Are there Bible Societies in other countries?

 Yes. In fact, the Canadian Bible Society is a part of the United Bible Societies, a global fellowship of Bible Societies in 145 countries and territories. Bible Societies work together to promote and encourage the translation, publication, distribution and use of the Scriptures.

  >> Search for Bible Societies around the world

Does the Canadian Bible

Society still present Bibles
to new Canadian citizens?

For about 50 years, the Canadian Bible Society had been distributing Bibles to new citizens in Canada. Unfortunately, this practice was discontinued in 2004 by the Citizenship Commission, for the following reason:

“Canada is a multicultural nation where freedom of religion is guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms... We find that allowing holy books to be made available at citizenship ceremonies detracts from this message and could be construed as a tacit endorsement of certain religions."

However, God opened doors of opportunity for CBS to reach immigrants and other newcomers to Canada in a more meaningful way. CBS now partners with churches and organizations that conduct ESL/FSL classes. The Word of Welcome Bible was produced specifically for this purpose. Churches use these Bibles as textbooks in helping new immigrants learn English or French.

Contact the district office nearest you to learn more about this program.

Is the Yahero Game a Canadian Bible Society initiative?

The Canadian Bible Society was one of the partners involved in the development of this Bible-based online game. Yahero is a stand-alone organization, and its partners include major publishers, ministries and philanthropists. The impetus for the project, however, came from the CBS, which was looking for a way to make the Bible accessible to pre-teen audiences.

"The Canadian Bible Society is thrilled to have initiated this ground-breaking project, which has the power to really impact children's lives. Yahero is moving the Bible online into an interactive game format, which is very exciting territory that children are familiar with. The Yahero website allows kids to become engaged with God's Word while having incredible fun!" ~ Ted Seres, CBS National Director

>> Play Yahero

There are so many versions of
the Bible these days, which version is the best?

Translation of the Bible into modern English can be traced back some 600 years. Some of the most prominent names attached to this early work of Bible translation in modern English are John Wycliffe and William Tyndale. However attempts at translating the Bible into Old English (also known as Anglo-Saxon) go back to the work of the Venerable Bede in the 7th century. Today there are so many different versions in English that no one seems to know the exact number. I have heard numbers as high as 600 and Wikipedia gives the number as more than 450. As English speakers we might think of this as an embarrassment of riches considering the fact that there are at least 3,000 spoken languages in the world which still do not have even one translation of the Bible.

With so many versions of the Bible in English today, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to do a thorough analysis and evaluate all these translations. In practice however, the number of English versions in widespread common usage is much smaller. I count just over a dozen versions that account for the vast majority of English Bible sales today. That is a much more manageable number and yet it is still very difficult to make a blanket statement in answer to the question, “Which version is best?”

There is no one version which is perfect or even best for everyone.

Each version follows a particular philosophy on translation and there is no agreement on which approach is best, whether in Bible translation or translation of other works of literature. The number of English speakers is vast and varied. There is not just one English language, but many dialects. Bible translators must choose which dialects they will aim to represent. Then there is the matter of English usage which is changing rapidly. The English language commonly used today is quite different from the language of Shakespeare. Bible translators must constantly update English versions to represent the language that people use and understand. Translators must also consider demographics and readability levels in the population. Children generally read at quite different levels and use the language differently from university professors. These factors need to be considered in translation. These are just a few of the many factors that translators need to consider, and how they choose to focus their work will impact their translation.

So, which version is the best?

I think I could make a good case for almost any of the dozen or so versions that are most commonly used today. I like to compare the Bible to a precious gem. Facets are cut in a diamond to bring out the light and make it sparkle. I have read that a modern round brilliant diamond consists of 58 facets. I like to compare the variety of Bible versions to the facets which make a diamond sparkle. As one who has spent my life working in Bible translation I know how often it is impossible to find one way to render the rich and varied message of a Hebrew or Greek text in the Bible. For my own study and meditation, I enjoy reading the Bible in a variety of versions because I find that each one helps to bring the message to light and make it sparkle.

There are some general comments that can be made about choosing a version. For those interested in serious study of the Bible and who are unable to read the original Hebrew and Greek, a more “literal” or “formal correspondence” style of translation is useful. Some excellent choices here would be versions such as the Revised Standard and New Revised Standard versions, or the Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem Bible. The New American Standard is a very literal version and even the venerable King James Version can be a good choice in Bible Study for people who can navigate the older variety of English used.

On the other end of the spectrum are versions which may be most helpful for devotional reading or to help a reader gain a more general grasp of the broad sweep of the Biblical narrative. Here I might profile versions such as the Contemporary English, the Good News Bible, or the New Living Bible. Even a paraphrase such as The Message can open our eyes to the text in ways that help bring its message to light and make it sparkle.

Another way that the Bible is commonly used today is in public worship and preaching. Here people tend to prefer a version somewhere between the most literal and the most dynamic — one that is still somewhat formal but also very readable. Some good choices may be the New Revised Standard Version, the New Jerusalem Bible or the New International Version.

The best Bible version is the one you actually pick up and read

Ultimately if I had to answer the question in one sentence, I would have to say that the best Bible version is the one you actually pick up and read. As the parish priest remarked at a Bible dedication I attended in the Philippines, “If you leave it on the shelf, the rats will eat it and get fat, but if you pick it up and read it your life will be transformed.”

Then of course there is the fact that some people may never read any of the many written versions available. For them, you and I may be the only Bible they will ever read. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3.2, “You yourselves are the letter we have, written on our hearts for everyone to know and read.” May our lives reflect the message of God’s love — which we read in Scripture so clearly — that the lives of those we meet each day will be transformed by the message they read in our lives. (Hart Wiens, CBS Translation Director)

>> Quick Guide to Bible Translations (Word at Work, Winter Edition - page 5)

How are the Canadian military Bibles different from other Bibles?

The military Bible was designed specifically for Canada’s soldiers. For instance, the cover matches the camouflage of their uniforms, and the Bible is the right size to fit into their uniform breast pockets.

Versions/Editions

The Bibles are available in both English and French. CBS used easy-to-understand versions – the Good News Translation for English and the Français Courant version for French. The Bibles are also available in both Catholic and Protestant editions.

Cover Design

The cover design is based on the two camouflage patterns used by the Canadian Forces. CADPAT (Canadian Disruptive Pattern) comes in two designs: Arid (Khaki) and Temperate (Green). These patterns are patented by the Department of National Defence (DND) and used strictly for military uniforms. However, DND granted CBS permission to use them for the covers of the military Bibles. It is also interesting to note that these Bibles were not allowed to have gold stamping. In the dark, light reflected by the gold stamping might give away a soldier’s position in the field.

Complete Bibles for Soldiers

For many years, CBS had been distributing the New Testament with Psalms to new recruits in the Canadian Forces. However, DND approached the Canadian Bible Society for assistance in providing the complete Bible to members of the Forces. As a result, the complete military Bible was published and distributed for the first time in 2007. This Bible contains special features important to soldiers, including a foreword by General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff. There are also sections called “Where to Look” and “Well-known Passages and Stories in the Bible”.

>> Share God's Word with a Canadian soldier

Can I purchase a military Bible from the Canadian Bible Society?

No. While the Canadian Bible Society raises funds for and prints the military Bibles, distribution is carried out through the Chaplain General’s Office of the Canadian Forces. The Bibles are intended for Canadian soldiers and therefore are not made available in any Bible Society bookstores; they are available only through the Chaplain General’s Office. This is to ensure that this specially- designed Bible reaches the intended recipients and that God’s Word is available whenever and wherever it is needed by our military personnel.

If you have family or friends in the military that wish to receive a military Bible, you may advise them to contact the Chaplain General’s Office or the Chaplain attached to their unit.