Best Verse in the Bible - Christmas Amplified

by Elva Cobb Martin

"For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal, (everlasting) life."   
                                                                          John 3:16 Amplified Bible

The story of the vision and work on the Amplified Bible, my favorite translation, is a remarkable story of faith, hope, and love. It begins with a woman of vision and intense study of the Bible, Frances Siewert, a non-profit foundation, and, finally, a young, Christian publishing house in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Mrs. Siewert (1881-1967) devoted her life to studying the Bible in the Hebrew and Greek languages. She began work on a Bible translation that would expand, amplify, the text with all the richness of the Hebrew and Greek languages. The Lockman Foundation caught on to her vision of a translation that would add all the color of these two languages to the Bible text and came alongside to assist her. One chapter yet remained to bring the vision into reality. 

Zondervan Publishing House seized the opportunity to participate in this vision they believed would be blessed by God and change lives. They published the Amplified New Testament in 1958 and the full Amplified Bible in 1965.

Merry Christmas and Happy, Blessed New Year!
Elva 

Elva Cobb Martin is president of the South Carolina Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers (2014-2017). She is a former school teacher and a graduate of Anderson University and Erskine College. She has two inspirational novels contracted with Lighthouse Publishers of the Carolinas. Summer of Deception, a contemporary romantic suspense, and an historical romance, In a Pirate’s Debt. Both have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have carried Elva's articles. Jim Hart of Hartline Literary represents her. She and her husband Dwayne are semi-retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in Anderson, South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site http://www.elvamartin.com, her blog http://carolinaromancewithelvamartin.blogspot.com, on Twitter www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin; Facebook http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin;  and Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin

Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI