(For last week’s ARC Giveaway winner and to enter this week’s giveaway, scroll to the bottom of this post.)
If you’ve ever lived in a foreign country for more than a month, you will probably agree that everything feels a little more magical. From fancy restaurant to street sounds to grocery stores.
Or maybe it’s just me.
I lived in England for four months 
in 2009 and had one of those “magical moments.” (Story time!)
One day, I found myself in a rustic old bookstore. It had no shelves, just piles of dusty who-knows-what bound in cardboard or leather. A friend bought a stained ancient book. We cracked it open. It was a portion of the Bible, but had no chapters, verses, headings, or columns. Just…Scripture in book form.
I read a few pages and it was like submerging myself into a new realm of scriptural understanding. Once I had a taste of the Bible in this format, I couldn’t be satisfied unless I had all of it. It’s like visiting Israel — after you’ve been there, you can never view the Bible the same way. Everything turns to color.
Last year, I shared this discovery story with my husband. We went on a wild search through Ebay and Amazon, but never found a Bible or even a portion of the Bible like the one my friend purchased in England. I don’t know who put that one together, but I was furious at its evasiveness.
I’ll just write it up myself, then. My morning devotions turned into morning typotions. I’d hunch over my computer as I read, typing like mad. I got through only a few books before my own typos threatened the infallibility of His Word.
I stopped. This wouldn’t work. In defeat, I handed it over to prayer — a very specific prayer, I might add. God, inspire someone — because I’m clearly incapable — to put together a Bible like this. For me…for everyone. It reads so different. We’re always looking for “the new view” of Your Word, and this would be so fresh and accurate to its intent. The prayer went on and and I eventually forgot about it…until last week.
Nine days ago, blog post from Michael Hyatt popped up in my e-mail and I gasped so hard I practically inhaled the computer screen. The article — What the Success of Bibliotheca Tells us About the Future of Publishing — was interesting, but we’re not going to talk about the future of publishing because he already did (and he does a much better job than I would.)
We’re going to talk about…Bibliotheca.
Question: What is it?
Answer: My prayer (and dreams) come true.
Adam Greene did what I prayed someone would do — he produced the Bible in a format without chapters, verses, or headings. Not only that, but he’s taken it to a higher level of intentionality than I ever asked for. Here are just a few examples:
- The name Bibliotheca means “library” because the “Bible” originally consisted of “many books” (that’s the definition of Bible) Thus, he’s producing the Bible in a set of four distinct books.
- The dimensions of these books are designed after the dimensions of the Ark of the Covenant
- The typeface was designed by Adam Greene uniquely for Bibliotheca.
- The chosen translation holds closer to the original text than any other translation.
You can read all about Bibliotheca and watch the video on its Kickstarter campaign. Now, before you roll your eyes and say, “Another Kickstarter campaign to back?” let me tell you this: it’s already over.
I almost cried when I saw that, because Bibliotheca won’t be available to the world long-term. It’s looking like a one-time project. But Mr. Greene has Bibliotheca up for pre-order until he makes the final order (aka. Time is limited, so if you want something like this order it now!)
My one-time prayer resulted in a new Bible and $1.4 million dollars, all through someone else’s vision. How many other prayers, how many hours of vision, how many late-night brainstorm sessions did God use to bring this about?
It wasn’t just me or my prayers but, for the moment, it sure feels like this is a gift specifically designed to show me that God hears. He heard my pleas to be closer to Him and there’s no project too large for His forges.
What do you think of Bibliotheca?
Do you ever find it hard to pray specific prayers?
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The winner from last week’s Rafflecopter ARC giveaway is: Paige McQueen! Congratulations!
Everyone else, don’t forget to enter for this week’s ARC of A Time to Die. There will two more up for grabs after this one! Read more about the ARC giveaways here.
Join my newsletter list for all updates and announcements. Just enter your e-mail address here:
Yayy! So excited!!! 🙂 Thank you!!!! 😀
My pleasure! Woohoo! I sent you a private e-mail for mailing details. 🙂
I haven’t received it! Here’s my email again (maybe I misspelled it!) paigemcqueen23 at gmail dot com
Thank you!!! 😀
Nadine- such a cool thing… now I want – no – need the Bibliotheca… Love anything that brings the Bible to more people and gives me a new way of seeing God’s Word. Thanks for sharing!
You’re quite welcome, Nick! I’m so excited to share Bibliotheca with everyone and I’m ready to sit down for a full week and read through its entirety!
How amazing that this is something that you prayed for and God used your prayers in part to bring this about!! I’ve seen the Bibliotheca project in several places – it’s a neat idea. I wouldn’t use it as my main Bible, because for study purposes it would be harder to use. But just to enjoy God’s Word, once in awhile, that would be a great way to soak up Scripture. I do wish you could choose your preferred translation. I heard that the writer tweaked the language in places, too – not sure if that’s true, but that does bother me. Maybe this will spark more Bibles like it!
I think it would be too big to carry around as one’s main Bible anyway. 😉 I hope to use it for those long days of reading where I can just delve in and not resurface until I’m changed. [grin]
Yes, different translations would be nice. THe only thing the writer tweaked was turning “thou” and “thy” and “dost” into “you” and “your” and “does.” Personally, I’m glad he’s done this. I don’t do great with that old language. That’s all he’s changed to my knowledge.
Very cool to see how God is working through prayer!
Agreed! He is gracious, powerful, and mind-blowing! 😀
Okay. I really want an ARC so I’m going to comment again. I’m so looking forward to catching up with my old OFCR friend tomorrow! It’s been a long time!
By the way~ since you left us a prompt to answer, I’ll give my thoughts. I’ve always been a good student and I love to learn, but I really struggle with the act of sitting down to read. For this reason, I’ve never actuary read through the whole Bible. However, I took a learning styles quiz in my graduate program and found that I am an auditory learner. So, I downloaded the Bible on audio book and I’ve made it much further than I ever have before! I actually look forward to delving into the Word instead of viewing it as a chore. So, to bring this together with the Biblioteca project, I think today’s technology and new ideas can be great tools to bring various people closer to the Lord.
Please do, Jennifer! Enter every week and as many times as you can! I wish I had enough ARCs to just send them to everyone. Truly….
And I think it’s great you figured out the best way you comprehend books, especially because you adapted that to apply to your Bible reading (instead of giving it up altogether.) I’m glad you’re enjoying the Old Testament. It is rich in its own way!
Hopefully we’ll get A Time to Die in audiobook someday. 🙂
Ben and I were so excited when we saw this last week! We immediately decided it was the best Christmas gift we could possibly get. I love how God was so faithful and answered the desires of your heart! He’s so good!!
Yes He is!! We’re so thrilled about Bibliotheca. We’ve ordered a few copies with hopes to pass some down someday to our kids.
What a great story :).
Thanks, Katie! 🙂
I wanted to first off and say that when I saw the headline of this post in my inbox I thought you had won/got over a million dollars! Haha! I think it is so awesome how God answered your prayer and have actually never heard of the Bible you described before until now! Thanks for sharing and I’m currently reading “Second Chance Cafe” by Brandy Bruce!
That’s awesome! Though I didn’t win over a million dollars, it sure feels like I did! (At least, what I imagine it would feel like) 😀 I’ve never heard of Second Chance Cafe. I’ll have to check it out!
We helped support Bibliotheca, so we’re excited about it too! Right now I am just reading an N.T. Wright study on Matthew. Yes, I have been out of the country: Ireland, England, Haiti and Mexico! And I think there was another question, but I don’t remember it. 🙂
😀 So glad you helped support Bibliotheca! At least we got one Brandes on that Kickstarter campaign. 😉 I’m so excited to get our copies!
And next time we’re together, I want to hear about some of your traveling! I had no idea you’d been out of the country to so many places.
I lived in Italy for 4 years as a child and have been to Ecuador twice on short-term missions. I love culture and learning the similarities under the differences. 🙂 And yes, I have read the first chapter – it was very enticing!! The Bibliotheca sounds very interesting.
Wow, Italy and Ecuador. I would love to visit those places. I, too, am fascinated by different cultures. They are so rich and — for a story-junkie like me — fantastic food for thought and world building. [grin]
I have never lived outside the country of the US, but I hope to one day spend sometime in Pompeii.
Ooh, Pompeii! I have a friend writing a fantasy book that takes place in Pompeii. Just reading a sample about a year ago got me wondering what it would be like to visit. Any particular reason you want to visit there? 🙂
I’m an indie and small pub reviewer, I’d love a chance to get an ARC copy. I’m always looking for something different, I just finished Heroes of the Horde book 1, a semi Christian fiction about a group of high-schoolers who achieve powers to defeat demons.
I love paper books (I have a 6 foot bookshelf crammed in my room with many signed copies) despite the fact I can no longer hold a paper book. If I won would you be willing to do an eARC instead?
Absolutely! It would be in PDF form since the ebooks are still being typeset. Also, even if you don’t win, take a look at the Launch Team I’m putting together. You would get the PDF ARC if accepted to the team and I think you’d be a great asset! (link: https://nadinebrandes.com/2014/08/11/will-you-be-on-my-launch-team/)
I’ve never heard of the Heroes of the Horde books, but they sound fascinating. I’ll add them to my list. 🙂
I’m currently reading City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
I recently started the City of Bones book. Did you like it or see the movie? 🙂