The Green Bible - What is it?

TL;DR:

The Green Bible uses the NRSV translation and highlights more than one thousand verses about God’s care for creation, encouraging Christians to steward the earth responsibly. The Green Bible should be read thoughtfully alongside the full message of Scripture.

what does the bible say?

The Green Bible is a specialty edition of the Bible that highlights more than one thousand verses related to God’s care for creation, using the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) to emphasize environmental stewardship. Rooted in biblical principles of responsible dominion and faithful management of God’s creation (Genesis 1:28; 2:15; Psalm 24:1; Matthew 25:14-30), it encourages readers to view creation as sacred, reflecting God’s character and purposes (Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16-17). Beyond its textual emphasis, the Green Bible incorporates environmentally-friendly materials and includes essays and guides from scholars and leaders to equip readers to actively engage in creation care.

While some celebrate its focus on stewardship, critics caution that it can overemphasize environmental concerns, sometimes drifting into areas of climate politics or theological perspectives not fully aligned with Scripture and occasionally highlights verses that are not strictly about creation. The Green Bible serves as a tool to renew appreciation for God’s creation and inspire responsible stewardship, but discerning readers must study the whole Bible to balance its environmental focus with the full message of the gospel.

from the old testament

God gave humanity dominion over the earth and tasked us to “work it and keep it,” establishing the principle of responsible stewardship of creation (Genesis 1:28, 2:15).
Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,” emphasizing that the natural world belongs to God and should be respected.
Leviticus 25:23-24 says that the land ultimately belongs to God, showing the importance of stewardship, sustainability, and mindful use of resources.

from the new testament

While often applied to resources or gifts, the Parable of the Talents encourages faithful management of what God entrusts to us, including creation (Matthew 25:14-30).
In Matthew 6:26-30, Jesus shows that God sustains His creation.
Romans 1:20 tells us that God’s invisible qualities and divine nature are evident through creation, highlighting creation’s value as a reflection of God.
All things were created through and for Christ, reinforcing the sacredness and purpose of creation (Colossians 1:16-17).

implications for today

The Green Bible is a specialty Bible that was first published in 2008 by Harper Collins Publishers. It is not a new translation (it uses the New Revised Standard Version), but a new emphasis on the words of Scripture related to creation care and issues related to the environment. Many unique features are included in the Green Bible as part of this approach.

Of primary importance are the "green words." More than one thousand verses are printed in green that relate to God's concern for creation. In addition, the Green Bible was produced in an environmentally-friendly format. Features include recycled paper, soy-based ink, and a renewable cotton-linen cover.

Another distinctive feature includes the many essays by scholars and leaders related to environmental stewardship and creation care. Some of the many contributors include N.T. Wright, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Brian McLaren.

An index on green issues and a "Green Bible Trail Guide" further develop concepts related to the publisher's goal of promoting environmental stewardship. As the Green Bible itself states, the goal is to "equip and encourage [readers] to see God's vision for creation and help [them] engage in the work of healing and sustaining it."

The Green Bible has been heralded as a needed guide by some and as heretical by others.

On the positive side, renewed focus on God's view of environmental stewardship can be good, particularly in light of the environmental threats posed by the lifestyles of Western societies. The One who created all things called it good. The first man, Adam, was given responsibility to care for creation. A closer look at the Bible's teachings in this area can lead to deeper reverence for God's creation and better stewardship of resources.

Renewed appreciation of creation can also lead to a deeper recognition of the beauty of God and an increased awareness of God as Creator.

On the negative side, some claims of the Green Bible moves beyond the Bible's teachings into controversial areas of climate change, global warming, and environmental politics. Further, the contributors tend to include those often associated with other theological views at odds with important biblical teachings. Reviewers have also noted that several of the "green verses" are not truly related to environmental issues, artificially inflating the number of verses related to creation care. Most important, so much emphasis on environmental care may draw attention away from what people truly need to hear—the gospel of Christ.

Overall, the idea of a niche Bible to call Christians to greater concern for God's creation is a noble venture. The Green Bible is admirable in many ways, yet also not without issues that have given rise to criticism. As discerning believers, our goal should be to study the Scriptures for ourselves to evaluate whether the teachings of the Green Bible and the emphases of its publishers are accurate, embracing truthful reminders while rejecting views that are inconsistent with Scripture.

understand

The Green Bible highlights more than one thousand verses on God’s care for creation using the NRSV.
The Green Bible includes eco-friendly materials, essays, and guides to promote stewardship.
Readers must balance the Green Bible’s environmental focus with the full message of Scripture.

reflect

How does reading about God’s care for creation in the Green Bible affect the way you view your role as a steward of the earth?
How could you apply the principles of faithful management and stewardship from Scripture to your life?
How do you balance your concern for the environment with keeping Christ and the gospel central in your faith?

engage

How can we encourage responsible stewardship of creation without letting environmental concerns overshadow the gospel?
What insights from both the Old and New Testaments guide us in managing God’s creation faithfully today?
How can we discern which teachings in specialty Bibles like the Green Bible align with Scripture and which may reflect human opinions or cultural trends?