the voice: new testament | a review

{full disclosure: To comply with federal regulations, I want to state that I received this book in return for my review. I did not receive any other compensation for this review.}

I just recently received a copy of The Voice’s translation of the New Testament. I have read through parts of it already, as they have been releasing single books of the Bible as the translations are completed for a few years now.

I begin by saying it a beautifully designed book, inside and out. They clearly spent much time creating an work of beauty. Though I was rather disappointed in the binding, I have become rather used to and come to expect a Bible to lay open. This binding it rather tight, and I would also worry about its longevity. It is bound more like a trade book than anything else.

If you haven’t heard what “the Voice” translation is, it is a modern paraphrasing, similar to the Message, except they have draw on many different writers. Their main thesis is that originally the scriptures were composed by many different voices of varying style, motive, or background so they have gathered a collection of different people, artists and creative types of various disciplines to write a unique and creative expression of the divine word.

They have attempted to make it as readable as any modern literary work. And it can be said that it fulfills this exceptionally well. Though I’ve enjoyed reading it, I hesitate to call it a real Bible. There are so many additions and variations in the text (any additions being italicized), I would not want it to be mine or anyone’s sole study Bible. Other things like, the word “voice” being included so often, such as John 1:1, is rather suspect; while their use of the term “liberating king” is just annoying.

Though for those times when you are trying to get the forest perspective instead of the trees, it could then be helpful—as a result of its readability. It could be a nice way for someone to read through the Bible, like so many resolution focused plans which crop up this time of year.

Though for a culture which already averages some 4.3 Bibles per family, do you need one more? Probably not, especially when the ones you have are already pretty dusty.