Red Letter (again)
My issue with "words in red" Bibles has continued.
I found an edition that fits what I'm looking for but the Anglicized text (without the dreaded words in red) is literally twice the price of the US edition with the dreaded words in red (even from a UK seller). Bonkers!

I have also discovered Tony Campolo and others are using the title "Red Letter Christians" as a way of showing they want to take the teaching of Jesus seriously. An admirable thing, but Scot McKnight as always has some interesting things to say about "Red Letter Maestros" and how we read Scripture.

Seeing Red
Yesterday I went to a Christian bookstore to pick out a new Bible for Christmas. Just something nice in terms of binding, reasonable size to preach from, NIV as that's what most churches I go to seem to use.

There were plenty on offer, but why have we succumbed to the trend (I'm guessing from the USA) of "words of Jesus in red"? I don't get it. Visually it makes the text harder to read. Theologically it makes no sense to me, and if the point is an accurate translation surely this is a distraction? (and before anyone suggests the NIV is not accurate, I also have a small ESV, with you guessed, words in red).

I know this is a privileged Western English speaking problem. Many people are desperate for any scriptures in a language they understand, so I applaud the work of organisations such as Bible Society and Wycliffe.

But come on - how about we ditch the red print stuff and get on with focusing on what Jesus did, as much as what he said?