My Broken Bible (and how I got a new one)  

Adam Copeland ’09

My Bible broke. In some ways, this happening was exciting, the culmination of many years of prayer and reflection. I admit, some small part of me exalted when I noticed the significant split in the spine. After all, a faithful church member I know says we should wear out a Bible every three years. But don’t throw it away then, she says. After that, cut it up and use the parts when traveling. Another part of me mourned. I loved that Bible and it had been with me for years (eight, I checked). I literally traveled around the world with it.  I read through it cover to cover. It survived, years ago, a full cup of water being spilled on it. It was a good size, shape, and feel, that Bible. And I will miss it dearly.

Mostly, however, I’m struck by the cruel irony. These last few months were the least taxing ever for that Bible. While in Scotland, I kept it in my briefcase, but pulled it out seldom. I receive (and usually at least skim) daily e-mails with suggested daily Bible readings. And though I left it in the car for the first few weeks of pastoral visits, I’ve never used or needed the Bible on a visit.

It’s this last point that bothers me most. I’ve never used a Bible on a pastoral visit. Sure my visits have been made in light of the Bible. After all, a presbytery committee has been convinced of my “thorough competence of the Bible,” but shouldn’t the Bible be discussed and consulted at least occasionally by the pastor on visits?

So, I had to buy another Bible. Not difficult, you might think considering the Bible is the best-selling book every year and has been since records were kept. People buy it up like marmalade at the women’s coffee hour. Strangely, though, a suitable replacement Bible was very difficult to find. After hours of searching online and several trips to local book shops, I could not find a good pocket NRSV anywhere. So what does a young blogger do when faced with a problem? Search for blogs.

Well lo and behold, I came across a fantastic blog on Bibles run by Mark Bertrand. This guy is amazing and has an entire post on NRSV pocket Bibles—with pictures, no less. Even so, Mark had bad news: nobody prints a great NRSV pocket Bible that’s actually pocket-sized and a worthwhile printing. Since my Bible broke, I wanted something that would last me. St. Mark says they don’t exist. (Do check out his site though, it’s really fascinating.)

But, Mark did send me a curious link to RL Allan, a Bible shop in Glasgow that has been making handcrafted Bibles since 1863. So I stopped by their office—not a retail store, an office building four floors up through two buzzer-equipped doors—to check it out. There I found two very kind Scots (actually, one was English) who talked me through their binding process and gave me some options. Sadly, even fancy Bible makers don’t do NRSV pocket Bibles. But RL Allan did have a beautiful calfskin handcrafted regular size Bible that’s just a beauty and sure to last a lifetime. Sure, it’s not cheap (ok, it’s ridiculously expensive), but it’s bound by the Queen’s binder and, as they say, an investment (also, it was after Christmas and I had the money).

My new Bible has gold-edged pages, marking ribbon, and initials. But the real quality is in how it feels to the touch.

But I still need a pocket NRSV, you say? No siree, because the kind man at RL Allan gave me a free pocket Bible he had lying around. It’s nothing to write home about (ironic), but it will do the job.

Adam Copeland is completing a year-long internship as assistant minister at St. Columba Church, Ayr, Scotland. Adam blogs on church and culture, life in Scotland, marriage—as long as his wife, Megan, approves—preaching, the emerging church, technology, and sundry items that strike his fancy. Visit his blog at http://adamcopeland.wordpress.com.