Gideons choose new Bible translation

#1005 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 7 Dec 2014

The Gideons have distributed almost 16 million Bibles in Australia since they were established here in 1956. There are Gideons Bibles in hotels and motels, prisons, and hospitals. But this year, they’ve changed translations, switching from the New King James Version to the English Standard Version.

The new Bibles have been rolled out over the past 18 months. Executive director of Gideons International Australia, Lincoln Hawkins, said the translation change and new cover design are having a big impact on acceptance of the Bibles in the community. The “helps” at the front of the Bible, which offer biblical encouragement to help deal with life issues like doubt and grief, have also been updated.

“This is the Gideons in the 21st Century,” Mr Hawkins said.

Next time you’re in a hotel or motel room, and you open a drawer and see that familiar Bible sitting there, take it out and have a read – it might just change your life.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.