This is essentially the Good News Translation (Today’s English Version)

In our house, we have numerous versions and translations of both Old and New Testaments as well as the Bible in whole—everything from Greek to German, King James to Living Bible to New Revised Standard. We even have it as an audiobook. And this is yet again a new and intriguing update.

For many years, the only people with access to God’s word were priests. Ever since Gutenberg (and yes I also viewed the Gutenberg Bible at The Huntington Library in San Marino, California) printers, churches, historians, and scholars have striven to make the Bible more relevant to the present generation. Even the Celtic priests who created The Book of Kells c. 800 A.D. were essentially illustrating the four gospels with calligraphy and images to illuminate or shed light on the text.

What I Liked

As it is still at its core, the New Testament, I have little to quarrel with as to the text. This version is augmented by the addition of photographs and artwork that the publisher must feel adds insight to these words. It is a text to be read like a novel or magazine with 3-4 columns for most pages and many pages of text being augmented with artwork on the opposite page. Headings like “The Temptation of Christ” and “Salt and Light” replace chapter and verse numbering, as the publisher boils down the essence of each section for the reader who wishes to skim through looking for something of interest to read.

What I Didn’t Like

I often wonder about the motivation of a publisher when a new version of The Bible comes out, and am still puzzling over this one. I find it frustrating that the pages often have “pull quotes” where a block of text is in a larger font, centered on the page, with white space around it. That text is then lettered in red so it can be found in context. I argue with this practice for two reasons. First, by selecting a passage to pull quote, the publisher is elevating that text over the rest, which could indicate to readers that it is more important or special than the rest. Second, in traditional Bibles, red letters indicate words that are believed to actually have been spoken by Jesus. This adds confusion by lettering text in red that cannot be attributed to Christ.

As with the highlighted text, so also with the photographs included of various people, places and events, the publisher draws the reader to make conclusions that they might not have made (for better or worse) on their own. Some of the photos are particularly graphic in displaying scenes that are inappropriate in my opinion for children and teens, which would keep me from sharing this version with them until they are older and able to understand the context. I realize that the Bible is filled with stories that are violent or sexual, but it is easier for children to learn about them as they learn to read whereas pictures are difficult to shy away from.

The size of this version is roughly equivalent to my Martha Stewart Living or Vanity Fair magazines (about an inch narrower), glossy paper (that can’t be easily written on), flimsy magazine style cover, very small font. It has a very “casual” feeling to it. I can’t really use it as a study bible without the chapter/verse numbering so that I can find what I’m looking for or the ability make notes because of the slick paper, the cover on my copy is already curled and bent, it slides around on my pile of mags as if it fits in. But it shouldn’t. These are Holy Scriptures. Can you imagine a Koran or Torah printed like a magazine? Okay, probably just a case of judging a book by its cover, but this version just doesn’t appeal to me. I find myself flipping through it looking at the pictures and noticing only the pull quotes. Because of the page size, it is physically difficult for me to hold and because of the font size, it is difficult to read unless I gold it close. I wonder who the publishers are attempting to reach.

Final Recommendation

I always welcome a fresh take on God’s word and look forward to the insights that I’ll pick up from seeing the words in a new light. Just be careful not to allow the publisher’s slant expressed in highlights and artwork to unduly influence what you know to be true.