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The Voice Bible, New Testament: Step Into the Story of Scripture
The VoiceÖ Bible translation is a faithful dynamic translation of the Scriptures done as a collage of compelling narratives, poetry, song, truth, and wisdom. The Voice calls the reader to step into the whole story of Scripture and experience the joy and wonder of GodÆs revelation. Created for and by a church in great transition, The Voice uniquely represents collaboration among scholars, pastors, writers, musicians, poets, and other artists, giving great attention to the beauty of the narrative. The heart of The Voice is retelling the story of the Bible in a form as fluid as modern literary works yet remaining painstakingly true to the original manuscripts. This translation promotes the public reading of longer sections of Scriptureùfollowed by thoughtful engagement with the biblical narrative in its richness and fullness and dramatic flow.
This is an updated and revised version of the New Testament edition, now at an even more affordable price.
Features
Italicized information added to help contemporary readers understand what the original readers would have known intuitivelyIn-text commentary notes include cultural, historical, theological, or devotional thoughtsScreenplay format, ideal for public readings and group studiesBook introductions
This is an updated and revised version of the New Testament edition, now at an even more affordable price.
Features
Italicized information added to help contemporary readers understand what the original readers would have known intuitivelyIn-text commentary notes include cultural, historical, theological, or devotional thoughtsScreenplay format, ideal for public readings and group studiesBook introductions
1221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1969
110 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 27, 2012
I wish I had gotten my hands on The Voice New Testament when my children were small. This is a version of the Bible that you may not use for intense study purposes, but that you could curl up with on a rainy day, take turns reading as you sit around the dinner table, or read as a bedtime story. It reads as a script, with a narrator filling in the gaps between conversations.
The scriptures I compared with other versions I trust, seem to accurately portray the message in easy-to-understand terms, but the words being used don't detract from the timeless beauty of the Bible. This is a modern translation that doesn't use street language to make its point.
Four different reading plans are presented, including reading through the New Testament in 24 weeks. Books and certains passages are given a thorough introduction with background information about the setting, the words used, or the cultural significance of what was taking place. Conversations are presented in a dialog format, so that the reader can easily follow what's being said by whom. Different font styles and colors help with the organization of each page. Footnotes clarify definitions or lead to cross references.
I would definitely recommend this Bible to anyone. New Christians or those not familiar with other translations would benefit from the ease of reading it, and those who've grown up with a Bible in their hands would be refreshed from this interesting way of exploring the Word of God.
The scriptures I compared with other versions I trust, seem to accurately portray the message in easy-to-understand terms, but the words being used don't detract from the timeless beauty of the Bible. This is a modern translation that doesn't use street language to make its point.
Four different reading plans are presented, including reading through the New Testament in 24 weeks. Books and certains passages are given a thorough introduction with background information about the setting, the words used, or the cultural significance of what was taking place. Conversations are presented in a dialog format, so that the reader can easily follow what's being said by whom. Different font styles and colors help with the organization of each page. Footnotes clarify definitions or lead to cross references.
I would definitely recommend this Bible to anyone. New Christians or those not familiar with other translations would benefit from the ease of reading it, and those who've grown up with a Bible in their hands would be refreshed from this interesting way of exploring the Word of God.
February 16, 2012
Bible translation is a full space, with many different translations based on a variety of different philosophies.
Every Bible I’ve read falls somewhere on a continuum, between a word-by-word translation with a focus on literal accuracy and paraphrases that capture the flavor and flow of the Biblical narrative.
The Voice is a completely different Bible-reading experience.
As its name implies, this version is intended to be experienced as a read-aloud. The audio recording of The Voice’s Book of Revelation emphasizes the strengths of this artistic rendering of the gospel message.
However, I would not recommend it for daily study.
The Voice is a unique, artistic experience. Many sections are written in script form, with cues for various readers. Additionally, there are many additions in italics which are intended to add to the flow of the reading, but are distracting in print.
If you would like to experience the New Testament in a completely new and unique way, while reading it aloud, I give this version my highest recommendation.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.
Every Bible I’ve read falls somewhere on a continuum, between a word-by-word translation with a focus on literal accuracy and paraphrases that capture the flavor and flow of the Biblical narrative.
The Voice is a completely different Bible-reading experience.
As its name implies, this version is intended to be experienced as a read-aloud. The audio recording of The Voice’s Book of Revelation emphasizes the strengths of this artistic rendering of the gospel message.
However, I would not recommend it for daily study.
The Voice is a unique, artistic experience. Many sections are written in script form, with cues for various readers. Additionally, there are many additions in italics which are intended to add to the flow of the reading, but are distracting in print.
If you would like to experience the New Testament in a completely new and unique way, while reading it aloud, I give this version my highest recommendation.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.
March 5, 2013
Last week, as I wrote about feminism alongside multiple other writers, I talked about giving a voice to every person. Since then, I have read several posts that gently reminded me that giving a voice to anyone is not my prerogative. God gives the voice. At our best moments, we encourage and support a fellow human whose voice remains unheard. Then we can hand them a microphone to allow their voice to take on more volume.
And in a move that at times seems brilliant and at times appears completely disastrous, God has chosen to let His people not just hand Him the microphone (as if He needed one), but actually speak on His behalf. We are charged with spreading the gospel. We are the means of spreading the message. Many of us live with the balance of the benefits God’s people have built into our lives and the painful injuries His people have inflicted on us at one time or another. No wonder many of us hesitate when people claim to speak for God. No wonder many of us long to hear His voice for ourselves.
It is out of the desire to hear Him more clearly in Scripture that the Ecclesia Bible Society began work on The Voice: Step Into the Story of Scripture. Setting the conversations in the New Testament in dialogue form, inserting into the verses phrases in italics that give contextual information that people would have understood from the text at the time of each book’s writing, and putting explanatory paragraphs in sidebars are three ways that the EBS approaches the Scripture with the hope of making the good news clearer and more accessible to today’s reader.
As I have spent time reading through the New Testament in The Voice, I find myself caught up in the interactions in a way that often I don’t when the delineation of dialogue is not as clear. The inserted phrases remind me of the unspoken, commonly understood context from which the original readers of Scripture probably operated. I feel more kinship with the idea of all the believers who have come before me, reading and re-reading these passages, letting the Bible speak to them as it would.
The Voice, for me, is a Bible of community. Sure, it’s a useful paraphrase, albeit a very close one, and a helpful tool as I choose to spend more time in Scripture. But its main draw, in my experience, is the way it pulls me into the realization that I am not alone with the Word of God. Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, or, as The Voice reminds us, all those who have gone before, I feel reassured and strengthened.
Likewise, as we consider any issue, whether feminism or justice or theology, one of the most helpful stances is one of humble remembrance. Generations, and sometimes centuries’ worth of believers, have gone before us in all these things. We draw on their knowledge and experience to form our own mindsets; we naturally move in the tracks they painstakingly cleared. We can’t extricate ourselves from our own history any more than the people to whom the original letters within the New Testament could have un-remembered their own experiences.
Moving forward together, Church, won’t mean we forget our differences. It will mean that we acknowledge them and choose to travel together anyway. It will mean that some are called to be outspoken and loud, while others are called to take notice of those who wander and gently bring them home. Some of us will dig deep into knowledge to serve the body of believers. Still others will see the ones who have never spoken up, listen to them, and say to the rest of us, “Hey, everyone! Listen to this!”
As I read The Voice, my desire to be part of this ongoing story experiences renewal.
I received an electronic download of The Voice for free in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are mine.
And in a move that at times seems brilliant and at times appears completely disastrous, God has chosen to let His people not just hand Him the microphone (as if He needed one), but actually speak on His behalf. We are charged with spreading the gospel. We are the means of spreading the message. Many of us live with the balance of the benefits God’s people have built into our lives and the painful injuries His people have inflicted on us at one time or another. No wonder many of us hesitate when people claim to speak for God. No wonder many of us long to hear His voice for ourselves.
It is out of the desire to hear Him more clearly in Scripture that the Ecclesia Bible Society began work on The Voice: Step Into the Story of Scripture. Setting the conversations in the New Testament in dialogue form, inserting into the verses phrases in italics that give contextual information that people would have understood from the text at the time of each book’s writing, and putting explanatory paragraphs in sidebars are three ways that the EBS approaches the Scripture with the hope of making the good news clearer and more accessible to today’s reader.
As I have spent time reading through the New Testament in The Voice, I find myself caught up in the interactions in a way that often I don’t when the delineation of dialogue is not as clear. The inserted phrases remind me of the unspoken, commonly understood context from which the original readers of Scripture probably operated. I feel more kinship with the idea of all the believers who have come before me, reading and re-reading these passages, letting the Bible speak to them as it would.
The Voice, for me, is a Bible of community. Sure, it’s a useful paraphrase, albeit a very close one, and a helpful tool as I choose to spend more time in Scripture. But its main draw, in my experience, is the way it pulls me into the realization that I am not alone with the Word of God. Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, or, as The Voice reminds us, all those who have gone before, I feel reassured and strengthened.
Likewise, as we consider any issue, whether feminism or justice or theology, one of the most helpful stances is one of humble remembrance. Generations, and sometimes centuries’ worth of believers, have gone before us in all these things. We draw on their knowledge and experience to form our own mindsets; we naturally move in the tracks they painstakingly cleared. We can’t extricate ourselves from our own history any more than the people to whom the original letters within the New Testament could have un-remembered their own experiences.
Moving forward together, Church, won’t mean we forget our differences. It will mean that we acknowledge them and choose to travel together anyway. It will mean that some are called to be outspoken and loud, while others are called to take notice of those who wander and gently bring them home. Some of us will dig deep into knowledge to serve the body of believers. Still others will see the ones who have never spoken up, listen to them, and say to the rest of us, “Hey, everyone! Listen to this!”
As I read The Voice, my desire to be part of this ongoing story experiences renewal.
I received an electronic download of The Voice for free in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are mine.
April 12, 2012
This month The Voice unveils their Bible version for the whole Bible. Recently Thomas Nelson sent me the New Testament and I ‘m impressed by it (I used it on my blog for my ‘Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross’ series). The Voice is the brainchild of Chris Seay and the Ecclesia Bible Society. I have followed the project and even have some of the earlier volumes on my shelf ( The Voice of Matthew, The Voice of Acts, The Last Eye Witness: The Final Week). It is nice to see the whole project finally come together.
Why Another Translation?
Seriously, why another translation? With the NIV perpetually updating itself, the Reformed crowd all reading the ESV and other translations popping up, seemingly every few months, do we need a Bible like this? I would say that this project is sufficiently unique and I have found that it does a good job of illuminating the Biblical text for a contemporary context.
There are two main approaches that translators take when approaching the Bible. One translation theory is Formal Equivalence which are very literal translations like the NASB or KJV. These translate Hebrew and Greek Idiom, essentially as is (there are mistakes and the KJV wasn’t working with earlier manuscripts but the translators worked on a very literal rendering). On the other side you have translations which aim at Functional Equivalence (NIV is a major example of this). The Voice is closer to the functional equivalence side and dynamic in its approach. The translators and writers producing a text that is at times literal and at other times explicated and amplified. The Ecclesia Bible Society brought together Bible and language scholars with authors, songwriters, poets and pastors in order to produce a text that is beautiful in its expression but accurate in translation.
I think it succeeds rather well. Some of the things I like include:
Dialogue is written like a screenplay. This gives the interactions a dynamic and immediate feel. It is very effective.
In italics are words and phrases, which are not from the original text but explicate its meaning.
Peppered through the Bible are notes that either explain the original meaning or its contemporary implications. What I like about this is that the notes are often meatier than your typical devotional Bible, but leaner than a lot of Study Bibles which (in my opinion) over inform.
The Translation itself is highly readable, and accessible. This would be a good Bible to share with Non-Christians, Youth and Seekers. My wife is using it as she prepares children’s curriculum for church. If this translation helps people get the story a little more, I’m in favor.
If I could quibble with the marketing of this Bible, the back cover promotional blurbs are from Donald Miller and Darrell Bock. Darrell Bock is a good New Testament scholar and Donald Miller is a justly popular author. Both guys are not impartial because they worked on The Voice. This is like an author saying, “Buy my book I really like it.”
But I liked it too and recommend it if you are shopping for a dynamic rendering of the Bible or looking for a good Bible to share with friends.
I received this Bible from the Thomas Nelson Blog Bunch with the understanding that I would share my thoughts on it on my Blog. If you are interested in exploring this translation further, go to HeartheVoice{dot}com.
Why Another Translation?
Seriously, why another translation? With the NIV perpetually updating itself, the Reformed crowd all reading the ESV and other translations popping up, seemingly every few months, do we need a Bible like this? I would say that this project is sufficiently unique and I have found that it does a good job of illuminating the Biblical text for a contemporary context.
There are two main approaches that translators take when approaching the Bible. One translation theory is Formal Equivalence which are very literal translations like the NASB or KJV. These translate Hebrew and Greek Idiom, essentially as is (there are mistakes and the KJV wasn’t working with earlier manuscripts but the translators worked on a very literal rendering). On the other side you have translations which aim at Functional Equivalence (NIV is a major example of this). The Voice is closer to the functional equivalence side and dynamic in its approach. The translators and writers producing a text that is at times literal and at other times explicated and amplified. The Ecclesia Bible Society brought together Bible and language scholars with authors, songwriters, poets and pastors in order to produce a text that is beautiful in its expression but accurate in translation.
I think it succeeds rather well. Some of the things I like include:
Dialogue is written like a screenplay. This gives the interactions a dynamic and immediate feel. It is very effective.
In italics are words and phrases, which are not from the original text but explicate its meaning.
Peppered through the Bible are notes that either explain the original meaning or its contemporary implications. What I like about this is that the notes are often meatier than your typical devotional Bible, but leaner than a lot of Study Bibles which (in my opinion) over inform.
The Translation itself is highly readable, and accessible. This would be a good Bible to share with Non-Christians, Youth and Seekers. My wife is using it as she prepares children’s curriculum for church. If this translation helps people get the story a little more, I’m in favor.
If I could quibble with the marketing of this Bible, the back cover promotional blurbs are from Donald Miller and Darrell Bock. Darrell Bock is a good New Testament scholar and Donald Miller is a justly popular author. Both guys are not impartial because they worked on The Voice. This is like an author saying, “Buy my book I really like it.”
But I liked it too and recommend it if you are shopping for a dynamic rendering of the Bible or looking for a good Bible to share with friends.
I received this Bible from the Thomas Nelson Blog Bunch with the understanding that I would share my thoughts on it on my Blog. If you are interested in exploring this translation further, go to HeartheVoice{dot}com.
April 20, 2012
To review The Voice (New Testament only), I read portions of the New Testament alongside my current Bible, the NASB, for clarity and accurateness. I came away very pleased with this version. They explain that The Voice is a combination of word-for-word and thought-for-thought, of which I usually fall into the word-for-word.
The fact that this is not a gender neutral version appeals to me, as well as the fact that they don’t use today’s trendy language. Their goal was to “capture the beauty and brutal honesty of the Scriptures in a language that is timeless and enduring.” I believe they have accomplished that.
I enjoyed the Screenplay format in the Gospels, as it brought out nuances I wouldn’t have thought of before. In Matthew 26, it states that Caiaphas ‘screeched’ when Jesus spoke of Who He was and His glory with God. Screeched, although I’ve never read it before in the Bible, made me think of demons screeching over the power of God. They are, after all who Jesus was making an open display of and conquering. It gave me a new perspective.
Some of the aspects included are:
Retelling the Bible not simply in words but also meaning and experience
Recapturing the passion, grit, humor and beauty that have been lost in other translations in order to foster spiritual growth and theological explorations out of a heart for the mission of the Church and to worship God
Collage of compelling narrative, poetry, song, truth and wisdom– reading the story of God with your whole heart, soul and mind
They include four ways to Step into the Story:
Readings for Advent
Readings for Lent and Easter
Read the New Testament in 24 weeks
Daily readings for personal growth
Each book has its own introduction. I love the extra ‘delineated material that expands the theme of the reading, which is disclosed in a second (deep mustard) color that includes cultural, historical, theological or devotional thoughts to enhance your knowledge.’ This further clarifies information pertinent to that portion of Scripture that gives a deeper meaning to the context.
The end of The Voice Bible includes:
Topical guide to the notes
The titles of Jesus
Let The Voice ‘reach, touch, change, move, teach, surprise, heal, inspire, humble and transform you!’ Will this version take the place of my current Bible? Probably not, but it certainly will enhance my understanding of the New Testament in ways never done before! For some of you, this will be your Bible of choice. (It comes in the complete New and Old Testament, but I only have the New Testament.) The purpose of reading the Bible is to grow in Christ as a believer. This version can help you do that!
This Bible was provided by Julie Belschner of Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was exchanged.
The fact that this is not a gender neutral version appeals to me, as well as the fact that they don’t use today’s trendy language. Their goal was to “capture the beauty and brutal honesty of the Scriptures in a language that is timeless and enduring.” I believe they have accomplished that.
I enjoyed the Screenplay format in the Gospels, as it brought out nuances I wouldn’t have thought of before. In Matthew 26, it states that Caiaphas ‘screeched’ when Jesus spoke of Who He was and His glory with God. Screeched, although I’ve never read it before in the Bible, made me think of demons screeching over the power of God. They are, after all who Jesus was making an open display of and conquering. It gave me a new perspective.
Some of the aspects included are:
Retelling the Bible not simply in words but also meaning and experience
Recapturing the passion, grit, humor and beauty that have been lost in other translations in order to foster spiritual growth and theological explorations out of a heart for the mission of the Church and to worship God
Collage of compelling narrative, poetry, song, truth and wisdom– reading the story of God with your whole heart, soul and mind
They include four ways to Step into the Story:
Readings for Advent
Readings for Lent and Easter
Read the New Testament in 24 weeks
Daily readings for personal growth
Each book has its own introduction. I love the extra ‘delineated material that expands the theme of the reading, which is disclosed in a second (deep mustard) color that includes cultural, historical, theological or devotional thoughts to enhance your knowledge.’ This further clarifies information pertinent to that portion of Scripture that gives a deeper meaning to the context.
The end of The Voice Bible includes:
Topical guide to the notes
The titles of Jesus
Let The Voice ‘reach, touch, change, move, teach, surprise, heal, inspire, humble and transform you!’ Will this version take the place of my current Bible? Probably not, but it certainly will enhance my understanding of the New Testament in ways never done before! For some of you, this will be your Bible of choice. (It comes in the complete New and Old Testament, but I only have the New Testament.) The purpose of reading the Bible is to grow in Christ as a believer. This version can help you do that!
This Bible was provided by Julie Belschner of Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was exchanged.
January 3, 2012
I really am enjoying this version of the Bible. I am not a scholar and cannot speak to the translation quality or anything else like that) But I am a long-time Christian who hasn't made my way through the whole Bible yet. I know that this book will help me, as it presents things in a fresh way (different than the message, which I found a little cheesy at times and overly casual) But it has added words to help clarify, and then little break-out paragraphs marked with a "V" that provide more context to a situation.
That is exactly what I am really enjoying about this particular Bible. It provides the context a brand new student/reader of the Bible can appreciate and tuck away. I am very big into Context, and have found studying the Bible hard because I simply don't even know where to begin, what things mean in the whole context, etc. Each chapter has an introduction that tells you who wrote the book, to whom, and some background information about the times too. What I especially love though, is that the chapter introductions are written by someone who is excited about the Story of Jesus and isn't afraid of reveling spoilers. You cannot help but get excited too. It is Good News after all
I will give an example of how the "V" breakout sections are helpful to me. I have heard the Christmas story many times, and I understand that the Wise Men brought Gifts to Jesus. I never understood the significance of the gifts before: "These are exceptionally good gifts, for gold is what is given a king, and Jesus is the King of kings; incense is what you expect to be given a priest, and Jesus is the High Priest of all high priests; myrrh ointment is used to heal, and Jesus is a healer. But myrrh is also used to embalm corpses - and Jesus was born to die." Little facts like this get me very excited, and I cannot help but worship God because of how intricate and amazing HIS STORY was and is. I know the more I learn about the whole Bible, the more I am in awe of the author, and how God is able to take our mess and work it for good! I think this will be a great introduction to the Bible and help me want to read and study more. Thanks Booksneeze for the review copy I received.
That is exactly what I am really enjoying about this particular Bible. It provides the context a brand new student/reader of the Bible can appreciate and tuck away. I am very big into Context, and have found studying the Bible hard because I simply don't even know where to begin, what things mean in the whole context, etc. Each chapter has an introduction that tells you who wrote the book, to whom, and some background information about the times too. What I especially love though, is that the chapter introductions are written by someone who is excited about the Story of Jesus and isn't afraid of reveling spoilers. You cannot help but get excited too. It is Good News after all
I will give an example of how the "V" breakout sections are helpful to me. I have heard the Christmas story many times, and I understand that the Wise Men brought Gifts to Jesus. I never understood the significance of the gifts before: "These are exceptionally good gifts, for gold is what is given a king, and Jesus is the King of kings; incense is what you expect to be given a priest, and Jesus is the High Priest of all high priests; myrrh ointment is used to heal, and Jesus is a healer. But myrrh is also used to embalm corpses - and Jesus was born to die." Little facts like this get me very excited, and I cannot help but worship God because of how intricate and amazing HIS STORY was and is. I know the more I learn about the whole Bible, the more I am in awe of the author, and how God is able to take our mess and work it for good! I think this will be a great introduction to the Bible and help me want to read and study more. Thanks Booksneeze for the review copy I received.
March 3, 2012
My Review: If you are looking for new ways to read the bible then pick up a copy of The Voice New Testament Bible. It represents a new approach to the Bible translation while sticking to the original translation.
People find it difficult to read the Bible, but the Voice reads more like a story. It helps to bring each character and events closer to the reader.
Quote: The Voice helps them to encounter "the glory of the Lord" and be "transformed by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).
You will also find parts of the Voice Bible written in screenplay format for example:
Matthew 21:28-29
Father: Go and work in the vineyard today.
Son: No, I will not.
John 4:49-50
Official: Sir, this is my son; please come with me before he dies.
Jesus (interrupting him): Go home. Your son will live.
The only negative thing that I have to say about the Voice is that I find the print too small.
Pages: 512
Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of the Voice from Thomas Nelson, the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
People find it difficult to read the Bible, but the Voice reads more like a story. It helps to bring each character and events closer to the reader.
Quote: The Voice helps them to encounter "the glory of the Lord" and be "transformed by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).
You will also find parts of the Voice Bible written in screenplay format for example:
Matthew 21:28-29
Father: Go and work in the vineyard today.
Son: No, I will not.
John 4:49-50
Official: Sir, this is my son; please come with me before he dies.
Jesus (interrupting him): Go home. Your son will live.
The only negative thing that I have to say about the Voice is that I find the print too small.
Pages: 512
Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of the Voice from Thomas Nelson, the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
February 3, 2016
Everytime I pick up my copy of The Voice New Testament I uncover something new and enlightening. It seems that passages of the Bible that I have read many times over are brought down to me in a conversational tone. Although not my main study Bible, I really love my The Voice New Testament. I highly recommend it for an addition to anyone's Bible library. It is a great place to go for worship within the pages of the New Testament to continue a dialogue with the scripture and get just a little bit more out of it. "The goal is to create the finest Bible products to help believers experience the joy and wonder of God's revelation. " I fully think that the team behind The Voice New Testament at Thomas Nelson accomplished their goal. The Voice is a different kind of New Testament, but it is indeed "faithful and fresh".
*Thanks to BookSneeze for providing a copy for review.*
*Thanks to BookSneeze for providing a copy for review.*
October 30, 2012
I'm calling it read, because I'll never really be done. I really enjoy this translation. It reads so well, it is hard to put down! I find the additions to the Biblical text very helpful to understanding background information the writers assumed. It enhances the reading experience by filling in those gaps and avoiding cross-referencing material.
May 9, 2012
Refreshingly different, yet accurate translation.
February 4, 2012
The Voice™ New Testament is a new dynamic translation that attempts a '... retelling [of] the story of the Bible in a form as fluid as modern literary works, yet remaining painstakingly true to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts.'
Most of the text is in a standard font, however the translation follows the practice of italicising words that are not connected to the dynamic translation of the original text. One unique feature of this translation is the inclusion of material in the flow of the text, delineated by horizontal lines, that expand on the themes of the passage being read. Another unique feature is the use of a "screenplay" format where dialogue occurs. This has two effects: it makes dialogue clearer to follow and also "cleans up" the text of '... endless repetition of conjunctions, articles, and certain verbs.'
Unlike most translations which rely primarily on language scholars, The Voice™ New Testament has also included a group of modern writers, musicians and poets to ensure beauty as well as accuracy in the translation. The group of translators and "artists" have attempted to maintain the unique "voice" of individual book authors rather than a flat style throughout.
The front matter of The Voice™ New Testament has a very helpful discussion of the translation process and some of its challenges. There is also a discussion of the Greek word Christos, usually transliterated as Christ, which has been rendered throughout the New Testament as the Anointed or the Anointed One in the belief that these terms convey the meaning of the title of Christ rather than it being mistakenly understood by readers to be part of the name of Jesus. An explanatory phrase, the Liberating King, has also been added at times to '... remind us of the primary mission and of the reason God elects and empowers Jesus in the first place.'
The front matter also includes four different reading plans of the New Testament for Advent, Lent and Easter, reading the New Testament in 24 weeks, and a series of readings entitled 40 Days with God. There is also an introduction to the New Testament using covenant theology as a framework for understanding.
Let me say up front that I am not a language scholar and my review is based on reading the front matter and the letters of Paul to the Romans and Galatians - my two favourite books of the New Testament. I have mixed feelings about this translation. There is a certain freshness in most new translations due to the variations of phrasing from what one is used to. The screenplay dialogue is also interesting and definitely makes the to-and-fro of speakers easy to follow – particularly in the gospels and the book of Acts. So there is certainly value in this new version of the New Testament. The thematic expansions, while they are delineated by lines before and after, do tend to break up the flow of the text and I think they would have been better included as notes at the bottom of the page or end of the chapter. On the other hand, including them in the flow of the text was useful as I read the text on my Kindle and it meant not having to jump back and forth using links to read this material.
My greatest concern about this translation is the inserted italicised material. While the italicisation does indicate that this material is not derived from the original text, I think much of it is unnecessary and is sometimes biased toward a particular interpretation of the text. For example, Romans 16:3, in the New American Standard Bible ( very literal translation), reads:
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus...
The Voice™ New Testament reads:
Give my best to Priscilla and Aquila; they are not only my colleagues in my profession of tent making, but more importantly they are my fellow servants of Jesus the Anointed. (italics in original)
Notice, in the italicised section, a completely unwarranted statement that Priscilla and Aquila are colleagues in tent making. In other words, the suggestion is that they are not equal workers in the pastoral work that Paul does. Compare this with some other translations:
Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus ... (New Revised Standard Version)
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus ... (English Standard Version)
Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus ... (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
One has to wonder whether the translators/editors of The Voice™ New Testament are trying to avoid any suggestion that women can be equal partners in ministerial/pastoral work by inserting this extra material. While this is only one example, there are frequent interpolations of the text which, in my view, should be left out as they are not derived from the original material.
Overall, I think The Voice™ New Testament is an interesting new addition to bible translations. But, as with all translations, there are advantages and disadvantages. None are perfect. The more translations a Bible student uses the better as comparison helps to maintain some objectivity about what is certain and what is not in any one translation. So, it is a worthy addition to one's library and provides yet another perspective and enrichment of the biblical material and its meaning.
Buy the The Voice New Testament: Revised & Updated'.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com ; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Most of the text is in a standard font, however the translation follows the practice of italicising words that are not connected to the dynamic translation of the original text. One unique feature of this translation is the inclusion of material in the flow of the text, delineated by horizontal lines, that expand on the themes of the passage being read. Another unique feature is the use of a "screenplay" format where dialogue occurs. This has two effects: it makes dialogue clearer to follow and also "cleans up" the text of '... endless repetition of conjunctions, articles, and certain verbs.'
Unlike most translations which rely primarily on language scholars, The Voice™ New Testament has also included a group of modern writers, musicians and poets to ensure beauty as well as accuracy in the translation. The group of translators and "artists" have attempted to maintain the unique "voice" of individual book authors rather than a flat style throughout.
The front matter of The Voice™ New Testament has a very helpful discussion of the translation process and some of its challenges. There is also a discussion of the Greek word Christos, usually transliterated as Christ, which has been rendered throughout the New Testament as the Anointed or the Anointed One in the belief that these terms convey the meaning of the title of Christ rather than it being mistakenly understood by readers to be part of the name of Jesus. An explanatory phrase, the Liberating King, has also been added at times to '... remind us of the primary mission and of the reason God elects and empowers Jesus in the first place.'
The front matter also includes four different reading plans of the New Testament for Advent, Lent and Easter, reading the New Testament in 24 weeks, and a series of readings entitled 40 Days with God. There is also an introduction to the New Testament using covenant theology as a framework for understanding.
Let me say up front that I am not a language scholar and my review is based on reading the front matter and the letters of Paul to the Romans and Galatians - my two favourite books of the New Testament. I have mixed feelings about this translation. There is a certain freshness in most new translations due to the variations of phrasing from what one is used to. The screenplay dialogue is also interesting and definitely makes the to-and-fro of speakers easy to follow – particularly in the gospels and the book of Acts. So there is certainly value in this new version of the New Testament. The thematic expansions, while they are delineated by lines before and after, do tend to break up the flow of the text and I think they would have been better included as notes at the bottom of the page or end of the chapter. On the other hand, including them in the flow of the text was useful as I read the text on my Kindle and it meant not having to jump back and forth using links to read this material.
My greatest concern about this translation is the inserted italicised material. While the italicisation does indicate that this material is not derived from the original text, I think much of it is unnecessary and is sometimes biased toward a particular interpretation of the text. For example, Romans 16:3, in the New American Standard Bible ( very literal translation), reads:
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus...
The Voice™ New Testament reads:
Give my best to Priscilla and Aquila; they are not only my colleagues in my profession of tent making, but more importantly they are my fellow servants of Jesus the Anointed. (italics in original)
Notice, in the italicised section, a completely unwarranted statement that Priscilla and Aquila are colleagues in tent making. In other words, the suggestion is that they are not equal workers in the pastoral work that Paul does. Compare this with some other translations:
Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus ... (New Revised Standard Version)
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus ... (English Standard Version)
Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus ... (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
One has to wonder whether the translators/editors of The Voice™ New Testament are trying to avoid any suggestion that women can be equal partners in ministerial/pastoral work by inserting this extra material. While this is only one example, there are frequent interpolations of the text which, in my view, should be left out as they are not derived from the original material.
Overall, I think The Voice™ New Testament is an interesting new addition to bible translations. But, as with all translations, there are advantages and disadvantages. None are perfect. The more translations a Bible student uses the better as comparison helps to maintain some objectivity about what is certain and what is not in any one translation. So, it is a worthy addition to one's library and provides yet another perspective and enrichment of the biblical material and its meaning.
Buy the The Voice New Testament: Revised & Updated'.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com ; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
January 25, 2012
“The Voice™ is a faithful dynamic equivalent translation that reads like a story with all the truth and wisdom of God's Word. Through compelling narratives, poetry, and teaching, The Voice invites readers to enter into the whole story of God with their heart, soul, and mind, enabling them to hear God speaking and to experience His presence in their lives. Through a collaboration of more than 120 biblical scholars, pastors, writers, musicians, poets, and artists, The Voice recaptures the passion, grit, humor, and beauty that is often lost in the translation process. The result is a retelling of the story of the Bible in a form as fluid as modern literary works, yet remaining painstakingly true to the original manuscripts.
Features include:
• Italicized information added to help contemporary readers understand what the original readers would have known intuitively
• In-text commentary notes include cultural, historical, theological, or devotional thoughts
• Screenplay format, ideal for public readings and group studies
• Book introductions”
(Book Description taken from Amazon.com)
I am always a little tentative when I review another “version, translation” of the Bible. There are so many varying translations out there and I have copies of a good many of them. Some of the translations are exemplary; others are not, so when I was asked to review the Voice NT I did so with some trepidation.
Luckily the Voice NT is one of the good ones!!
Granted I can only base my initial review on the New Testament version of this Bible translation but am already looking forward to receiving the full version of the Voice when it is released later in the year.
I really liked the layout of the Voice NT. There are several suggested daily reading plans celebrating Advent, Lent, Easter, Personal Growth and a great guide to read through the New Testament in 24 weeks. I also appreciated the Topical Guide found at the end of the Voice as well as a detailed explanation of the Titles of Jesus. There was great notation throughout the book, commentaries that gave historical and theological insight into the scripture passage.
I also quite liked how the Voice NT accentuated the speakers or individuals in scripture by highlighting the names boldly. For example Acts 5:12 vs. 20 reads: Messenger of the Lord: “Go the temple…”, vs.23 Temple Police: “The prison was secure…”, vs. 25 Temple Messenger: “You know those men…”, vs. 28 High Priest: “Didn’t we give you strict orders…”, vs. 29 Peter and the Apostles: “If we have to choose between obedience to God…”, vs. 35 Gamaliel: “Fellow Jews…”
I found this way of blocking off and highlighting the speakers to be a helpful, distinctive and decidedly different approach to focus on the individual voices in the scripture passage.
The translation itself is very readable in contemporary language. For those of us who have memorized John 3:16,17 from the King James version or the NIV the Voice’s translation will appear very different but still as impacting: “For God expressed His love for the world this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. Here’s the point, God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction.”
If I have a negative, it is the fact that the copy of the Voice I was asked to review is only the New Testament. I am not a fan of Bibles that do not have both the Old and New Testaments included in them. That is a personal bias. That said, I understand that the “full” version of the Voice will be released in March so I am looking forward to adding more to this review when I have seen the entire translation.
Overall, I recommend picking up the Voice for individual and group study opportunities.
(New Testament has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson)
Features include:
• Italicized information added to help contemporary readers understand what the original readers would have known intuitively
• In-text commentary notes include cultural, historical, theological, or devotional thoughts
• Screenplay format, ideal for public readings and group studies
• Book introductions”
(Book Description taken from Amazon.com)
I am always a little tentative when I review another “version, translation” of the Bible. There are so many varying translations out there and I have copies of a good many of them. Some of the translations are exemplary; others are not, so when I was asked to review the Voice NT I did so with some trepidation.
Luckily the Voice NT is one of the good ones!!
Granted I can only base my initial review on the New Testament version of this Bible translation but am already looking forward to receiving the full version of the Voice when it is released later in the year.
I really liked the layout of the Voice NT. There are several suggested daily reading plans celebrating Advent, Lent, Easter, Personal Growth and a great guide to read through the New Testament in 24 weeks. I also appreciated the Topical Guide found at the end of the Voice as well as a detailed explanation of the Titles of Jesus. There was great notation throughout the book, commentaries that gave historical and theological insight into the scripture passage.
I also quite liked how the Voice NT accentuated the speakers or individuals in scripture by highlighting the names boldly. For example Acts 5:12 vs. 20 reads: Messenger of the Lord: “Go the temple…”, vs.23 Temple Police: “The prison was secure…”, vs. 25 Temple Messenger: “You know those men…”, vs. 28 High Priest: “Didn’t we give you strict orders…”, vs. 29 Peter and the Apostles: “If we have to choose between obedience to God…”, vs. 35 Gamaliel: “Fellow Jews…”
I found this way of blocking off and highlighting the speakers to be a helpful, distinctive and decidedly different approach to focus on the individual voices in the scripture passage.
The translation itself is very readable in contemporary language. For those of us who have memorized John 3:16,17 from the King James version or the NIV the Voice’s translation will appear very different but still as impacting: “For God expressed His love for the world this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. Here’s the point, God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction.”
If I have a negative, it is the fact that the copy of the Voice I was asked to review is only the New Testament. I am not a fan of Bibles that do not have both the Old and New Testaments included in them. That is a personal bias. That said, I understand that the “full” version of the Voice will be released in March so I am looking forward to adding more to this review when I have seen the entire translation.
Overall, I recommend picking up the Voice for individual and group study opportunities.
(New Testament has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson)
April 9, 2012
Thomas Nelson hopes for a redo with the Voice New Testament: Revised and Updated.
The Voice New Testament
Revised and Updated
Thomas Nelson
November 2011
A lot has happened since I last read and reviewed the Voice New Testament. When reviewing a Bible I take a book and base the review off that book. Since there are some key passages under attack from liberal theologians I tend to focus on those books that have the most passages under fire. For instance, I check Romans 1:26-31, in which Paul lists out sins including the most blatant condemnation against homosexuality. Take the NIV:
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
And the Voice:
This is why God released them to their own vile pursuits, and this is what happened: they chose sexual counterfeits—women had sexual relations with other women and men committed unnatural, shameful acts because they burned with lust for other men. This sin was rife, and they suffered painful consequences.
Clearly, the Voice doesn’t dodge the hard stuff. But in the past versions, it did pervert some verses causing clear theological bias to pass for scripture. Unlike most Bibles, the Voice adds the context and comments into the actual text of the Bible, identified only by italics. This can make it very hard to tell when the Voice is speaking sacred Scripture or biased theology. Consider this massacre of the Biblical text:
Though the Voice utters only truth, His own people, who have heard the Voice before, rebuff this inner calling and refuse to listen. (John 1:11)
Note that the italics are when the Voice adds commentary to help readers understand the context of the passage. Notice also that the original Greek doesn’t say anything like the bold section, yet it was not italicized. The actual verse says:
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (NIV)
The new version of the Voice removes the inserted bold statement and pulls back on the editorializing, leaving a normal and orthodox translation:
Even though He came to His own people, they refused to listen and receive Him.
The good news is that the Voice is taking care to respond to the criticism surrounding the first release. The bad news is that there really isn’t much distinctive about this version. With so many other new versions, what makes this one special? The Common English Bible is great for clear translation. The [Expanded] Bible is great for study.
Now that the Voice is focused on fixing some of the issues from the original version it is an acceptable version to read. But with so many other versions out there, many easier to read and more scholarly, like the New Living Translation, there really isn’t much reason to pick it up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published at BookGateway.com. This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
The Voice New Testament
Revised and Updated
Thomas Nelson
November 2011
A lot has happened since I last read and reviewed the Voice New Testament. When reviewing a Bible I take a book and base the review off that book. Since there are some key passages under attack from liberal theologians I tend to focus on those books that have the most passages under fire. For instance, I check Romans 1:26-31, in which Paul lists out sins including the most blatant condemnation against homosexuality. Take the NIV:
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
And the Voice:
This is why God released them to their own vile pursuits, and this is what happened: they chose sexual counterfeits—women had sexual relations with other women and men committed unnatural, shameful acts because they burned with lust for other men. This sin was rife, and they suffered painful consequences.
Clearly, the Voice doesn’t dodge the hard stuff. But in the past versions, it did pervert some verses causing clear theological bias to pass for scripture. Unlike most Bibles, the Voice adds the context and comments into the actual text of the Bible, identified only by italics. This can make it very hard to tell when the Voice is speaking sacred Scripture or biased theology. Consider this massacre of the Biblical text:
Though the Voice utters only truth, His own people, who have heard the Voice before, rebuff this inner calling and refuse to listen. (John 1:11)
Note that the italics are when the Voice adds commentary to help readers understand the context of the passage. Notice also that the original Greek doesn’t say anything like the bold section, yet it was not italicized. The actual verse says:
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (NIV)
The new version of the Voice removes the inserted bold statement and pulls back on the editorializing, leaving a normal and orthodox translation:
Even though He came to His own people, they refused to listen and receive Him.
The good news is that the Voice is taking care to respond to the criticism surrounding the first release. The bad news is that there really isn’t much distinctive about this version. With so many other new versions, what makes this one special? The Common English Bible is great for clear translation. The [Expanded] Bible is great for study.
Now that the Voice is focused on fixing some of the issues from the original version it is an acceptable version to read. But with so many other versions out there, many easier to read and more scholarly, like the New Living Translation, there really isn’t much reason to pick it up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published at BookGateway.com. This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
November 29, 2012
This is probably best described as a devotional New Testament put together by proponents of the Emergent Church. Very much like The Message, the translation is dynamic and original with much of the text laid out in playwright format or prose. This Bible also has quite a bit of commentary thrown in here and there to explain or add to some of the more difficult sections, as well as quite a bit of commentary included right in the text of the scripture as an aid or amplification of what the editor’s felt the passage was attempting to convey.
In order to produce a fair review I decided to abandon my tried and true NKJV Women’s Study Bible (which I love…) for a full week and do my morning and evening readings using only The Voice so that I could really get a feel for it.
I really enjoyed reading from the Voice. It was a captivating narrative and made some of the passages come alive in new and interesting ways. It was easy to get into and when I went through some of the sections that I was worried about how the editors would interpret (i.e. mangle) them, I was usually pleasantly surprised to see that they had usually been quite true to the script – much more so than the Message, which is awesome (I also enjoy the Message, don’t get me wrong, but it has serious shortcomings).
However, I was very disappointed with some of the commentary added to the text. In many places the editors have interpreted very controversial passages in one way without even acknowledging that there are other valid interpretations. For instance, their commentary on Revelations 7 states categorically that the 144,000 Israelites refers to all mankind. Case closed. Okay, I can see where they’re coming from and I think that’s a supportable premise, but there are other equally strong theories on this passage yet The Voice makes no allusion to this. Pompous and somewhat misleading if you ask me.
That reservation aside, however, I really enjoyed reading with the Voice during my week. I was able to get through most of the Gospels and several letters and I really enjoyed how they made the voice (in the letters especially) come alive for the reader. Interestingly enough, during a recent plane trip I was reading from The Voice and my seat-neighbour noticed and asked me what it was. When I told her she was so intrigued that she took a picture of the book with her iPhone so that she could go home and order one. So it’s a great evangelistic tool! I’m looking forward to passing this Bible on to a friend, who is an unbeliever and I think would benefit from a Bible that she is more likely to actually read.
February 27, 2013
Yet another modernized translation of the Bible? That was my immediate reaction prior to actually receiving it in the mail and perusing its contents. To be quite frank, I was somewhat concerned as to the approach of the contributors to this latest translation given individuals such as Brian McLaren of the Emerging Church Movement provided input. Given the propensity of that movement to "dumb down" if you will aspects of the biblical message, I was concerned as to how far this new translation would go in "retelling" the New Testament message.
Approachable translations such as the Message Bible and the Living Bible certainly have their usefulness. While they are certainly not word for word translations from the original biblical languages, the text of the aforementioned translations nevertheless is presented in such a manner so as to allow the more novice believer to interact with Scripture without all of the "thees" and "thous" of the King James Version. Even with their more modern linguistic approach, the text of the Message and Living Bibles does not stray too far from the biblical author's original intended meaning. After looking through the Voice New Testament, I can appreciate the approach taken by the contributors. Especially helpful for someone who is new to reading scripture is the almost play-like annotation of who is speaking. Additionally, the commentary and footnotes scattered throughout the text are also helpful to the reader.
Ultimately, the Voice New Testament serves a purpose, namely that of providing an accessible version of the New Testament to more novice readers of Scripture. For those seeking a more in-depth understanding of the text, it would of course be recommended they pursue a version such as the NIV, ESV, or NKVJ to name a few. Furthermore, those who truly desire even more insight into what Scripture is stating should pursue a thorough study of the original languages. Perhaps the Voice New Testament will be yet another option for new believers to begin their study of Scripture. I would heartily endorse this version for that purpose although I would quickly recommend new believers "graduate" from this entry level version to something more substantial in order to further their growth and understanding of Scripture.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Approachable translations such as the Message Bible and the Living Bible certainly have their usefulness. While they are certainly not word for word translations from the original biblical languages, the text of the aforementioned translations nevertheless is presented in such a manner so as to allow the more novice believer to interact with Scripture without all of the "thees" and "thous" of the King James Version. Even with their more modern linguistic approach, the text of the Message and Living Bibles does not stray too far from the biblical author's original intended meaning. After looking through the Voice New Testament, I can appreciate the approach taken by the contributors. Especially helpful for someone who is new to reading scripture is the almost play-like annotation of who is speaking. Additionally, the commentary and footnotes scattered throughout the text are also helpful to the reader.
Ultimately, the Voice New Testament serves a purpose, namely that of providing an accessible version of the New Testament to more novice readers of Scripture. For those seeking a more in-depth understanding of the text, it would of course be recommended they pursue a version such as the NIV, ESV, or NKVJ to name a few. Furthermore, those who truly desire even more insight into what Scripture is stating should pursue a thorough study of the original languages. Perhaps the Voice New Testament will be yet another option for new believers to begin their study of Scripture. I would heartily endorse this version for that purpose although I would quickly recommend new believers "graduate" from this entry level version to something more substantial in order to further their growth and understanding of Scripture.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
February 13, 2012
Are you a new Christian ? Just starting out ? It's quite surprising really as many New Christians rather than buy a full bible tend to stick with discovering the New Testament first. With The Voice , a new and revised version with contributions throughout the Voice from your favourite and inspirational male christians like David Morgan, Joseph Dodson and Jack Wisdom. The Voice contains all 23 books of the New Testament from Matthew, Mark ,Luke and John right to Revelations. For those who are wanting to study the bible in a different context and at their own pace, The Voice contains a series of Different bible daily reading patterns which include Readings to celebrate Advent (lead up to Christmas) , Readings for Lent and Easter (round the rising of Jesus) , Read the New Testament in 24weeks and Daily readings for your own personal growth. Throughout "The Voice" also contains references to the verses and explanations e.g When Jesus fed the 5000 with only 5 loaves of bread ." The point, of course, is not that Jesus couldn’t have turned these stones to bread. A little later in the story He can make food appear when He needs to. But Jesus doesn’t work miracles out of the blue, for no reason, for show or proof or spectacle. He works them in intimate, close places; He works them to meet people’s needs and to show them the way to the Kingdom."
The VoiceTM Bible translation is a faithful dynamic translation of the Scriptures done as a collage of compelling narratives, poetry, song, truth, and wisdom. The Voice calls the reader to step into the whole story of Scripture and experience the joy and wonder of God's revelation. Created for and by a church in great transition, The Voice uniquely represents collaboration among scholars, pastors, writers, musicians, poets, and other artists, giving great attention to the beauty of the narrative. The heart of The Voice is retelling the story of the Bible in a form as fluid as modern literary works yet remaining painstakingly true to the original manuscripts. This translation promotes the public reading of longer sections of Scripture-followed by thoughtful engagement with the biblical narrative in its richness and fullness and dramatic flow.
The VoiceTM Bible translation is a faithful dynamic translation of the Scriptures done as a collage of compelling narratives, poetry, song, truth, and wisdom. The Voice calls the reader to step into the whole story of Scripture and experience the joy and wonder of God's revelation. Created for and by a church in great transition, The Voice uniquely represents collaboration among scholars, pastors, writers, musicians, poets, and other artists, giving great attention to the beauty of the narrative. The heart of The Voice is retelling the story of the Bible in a form as fluid as modern literary works yet remaining painstakingly true to the original manuscripts. This translation promotes the public reading of longer sections of Scripture-followed by thoughtful engagement with the biblical narrative in its richness and fullness and dramatic flow.
May 18, 2010
The Voice is a unique version of the New Testament. This Bible’s format is similar to a screenplay‘s. This is to enhance the beauty and story of scripture. It’s a narrative intended to provoke emotion and understanding in the reader that often gets lost in the translation process.
Thomas Nelson Publishers and the Ecclesia Bible Society joined together to create this Bible. A team of writers, scholars, poets, and storytellers have embraced the way a new generation processes ideas and information and used it to create The Voice. They argue that people today are more apt to interact with events and characters through observations involving emotions, tangible experiences, cognition, and spiritual sensitivity. They used that knowledge to create “a fresh expression of a timeless narrative.”
A few things that I especially liked about The Voice (besides it’s screenplay format and easy readability) included outline boxes which were scattered throughout to expand on the text, similar to Bible notes in a study Bible. This gives the reader background knowledge and cultural significance of what was happening in the text. They also used italic type to indicate words not directly tied the original language in order to remain faithful and as objective as possible.
This was a very creative and interesting Bible. I would strongly recommend it for casual reading or as a companion to a more traditional translation. I agree that The Voice brings about more emotion, understanding, and thinking than a tradition text. It reminded me of The Message in some ways. However, I would consider it an accompaniment and not be used solely for intense Bible study. I plan to use it as a nightstand reading tool to greater increase my love of scripture and ultimately, my love of the Lord.
This post was possible because I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing. The opinions are my own. I was not paid for reviewing this book for them.
Thomas Nelson Publishers and the Ecclesia Bible Society joined together to create this Bible. A team of writers, scholars, poets, and storytellers have embraced the way a new generation processes ideas and information and used it to create The Voice. They argue that people today are more apt to interact with events and characters through observations involving emotions, tangible experiences, cognition, and spiritual sensitivity. They used that knowledge to create “a fresh expression of a timeless narrative.”
A few things that I especially liked about The Voice (besides it’s screenplay format and easy readability) included outline boxes which were scattered throughout to expand on the text, similar to Bible notes in a study Bible. This gives the reader background knowledge and cultural significance of what was happening in the text. They also used italic type to indicate words not directly tied the original language in order to remain faithful and as objective as possible.
This was a very creative and interesting Bible. I would strongly recommend it for casual reading or as a companion to a more traditional translation. I agree that The Voice brings about more emotion, understanding, and thinking than a tradition text. It reminded me of The Message in some ways. However, I would consider it an accompaniment and not be used solely for intense Bible study. I plan to use it as a nightstand reading tool to greater increase my love of scripture and ultimately, my love of the Lord.
This post was possible because I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing. The opinions are my own. I was not paid for reviewing this book for them.
November 4, 2011
Not since The Message has a translation of the Bible flowed so freely in the English language. Since translators focused on that attribute, I would say they succeeded in reaching their goal. Another thing that the editors got right was the level and tone of extra information. Rather than scholarly footnotes, The Voice New Testament contains breaks in the columns of scripture with clarifying information written in a conversational tone. (The Preface is helpful in understanding the layout and unique formatting.)
Not so successful was the softbound version that I received for review. The font size is so small that reading it in public, which is one of the purposes for this translation, would be stressful. I’m also a little wary of reading passages in public that use the screenplay format to convey who is speaking.
Extra features in The Voice are especially well done. The book contains several reading plans for readers willing to make different levels of commitment. The introduction to the New Testament is a wonderful section that focuses on our covenant-keeping God. The book also has a small topical guide to the notes at the back that will be useful.
I think this translation may prove valuable in introducing Christians to scriptures written in less formal English. The conversational style, however, will probably find some resistance in those Christians who grew up reading one of the more formal translations. (Remember, when the Bible was translated from Latin to ordinary European languages, some of the translators were burned at the stake…)
(Thank you, Thomas Nelson, for providing a free copy for this review.)
Not so successful was the softbound version that I received for review. The font size is so small that reading it in public, which is one of the purposes for this translation, would be stressful. I’m also a little wary of reading passages in public that use the screenplay format to convey who is speaking.
Extra features in The Voice are especially well done. The book contains several reading plans for readers willing to make different levels of commitment. The introduction to the New Testament is a wonderful section that focuses on our covenant-keeping God. The book also has a small topical guide to the notes at the back that will be useful.
I think this translation may prove valuable in introducing Christians to scriptures written in less formal English. The conversational style, however, will probably find some resistance in those Christians who grew up reading one of the more formal translations. (Remember, when the Bible was translated from Latin to ordinary European languages, some of the translators were burned at the stake…)
(Thank you, Thomas Nelson, for providing a free copy for this review.)
March 9, 2012
Before I write anything I must admit that I am addicted to bibles. I love reading different translations and comparing them with my trusty old New King James. At last count I have at least 10 bibles (hard covers) different translations of course and about three translations on my Kindle and four on my computer. So when I had the opportunity to read a new bible translation I eagerly grabbed it.
Thomas Nelson’s newest bible is called “The Voice” and it is great! After reading the in Preface and viewing a few of the other books I dived into the book of Hebrews. I chose Hebrews because I am currently taking a class on the book of Hebrews and I wanted to know how it would compare not only to what I have read but what my instructor was teaching. This is an excellent translation, it is understandable, it does not take away from the majesty of the King James version and it flows nicely. The comments found were not so complex that if this was your first time reading the bible it would not be over bearing.
Because I received the New Testament translation, the complete book has an expected release date of April 2012, I could not check out Proverbs or any of the Psalms however I looked at my favorite verse Matthew 6:33 and John 1:1-4. What I think The Voice does for the word of God is amplifies His message. In a few months I will have 11 bibles.
I recommend The Voice not only to new believers but those who love the word of God.
I received a complimentary copy of The Voice from Book Sneeze in exchange for an honest review.
Thomas Nelson’s newest bible is called “The Voice” and it is great! After reading the in Preface and viewing a few of the other books I dived into the book of Hebrews. I chose Hebrews because I am currently taking a class on the book of Hebrews and I wanted to know how it would compare not only to what I have read but what my instructor was teaching. This is an excellent translation, it is understandable, it does not take away from the majesty of the King James version and it flows nicely. The comments found were not so complex that if this was your first time reading the bible it would not be over bearing.
Because I received the New Testament translation, the complete book has an expected release date of April 2012, I could not check out Proverbs or any of the Psalms however I looked at my favorite verse Matthew 6:33 and John 1:1-4. What I think The Voice does for the word of God is amplifies His message. In a few months I will have 11 bibles.
I recommend The Voice not only to new believers but those who love the word of God.
I received a complimentary copy of The Voice from Book Sneeze in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2011
Reading The Voice New Testament has been almost like reading the Bible with fresh eyes. In some ways it reminds me of reading a screenplay, since it clarifies who is speaking. The language has a vitality to it that is absent in some of the stricter translations, and truly brings Scripture to life. One of the highlights for me was a feature that is inserted into the text that would explain the significance of the words or events. I found it to be a very valuable asset, and it really helped me to understand what was happening and why it was important.
I also showed this to friend who has read a Bible once and thinks there is no reason to read it again. He was also impressed and has indicated that he may want to read this version. Frankly, I think it is perfect for anyone who is a new believer or one who is simply unaware of the culture and history of the people and events of the Bible. However, it is also very good for those who think they know all about the Bible. I know that I want to get a copy of the entire Bible when The Voice Bible is released in 2012. I can't wait to read the stories in Old Testament!
As an added bonus for people like me: all personal pronouns which refer to God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit are capitalized!! :) That is just a pet peeve of mine.
I also showed this to friend who has read a Bible once and thinks there is no reason to read it again. He was also impressed and has indicated that he may want to read this version. Frankly, I think it is perfect for anyone who is a new believer or one who is simply unaware of the culture and history of the people and events of the Bible. However, it is also very good for those who think they know all about the Bible. I know that I want to get a copy of the entire Bible when The Voice Bible is released in 2012. I can't wait to read the stories in Old Testament!
As an added bonus for people like me: all personal pronouns which refer to God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit are capitalized!! :) That is just a pet peeve of mine.
April 5, 2010
The Voice New Testament Book Review
As soon as I received my copy of The Voice, I was presently surprised. I knew I was going to be reviewing a Bible but I wasn’t deterred. The Voice is not only a new translation and format, but is beautifully written in such a way that is easy to read.
The Voice is very much a devotional Bible. Some translations are not only hard to read but the wording is just down right full of The’s and Thou’s.
Here are a few things I love about The Voice:
• Italic Types – This is where Italics identify words not directly to a dynamic translation of its original translation. I like this because it gives info on what is happening when it is writing. Whether it is the fact that Matthew is talking to the Jews or that Paul was speaking to specific people. It all flows together to help the reader understand the purpose and meaning of the Scriptures.
• Screenplay format shows clearly who is speaking. I have never seen this done before and I really enjoyed it.
I absolutely believe that this will become my new Devotional Bible. Since I’ve had it, I have gone to it on multiple occasions. This is worth buying!
As soon as I received my copy of The Voice, I was presently surprised. I knew I was going to be reviewing a Bible but I wasn’t deterred. The Voice is not only a new translation and format, but is beautifully written in such a way that is easy to read.
The Voice is very much a devotional Bible. Some translations are not only hard to read but the wording is just down right full of The’s and Thou’s.
Here are a few things I love about The Voice:
• Italic Types – This is where Italics identify words not directly to a dynamic translation of its original translation. I like this because it gives info on what is happening when it is writing. Whether it is the fact that Matthew is talking to the Jews or that Paul was speaking to specific people. It all flows together to help the reader understand the purpose and meaning of the Scriptures.
• Screenplay format shows clearly who is speaking. I have never seen this done before and I really enjoyed it.
I absolutely believe that this will become my new Devotional Bible. Since I’ve had it, I have gone to it on multiple occasions. This is worth buying!
February 18, 2012
I was very excited to be able to read “The Voice Bible” on my Kindle. I ran into all sorts of problems in trying to do so.
1. The introduction was almost too wordy with explanations.
2. The format of the book didn’t translate to Kindle format at all. Verses were interspersed with other verses (17, 18, 19, 31, 32, 33, 34, 20, etc), the notes broke up the reading format. It was all very confusing and I had to give up in trying to read it because every book was the same way.
3. Seems like it might be a good book for a Bible beginner because it explains things hat people who read the Bible take for granted.
4. You can’t navigate by book or chapter with the Kindle so I was stuck going page by page to get anywhere.
5. There were good introductions to each book.
6. In the speaking format, God is called “Voice”. I think God should be called God.
This might be a good book to read in book format, but in Kindle format, not so much. I would have liked to investigate it more, but I was unable to due to the problems I mentioned.
1. The introduction was almost too wordy with explanations.
2. The format of the book didn’t translate to Kindle format at all. Verses were interspersed with other verses (17, 18, 19, 31, 32, 33, 34, 20, etc), the notes broke up the reading format. It was all very confusing and I had to give up in trying to read it because every book was the same way.
3. Seems like it might be a good book for a Bible beginner because it explains things hat people who read the Bible take for granted.
4. You can’t navigate by book or chapter with the Kindle so I was stuck going page by page to get anywhere.
5. There were good introductions to each book.
6. In the speaking format, God is called “Voice”. I think God should be called God.
This might be a good book to read in book format, but in Kindle format, not so much. I would have liked to investigate it more, but I was unable to due to the problems I mentioned.
October 5, 2014
I loved reading this translation! I took my time about it, but it was enjoyable every step of the way. I've read through the Bible before in several more standard translations and honestly it started getting dull after a while (some parts of it anyway). This translation made it all seem to come alive much more vividly all over again and almost none of it was dull. I most appreciate the way they translate all the words instead of leaving in the more typical religious terminology, and I love that Christ is translated as "Liberating King", as he would've been expected to be by most people at that time. Anyway, I'd definitely recommend this translation above all others for any English speakers and I'm looking forward to reading through the OT in the Voice translation as well.
April 5, 2012
Want a totally new experience with the bible??? Well here it is. This would be excellent for use in the Sunday School classroom or home school room, especially when teaching the parables. Students of the Word are invited to step into the bible story and act it out. This is a unique approach to presenting the Word in that it is set up almost like a play with a narrator and actors.
I would recommend this highly for a change in pace and to make the scriptures interactive for students.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson for this review copy.
I would recommend this highly for a change in pace and to make the scriptures interactive for students.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson for this review copy.
July 12, 2014
This was an interesting version of the New Testament as it was written more in a story format. Dialogues were separated out and idicated with who was speaking which made it clearer to read. There was commentary along the way that helped with understanding. There was also an introduction before each book that helped set the scenario or insight into the biography of the writer. I enjoyed reading this version.
November 2, 2014
Interesting to read but I wouldn't use it as a study Bible.
Passages I want to compare to another translation...
Matthew 6:2
Matthew 17:22
Mark 7 - the note on all foods being clean
Mark 10:21
Mark 15:42
Romans 2:26-27
1/10/13 - Finished reading Matthew!
1/15/13 - Finished reading Mark!
1/24/13 - Finished reading Luke!
Forgot to record John - estimated finish 1/31
2/21/13 - Finished Acts
Passages I want to compare to another translation...
Matthew 6:2
Matthew 17:22
Mark 7 - the note on all foods being clean
Mark 10:21
Mark 15:42
Romans 2:26-27
1/10/13 - Finished reading Matthew!
1/15/13 - Finished reading Mark!
1/24/13 - Finished reading Luke!
Forgot to record John - estimated finish 1/31
2/21/13 - Finished Acts
February 11, 2012
I really liked this different translation. It includes some different wording (i.e. instead of Jesus Christ, we see "Liberating King") as well as commentary included right within the main text (as opposed to footnotes). It was easy to read. I enjoyed it!
April 14, 2009
This book should not have NCV in its title, as it is NOT the New Century Version. It's a new translation, that uses a different methodology from that used by the translators of the NCV. Not the best translation I've seen, but it does have some merits.
October 16, 2013
I loved the translation and the overall format of this New Testament. It made reading all of these books new and fresh to me, which means I got new insights out of it. I'd recommend this to any newcomer to the faith or person who grew up in the Church alike.
June 11, 2009
You can see my review here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Ohio...
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