First Nations Version, Bonded Leather - by Terry M Wildman (Leather Bound)

About the Book

The First Nations Version (FNV) recounts the Creator's Story--the Christian Scriptures--following the tradition of Native storytellers' oral cultures. While remaining faithful to the original language of the New Testament, the FNV is a dynamic equivalence translation that captures the simplicity, clarity, and beauty of Native storytellers in English.

Book Synopsis

OVER 100,000 COPIES SOLD

Academy of Parish Clergy Reference Book of the Year

"This remarkable retelling offers plenty of rewards and will especially pique those open to a novel interpretation of the religious text." --Publishers Weekly Starred Review

A New Testament in English by Native North Americans for Native North Americans and All English-Speaking Peoples

Step into a world where the sacred stories of the Christian Scriptures are told through the rich and vibrant lens of Native American culture. The First Nations Version invites you to experience the New Testament like never before, with a dynamic translation that honors the oral storytelling traditions of Indigenous people. Now available in a luxurious bonded leather edition The First Nations Version makes for the perfect gift--whether for yourself or a loved one. It's not just a book; it's a lasting treasure that connects the past with the present, offering a bridge between cultures through the power of storytelling.

Discover the New Testament Reimagined Through the Poetic Language of Native Storytellers:

• "The Great Spirit loves all creation so deeply that he gave his Son--the only Son who represents him fully. All who trust in him and his way will not come to a bad end but will share in the life of the world to come that never fades away, filled with beauty and harmony." John 3:16
• "Love is patient and kind. Love is never jealous. It does not brag or boast. It is not puffed up or big-headed. Love does not act in shameful ways, nor does it care only about itself. It is not hot-headed, nor does it keep track of wrongs done to it. Love is not happy with lies and injustice, but truth makes its heart glad. Love keeps walking even when carrying a heavy load. Love keeps trusting, never loses hope, and stands firm in hard times. The road of love has no end." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

The First Nations Version was created through a collaborative effort involving a translation council of twelve Native elders, pastors, and young adults, ensuring authenticity and cultural integrity. With each page, you'll find yourself captivated by the simplicity and depth of the narrative, uncovering new layers of meaning in these timeless passages. Whether you're familiar with the Bible or seeking a fresh perspective, The First Nations Version offers a unique opportunity for reflection and understanding.

Discover the beauty and clarity of The First Nations Version in this beautiful leather-bound edition. Explore its pages, share its insights, and become part of a story that transcends time and speaks to the heart.

Review Quotes

"I've often wondered what it might look like if Jesus incarnated within another culture. Jesus, a first-century Jewish teacher in a corner of Rome's empire, lived, died, and rose as a human being within a specific time and place. What I love about the First Nations Version is how it translates this gospel story into a language of another context: First Nations! So get swept away into the story of the Great Spirit as he invites us to the blessing way of the good road. Read this beautiful retelling of the Scriptures that is not only beneficial for First Nations communities but for all who desire to allow the Great Spirit to transform their imaginations!"--Kurt Willems, pastor and author of Echoing Hope: How the Humanity of Jesus Redeems our Pain

"Reading the First Nations Version of the New Testament is like listening to a wise elder pass down ancient teachings. Its oral cadences give the Scriptures new room to breathe. While contemporary translations focus on updating language in a modern mode, the FNV recaptures the sense of tradition that binds faithful readers to our past and to the story that tells us who we are. It is a good gift to everyone who walks the Jesus Way."--L. Daniel Hawk, professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Ashland Theological Seminary

"The First Nations Version (FNV) has quickly become a go-to resource for Native InterVarsity across the nation. We are using it in our small group Bible studies, and it is influencing the words we choose when we invite students to the full life that Creator Sets Free (Jesus) offers. The word choices of the FNV not only resonate with Native students but are also offering a fresh hearing of Scripture for non-Natives. For example, when we talk about sin, defenses and blinders go up immediately. But when the FNV talks about 'bad hearts' and 'broken ways, ' people can see that in themselves and others. I would recommend the FNV to any Native person who wants to learn more about Jesus and any non-Native person who longs to be able to read Scripture with new eyes."--Megan Murdock Krischke, national director, Native InterVarsity

"The First Nations Version is far and away the most creative Bible translation I've ever read. It's an exciting alternative to the boring, stodgy renderings that have dominated the English market for centuries. All readers can open the FNV and experience old passages in new perspectives. Talk about it with your kids. Study it in churches and classrooms. Use it in worship. The Bible becomes alive!"--Matthew Schlimm, professor of Old Testament at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary

"The FNV is written for a particular time, place, and people--the indigenous people of North America. The First Nations Version is a Bible for us. With estimates that a mere 5 percent of indigenous people of North America have a relationship with Creator Sets Free (Jesus), it's time for us to have a Bible translation of our own that speaks to our culture, our values, and our hearts through Creator's Word."--Casey Church, pastor of Good Medicine Way in Albuquerque, New Mexico

"This new rendering of the New Testament is a most welcome accomplishment. All of our translations of the Bible are inescapably done through a cultural lens, and now we have the New Testament through the cultural lens of First Americans. It is of course a reach of empire to assume that our English translations of the Bible, as familiar as they are, are everywhere normative among us. Now we have a correction and an alternative that honors and takes seriously a cultural lens other than white European. This version draws us much closer to the wonder of an earthly spirituality that is present in the text as it is present in the life of the world."--Walter Brueggemann, William Marcellus McPheeters professor emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary

"While Wildman recasts the New Testament in a distinctly Indigenous image, he remains faithful to evangelical interpretations of Christian scripture, typified in the many italicized explanations that appear throughout and are meant to add 'reasonably implied' clarifications and cultural notes, such as explication on ancient festivals like the Pentecost. This remarkable retelling offers plenty of rewards and will especially pique those open to a novel interpretation of the religious text."--Publishers Weekly starred review, August 2021

About the Author

Terry M. Wildman (Ojibwe and Yaqui) is the lead translator, general editor, and project manager of the First Nations Version. He serves as the director of spiritual growth and leadership development for Native InterVarsity. He is also the founder of Rain Ministries and has previously served as a pastor and worship leader. He and his wife, Darlene, live in Arizona.

The First Nations Version (FNV) Translation Council consists of twelve First Nations individuals representing a cross-section of Native North Americans--elders, pastors, young adults, and men and women from differing tribes and diverse geographic locations. This council also represents a diversity of church and denominational traditions to minimize bias. The council determined the style and method of translation to be used and continues to be involved in ongoing translation, review, and cultural consultation. The FNV is a dynamic equivalence translation produced in partnership with Rain Ministries and OneBook Canada, with help from Wycliffe Associates.