The Gospel of Jesus

by Daniel L. Johnson (Editor)

America's favorite storyteller reads the world's greatest story. Garrison Keillor and Dan Johnson both grew up in the bosom of fundamentalism. Their shared love of the Bible and its stories led to this collaboration, which blends details from all the gospels into a single book-length story. Keillor narrates the biography of this amazing man, Jesus, from the slum of Nazareth in the province of Galilee, who confounded dignitaries, healed the sick, and taught those who would listen. He claimed to be God, and that through his death God would graciously forgive the offenses of all who accept this. His story is the foundation from which Christianity has developed, stumbled, and evolved. Centuries ago, early Christians listened as the Bible was read to them. This new recording continues that tradition with a conversational translation performed by America's favorite storyteller.

Genres: Audiobook, Christian, Nonfiction

480 pages, Audio CD

First published March 16, 2006

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blending of the four gospels into one single narrative by a Garrison Keillor and Dan Johnson and then read by Keillor in his own, unique voice and style. If you're looking for a new way to approach reading or experiencing the greatest story ever told, this is one great way to do it. Keillor's delivery is superb (as always) and hearing Jesus' life and events put into a chronological order is fascinating and fun.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook falls in the easy listening category. It’s a compilation of the 4 gospels (New Living Translation) put into chronological order and harmonized to some extent. Besides a few quibbles with some of the translations, I liked the result. Even though your mind does wander at times, this book will help you stay close to Jesus and his teachings.

[Lowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like books that don't take the Bible as exact and literal. This book give a more accurate understanding of what was God's intent was in his word.

[Carôle Ceres · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an Audiobook, read by one of the authors. It’s actually how you’d wish for the life of Jesus Christ to be presented. If this were the first way that you got to hear the Good News, it would be the best way and would encourage you to read the individual Gospels and then move onto the Acts of the Apostles.

The narrator, Garrison Keillor, has been praised for his narration by many reviewers. I had not heard of him prior to this. I agree though, that he read the account in a very effective way, in that, he didn’t apply ANY Drama to it! It wasn’t a dry, monotonous presentation, yet also it wasn’t dramatic either! No high exclamations or low somber dirges, yet not quite conversational... I’m struggling to classify it - all I can say is that, it was very well presented!

This is a book that I will revisit many times - in fact, I’d read it twice before posting this review. If anyone is even remotely interested in learning about the life of Jesus, the Christ, this is the perfect place to get an introduction.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed listening to this on my daily commute. Not surprisingly given its oral background, the Gospels really comes to life in this audio format. Garrison Kealor's famous voice works well also. You get the sense both of the narrative arc and the itinerarnt nature of Jesus' life and message. The parables, his clash with the religious rulers, his calling of and teaching of the disciples, and his explanation of what happen as the story comes to a climax will be familiar if you have grown up reading the Bible. But they also can sound fresh and be heard within their context as Daniel Johnson has structured this unified version. One could quibble with the translation but it didn't detract from my enjoyment in any serious way. An enjoyable way to either hear the Gospels for the first time or reacquaint yourself with their power.

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prefect audio book to sit and listen to before Easter during a dark snowy first day of spring.

[Mt. Lebanon Public Library]

Elizabeth K.'s Pick
Audiobook version read by Garrison Keillor

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't care much for the guy reading the book. He was very monotone and a bit boring.