It is an abridgment of the King James Version, edited by Roy B. Chamberlin and Herman Feldman with the counsel of an advisory board of Biblical scholars.
Some reasons why the resolve of many people to know the Bible has so often come to naught are as follows: its overwhelming length, its somber format, its eye-straining type, its many confused sequences, its repetitiveness, its occasional drabness of content, and its puzzling terms and allusions. There are difficulties of comprehending it because of lack of knowledge of its historical setting. Some editions have a traditional, doctrinal, or denominational tone. The editors of this version believed that they could reduce these barriers to a minimum.
After researching individuals and adult study groups, the following criteria were established for their work: abridgment, identification of each passage, freedom from bias of specialized scholarship or denominational outlook, employment of a recognized text, and a mature discussion of its problems.
Although the usual sequence of the books of the King James Version has been followed, there have been some changes. Ruth, Esther, and Jonah have been put into one group because of their similarity. The Prophets and the Pauline Epistles have been put into the currently accepted chronological order. The sayings within the Book of Proverbs have been classified according to subject. The four Gospels have been interwoven. There has been an attempt to make clearer the meanings of poetic portions with more pleasing visual effect. There is a detailed subject-and-name index. The guide maps have been annotated for easier consultation.
About one-half of the original text has been retained. Passages that have been omitted are those which are repetitive or are of little interest to readers who are not technical students. The manuscripts were submitted to laymen and clergymen from several Protestant bodies, Roman Catholicism, and Judaism.
In the Old Testament most of 1 and 2 Chronicles is omitted and Isaiah is divided into two books, while in the New Testament 2 and 3 John is omitted. The Apocrypha contains nine writings. There is a preface to each division in each of the three sections of the Bible.
Sample Verses
Genesis 1: 1, 2
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Wisdom of Solomon 1: 1
Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth:
think of the Lord with a good (heart),
and in simplicity of heart seek him.
John 1: 1 - 3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Comparisons
The following comparative studies include this version:
- Commandments or Clean Robes?
- Criminals on the Crosses
- Epistle of James
- From Eternity or From Ancient Times?
- Israelites and Baal-Peor
- Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread
- Sabbaths and Sundown
- Scripture Inspired by God
- Song of Solomon
- Story of the Adultress
| Abbreviation: | TDB |
| Released: | 1961 |
| Contents: | Old Testament, Apocrypha, New Testament |
| Source Used: | Houghton Mifflin (1961) |
| Location: | Tyndale House, Cambridge, United Kingdom |