Joined by Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull at Parliament House in Canberra, Mr Rudd said the new Bible helped focus Christian efforts on promoting social justice. It was an “extraordinary’ work which draws attention to the “challenge facing us all,” he said on Sept 18.

The new Bible highlights over 2,000 passages that address social justice issues and comes with a 32-page study guide that looks at issues of fair trade, farming and equality in education.

Bible Society’s Chief Executive, James Catford stated: “When we dreamt up the idea we never imagined that it would get picked up around the world. Gordon Brown got to have a copy when I visited Downing Street earlier this year. Now the Australian Prime Minister has spoken at its launch. People who work for the aid charities are really interested in it.”

At the launch of the UK edition in 2008 the president of the Bible Society, Bishop NT Wright of Durham said whilst poverty and injustice were “two of the biggest issues of our day,” the new Poverty and Justice Bible, shows that in “speaking out” on these questions, “God got there first.”

“Before the Make Poverty History movement, before Sir Bob Geldof’s Live 8 and before politicians began debating these issues, the Bible spoke loudly and clearly on poverty and justice,” he said.

“The Poverty and Justice Bible opens our eyes to that. It highlights – literally – that the Bible has something to say about issues that resonate today. This Bible connects with the very fabric of today’s world, with all its problems and messiness – and has something powerful to say,” Bishop Wright said.



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