Super Bibles

Gender-accurate language? Text notes? How about Bibles with supermodels and superheroes?

New Bible translations are creating even more options and acronyms: TNIV, ESV, HCSB. Getting less publicity, however, are works for people who open the Scriptures for the pictures.

Bible Illuminated (The Supermodel Bible)
Description:   “A glossy magazine-style version of the Old Testament, featuring leading models pictured by the world’s leading fashion photographers” (The Daily Telegraph)
Translation:   King James Version
Target ages:   15 to 30
Publisher:   Negotiating with Virgin
Publicity:   “The Bible is very sensual and we are going to exploit that. We want to take the Bible off the dusty back shelf and put it on coffee tables.”
Biblia de los Super Heroes (Superhero Bible)
Description:   “A children’s Bible illustrated with over 30 color pictures resembling Japanese-style cartoons” (Press release)
Translation:   New International Version (Spanish)
Target ages:   8 to 13
Publisher:   Zondervan (Oct. 2001)
Publicity:   “When you are talking about real heroes you have to go to the Word of God. Who would you like to look like? The biggest hero is Jesus.”

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

The Bible Illuminated Web site says its project is trying to do what GustavÉ DorÈ did in the 1850s.

News coverage of the Bible Illuminated includes: “‘Erotic’ pictures to bring Bible back into fashion” (The Daily Telegraph, London, May 27, 2001)

Zonderzan’s NIV Superheroes Bible is available at Christianbook.com. More information on the edition is available at the official ZonderKidz site.

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