CEB Study Bible - An Honest Review (of a Mainline Bible!)

In this Disciple Dojo review, we take a look at the CEB Study Bible.

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[felixmarinjr.]

I didn't understand or was even aware of the differences between mainline and conservative Christian theology... thank you.

[AndreaCalvert-hgfd]

Thank you for the translation information! Love this, because it allows us to understand why, and then decide if we can accept it for ourselves. Thank you!

[amyk]

I'm reading this Bible right now and I'm really enjoying it. It took a minute to get used to the common english. However, I am gaining a lot of insight from the notes and I am finding the translation refreshing.

[KurtWillems]

While I wasn’t super comfortable with the distinctions you made between mainline and evangelical—since many of the scholars in this volume, that you named, would consider themselves evangelical—I thought you gave it a fair assessment overall. I too, HATE the use of DNA. That is probably the translation choice I dislike the most. That said, I’m an evangelical (moderate theological tendency) who preaches out of this translation primarily because of the scholarly moves they made and its readability. I love 2 Cor 5: “So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived! All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ, by not counting people’s sins against them. He has trusted us with this message of reconciliation.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17-19‬ ‭CEB‬‬

[PaulBarczak-guku]

I used to have a CEB (w/Apocrypha)--until i gave it away. I liked reading it. BUT, I thought some of the study notes were "strange". Prob, because I am evangelical. I like the reading of yhe translation as i do the NLT. I plan to purchase the CEB again, but with
the Apocrypha.
Your reviews are so helpful. I like how each time you discuss the same Books of the Bible. Very helpful reviews indeed. I will check out some of ypur other videos as well.

[nendwr]

There are things where I'm surprised the CEB is so on its own: I love how it renders Genesis 1.1.

[DaviddeSilva]

2:25 Isn't a Serif a member of one of the orders of angels?

[christophermorton]

Im a Christian, but not of either the "mainline" or "evangelical" segments of the church, but I favor by far the mainline Bible versions, RSV, NRSV, NRSVue, CEB, (I wish the CEB had more of the footnotes in the NT) I favor these versions because of their lack of a need to translate according to a so called "Orthodox" or an evangelical tradition or view point. We may take some exception on the whole gender neutral aspect of some of these versions, but on the whole they are (in my opinion) much more accurate and honest in their interpretation than the evangelical versions which stick to translation choices that may be less accurate for the sake of fitting it to their doctrinal traditions, often with no footnote to show mss variants, or alternative translations (see the ESV compared to the NRSV in this regard to see a big example of this, especially in Christological or Messianic vss) God bless 🙏

[SoulPoetryandOtherWorks]

I always thought the CEB was a slightly better alternative to the TEV. Aimed at a similar audience.

[daynehaworth]

I also would like to caution you using the term "mainline" so much without explaining it. Mainline is understood theologically and politically in the USA to mean something. I live in Johannesburg South Africa 🇿🇦 and only know about these terms as I take an interest in US religion and politics. But to appeal to a global audience maybe use the terms progressive or Liberal or just say which denominations might use the CEB...

But I do agree with your assertions about mainline theology. Would you consider yourself an evangelical Methodist? Or a mainline Methodist?

[davidgagnon]

I don't think the Egyptians drowned in a marshy body of water (though that WOULD be a miracle).

[MM-jfme]

I really appreciated your review. I was wanting this study Bible and still do, but you've helped temper my expectations.

Specifically, I'm disappointed that they wasted note space in Genesis pretty much restating the verse instead of adding something useful like you said about how the language of the verse emphasizes how the snake is being degraded, not just punished. Or they could've used that space to discuss something else from that chapter!

I'm also disgusted and confused about their use of "God's DNA" as that has a strictly physical meaning that introduces all sorts of theological implications (unless I've been misunderstanding these verses my entire life and this chapter really is saying that we are the physical descendants of God).

I'm still wanting to purchase this book if they ever reprint it. I guess it's good I'll be knowing what I'm getting a little better from the beginning rather than being blindsided by some subpar notes and suspect translation decisions. I've really enjoyed other bits I've seen of the CEB translation online and hopefully most of the study notes aren't as empty as that Genesis example. (I agree with you that they're doing a disservice to their readers by not at least mentioning "traditional" Christian understandings of some passages even if they don't go into why their interpretation is "better.")

[andrewbolton]

The translation at Genesis 15:6 is interesting: "Abram trusted the Lord, and the Lord recognized Abram’s high moral character." But when that's quoted at Romans 4:3 it's in a more usual form: "What does the scripture say? Abraham had faith in God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

[sluggo]

Do they avoid 'He' for God because it's masculine or because 'They' better fits God as a trinity?

[gary_stavropoulos]

The reed sea or marsh area explanation is an attempt to rationalize an unbelievable story could be based on some historical event.

[jamesthompson]

Sir, Dojo, are you catholic? You mentioned that you read the apocrypha. That’s why I asked. 36:51

[daynehaworth]

Thanks for the review... Trying to use the CEB more as I heard its more Egalitarian than the NLT and NIV as functional phrase for phrase bibles. Also keen to check out the NRSV as I was discipled with the NLT and have since moved onto the AMP and NIV in personal study.

Also so saddened by how bias towards Complementarianism the ESV, KJV and others are that I felt necessary to have different input. Especially since my Egalitarian Charasmatic church uses the ESV in the pulpit. What a nightmare 😔

[sorenpx]

I just learned about this translation recently and immediately said no thank you after learning about "the Human One." That just sounds like they're trying to troll evangelicals. Also, LOL at "God's DNA." While I can get where their train of thought was there, obviously that is a very loose translation, unacceptably loose in my opinion.

What I wish we could get is an evangelical/conservative translation that includes the Apocrypha, with notes from a evangelical perspective. Sadly it seems like this will never happen.

[angelamc]

CEB Study Bible -- an equality perspective review to supplement yours

Often cited as proudly egalitarian, and indeed is pro-woman in general, but I found plenty of warts still. I had to buy the leather version of this Bible to get the largest print possible – it still is very small print, with the text of the Bible visually appearing smaller than the notes due to font choice – the note font is clearer. The cross references are absolutely tiny. Much less photos and maps in this than most full color study Bibles these days, and an austere minimalistic aesthetic. Concordance entries are in faint tan, a terrible choice! I will be happy to just have this in an app like Olive Tree Bible Software vs owning a printed copy, which I sold. While I appreciate the egalitarian choices in the translation and notes, they aren't all based in sound exegesis, and how can committed egalitarians still be so terrible on some things, and don’t they read all the scholarship on some of these passages? But it still is a step in the right direction and I hope to live long enough for a study Bible that really does an even better job on these passages. I really hate very dynamic translations in general, and many of the notes are far too liberal for me. The intro to the book of Daniel flatly states the stories are just folktales. It also says the same about Ruth, Esther, and Jonah – no hint that these might be controversial statements! I am finding this authoritative faux inerrancy a constant problem with study Bible notes, regardless of which group or perspective they come from. I recently watched an ad for the new Life Application Bible, which was a full revision. They stated that they changed almost every note slightly because people do not want a bossy authoritative tone like in the old days. I'll say! Good for them! But I’ll be glad to have a software copy of this for reference, for notes on the Apocrypha, and as my go-to source for seeing what more liberal main-line perspectives are.

Gen 3:16 Previous notes say because they didn't immediately die, God must have changed His mind about that. Says nice things about Eve and women in the sidebar, but the mistranslation as usual talks about pain in childbirth, and the note says that 'desire' can be translated 'entice.' Same old anti-woman nonsense. Again I recommend the Tru316 project for the correct translation and interpretation here.

Miriam: Ex 15 says Miriam is a prophet and is listed elsewhere as one of the three leaders of Israel. No bashing or speculation in Num 12; no notes about her death.

Deborah: Chart of Judges calls her a prophetess and local leader. Notes mention that Deborah is the only judge listed to actually settle disputes. A small sidebar mentions that women play a large part in the book of Judges but demonstrate the social and moral decline as they go from heroic actors to victims of violence by the end of the book.

Huldah: Notes only that there were other female prophets too.

Esther: Mentions the tradition that Vashti may have been ordered to appear naked. “Her act of defiance (or modesty) sets up the chapter’s ultimate irony: The king who commands wealth and power can’t even control his wife.” Takes some notice of that fact that the women taken into the harem don’t choose to “compete” or get to go home after. Notes that Mordecai and Esther each take orders from the other, and they both seem smarter and more decisive than the king. Because this Bible also has Greek Esther, I looked at the notes for that as well. The translation says that Mordecai had intended to marry Esther, lending an extra note of tragedy to her being taken to the harem. The notes also mention the rabbinical tradition that Haman wore an idol pinned to his breast so that bowing to him would have been bowing to an idol. However this is not the reason Mordecai gives.


Mat 20:25 “Greatness is measured through humility and service. Jesus is himself the model…”

Mat 23:8 Notes say Jesus forbid His followers from using honorific titles, and that no one has greater status than another. Perfect!

Mark 10:42 Says earthly power is top-down; God’s power is bottom-up.

Continued below in a reply

[danieljoshua]

Ain't mainline Christians evangelicals?? Coz I think both are Protestants. Please correct me if I'm wrong.