NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–They have their own uniforms; they have their own songs; they even have their own heroes. Now Broadman & Holman is offering them their own Bibles.
B&H, the trade book and Bible publishing division of LifeWay Christian Resources, has released the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Military New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs.
The Bible, available in four editions, one for each branch of the armed forces, will be stamped with the official seal of the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines, said Ricky King, B&H product development manager.
“As the oldest Bible publisher in America, we have been a longtime beneficiary of the sacrifices of many men and women who pledged to guard and protect our country’s freedom,” King said. “We want to honor those in our armed services in a way that will strengthen their faith and bring lasting hope and encouragement to them and their families.”
The Holman CSB Military New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs has a bonded leather cover stamped with an official seal of the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines, he said. It comes in a gift box specific to each branch of service. All editions feature the Holman CSB translation, the plan of salvation, the Pledge of Allegiance, lyrics to patriotic songs like “America the Beautiful” and prayers and quotations from U.S. presidents ranging from George Washington to George W. Bush.
Each branch-specific edition will contain its own unique content as well, King said. For example, the Air Force version includes the testimony of late actor Jimmy Stewart, who served during World War II and a prayer from World War I hero Eddie Rickenbacker. The Marine version includes distinct prayers and hymns as well as testimonial from highly decorated officers such as Lt. Col. Oliver North, who is also a best selling B&H author.
B&H began developing the new Holman CSB translation in the mid 1990s. Part of a seven-year, $10 million project, the entire translation (Old and New Testaments) will be completed this year, though it won’t be released to the public until spring 2004. However, as a way to introduce the Bible to Southern Baptists, LifeWay is using it in Sunday School curriculum this fall.
Established in 1738, LifeWay’s Holman Bible Publishers division is also the largest publisher of Spanish-language Bibles in the United States.
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(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: HOLMAN BIBLES FOR THE MILITARY.
