Harper Collins NRSV and the "Disciple" class??

I believe it is little more than the NRSV with wide margins ... but there are some footnotes and other apparatus that may help in cross-referencing passages.

"Disciple" is a United Methodist program, designed to cover the Bible in segments and around theological themes. If you think it's hard to cover the NT in 34 lessons, just imagine covering the OT.

These courses came out about the time that Southern Baptists were producing and selling a lot of discipleship courses, premiere among them Blackaby's "Experiencing God". In a sense, then, "Disciple" is imitative.

It employs a workbook, class discussions, home assignments, and videos with various Bible scholars. I think its chief value is that it does introduce, albeit with a light touch, some critical elements to lay people who would not have been exposed -- e.g., documentary hypotheses for the Pentateuch and the Gospels. Personally I think it is too light and too broad to be a real Bible introduction course; but, to be fair, the stated intention was not so much a comprehensive study of the Bible as it was/is growing disciples who are knowledgeable of key Christian ideas.

 

I'm not sure, but I think this Bible might have a liberal bent in its study notes. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

 

Let's not be frightened of what someone may call a "liberal bent". In order to have a reasoned faith, we need to consider viewpoints that may seem strange or unusual. Spiritual and intellectual growth takes place best when we engage new ideas rather than just asking for our old ones to be confirmed. I have some books in which I have written down in the margins a variety of questions and comments, mostly comments contradicting the author's assertions. I have learned more from those dialogues than from reading things that did not stretch me.

As for HarperCollins, I have on my shelves any number of books published by Harper and its various successors, including HarperCollins, among them the Harper's Bible Dictionary and the Harper's Bible Commentary (a one-volume compendium). I find them very useful and a fair summary of scholarly conclusions, written without obvious bias.

Ah, my name. Glad somebody likes it. I have struggled with it for years, because it is so utterly common. I was named for my maternal grandfather, who, though he was a Joseph, was not, of course, a Smith. I am told that had I been a girl, I was to be named for my maternal grandmother, Mary -- like that would be an improvement! I do wonder if my grandparents took some teasing through their married life for being the Biblical Joseph and Mary!

The one good thing about my name is that it startles the Mormon missionaries who come to my door .. and when they find out I am a Baptist minister ... wow!

 

Harper Collins is the parent company of Zondervan now for what that's worth.

The Harper Collins Study Bible contributors and editors are all from the SBL (Society of Biblical Literature); I'm sure the "liberal" bent charge may stick. However, one's pastor and church will shape one's theology more than notes in a study Bible. I doubt there's too much to be scared of in the pages of that Bible, but if you're curious visit your local bookstore-even Borders or Barnes and Noble-and I bet you'll find a copy of it on their shelves to see for yourself.

BJ