The Gospel of Jesus [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Daniel L. Johnson (Editor), Garrison Keillor (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 2006

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. It's hard to imagine a more perfect match than Garrison Keillor reading the New Testament's Gospels. The CD box boasts, "America's favorite storyteller reads the world's greatest story," and for once a product exceeds its own hype. Keillor's instantly recognizable baritone glides its way through the familiar life of Jesus, from humble beginnings in Bethlehem to an exultantly rendered resurrection in Jerusalem. Johnson's "harmonization" creates a single narrative from all four Gospel strands, blending Mark's immediacy, Matthew's concerns for law and tradition, Luke's passion for the poor, and John's mysticism into a coherent story that is rich in pathos and meaning. While traditionalists will scoff at Johnson's decision to use Tyndale House's New Living Translation, Keillor sails right through that workmanlike version's clunkier moments and adds folksy transitions between pericopes to make the recounting more seamless. (The audio employs the King James Version for those times when the Old Testament is quoted.) Listeners will invariably discover that upon hearing the New Testament read aloud—as it was intended to be—they will encounter familiar stories in fresh ways and less familiar stories for what feels like the first time. They couldn't hope to have a more gifted and companionable guide than Keillor. (Apr.)
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About the Author

DANIEL L. JOHNSON is, among other things, a drinker of fine teas, a glider pilot, a writer, a photographer, and a physician. He reads prodigiously, has grandchildren, and lives in small-town Wisconsin.

Garrison Keillor is America's favorite storyteller. For more than 35 years as the host of A Prairie Home Companion, he has captivated millions of public radio listeners with his weekly "News from Lake Wobegon" monologues. Keillor is also the author of several books and a frequent contributor to national publications including Time, The New Yorker, and National Geographic, in addition to writing his own syndicated column. He has been awarded a National Humanities Medal from the National Endowment of the Humanities.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: HighBridge Company (February 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598870165
• ISBN-13: 978-1598870169
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #550,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #46 in Books > Books on CD > Religion & Spirituality > Bible

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exceedingly Well Done Reading of Scripture: Devotionally Deliberative, April 24, 2006

By 

Paul T. McCain "Paul T. McCain" (St. Louis, Missouri) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gospel of Jesus (Audio CD)

I am very impressed by this recording. Mr. Keillor does an excellent job offering a quiet, serious, meditational and devotional reading of a compilation of the life and teachings of Jesus. It comes across as the reading of a great story, which of course it is, but also brings with it a depth of sincerity and seriousness, with a comfortable clarity, that results in a truly unique audio recording of a harmony of the Gospels. I believe many will find this recording deeply moving. The reading does not suffer from the all too common failing in such projects: reading too dramatically and overwrought, or reading in a sort of stuffy, stained-glass tone, both of which styles have always struck me sa off-putting and distracting the listener. Mr. Keillor's calm, warm, deliberate manner draws one into the text and that is as it should be. The recording uses the New Living Translation which works well to make possible a reverent and yet conversational tone which listeners will appreciate. Highly recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tell me the stories of Jesus--I LOVE to hear!, April 13, 2006

By 

valentine03 (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Gospel of Jesus (Audio CD)

This is an opportunity for families to share the stories of Jesus the way the first people to know the Lord did--to hear them told, gently, lovingly, and in a way to touch all questing hearts.

The warmth of Keillor's narration combines with the wonderful text to make something we can all listen to over and over again--a true nourishment for the spirit. In these days, that's worth a lot.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The good news, only better, April 4, 2006

By 

Alexander Whatever (Heartland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gospel of Jesus (Audio CD)

Not since Charlton Heston has someone captured the gravity of the gospel like this. A brilliant harmonization of the four gospels of Mark, Mathew, Luke, and John, eliminating the usual repetitions and variations and focusing instead on the essential teachings of Jesus Christ. Few people could pull off a project like this, hats off to Garrison for doing it.