Bibliography

The First Edition of the New Testament

by David Trobisch argues that all New Testament Greek manuscripts share a common ancestor which David refers to as "The first edition of the New Testament."

The argument goes that nearly every single Greek manuscript in existence today, whether full or fragmentary, display a common book order. For this to be the case they all must be copied from or modeled on an original or first edition that set the book order.

David does not suggest when the first edition was made, though he argues it was probably earlier then later in the scheme of things since every subsequent copy derives from it. He also does not suggest where it was produced or who published the work or set the book order. He also does not ask whether an earlier Aramaic New Testament might stand behind the Greek. These areas of inquiry are outside the scope of his book.

However, after arguing for a first edition David argues for a return to the book order of that first edition in printed English Bibles. The difference between that book order and the one traditionally used in English Bibles is a shift in the order of the New Testament letters. Paul's writings, instead of coming first, follow James, Peter and John. This makes sense because Paul was an apostle after them.

I read this book and was convinced that the Greek order is superior to the English, because as David shows, it's more consistent with the actual story of the New Testament.

The long term value for me in reading this book was the simple realization that the Bible has had different book orders and therefore the subject is not off limits. I needed this understanding when I found myself puzzling around in Isaiah. For that I am profoundly grateful.

Restoring the Original Bible

by Ernest L. Martin argues for a return to the "original" book order of the Old and New Testaments. In regards to the Old Testament, Ernest points at the Tanak, the standard Jewish book order. For the New Testament he suggests a return to the same order argued by David Trobisch in The First Edition of the New Testament.

Isaiah: A Biblical Microcosm

by Dustin Blystone suggests the modern book order is the correct order and attempts to prove it by showing correlation between the books of the Bible and the chapters of Isaiah. The strength of this book is that Dustin has caught the vision of Isaiah as a "microcasm." Unfortunately the theory the book attempts to prove misses the actual use of Isaiah. The book fails to show that the best correlations between Isaiah and the Bible occur when Isaiah is allowed to order the books and not the other way around.

Many correlations do not work as a result of trying to force a book order on Isaiah. Some do, though, since some books occupy their intended position in Isaiah's book order (these include the first 7 books, Acts and Revelation). Because some work and the overall idea of matching Isaiah to the Bible is right, it's tempting, to anyone not knowing better, to accept the whole study though many matches do not work. Don't be fooled. The idea of matching is right, and some matches are right, and some look right, but there's a better set of matches then this book offers.

Certain patterns surface when a correlation is wrong. First, there may be only one correlation given between the chapter of Isaiah and the book that is said to match. God is a double entry book keeper, and for every book/chaper match there are multiple correlations, not just one, when the books are in the right order. Second, lengthy explanations often occur when the book and chapter do not match. The long explanation is necessary because the match is not good. Third, in some cases a match is said to exist on the sole existence of a word in the English which can be shown to be a different word in the underlying Hebrew. This is a nasty trick the translators have played on everyone and something that needs fixing in it's own right, but something that trips up some matches in this book.

The book seems to reference this website, if unofficially, when it mentions the "true Bible's book order" (pg. 230). The statement seems sarcastic, but it is high praise. We'll gladly receive that.

A Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names

by J.B. Jackson is a simple Bible Names Dictionary. Other than a Preface and one page pronunciation guide the dictionary just lists names of people in the Bible, in alphabetic order, with a meaning next to each name. A handy little reference for starting a name study in the Bible.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

by Roswell D. Hitchcock also is a simple Bible Names Dictionary. The names are sorted alphabetically with a meaning next to each name. Hitchcock's has the added bonus of being in the Public Domain and easily attainable on the Internet.

Jones Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names

by Alfred Jones is the best Bible Names Dictionary in this list. Although it's limited to the names of the Old Testament, it provides the Hebrew spelling so you can check the author's work. Each entry also reads more like a normal dictionary definition, with several possible meanings for each name.