Book Review of the Second Testament by Scot McKnight

The Second Testament: A New Translation

By Scot McKnight

IVP Press

ISBN 978-0-8308-4699-3

Scot McKnight has produced a personal translation of the New Testament. While the dust cover and the introduction to the translation will help you to navigate the differences of this translation of the New Testament as McKnight describes it, and overview for this review might be helpful.

In this translation McKnight does the following:

1. He uses a more literal translation of names and places from the Greek. Often this is followed by a parenthesis to help the reader understand the term.
2. At times McKnight literally translates idiom, and then has some sort of explanation in parenthesis
3. This more literal translation at times will feel awkward, and McKnight says that this is the point, to "jar the reader" (preface) into a deeper understanding of the text.

I have been reading the text most recently for Holy Week passages. My experience is that the text is easy to understand, but I keep translating back into modern idiom. In my head I am reading "Petros" and then translating Peter, for example. This makes for a slower read.

As you read the translation in a more ancient structure, if you are like me, you are forced to slow down, and read at a different pace and rhythm. This makes me think, how does the structure and rhythym of the original text, even in my native tongue, form me differently as a reader of Scripture?

I find this text good for personal Scripture reading, I would think it would be difficult for worship leadership. It will have a place on my shelf in my office beside other translations as I prepare to preach a text. It will also have a role in my regular reading of Scripture.

All in all, the Second Testament will be a great addition to a bible teacher, or preachers library, which is why I highly recommend it. The everyday lay person in my congregation would be constantly confused, so I probably won't use it with my elderly men/s small group on Wednesday night.

Book Review of Little Prayers for Ordinary Days by Katy Bowser Hutson, Flo Paris Oaks, and Tish Harrison Warren and illustrated by Liita Forsyth

Little Prayers for Ordinary Days

by Katie Bowser Hutson, Flo Paris Oakes, and Tish Harrison Warren

IVP Kids

ISBN 978-1-5140-0039-8

Reviewed by Clint Walker

What a wonderful little book! Designed for kids, but appropriate for persons of all ages, Little Prayers for Ordinary Days is a collection of prayers for children for moments during the day. Some of the moments are more daily, such as putting on clothes and going to school. Some of them may be more occasional, such as when a child loses something or chooses to look at the stars. 

Through each prayer, and through use of this book as a whole, children will be taught that God is near, that God cares about our everyday life and concerns, and that God wants us to connect with, talk to, and believe in Him. 

The prayers that are written are brief, easy to read, and down to earth. I could see my girls using this. Even more, taking some of their favorite prayers and attaching them to a mirror in their bedroom, or something like that. 

The biggest challenge, in this day and age, will be to get the kids you know to open and read a book with prayers in it on a regular basis. A lot of kids would prefer and an app or something like it. I would have preferred the book to be more of a standard size, but that is only because I would like to copy pages and hang them up. 

This would make a wonderful present for kids at significant moments in their lives and faith journeys.