Of all the United States Presidents, only Jimmy Carter was a Sunday School teacher AND President at the same time. On Sundays, Jimmy Carter would travel nine blocks to the First Baptist Church of Washington D.C to gather attendees to study scripture. Often not publicized, Carter would teach about 30 attendees lessons from the Bible and also offer counsel to anyone who requested. Decades later, Carter still teaches Sunday School for up to 450 people at his church in Plains, GA. It should surprise no one that Carter would lend his pen to the Simple Faith Bible: Following Jesus into a Life of Peace, Compassion, and Wholeness New Revised Standard Verison offering devotional insights and spiritual commentary.
Why should you consider this Bible?
With critical praise from Richard J. Foster, Barbara Brown Taylor, and William H. Willimon, the Simple Faith Bible offers over 600 book introductions, insights, theological reflections, spiritual thoughts, and call-out phrases to help the reader understand biblical context. In this hardback Bible (also available in leather), the 9.5 font text is easy to read (maybe more challenging for the vision impaired) with dark text and spacing that assists with reading. Carter also provides points to “ponder” and “pray” that leads readers to not only read the text but also in the spirit of lectio divina, interact with God’s holy word.
For major biblical thematic concepts or Christian doctrine, there are sections entitled “Bible in Focus” in which Carter interpretation for understanding and life application. For instance, commentary and context is provided for the Book of Amos in which the reader learns the complicated situation of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel. A comparison is made between our personal lives and Israel’s situation. Also, there are sections entitled, “Bible in Life” which centers passages around spiritual reflection. There are the standard Bible headings that editors place in the passage to give thematic organization (e.g. Job and His Family, Attack on Job’s Character, etc…) The Bible features standard manuscript variations that are included in many other Bibles which note other ancient authority translation or manuscript wording.
The reflections and comments from Carter are in his typical style of deep commitment to Jesus Christ, love of God, love of neighbor (whoever they might be), and care for the community. In one of the “Bible in Life” commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9, Carter connects Paul’s identity as a Jew, Roman, and Christian with the call for Christians to commit to Christ and compassion for others. The key to this passage, as the former president, writes is found, “when we identify ourselves with other people, they will be more likely to listen to us. This is an important attribute of human life – defining common ground on which to communicate better.” (1376)
Indeed, for some, Carter does not fit the mold of the Evangelical Christian committed to specific political causes. Still, as many have commented, Carter fits in the cultural “other” category of Christian. We will not find an exegesis for a Bible passage, which translates into hardline conservative viewpoints that fit neatly into political talking points of the Religious Right. Then again, President Carter has never been a divider but an uniter. Carter is perhaps the most visible individual associated with the common good organization Habitat for Humanity. Such compassion and work towards creative solutions to address homelessness is a mantle that Carter wears well.
If you are looking for a devotional Bible that provides thoughtful insight into action towards compassion, peace, and transformation, this Bible is for you. The Simple Faith Bible is not a study Bible which provides deeper historical information, concordance, maps, notes on original language, and exegesis. The Simple Faith Bible provides a focused Christian spiritual path for the reader to take seriously the love of God and love of others. Like President Jimmy Carter’s work towards peace and wholeness, this devotional Bible will direct believers towards the work of transformation of self and the world through the way of Christ’s love.
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