NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 1, 2013 – The CEB Study Bible, released today, is the newest tool from Common English Bible (CEB) to help bring readers depth, insight and understanding to the biblical text within the larger historical and literary framework of the Bible, the bestselling book of all time.
Utilizing one of the top 10 translations on the market, the CEB Study Bible was assembled by almost 70 leading biblical scholars in their fields and includes thousands of study notes, hundreds of sidebar articles, five in-depth articles and 21 National Geographic maps to complement the biblical text in a way that highlights its readability, reliability and relevance.
“We have worked hard to ensure that the CEB Study Bible will help people to understand and engage the Bible,” said Michael Stephens, senior editor of the CEB. “The broad range of scholars who created the CEB Study Bible has made the best in biblical scholarship accessible and relevant to anyone who wants to learn more about the Bible.”
While nearly nine-in-ten Americans own a Bible, 61 percent say they wish they read it more, and according to studies by the Barna Group, Bible literacy is at an all time low. Much of this can be accredited to the collective experience of readers having difficulty in comprehending scripture, which is where the CEB Study Bible stands apart. From the inviting, well-organized page layouts to the multitude of supplemental resources, the CEB Study Bible was designed to give readers new knowledge and benefit from the wisdom of others while reading Scripture.
“We believe the CEB Study Bible is uniquely positioned among other Bibles to speak to the changing church and cultural landscape.” said Sonua Bohannon, senior marketing representative for CEB. “The notes and articles provide a historical and cultural context for the time of those texts. We want our readers to then be able to interpret for themselves what that means for their lives and their spiritual journey.”
The CEB translation was completed in 2011 and designed to enhance the readability of scripture. Sponsored by the Common English Bible Committee, an alliance of denominational publishers, it represents a diverse team with broad scholarship, including the work of more than 120 male and female scholars. To guarantee objectivity, individuals from 24 faith communities in American, African, Asian, European and Latino communities provided input on the translation.
Upon its release, the CEB quickly became recognized as one of the top Bible translations. In April 2011, Fuller Theological Seminary selected the CEB as one of two approved translations for its biblical studies courses. It has also been approved for use in the United Methodist Church and endorsed for worship by the Episcopal Church.
In addition to the CEB Study Bible, the CEB team also developed the bestselling CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, released in 2012.
For additional information, visit http://www.commonenglishbible.com.
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Note to Editors: To schedule an interview with a CEB spokesperson, please contact Marchelle Michel at [email protected] or Katie Martin at [email protected] by phone at 972.267.1111.
