How other people have used the Open English Bible

The OEB has from the start been intended to be more than just another translation. We anticipate it being the base for many translations. The text of the OEB is as free from restriction as we can make it, so that anyone can take it and use it as their own beliefs and conscience dictate — without requiring our permission or approval.

The OEB is yours to remix, republish and rethink. This page shows a small sample of the ways in which people like you have used the OEB text.

Ruth: A Somewhat Different Commentary

By Ted Studdersfield

When Ted Stubbersfield wrote his commentary on the book of Ruth, "Ruth: A Somewhat Different Commentary", the free licence of the OEB allowed him to easily include the full text of the Book of Ruth. Ted's commentary is published by Wipf & Stock

The author says. "Theology without application can be lifeless and boring, and while the comments have been well-researched, contemporary application has been primarily my focus. I hope that with this commentary on the book of Ruth I have written something that can be read for pleasure as well as spiritual growth".

You can check it out on Amazon.com

A New New Testament

By Hal Taussig

When Hal Taussig, a pastor and early Christianity scholar, was looking for a translation of the New Testament he could put togther with new translations of several non-canonical writings from the early Christian communities, he and his team chose the OEB.

The flexibility and openness of the OEB allowed his team to rework it to fit in with their other transations - providing a uniform translation approach across both scripture and the other ancient writings.

The author hopes this will give fresh insights where repetition and familiarity may have dulled us.

You can check it out on Amazon.com

Adventing - a journey to Christmas:
Simple, meaningful, Biblical, joyful activities and reflections for families with children aged 3-7.

By Miriam Fisher

Teacher, speaker and communicator Miriam Fisher has used the OEB as part of her illustrated children's book. Motivated by a desire to provide theologically sound, simple, and meaningful ways to celebrate and anticipate Christmas together, her book uses quotations from the OEB to provide 24 opportunities to reflect on an element of the arrival of Jesus.

  • Simple and inspiring activities and reflections
  • Assistance to build a Biblical understanding for children aged 3-7 about the arrival of Jesus
  • Create a wonder-filled and worshipful attitude in your home as you lead up to Christmas

You can check her book out for your family on Amazon.com

The New Jefferson Bible
The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth in Modern English

By Dan Marshall

Thomas Jefferson's "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth" is his famous attempt to reconcile the Bible with his enlightenment, deistic ideals. Literally cut and pasted from the King James Version, Jefferson's aims can nowdays be muddied by the beautiful but opaque language of the translation he worked from.

Using the text of the OEB, Dan Marshall has recreated the Jefferson Bible in modern English, together with extensive notes and comments of his own.

On his blog, Dan says "making The New Jefferson Bible would have been impossible were it not for the Open English Bible translation. The terms of this translation are so open it might as well be public domain. I owe them a debt of gratitude for making this work possible. Had it not been for them, I would have had to choose between translations old enough to be public domain, many of which do not read well, or risking legal trouble by using a translation without permission. I am glad I did not have to make that choice."

You can check out The New Jefferson Bible on Amazon.com