TDB - 1961
The Dartmouth Bible
OldCovenantApocrypha(part)NewCovenant
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It is an abridgment of the King JamesVersion, edited by Roy B. Chamberlin and Herman Feldman with the counselof an advisory board of Biblical scholars.

Some reasons why the resolve of many people to know theBible 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 puzzlingterms and allusions. There are difficulties of comprehending it becauseof lack of knowledge of its historical setting. Some editions have a traditional,doctrinal, or denominational tone. The editors of this version believedthat they could reduce these barriers to a minimum.

After researching individuals and adult study groups,the following criteria were established for their work: abridgment, identificationof each passage, freedom from bias of specialized scholarship or denominationaloutlook, employment of a recognized text, and a mature discussion of itsproblems.

Although the usual sequence of the books of the King JamesVersion has been followed, there have been some changes. Ruth, Esther,and Jonah have been put into one group because of their similarity. TheProphets and the Pauline Epistles have been put into the currently acceptedchronological order. The sayings within the Book of Proverbs have beenclassified according to subject. The four Gospels have been interwoven.There has been an attempt to make clearer the meanings of poetic portionswith more pleasing visual effect. There is a detailed subject-and-nameindex. 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 oflittle interest to readers who are not technical students. The manuscriptswere submitted to laymen and clergymen from several Protestant bodies,Roman Catholicism, and Judaism.

In the Old Testament most of 1 and 2 Chronicles isomitted and Isaiah is divided into two books, while in the New Testament 2and 3 John is omitted. The Apocrypha contains nine writings. There is a prefaceto each division in each of the three sections of the Bible.

Houghton Mifflin (1961)

[Tyndale House, Cambridge, UnitedKingdom]

Genesis1: 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 faceof the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

 
 

Wisdomof 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.

 
 

John1: 1 - 3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. Allthings were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that wasmade.

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