The Cotton Patch Gospel recasts the stories of Jesus and the letters of Paul and Peter into the language and culture of the mid-20th century American South. Born out of the Civil Rights struggle, these now classic translations of much of the New Testament bring the far-away places of Scripture closer to home: Gainesville, Selma, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Washington D. C.
As the author, Clarence Jordan, once wrote, "While there have been many excellent translations of the Scriptures into modern English, they still have left us stranded in some faraway land in the long-distant past. We need to have the good news come to us not only in our own tongue but in our own time. We want to be participants in the faith, not merely spectators."
More than a translation, The Cotton Patch Gospel continues to make clear the startling relevance of Scripture for today. These editions come complete with new forwards and a new introduction by Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller.
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Nelson Robison (Reynoldsville PA), November 01, 2009
The Cotton Patch Version of Paul's Epistles is not actually a Translation but a Transliteration. It takes the epistles of Paul and puts them into modern times and terms, that of the Civil Rights era and before.
Clarence Jordan, the translator was way ahead of his time in translating the Epistles of Paul, in that he made them come alive to the people of the time. I love to read them as an adjunct to my study bible and especially the Letter to the Alabaster African Church of Smithville, Alabama, which for those of you uninitiated is Philippians. This transliteration is a 'must read' for all those wishing to gain a fuller understanding of how Paul and the other apostles worked in their areas and how especially Paul moved so freely about in the world.
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