What’s in your Bible?

Ran across an interesting chart that shows visually the differences in the content of the Bible according to the Samaritan, Hebrew, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Syriac, Ethiopian, and Protestant traditions:

The differences, as one might expect, are mainly among the “Apocrypha,” “Deuterocanonical,” or “Inter-Testamental” books, but look also at “The Acts of Paul and Thecla,” “3 Corinthians,” or “The Book of the Covenant.”

The chart only compares content, and does not describe the order in which the books are placed, which differs greatly between the Jewish and Christian traditions. It all goes to show that when you talk about “the Bible,” you might give a little thought to “which one?”

Bible Workbench: Christmas 2: January 2, 2011

Text: Sirach 24:1-12

This Sunday’s text is a little unusual. It comes from the book of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus, one of the texts in the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical writings that come from the period between the Old and New Testaments and are often left out of Protestant Bibles. (You can find the details and history here.)

What can you say about wisdom in your life? How are you wise? Not so wise? In what sense might you be a place in which Wisdom dwells? What do you know of a voice that comes from the Most High? When do you sense within you that spirit of glory?