A Seminarian’s Reason for Loving the Trinitarian Bible Society’s Received Text

The first reason to love the TBS TR is because it is blue and not red. Probably no one else on campus will have a blue Greek text which opens countless opportunities to begin a didactic, polemic, or apologetic dialogue. Most seminarians don’t know that there is an alternative to the UBS Greek text, so the presence of an alternative is very interesting, almost exciting. “So, what’s the difference?” your colleagues ask. “Well,” opening the text, “here’s Acts 8:37, here’s 1 John 5:7, and here is the long reading of Mark.” That information usually was immediately too much for UBS centered grad students to swallow resulting in confusion and consternation. This text represents something bigger than itself, and they were not sure they wanted to pursue that path. Indeed, while I had sympathetic friends, adopting the TR appeared to be too great a professional liability.

The second reason to love the TBS TR is because it provides another platform for learning. Two Greek texts are on your desk while you do your work. Though the lecture may be one-sided the material gleaned is not. With the TBS TR the student will make his/her learning more robust and satisfying. I found that the more theologically “liberal” the institution the more flexible the professors were with opposing views which is good for someone carrying a TBS TR.

The third reason for a seminarian to love the TBS TR is because in monolithic academic environments whether denominational or philosophical, another Greek text is a sort of theological rebellion against institutionalized, linguistic big brother that permeates Academia. The blue TBS TR says “No, the textual issue isn’t monolithic and there is an historic alternative to the novel red UBS text.”

The fourth reason to love the TBS TR is because you can purchase a TR with a beautiful, soft, leather cover. This may not mean much but presentation communicates what you think of your Bible. The UBS Greek text has a manmade, plastic cover, that chips and breaks especially when it is cold. The UBS text’s construction communicates disposable or recyclable, which it is with the publishing of each new edition. The leather-bound TBS TR is something that can be passed down through generations indicative of the enduring worth of is content.

Just a few of the benefits of holding to the KJV/TR position. Blessings!