities of these documents. We need to reflect on the many ways that these books refer to the realities of ancient communities and cultures. Respecting the books of the Bible requires that we take seriously their literary artistry, their literary forms, and their literary purpose. Respecting the books of the Bible requires us to study them against the background of ancient customs, institutions, and geography. Reading the Old and New Testaments as scripture includes but also surpasses these kinds of methodological concerns, however. We come to scripture with ears attuned and hearts open to what the Holy Spirit is saying to God’s people. Reading and hearing these words as the church’s scriptures, we seek not only to understand the Bible’s message but also to “stand under” its authority. We seek not only to know but to be known. We put into the practice the famed words of Johann Albrecht Bengel (1687–1752): “Apply yourself wholly to the text; apply the text wholly to yourself.” We open our lives, corporately and individually, to the ways, through scripture, we might grow in Christ-likeness and come to reflect more faithfully God’s own image. Embracing Scripture’s Authority Although the biblical books might be read for many reasons, the simple fact that these particular books have been gathered into this particular collection has nothing to do with CEB Sampler.indd 10 4/23/13 11:42 AM