Book Review: "the Voice": New Testament

Have you ever read in the Bible and wondered who was talking or who someone was addressing in their conversation? Most of the time it may seem pretty easy to decipher who is talking, but there are occasions where it isn’t as clear as it could be. A new New Testament Bible recently came out that addresses whose voice is being mentioned in particular texts. The title for this Bible is a natural fit, “the Voice”.



“the Voice” is laid out like a script in a play, displaying who says what and when. This is one of the main reasons for creating this version of the Bible, to make it easy on the reader to understand what voice you are hearing. It doesn’t include anyone for a “narrator” but only mentions names for those who are speaking.


Like good Bible translations, this Bible has several people who went in on its collaboration of the interpretation. The translation itself is very easy to read with modern-day voice. Subtle italicized interjections are put in to most of the verses, similar to the way the Amplified Bible does, just without the brackets.


Another positive is the thought provoking and/or helpful comments that are interspersed throughout the Bible.


One con, it uses some form of “Liberator” to depict Jesus, particularly in the epistles. Though I don’t have any theological objection, but from a new reader’s standpoint, it may be a bit confusing.


I found this Bible interesting, as I looked at certain verses in the Bible. I liked its fresh wording, but would not use it as a substitute for a stricter translation, in my study. I would use it as a study aid in trying to better understand the scriptures or use it to help others understand certain passages better.

Book Review of "The Expanded Bible: New Testament"

“Study the Bible while you read” is the theme statement of a newly released Bible called The Expanded Bible. As a minister, I possess many bibles of various versions. Everyone has their preferences. Some Bibles are good for their modern language while others are good for their “close to the original text” format.

I was excited upon seeing the opportunity to review this newly released book. And upon receiving the book and examining different passages, I was quite pleased.

The positives that I took away from the review: 1) It takes away the need to go to several different translations to see what words or phrases mean or alternate words, 2) It makes it easy to see scripture references to verses or quotes from the Old Testament, 3) It gives you symbols that indicate what study aid is being used (C = comment, L = literal, and T = traditional rendering, and ‘or’ = an alternate wording), 4) Space on the sides for personal study notes, 5) The single column style makes it easy for reading, and 6) the font is clear and easy to read

The negatives that I took away from the review: 1) The symbols mentioned above are at the beginning of the book, so until you learn them you must flip back and forth, 2) with all the study notes, it may be hard to read aloud, if used in that type of a setting, but if you used it for study sake, that would negate this negative, and 3) it only gives helps to, what I presume, the most common words or phrases that give confusion.

It only comes in a New Testament edition at this point. I am sure that an Old Testament edition will be coming out in the future.

For people who would like to have a study Bible that focuses on alternate words and phrases, with some commentary, then this is a good Bible to consider. It is a Bible that I see best to be used for studying and not taken to class.