As it would be expected the NRSV comes across in the best light, but out side of that his comments on various translations are very good. It is good reading and not all that technical, useful to get an idea of the versions that are available and the strength and weakness of each one. Bruce Metzger is a person one can trust on this issue.
I would tell folks to read this book if they are having Bible translation overload.

Noteworthy, easy-to-read history of translation of Bible into English, beginning with Ancient Versions which have an affect on the English translations to come. Here he explores such efforts as the Coptic, Georgian, Sogdian and Nubian Versions.

Amazing is the fact that before movable type in printing, there were only 33 languages with any Bible translated. In the 19th century alone, over 400 languages received Bible translations.

Then he goes in depth into English translations, with especially attention given to the King James of 1611 fame, and those that preceded and influenced it so greatly. This fact is typically forgotten or severely deemphasized by the "King James Only" crowd. Witness this extraordianty statement: "It (Tyndale's) became, in fact, a foundation for all subsequent efforts of revision, so much so that 30 percent or more of the English Bible down through the Revised Versions has been estimated to be his in those portions of the Bible on which he had worked with such skill and devotion."

Metzger writes with the simplicity, clarity and passion coming from an authority who has worked with Biblical translation during his life. He simplifies, clarifies, and presents his esteemed opinions with grace and support.

This book will help the serious Bible student to understand more realistically the problems presented to the translator of Scriptures from the original languages.

Highly recommmended to all who want to understand the breath, depth and critique of English Bible translations.

Since there are so many versions of the Bible today I asked my Pastor to suggest a 'good study' bible. She suggested the The New Oxford Annotated Bible. I have found it easy to read with excellent explanations included. I esspecially like that it is a version of many scholars working together to interpret every word in a manner that reflects the intention of the 'original text'. I think they did an excelent job. My only regret is that I did not purchase the edition with the apocrypha.

You won't waste your money if you buy this bible. YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. This bible is an ecumenical work of different denomination scholars, well known theologians.

This is one of the few college textbooks I did not have to use my highlighter to read. Metzger is extremely easy to understand; he structures his book chronologically, covering, albeit briefly given the spacial limitations of an introductory text, most every topic the reader must understand to gain a basic knowledge of the context of the NT's development. The reader first will gain a basic understanding of the cultural context from which the New Testament arose, then will learn about the life of and sources for understanding of Jesus Christ, then finally will see the same for the apostolic age. His prose is lucid and lacks the pedantry of much New Testament scholarship, so that the reader will be prepared to read such scholarship in the future.

In assessing Metzger's positions, the reader must keep in mind that, as he plainly states in his preface, Metzger writes as a Christian. As such, he does not dispute traditional authorship for the majority of the New Testament (with the notable exception of 2 Peter), and argues that the evidence for Christ's resurrection is "overwhelming." Liberals will not find this book to their liking. That having been said, Metzger generally does a good job, given how little space he has, of presenting most sides of various debates and leaving it up to the reader to do further research necessary for finding his own opinion. Since this must be the objective of an introductory text, the text succeeds.

Purchased as a text book for a College religion class. A text book I actually enjoy reading.

It is hard to imagine a more accessible and thorough coverage of the history of the versions (ancient translations) of the NT. Metzger not only gives great nutshell histories of the versions, but even nutshell summaries of the grammar, vocabulary and style of each of the ancient languages of these versions. Thus even without formally studying the language, the reader has a good feel for how the history of that version reflects the early state of the Greek text of the NT.

Like his Intro to Textual Criticism, this will long remain a classic of this field.

I have looked high and low for a "Bible stories" book for my curious four year old. This one tells short stories from the Bible from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible that are clear and easy to understand. It is an easy reference when your child asks religious questions and you're not sure you know the answer. I've learned a lot too! Older kids will enjoy reading it and they will like the illustrations.

This bible is an ecumenical study bible with enlarged printing and expanded annotations/commentaries for easier to use and to give more scholarly approach of the Bible.

No translation of God's Word is perfect. Each one has its flaws. Each one hopefully casts new light on God's message to us (translation is inherently interpretation). So it is with The New Revised Standard Version. There are both flaws and moments of revelation.

The Bible is full of stories about humanity's interaction with the Divine. As a whole, it is the story of God's redemption of humanity through the death of his Son: Jesus Christ. The NRSV is a rather literal translation (from the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) of these stories.

The greatest weakness of this particular translation is its needless neutering of the Hebrew and Greek generic male pronouns. This cause difficulties (especially with the Psalms) when translating "he." They often pluralize such cases to "Those" and "They." This causes passages to lose personal immediacy and force.

That said, I feel the NRSV is a fine overall translation. It ranks right up there with The New American Standard Bible as the best literal translations. The NRSV has the extra benefit of having been overseen by Bruce Metzger--one of the finest modern Bible scholars.

The greatest strength (and probably the main selling point) of this edition of the NRSV is its extensive Apocrypha. Books recognized by Roman Catholic, Greek, and Slavonic churches are all included. They are placed in between the Old and New Testaments. They are divided into four sections based on who accepts them.

The Hardcover edition that I own (from Oxford Press) is extremely well made. It is far more durable than most other hardcover Bibles I have used.

If you are looking for a good literal translation of the Bible, you would be well served by The New Revised Standard Version. I highly recommend this book.

This book brings together articles previously published in a variety of journals. The range of authors having differing viewpoints helps bring perspective to a difficult subject. Each of the 22 articles is in depth and has a bibiliography. The collection succeedes in being contemporary, highlighting current thinking in New Testament textual criticism.

Dr. Metzger has given the reader an invaluable resource for the study of the text of the New Testament. The book is divided into three major parts. Part one begins with a detailed description of the ancient method of bookmaking. Next, Metzger lists the major Greek manuscripts and codices as well as a basic description of each. He also lists the major non-Greek witnesses (e.g. Syriac, Coptic, Latin, etc.) and discusses the role of quotations from the early church Fathers. Part two is devoted to the history of the printed editions of the Greek New Testament from the time of the Complutensian Polyglot and the Textus Receptus (the text used for the KJV) through Westcott and Hort until the present day. Part three is an instruction manual for textual criticism, including the many theories of criticism and the method of conjectural emendation. In this section, Metzger also discusses the many types of errors and deliberate changes made by the scribes. He then gives an analysis of several textually difficult passages (e.g. Mark 16 and Acts 20:28). The book also includes 16 photo plates that show selected manuscripts. A working knowledge of Greek is helpful because Metzger often cites Greek words in the text and footnotes without an English translation. If one wishes to learn the basics (and more) about textual criticism, then this is the book to buy.

For clearness of exposition and soundness of principles, and even
correct if not beautiful typographical appearance, this is the best introduction ever to NT Textual History and Criticism.

OK, the Eberhardt NESTLE book of some ninety years ago is again available and is a well thought-of German pedagogical feat of a textbook, glory to it!_ but, truly, it's also painfully outdated.

So, what? It's true that the updating of the third edition isn't done in the best possible way_ but, what do we have to offer? The ALAND and ALAND handbook? Of course, it is a good repository of the latest data in the field, but a good, readable textbook it isn't_ and, by the way, it's even a little sectarian (pro Stuttgart, of course).

So, I think it's on the whole better to stick to METZGER, and -for a good updating, to get the EHRMAN, HOLMES book.

This book is a vital tool to use in rebutting the Ex Cathedra heresies of the King James Onlyists. Virtually every page contains important information that the KJOs would rather not discuss. (Or discuss out of context, if they acknowledge it at all.) And while this book isn't devoted to KJVOism per se, it is a great resource for the anyone who actually wants to examine the evidence for himself, rather than relying on the words of Ruckman, Riplinger, Cloud, Waite, Grady, etc...

For example, while Westcott-Hort are condemned by the KJVO crowd, Erasmus is practically placed on a throne and his own heresies are ignored. His tampering with the text is overlooked while Westcott-Hort are branded as every sort of apostate and heretic imaginable. One standard is applied to Westcott-Hort, another is applied to Erasmus.

Was the text perserved? Of course it was. Just not in the manner that some would have you believe. There was no additional "moving" of the Spirit over Erasmus, the KJV translators, or Benjamin Blayney to prevent them from making errors. Let Rome have it's Ex Cathedra doctrine.

A word of warning: This book is deep. It goes into a lot of detail regarding various Greek and Latin manuscripts, as well as early versions and Patristic quotations. It takes time to absorb everything this book contains. But don't give up! To truly understand the implications and details of the whole Bible version controversy, one needs a working knowledge of just how the Bible itself was transmitted down through history.