Bibles for Rappers, Jocks and Recovering Addicts

Ever wonder what Jesus Christ might sound like if he lived today? In “Rappin’ With Jesus,” perhaps the latest edition of the New Testament, he says this to the judge at his trial:

“You wanna know what I’m all about? Ask the folks. If you think I’m evil, then I should be punished. If not, what’s up with you sweating Me this way?”

This comes from one of the more unconventional new editions of the Bible in stores this season. Each one is aimed at a particular reader.

Athletes may relate to “Path to Victory,” from the International Bible Society, a New Testament with color pictures of Dodger Orel Hershiser and infographics that highlight track star Evelyn Ashford’s favorite Bible quotes.

The Life Application Bible, from Tyndale House publishers, is indexed to point out passages that might help readers grapple with such modern issues as abortion and AIDS.

There is the Women’s Devotional Bible and the more recent version for men, both from Zondervan Publishers. The Serenity New Testament, from Thomas Nelson, is designed for recovering alcoholics and addicts. Nelson’s Word in Life Bible is so filled with graphs, charts and maps that it’s been dubbed the U.S.A. Today Bible. The African Heritage Study Bible, from Winston-Derek, is a King James version with illustrations by African American artists.

“Rappin’ With Jesus” is the latest from P.K. McCary of Houston, who wrote “Black Bible Chronicles” earlier this year. She calls her books paraphrases of the Bible. Both are published by the African American Family Press.

“Rappin’ ” updates the Gospel stories of the New Testament, originally told by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. (McCary calls them the Four Brothers.) These street-smart storytellers envision the plot to kill Jesus as a drive-by shooting. They headline the story of the virgin birth of Christ: “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle.”

“What works for one may not work for another,” says McCary about the range in new Bible titles. “If God wanted us all to do the same thing, He wouldn’t have given us this wonderful thing called choice.”

In 1992, Bible sales reached $432 million, according to the Christian Booksellers Assn. of Colorado Springs, Colo. That is almost double what it was five years ago, when sales were $224 million. Although there is no official count, niche Bibles appear to be the fastest-growing category. At Thomas Nelson in Nashville, Tenn., the largest publisher of Bibles in the country, more than half the new products are now aimed at niche markets.

“Our research shows many people are convinced they can’t understand Scripture,” says Jerry Trusdale, director of translation marketing.

“Our job is to make it reader-friendly. We have to meet people where they are.”