Do you prefer (doesn't matter which translation) a "words of Christ in red", verse by verse format, or black letter, paragraph Bible? I personally like the red letter, verse format, but maybe that's because I've always used those Bibles. I find it hard to find a verse in the paragraph style, and I don't care for the all black letter versions. Just me.
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Red Letter, Verse Format
- Thread starter Baptist4life
- Start date
Lodic
Well-Known Member
I am red-green colorblind, so I never use a red-letter Bible. Instead of making the words of Jesus stand out, they are harder to see. I also prefer paragraph style, as it brings the complete idea together. So, I am totally opposite of @Baptist4life.
alexander284
Well-Known Member
What I like is: black letter, verse by verse format, large print/giant print.
Black letter, verse by verse format is what I'm used to, since the NASB is what I've used most often.
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A dead childhood friend of mine does not like red letter editions just because of the above.
alexander284
Well-Known Member
Have you any idea what the reasoning is behind that decision?
alexander284
Well-Known Member
Also: I much prefer the red letter editions published by the Lockman Foundation (Foundation Publications) than those published by Zondervan.
The red letters found in the NASB Bibles from Foundation Publications are a dark red, which I find to be more pleasing, and much easier on the eyes than the red letters found in the NASB Bibles from Zondervan, which are a bright red (or even a bright pink).
37818
Well-Known Member
An example is John 316-21, a disagreement as to whose words, Jesus being quoted or John's writing.
Reformed1689
Well-Known Member
Which is an interesting topic in and of itself. I don't see any reason to believe those were Christ speaking. They were most certainly John.
Now, to the OP, I don't really have a preference personally. HOWEVER, I lean towards non-red lettering. There are dangers with the red letters. Some people put more emphasis on the red letters than the rest of Scripture as if it were not all the Word of God.
. I've really never heard anyone say that, but I suppose it's true. As I said, I still prefer red letter, probably because I'm older and that's what I've always used. As far as verse-paragraph, I very much prefer verse. When listening to your pastor or doing a Bible study with your S/S class, and they ask you to look up a verse or passage, it's just much easier to find instead of having to browse through a paragraph trying to find the verse. But, as I said, that's just me.
alexander284
Well-Known Member
It seems increasingly difficult to find Bibles in the verse by verse format these days, isn't it?
alexander284
Well-Known Member
For me, the fact that red letter editions are, quite often, bright pink makes them difficult for me to comfortably read.
Lodic
Well-Known Member
QUOTE="alexander284, post: 2787469, member: 2198"]For me, the fact that red letter editions are, quite often, bright pink makes them difficult for me to comfortably read.[/QUOTE]
I wish the publishers would simply print the words of Jesus in boldface. If it must be a different color, maybe blue would work.
I wish the publishers would simply print the words of Jesus in boldface. If it must be a different color, maybe blue would work.
RipponRedeaux
Well-Known Member
Your deceased friend did not like...
Sorry, dear. I didn’t catch my faux pas.
#IGoofed
Honestly, I prefer only the chapter headings for quick reference and paragraph markers, but no verse markers at all. No red letters. No commentaries or reference notes. I want to read the text with as little bias as possible. All those "helps" just serve to bias the reader.
I'm also not a red-letter fan. Some think the "words of Jesus" are more important than other Scriptures, almost mystical/magical power. I want to dissuade them from that notion in any way possible.
The red letter is 100% arbitrary. In my Bible (KJV1769) it has the conversation of Jesus with Nicodemus John 3:1-15 in red. But then it ALSO has the Apostle John's summary and commentary (3:16-21) in red. Irritating . . . and who wants to be irritated when reading a Bible??
I am used to verses, so having the text in paragraph doesn't really slow me down since I know the context. And in my study (not casual reading) I always read the chapter/paragraph anyway to be sure I have the context of the verse or phrase I'm studying.
So, as fearful as I am to say it, "I agree with Austin".
The red letter is 100% arbitrary. In my Bible (KJV1769) it has the conversation of Jesus with Nicodemus John 3:1-15 in red. But then it ALSO has the Apostle John's summary and commentary (3:16-21) in red. Irritating . . . and who wants to be irritated when reading a Bible??
I am used to verses, so having the text in paragraph doesn't really slow me down since I know the context. And in my study (not casual reading) I always read the chapter/paragraph anyway to be sure I have the context of the verse or phrase I'm studying.
So, as fearful as I am to say it, "I agree with Austin".