Zondervan is promoting the NIV with a bus that is going around getting people to write out a verse by hand until the whole Bible is written out in the handwriting of ordinary people. Then the result will be published. From Publisher puts ‘NIV’ Bible in Americans’ handwriting:
Now Americans coast to coast will have a chance to hand-copy a verse of Scripture to appear in a special edition of the New International Version of the Bible, known as the NIV.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the NIV, which has sold 300 million copies worldwide, publisher Zondervan launches a campaign today to create the unique edition, which will include its 31,173 verses, each handwritten by a different person.
A huge blue RV with the logo “BibleAcrossAmerica.com” splashed on its side and “Inspiration at every turn” on its back takes off on a five-month journey bringing “writing stations” to 90 stops in 44 states at churches, landmarks and popular settings such as NASCAR races.
“Before the Gutenberg (the first Bible printed on a printing press), they were all handwritten,” says Zondervan’s Steve Sammons. “In our digital age, we lose sight of what it means to have a tangible product we create by our hands. This will truly make the NIV America’s Bible.”
But. . .but. . .the hand-copied Bibles before the printing press were beautiful acts of devotion and praise! Here is a project that is more like it.
Do you see any problems with Zondervan’s hand-written-by-the-people Bible? Will you buy it, read it, and use it in your devotions?
