The RBC started as a collection of Bibles and Bible related material. On our site we maintain a recording of the stats for the physical collection in the RBC. We have a very specific way of counting the items in the collection. Below is an explanation of the specific way we count and record the various types of Bibles and Bible related material in the RBC Collection (physical collection).
Bible: A Bible is any portion of the 66 books of the Christian Scripture, the 39 books of Old Testament, and the 27 books New Testament. Apocrypha and Deuterocanonical material traditionally included in the canons of Roman Catholicism and Greek/Eastern Orthodox Christianity are not considered as part of the Bible by Protestant Churches, but extra material, thus not required for a Bible to count as a complete Bible nor will a volume of just the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical material count as a portion of the Bible. They would count as Non-Bible Materials.
An edition of the Bible will count as one Bible in the collection regardless if it is a single volume or a multivolume set. One biblical book of the Bible published on its own would count as one Bible (partial). If the collection acquired another biblical book of the same version, it would not count as another Bible but as part of a multivolume set. If they are not part of a multivolume set but separate translations, even if produced by the same group or translator they would count as additional Bibles. It can be somewhat of a judgment call on how to count these.
Complete Bible: A complete Bible must have all 66 books of the Christian Scripture, Old Testament and New Testament. If it is a multivolume set, the collection must contain the complete set for it to be counted as a “complete Bible”. Again, the Apocrypha and Deuterocanonical material can be included, but the lack of them does not keep it from being counted as a “complete Bible”.
Partial Bible: A partial bible can be any portion of scripture, up to but not equal the 66 books of the Christian Scripture. These can be any combination of books from the Old Testament or New Testament, such as just the Psalms, the Pentateuch (first five books of Old Testament), or the four gospels.
Translation / Version: The terms “translation” and “version” are used synonymously and are use regardless of whether the bible is complete or just a partial work. A duplicate of a translation is counted as another bible, but not an additional translation. A revision to a translation is counted as both another translation and bible. For example: If we have a Revised Standard Version (RSV) 1946 NT, an RSV Bible from 1952, and an RSV from 1971 (a revision of the RSV 1952), the collection would have 3 Bibles and 3 translations. There would be 1 partial and 2 complete Bibles. A second copy of the RSV 1952 would not change the count of versions in the collection but would increase the number of Bibles: 3 translation; 1 partial and 3 complete Bibles.
Family of Translations: The family refers to an original work of translation or a revision of an earlier translation done by a separate organization or person. The family would include the first translation and any revisions of that translation done by the same person or organization.
Thus, while the ESV is a revision of the RSV, the RSV and the ESV are not of the same family. They are different works, by different organizations but have similar roots. They are of the same tradition going back to Tyndale/KJV/ASV unlike the NIV which is a fresh translation. The ESV represents a family of translations in which the original work of translation, the revising of the 1971 RSV, was done in 2001. The 2001 version was then revised in 2007, 2011 and the last in 2016. A special revision of the ESV was done in 2013 for use by Gideon International. All 5 revisions are members of the ESV family. Each would count as a version in the collection. Thus, having one of each version would count as 5 Bibles and 5 translations.
The HCSB and the CSB while using different names really are one family produced by the same organization. The CSB is the 2017 revision to the HCSB with a name change (mostly for marketing reasons).
A single member family is a translation that has not had a revision produced such as the NRSV or The Living Bible (the New Living Translation is not a revision of the Living Bible but a separate, fresh work of translation).
Bible Editions: When we talk about versions or translations, we are speaking about the text of the Bible; the biblical books translated into English along with the accompanying translation notes. But this is just the beginning of what is in the Bible that you buy. Bibles come in many formats with many different features. The basis of the various editions or Bible types is the text. When the assorted features are added and published, this makes for an edition of that translation. When another edition of a version already in the RBC is added to the collection, is counted as another Bible but it is not counted as another version. The only Bible Type that we keep a count of is Study Bibles.
Non-translation Bible Types: The following should not be confused with Bible editions or as a version/translation. These are not based on a foundation of a true translation text but are books that creatively share the biblical story as opposed to a translation of the Greek or Hebrew biblical text. These do not count as a Bible or translation in the RBC but as non-translation Bible.
Graphic Bibles: Includes picture Bibles, graphic Bibles (i.e., Action Bible). An exception would be the Word for Word Bible Comics. As it contains the complete biblical text it would count as Bible in the collection.
Children’s story Bible: not a translation but the simple telling of Bible stories in a simplified format. Some children’s Bibles are true translations done at a child’s reading level or an existing translation with features added that would make it of interest to children. These true translations for children would be counted as a Bible in the RBC.
Bible Related Materials: Note: only Books and DVDs are counted in the total of “Bible Related Materials”.
Books (including tracts, booklets or pamphlets):
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- Bible Atlases
- Histories of Isreal and ancient biblical cultures (from first century AD and earlier, histories of later period would not be in the collection
- Histories of English translations, biblical manuscripts, or on the canon of Scripture
- Biographies of persons having had a great impact on the English Translations such as William Tyndale
- Doctrinal works on theological topics such as inspiration, revelation, inerrancy, or biblical authority
- Material on translation methodology and philosophy
DVDs of Bible material such as the “Visual Bibles” or documentary on topics similar to books above.
Artwork (These are not tallied in the “Non-Bible materials” count or in any other section of the RBC) such as:
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- Statues (e.g., three crosses, small decorative globe, Lego Martin Luther, dioramas of the Temple)
- Bookends
- Framed Maps or pictures (e.g., pictures of Tyndale with a quote from him)
Photo by Jonathan Simcoe on Unsplash
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