The Voice Bible

[childofdust]

I recently received a free copy of The Voice Bible. And I have to say, this is one of the most unique versions I think I've ever read. It's not the kind of bible I usually read because it is extremely interpretive. Kind of like The Message, except better scholarship and more noble renderings. Kind of like the NIV except more creative and artistic. A delightful read. Probably the ideal bible for devotions. Definitely not suitable for in-depth study.

Have you been reading/using The Voice Bible? What are your thoughts?

 

[ebia]

I recently received a free copy of The Voice Bible. And I have to say, this is one of the most unique versions I think I've ever read. It's not the kind of bible I usually read because it is extremely interpretive. Kind of like The Message, except better scholarship and more noble renderings. Kind of like the NIV except more creative and artistic. A delightful read. Probably the ideal bible for devotions. Definitely not suitable for in-depth study.

Have you been reading/using The Voice Bible? What are your thoughts?

I haven't looked at the Voice, but there's nothing wrong with the scholarship behind the Message and "noble" rendering isn't a good thing. Eugene Peterson had in mind Tyndale and the desire to capture the down to earth language of New Testament Greek in a way a metaphorical plough boy could grasp. IMO that's a good thing and artificially aiming at high literature is not.

 

[americanvet]

My wife uses the Voice as her devotional Bible. She seems to enjoy it.

 

[ebia]

From the blurb on the website:

One of the byproducts of the information age in the church has been its focus on biblical knowledge. Many Bibles reflect this, packed with informative notes, charts, and graphs. While there's nothing wrong with having a deep knowledge; a personal connection and deep relationship are far better. This is exemplified by Jesus' comment to Martha, "Oh Martha, Martha, you are so ... concerned about a million details, but really, only one thing matters. Mary has chosen that one thing, and I won't take it away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 The Voice) The "one thing" is a deeper, personal relationship with God.

Oh dear! Talk about reading into a text.

Mary is sitting in the position of a trainee rabbi to Jesus, not an adoring muppet; that's why Martha is shocked and wants her out of there.

 

[L0NEW0LF]

I have read that this translation takes the words Christ and Angels completely out of the word. That's disgusting.

 

[ebia]

I have read that this translation takes the words Christ and Angels completely out of the word. That's disgusting.

Depends on what they use in place. Messiah or King or Annointed in place of Christ perhaps? Messenger instead of Angel?

What's wrong with that? Christ is Messiah translated into Greek. Angel is messenger translated into Latin. Why can't we translate each into English?

Thomas More object to Tyndale translating presbyter as elder instead of priest. Your objections seem similar.

 

[jlmagee]

Depends on what they use in place. Messiah or King or Annointed in place of Christ perhaps? Messenger instead of Angel?

What's wrong with that? Christ is Messiah translated into Greek. Angel is messenger translated into Latin. Why can't we translate each into English?

Thomas More object to Tyndale translating presbyter as elder instead of priest. Your objections seem similar.

They generally use the term "liberating king"for Christ. You are probably right in that of it self is no big deal just something to get use to. I took a class in which it was one of the three texts we had to use. As far as study, it was very hard to use seriously due to structure and word usage. Admittedly, I have a problem with the committee which would significantly skew my opinion. I still use it at times for reading and comparison.

 

[ebia]

If it shocks us to use a different word it's probably as sign that we need to be shocked and reminded of the meaning of the word stripped of the connotations and baggage it's picked up over the centuries.

 

[jlmagee]

If it shocks us to use a different word it's probably as sign that we need to be shocked and reminded of the meaning of the word stripped of the connotations and baggage it's picked up over the centuries.

I agree with that. The Messsage has challenged and/or enlightened my view on many passages.

 

[juvenissun]

I recently received a free copy of The Voice Bible. And I have to say, this is one of the most unique versions I think I've ever read. It's not the kind of bible I usually read because it is extremely interpretive. Kind of like The Message, except better scholarship and more noble renderings. Kind of like the NIV except more creative and artistic. A delightful read. Probably the ideal bible for devotions. Definitely not suitable for in-depth study.

Have you been reading/using The Voice Bible? What are your thoughts?

Why is that?

How do you know the problem will not affect "shallow study" readers?