Bible (Berean Standard)/Preface

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Preface

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians,
for they received the message with great eagerness
and examined the Scriptures every day
to see if these teachings were true.
– Acts 17:11

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a freely shareable translation of the Holy Bible, effective for public reading, study, memorization, and evangelism. Based on the best available manuscripts and sources, each word is connected back to the Greek or Hebrew text to produce a transparent text that can be studied for its root meanings.

The BSB represents a single tier of the Berean Bible. This printing contains the full BSB text, footnotes, section headings, and cross references. Additional components, including translation tables, lexicons, outlines, and summaries, are free online and in a variety of apps and software.

The Berean Bible Translation Committee has employed an open process where translation tables are freely available and all comments are welcomed and considered. These sources may also be downloaded and shared freely. Please see the Berean Bible website for a full description of the translation committee and process.

We pray that this text will enable readers to connect with God’s Word to study it, memorize it, share it, and proclaim it. We are inspired by the model of the early Christian church:

After this letter has been read among you,
make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans,
and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
– Colossians 4:16

The Scriptures belonged to the churches and were meant to be examined, copied, and distributed. The committee hopes to follow this example by sharing all the resources with which we have been entrusted.

Just as Paul encouraged the churches to pass on his letters, the Berean Bible is intended to be offered freely in websites, apps, software, and various text and audio formats.