No Frontiers

Unit 3
Hargreaves Business Park
Eastbourne, BN23 6QW
United Kingdom

Bible Coding

In an attempt to make the understanding of our complex Bible range easier we have given each item the following codes:

• C = Contemporary Version
• P = Paraphrase
• F = Formal

Please refer to the article below entitled 'Classification of Bibles' for an explanation of these codes.

Binding

• HB = Hardback
• SB = Softback or Paperback
• VB = Vinyl

Quality

• Certain of our suppliers publish primarily for markets in the developing world, more of which are severely deprived economically, To facilitate the widest possible distribution of the Scriptures and other Christian literature, these local publishers keep their manufacturing costs to a minimum, which CAN mean compromising the physical quality of the finished product, therefore customers should note that the print and binding of some of the books may be below what is generally expected in the UK. We will do our best to reflect the poorer quality in our prices, but due to high freight charges, even this is not always possible.

CLASSIFICATION OF BIBLES

In order to help you in your purchase of Scriptures, we have devised a very simple method of classification, which is as follows:

• C = Contemporary (examples in English would be the NIV & The Good News Bible)
• P = Paraphrase (e.g. The Living Bible & The Message)
• F = Formal (e.g. the English AV, the French Louis Segond Version, the German Luther Bible)

Please be aware that in most foreign languages there are no direct equivalents to English versions, for example, the English KJV, NIV etc. Each language has its own unique Bible translation history, and any comparison we make with English versions is intended as a rough guide only.

How do we arrive at these classifications?

The complexity of our Bible range almost defies simple classification, and therefore we offer this scheme with some hesitation. We look at each version on its own merits, and attempt to place it in this scheme, based on the information at our disposal. We have generally followed these principles:

1. Bibles published for the first time after 1960 are regarded as "contemporary", although recent versions based on the set of Greek manuscripts known as the "Textus Receptus" or "Received Text" (which is the basis of the English AV) are classified as "formal", as they use a more formal (more literal) method of translation.
2. Recent revisions of older formal versions are generally still classified as "formal" - e.g. The Revised Luther Bible.
3. Versions which are clearly equivalent to the English "Living Bible" are classified as "paraphrase".
4. Most Bibles published before 1960 are regarded as "formal". Please note that many "formal" translations use language which is easily understandable today.

We also try to provide a description of each Bible, and, of course, we are open to receiving any advice, which will help to correct any of the information in this catalogue.

Disclaimer: We are aware that certain issues surrounding Bible translation can be controversial. It is absolutely right and healthy for the Church to have a robust debate about translation methods and the validity of certain Greek manuscripts; the integrity of the Word of God is at stake, and so these are vital issues.

No Frontiers is an evangelical interdenominational ministry, which seeks to serve the Church responsibly with a wide range of Bible versions, which are regarded as acceptable within the mainstream of the Christian Church. However, we cannot accept responsibility for any errors within any of the Bible versions (or other literature) we stock.