What prompted me to think about the NCV...

I have just finished reading a wide variety of selections from the Mom's Bible. This Bible is the NCV (New Century Version) with notes by Bobbie Wolgemuth.

There are some things I really liked about this Bible and then there are some things that I'm not so comfortable with. I've read several of the other reviews by other moms and I was surprised by how well liked this Bible is by them and how much they like the NCV. It makes me wonder if I am odd in being concerned about whether I read a paraphrase or a translation as my primary Bible.

This Bible is filled with devotions that are related well to the verses that they site. There is a short introduction at the beginning of each book of the Bible that explains what the book is about. At the end, there is a short reference list with all of the devotions listed. There is also an Appendix with questions that children ask about God. I really liked the answer to the question about what the trinity is. The answers are geared towards 2nd-5th+ graders. My little girl who is in first grade wouldn't quite understand all of the questions and/or answers. I thought her answer to whether the Bible says drugs are wrong was very different. I don't think it's the answer I would give. I would talk to my children about what drugs do to our bodies and that God tells us in the Bible to take care of our bodies.

There are a few things that I get particularly concerned about as a mom when I read a Bible or a devotional book. I think a lot times people read into the Bible and infer things about people in the Bible that God didn't include. An example is when people talk about Noah's wife. The Bible doesn't talk about her at all. A few years ago, Debbi Pearl's daughter wrote a devotional about how submissive Noah's wife was and how she did exactly what her husband said. But, the Bible doesn't say either way. Bobbie Wolgemuth writes an entry about Noah's wife and though she doesn't infer as much as Debbi Pearl's daughter did, she does infer information that isn't included in the Bible.

Another thing I get concerned about for women is how submission and authority is addressed. As a culture, we sidestep the issue of submission and many churches preach the idea of "yielding to one another" (as the NCV says) rather than wives submitting to their husbands. It feels like we are surrounded by a culture that tells us we only have to do what we want to--we deserve to be treated certain ways and so on. But, we are to live in this world and not be of it. When we look to a translation and devotionals that soften the words and meaning of such verses, it feels like we are becoming a part of the world--changing the words so that we can accept them more easily and be comfortable with with they ask us to do and be.

On one of the other reviews of this book, I found a link to this page: http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/dept.asp?dept_id=1117932&TopLevel_id=100000

I hadn't considered that the NIV has a reading level 3 years above the NCV. I think this Bible would be very nice for a mom who struggles with reading or who is a new Christian. It would be easy to read and the devotions would encourage her as a mom.

I am glad to have had the chance to really read and look at the NCV. I've wondered about it. It has made me think again about translations and paraphrases and what I read. This Bible also made me think about what I am convicted of when I found myself sporadically disagreeing with what Mrs. Wolgemuth wrote. And eventhough this isnt' a Bible I personally would read regularly, I deeply respect all that she and her daughter wrote in the devotions. There is a lot of good, solid wisdom in this book for moms.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson for review.