[{"id":9585,"order":0,"imagePath":"https://admin.ezystream.com/static/images/article/82110936-587e-4691-a337-3985e6e73af8.png","type":"image","content":"https://admin.ezystream.com/static/images/article/82110936-587e-4691-a337-3985e6e73af8.png"},{"id":9586,"order":1,"contentText":"Rob Bellingham, Elder at Rotorua Baptist Church, has released a 1000-page poetic interpretation of the complete Bible. He tells us about his book and inspirationu2026
It is called u201cThe Bible in Verseu201d and is subtitled by the American publisher u201cA Poetic Interpretation of Holy Scripture.u201d
Itu2019s the complete Bible in rhyming couplets that will resonate with lovers of poetry and hopefully inspire many who donu2019t currently read to Bible much to re-engage with the message of the most important book in the world. I can imagine a Christian rapper using the script or a songwriter creating a musical version of the Bibleu2019s most loved passages.
The Bible is a remarkable book declaring God has a plan for the world. It comprises 66 books written by many individuals and groups over 1500 years. But it has a central theme of the unique birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah of the First Testament and Saviour of the New Testament.
The Bible in Verse has been a labour of love over the last twelve years, during which I had a computer stolen and lost a third of the text. The project began when I sensed the whisper of God suggesting I might retell the story in poetry. When I tried to do so, I found that it was possible with the narratives, history, psalms, theology, doctrine, and even genealogies that make up the holy scriptures.
Psalm 23 is one of the best-known passages of the Bible. In rhyming couplets, it reads:
u201cWith the Lord as my shepherd, I have all I need,
By quiet streams Iu2019ve peace, In green pastures I feed.
My soul he restores, and right paths of life shows,
At deathu2019s door brings relief, in adversity provides.
His rod and staff comfort me, oilu2019s on my head,
My cup overflows, I bask in mercy and good.
All the days of my life, Iu2019ll follow his way,
And in his house forever, Iu2019m blest to stay.u201d
My background as the writer is farming in Northland, training for the ministry at Baptist College, and serving in New Zealand churches for ten years before a decade of missionary service in India and Bangladesh. I earned a doctorate in Christian Social Ethics from Eastern Baptist Seminary in Philadelphia, USA, in the mid-1980s. I have worked for Tearfund and World Vision and have been the international leader of Servants to Asiau2019s Urban Poor. As a retiree, I enjoy gardening and tennis and completed the Bible in Verse after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Not many treatises of 1000 pages have been penned by New Zealand Christian writers, so I hope and pray this volume may inspire Christians and seekers of truth and evoke a deeper love for God as it has done for me, the writer.
More excerpts from The Bible in Verse:
Genesis 1. Creation
In the beginning, bereshith, the Genesis text begins,
God created heaven, earth, and many other things.
The world was dark, shapeless, with no life or light,
God said u201cLetu2019s have light,u201d so made day and night.
Water, water everywhere, in heaven and down below,
God sorted into clouds and rain, sea, lakes and snow.
Earth was next on the agenda, of Godu2019s creative plan,
He filled it with plants, trees, fish, animals, birds, man.
He made stars, sun and moon, seasons hot and cold,
u201cBe fruitful and multiplyu201d all creatures were told.
God said u201cGood itu2019s good I like it, good 6 times good,u201d
u201cVery goodu201d he said last, as humans before him stood.
Isaiah 53. The Suffering Servant
u201cWho has known and believed our report?
He grew before God, a tender shoot in dry dirt.u201d
u201cWith no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
Despised, rejected, he bore sorrow and deep pain.u201d
u201cLike one others canu2019t look at, he was shunned,
Surely he took our frailties, our sorrows were borne.u201d
u201cStill we thought him judged, punished by God,
But he was pierced and crushed by sins we did.u201d
u201cHis pain bought us peace, wounds took sin away,
Though all we like sheep are prone to stray.u201d
u201cThe Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all,
Before accuser, abuser, as a lamb he took the fall.u201d
u201cOppression and injustice swept him away,
Death took him from earth our sin debt to pay.u201d
u201cHe shared grave with the rich and with wicked,
Though heu2019d done no violence, said no falsehood.u201d
u201cYet it was in Godu2019s plan to crush and hurt him,
And let his life be forfeit as our guilt offering.u201d
u201cBut his life is not over, for heu2019ll see his offspring,
After anguish of soul, heu2019ll be light of life shining.u201d
u201dBy humble submission heu2019ll make our sins gone,
Heu2019ll be called great and strongest of the strong.u201d
u201cHe poured his life out unto death as if sinner,
And while dying prayed for every wrong doer.u201d
Matthew 18. Humility
u201cWhou2019s the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?u201d
Asked one disciple on behalf of the other eleven.
Jesus called a little child to stand among them,
u201cBe like a child to enter kingdom of heaven.u201d
u201cWhoever humbles themself as this small child here,
Is top in Godu2019s kingdom where children are dear.u201d
u201cIf you welcome a child youu2018re welcoming me,
If you cause one to sin thereu2019s a grim penalty.u201d
u201cItu2019d be better to drown by a millstone in the sea,
Whatever causes you to sin, get rid of quickly.u201d
u201cIf itu2019s foot or hand, cut it off, if an eye pluck it out,
Better half blind, crippled than on heaven miss out.u201d
u201cSo donu2019t look down on innocent young children,
Theyu2019ve angels who see face of Father in heaven.u201d
Philippians 2. Humility
Life in Christ makes you strong, his love comforts you,
You fellowship with the Spirit, to many kind deeds do.
Have the same notions and love, be one in soul, mind,
Donu2019t act from selfish ambition, be boastful or unkind.
Always think others better than self, place others first,
Donu2019t chase self-interest, have attitude of Jesus Christ.
u201cHe always had Godu2019s nature, but gave up equality,
Freely surrendered all he, that he might servant be.u201d
u201cBecame a human being, was humble and obedient,
Till he died on cross, but God raised him triumphant.u201d
u201cGod gave him greatest name so at the name of Jesus,
Beings in heaven, earth, below, will fall on knees.u201d
u201cAnd all openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
To the glory of God the Father,u201d this is Godu2019s word.
Available online via Amazon (including Kindle), and Life Rich Publishing (including e-book).
ufeffufeffufeffPhoto: Supplied by Rob Bellingham
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