New Cambridge Paragraph Bible with Apocrypha, KJ590:TA: Personal size

Yesterday for my birthday I received my copy of the NEW CAMBRIDGE PARAGRAPH BIBLE with APOCRYPHA. I waited over 2 years to obtain this copy once it became available and originally purchased the 2005 edition and the paperback edition from Penguin. After receiving my copy of the NEW CAMBRIDGE PARAGRAPH BIBLE with APOCRYPHA all I can say is that it was well worth the wait.I opened the NCPB w/Apoc., and enjoyed reading the King James Bible the way the original translators originally had intended to translate the underlying Hebrew/Aramaic Old Testament, the Septuagint Apocrypha and the Greek New Testament based on the Textus Receptus Byzantine Text-Type. Although the textual base for the NCPB w/Apoc., is nowadays open to debate among Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant (Calvinist and Armenian) Christians, what is not open to debate is the sheer beauty and gandure of the English prose and language found in the King James Bible.From the very beginning, starting with the "Translators' to the Reader," the King James Bible is steeped in the Ancient Christian Tradition and firmly placed within the mindset of the Church Fathers, both East and West, with a general, but faithful, overview of the Biblical Texts used for the translation, the translations that preceded the King James Bible, Septuagint (LXX), Vulgate, etc., and why it is necessary and useful to have translations. This plea for the necessity of Biblical translations for the edification of the faithful is the clearest break between the King James translators and the then stance of the Roman Catholic Church. The publication of Pius XII's encyclical Divino afflante spiritu (1943) has since changed the Roman Catholic Church's stance on Biblical translations in the vernacular and the exclusive use of the Vulgate as the authorized Biblical text for translation. The Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox traditionally favored Biblical translations into other languages, but under the Church's supervision and approval.Next, we go to the translation itself, which not that much needs to be said as most English-Speaking Christians, or just plain English-Speaking people, whether Christian or not, have come into contact with the King James Version of the Bible and have been drawn into its beauty and elegance time and time again. Genesis 1 comes to mind - "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 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." the 23rd Psalm, I Corinthians 13 with its use of "Charity" instead of "Love," which in my opinion catches the Greek meaning of the word "agape" better than the word "Love." Also, for me, Jesus Christ's Sermon on the Mount explodes with meaning in demonstrating, in poetic English, God's love and care for Humanity and the presentment of the very heart of the Gospel in Loving God with all your being and loving your neighbor as yourself. The Sermon on the Mount answers Cain's question of whether we are our brother's keepper with a resounding yes, as well as the answer itself coming from Christ Himself. The splendor of the English used hightents this profound and radical message and uplifts one's soul in ways previously unimaginable.Finally, Professor Norton has swept away the accumulated debris of countless editors and "correctors" of the King James Bible when correction was never needed and even went against the express wishes and intent of the King james translators. Its is also with great satisfaction that the NCPB comes in an edition with the APOCRYPHA that some many Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican Christians have so despriately wanted from modern editions of the King James Bible and the NCPB fills this need very well.Although, personally I beleive that the REVISED STANDARD VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE WITH THE EXPANDED APOCRYPHA (1977 edition) is much better and superior to the King James Version/NCPB w/Apoc., because of its better Biblical Textaul base and correction of certain passages in English that I and many other Christians disagreed with, nevertheless, the King james Version/NCPB w/Apoc., still retains its exalted and beautiful language, splended turn of phrases and elegant cadenced that its errors in translation, which are not that many and can easily be adjusted for especially as an Orthodox Christian, do not detract in any way, shape or form from one enjoying this "original" rendering of the King James Version of the Holy Bible the way its translators had intended it to be from the very beginning.As a final thought, many Christians, especially English-Speaking Orthodox Christians, can use and do use the King James Version of the Holy Bible as their exclusive and/or primary biblical text because they believe that the underlying ecclesiastically approved Biblical texts are extremely accurate or that the Byzantine Text-Type of the Greek New Testament is far superior to the current Critical Greek New Testament in use in most modern English translations of the Holy Bible.Other Christians adhere to what is commonly called "King James Onlyism," even going so far as to say that one does not even need to look at or study the original biblical languages as the King James Version of the Holy Bible just got it right the first time and that's it in English for Bibles and nothing else.The beauty and faithfulness of the King James Bible have elevated it to the same status as the Septuagint, Vulgate, Peshitta and Samaritan Pentateuch. Orthodox say the very same thing about the Septuagint. Catholics, especially traditional and even sedavistic Catholics, say the same things about the Vulgate and the D-R English version of the Holy Bible, Syrian Orthodox and the Assyrian Orthodox Church of the East say the same things about the Peshitta, and now ultra-conservative Evangelical Protestants say the same thing about the King James Bible. Even some English-Speaking Orthodox Christians flirt with this "King James Only" mentality.Although, I do not hold to any translation being exclusively "Inspired," even though I am a Greek Orthodox Christian and the Septuagint is my Church's "Official" Bible, I would always appeal to a return to the original languages, which are inspired, and study of the various translations along with a study of the Dead Sea Scrolls so as to arrive at the correct Biblical Text, the current King James Bible/NCPB w/Apoc., is not meant for in-depth scriptual study, but for the pure enjoyment to one's ears, heart and soul. To make anything more out of the King James Version/NCPB w/Apoc., would be to lose sight of what the King James Version should be used for - The edification of the Human Heart and Soul with the poetical English words and phrases of Men, Truly Christian Men, that regarded the biblical text not as old dusty pieces of parchment that need to be studied, examined and dissected, but as God's direct revelation of Himself to His creation in all of His Love, Majesty and Glory that mere mortal and finite men can possible hope to reveal to us in translation.

This is a wonderful Bible and is faithful to the 1611 KJV. After its original publication the KJV suffered from the accretions of editors and publishers that served to obscure its original clarity. The New Cambridge Paragraph Bible seeks the textual intent of the original translators, especially since the 1769 Oxford text froze later corrections in place for two centuries. This Bible has the Apocrypha restored to it, as in 1611, and though not considered canonical, it is simply too rich in wisdom to be cast aside as refuse.The New Cambridge Paragraph Bible is, of course, a bit different from the 1611 version including the paragraph format, quotation marks and spelling standardized to a degree not possible in early 17th Century English. There is some modernization, most notably "spoke" instead of "spake". I find the standardization helps the translation flow as easily for readers today as the original would in 1611. If these changes are bothersome I would get the Oxford University Press, 1611 King James Version 400th Anniversary Edition, which is EXACTLY what was published in 1611; including unintended misspellings and textual errors due to the rush to get it to the presses.The translation is beautiful to read by oneself or in a group. The syntax, though archaic, flows in a steady rhythm. This combination of readability and consistency of expression makes this Bible excellent for study IF one is ALREADY familiar with Scripture. The Cambridge Paragraph Bible has NO textual references, maps or concordance. If the reader is new to the Bible he should familiarize himself with a good standard KJV or NKJV with references to allow reading of verses that cover the same topics or events as well as a few maps to refer to.This Bible has an good binding which never flexes in the middle, though some might object to the choice of paper. The pages are very thin but there virtually no bleed through and the print is good for extended reading though the pages have slight warp to to their inner margins.This fine bible suits the contemporary propensity to get a masterpiece as near to its original state as possible.

As for the layout, it is as good as I hoped for. I also have the Personal Concord reference edition in the best imitation leather I've ever seen, but that does not have the Apocryphal books. Since I enjoy reading 1st Maccabees, the Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Direct in the book of Ecclesiasticus, I need a KJV with Apocrypha.I'm not KJV-only, but prefer either the KJV or NKJV as my reading bible. Since the NKJV does not contain the Apocrypha, I need a KJV Bible that contains those additional books. The margin notes are helpful.Finally, I was happy to see the translator's epistle to the reader included in this edition. It is always good to learn what the translators have to say about their work. It was the words of the translators themselves that kept me from becoming KJV-only 35 years ago. The KJV with Apocrypha is my favorite reading bible, though I also use the NKJV, ESV, and RSV. My wish is that the KJV with Apocrypha in this Paragraph layout would be published together with the new 1662 Book of Common Prayer, an International Version.

Would highly recommend this bible for all Anglicans/Episcopalians, KJV enthusiasts, and moderate/traditional christians

Favorite Bible I’ve had due to the more accurate translation than the NIV. The only thing I don’t like is that Jesus’s words aren’t in red and that the lettering is a bit small, but other than that, it’s great! Definitely worth the money. Thank you to the the translator, publisher & seller! 🙏✝️