You can ignore Changeling by Wachter, it just so happened to be in my car at the time (it's incredible but not what we're here for today). No yes what I found was a very big "Large Print" and "Saint Joseph" edition of The New American Bible (a slightly outdated [?] american catholic standard). I had not been exposed to this particular version or translation of the bible before, and I was a bit interested in the Catholic Angle that my eyes had been shielded from in my previous childhood and teenage readings, so this is the bible I ended up buying! and once I actually started reading it I discovered some very interesting notes inside, and I'd like to share them with you today.
Firstly, we have this beautiful worn bookmark with the words Peace and Health, along with a floral and sigil-like stem design.
Next, we have this simple note bookmarking the 25th Psalm.
A similar note bookmarks Acts 2:1-11, which in this translation reads:
The Coming of the Spirit.
1 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.
2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.
3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
8 Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?
9 We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome,
11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”
Next, this very sweet printed off reference list of verses based upon what challenges you might be facing in the moment.
And now, the last two and most complex notes. This one features a string of verses along with the words
"Quicken means- make alive, give life, restore, revive, stimulate, excite, make quick & rapid-"
Curiously, the word Quicken does not appear in any of the referenced verses. In this translation, they read as follows:
Romans Chapter 8:9-11
9 But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Colossians 13
13 And even when you were dead [in] transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions;
1 Peter 3:18
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit.
Ephesians 2:1-2
Generosity of God’s Plan.
1 You were dead in your transgressions and sins
2 in which you once lived following the age of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient.
And for the final note!! I saved the best for last because this one has names. I won't share every verse on this note on this page, but I am interested in the ones that are assigned names. (By the way, I have employed my expert cursive translators and we have determined that the 3 books listed are Prov., Ecc., and Sir.)
First, the verses for Danny:
Proverbs 23:13-14Surely one of the most concerning verses to save with a name.
13 Do not withhold discipline from youths; if you beat them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Beat them with the rod, and you will save them from Sheol.
Next, The verse for Jill:
Proverbs 27:2 2 Let another praise you, not your own mouth; a stranger, not your own lips.Once again, not what I want to see! focusing a bit negatively here perhaps... I can only hope for the best in regards to Danny and Jill.
On to Jan who gets two verses!:
Proverbs 29:15-17Oh God more of this...
15 The rod of correction gives wisdom, but uncontrolled youths disgrace their mothers.
16 When the wicked increase, crime increases; but the just will behold their downfall.
17 Discipline your children, and they will bring you comfort, and give delight to your soul.
Sirach 30:7-13Certainly not verses that I would be focusing on! But perhaps a very good reminder of how we can go astray when we do not look at isolated bible verses within both their narrative and historical context. I think this is especially emphasized by the fact that that last quote was taken from The Book of Sirach, which is excluded from the protestant Bible and considered apocrypha by many denominations. Of course, it's not because of this verse in particular that the book is excluded, considering that as you've just seen there are many similar verses in the canonical books, but in my mind it still brings up some pretty big questions about the idea of the bible as the literal and exact word of God. After all, our previous bible owner quoted Sirach 30:7-13, presumably considering it to be on equal footing to the other similar verses, and yet many Christians would not consider this particular verse to be the word of God. When it comes to deciding what is and is not apocryphal, it can get messy! and I think it's important to remember and consider the fact that every book of the bible was written by a human being, in a historical context. and then! those books we translated and even retranslated, again, by people in a historical context. AND THEN! Various councils must decide what is and is not Christian Canon. In my mind that's a lot of room for mutation. I believe that acknowledging that the bible is not entirely literal, universal, or eternal can teach us a lot about God if we open ourselves to it. The true and complex history of the Bible and Christian Apocrypha (particularly, new testament apocrypha) are much more challenging and believable to me personally than simple, deceptively "faithful" literalist interpretations that may sedate your ability to consider what is True when you encounter the many contradictions of the bible. After all, Christ said:
7 Whoever spoils a son will have wounds to bandage, and will suffer heartache at every cry.
8 An untamed horse turns out stubborn;and a son left to himself grows up unruly.
9 Pamper a child and he will be a terror for you, indulge him, and he will bring you grief.
10 Do not laugh with him lest you share sorrow with him, and in the end you will gnash your teeth.
11 Do not give him his own way in his youth, and do not ignore his follies.
12 Bow down his head in his youth, beat his sides while he is still young, Lest he become stubborn and disobey you, and leave you disconsolate.
13 Discipline your son and make heavy his yoke, lest you be offended by his shamelessness.
Luke 12:57
57 Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
(12-02-2025)