The next time I read completely through the NT, I plan to do so in a brand new translation: the Common English Bible (www.commonenglishbible.com). Reading on a 7th-8th grade level, the CEB aims for simplicity and clarity, even using contractions and jettisoning “churchy” words (e.g. – “repent” becomes “change your hearts and lives”). It is gender-inclusive and unlike many popular renderings, the CEB dares to freshly render texts that are something of “sacred cows” to marketing. For example:

Pray like this: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.’ (Matthew 6:9-13, CEB)

Respected scholarship comprises the CEB’s translation team, including such well-known figures as James Charlesworth, Raymond Collins, John J. Collins, James L. Crenshaw, Peter Davids, David deSilva, John Goldingay, Joel B. Green (senior editor), Luke Timothy Johnson, Craig Koester, Tremper Longman, Patrick Miller, Pheme Perkins, and many more.

Want to know more? Genesis, Matthew, and Luke are available now as downloadable .pdf files (http://bit.ly/aooiLP). Free samples of Luke’s Gospel are available at most Cokesbury bookstores. You can place an order online by the end of this month for a free copy of the entire NT as it becomes available in October (http://bit.ly/9mSrKn). The complete Bible is planned to arrive in 2011. And you can easily keep up with development on the CEB’s blog at: http://bit.ly/bNuItl