Inspired By . . . The Bible Experience: New Testament: A Dramatic Audio Bible Performed by 400 of Today's Biggest Stars [Audiobook, Unabridged] [MP3 CD]

Zondervan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 2006

For the first time on two MP3 CDs, the most ambitious, critically acclaimed presentation of the Bible ever produced. Inspired By ... The Bible Experience features a star-studded cast of 400 performers, including 23 Grammy winners, 8 Emmy winners, 5 Golden Globe winners, and 3 Oscar winners. Highlighting the cast is 2007 Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker as the voice of Moses, along with Angela Bassett (Esther), Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Jonah), Denzel and Pauletta Washington (Song of Songs), LL Cool J (Samson), Eartha Kitt (Serpent), Bishop T. D. Jakes (Abraham), Blair Underwood (Jesus), Samuel Jackson (God, NT only), Bishop Eddie L. Long (Joel), and many others. The Bible Experience uses Zondervan's most accessible and up-to-date translation, Today's New International Version (TNIV), and includes dramatic performances set to original music by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and Hollywood-style sound created at Technicolor Studios. The Bible Experience has become not just the bestselling audio Bible, but also one of the all-time fastest-selling new Bibles. In addition to record-breaking sales, Inspired By ... The Bible Experience continues to receive unprecedented consumer satisfaction and national recognition, including numerous five-star reviews on Amazon.com, Audies Audiobook of the Year honors (the highest honor of the Audio Publisher's Association), an AudioFile Earphones Award, and a nomination for an NAACP Image Award. This New Testament edition features two MP3 CDs plus a bonus 'making of' DVD. Experience the Bible in a whole new way with Inspired By ... The Bible Experience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'...a full show of music, sound effects, and a dazzling array of celebrity voices. The producers...put together a cast of...actors who deliver a rich, diverse rendering of the contemporary Today's New International Version (TNIV) translation in gospel-meeting style. Listeners are treated to a sort of aural kaleidoscope with layers of voices, sound, and music....The lavish production pulls out all the stops....If a modern multimedia production experience is what you're after, enjoy the fine voices and often dynamic dramatized readings.' -- AudioFile

(AudioFile )

Review

'Inspired By...The Bible Experience is exactly what its title indicates, an experience. I've listened to many audio Bibles over the years, but none have achieved what The Bible Experience has, which is to bring the Bible to life in a very real, compelling, accessible and experiential way. I would strongly recommend that you listen to it and share it with others. I guarantee it will change the way you and they engage with the word of God.' -- John C. Maxwell, Author, New York Times bestselling author

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• MP3 CD
• Publisher: Zondervan; MP3 Una edition (September 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310926335
• ISBN-13: 978-0310926337
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (179 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,068,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Ambitious Bible Project to Date, October 17, 2006

By 

M. Fields (Brooklyn, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Inspired By... The Bible Experience: New Testament (Audio CD)

Finally. Not just a reading or recitation of the Holy Scriptures but a re-enactment of them. The words leap and dance off of the page due to the passion infused into every word. What a wonderful project. This is indeed a sight and sound generation. Try getting kids to sit down and read a book these days. Impossible! But now we have The Bible Experience. It's packed with more stars than a blockbuster movie. Although the cast is entirely African American, it makes no difference because when God speaks, he speaks to every person.

The set includes 19 CD's which hold the complete New Testament. There is also a CD which includes bonus features. That's where you will find the Making of Video, pictures and cast list and what characters they play. The really nice thing about this set is that the discs are already tucked into a nice cd case, ready to take with you as soon as you open the box.

The talent used here is a smart move. It creates an audience that may not have been attracted to a project like this. What a cast: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Blair Underwood, Yolanda Adams, Shirely Ceasar, Faith Evans, Kirk Franklin, Hill Harper, Levar Burton, Tisha Campbell, Loretta Devine, Kim Fields, Eriq Lasalle, MC Lyte, Glynn Turman, Garrett Morris, James Avery, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Donnie McClurkin, etc., etc., etc. There are too many to name here.

The cast re-enacts from the new testament of Today's New International Version of the bible. Not only is there acting but wonderfully scored music and sound effects to make the listener feel as though he is at the scene. You may have noticed that some of the cast aforementioned may not be known as being Christian but many of the people in the bible were not people of faith. It is hoped that in taking part in this awe inspiring project, at least some of the unsaved might become saved.

I emplore you to buy this Audio Book for yourself and give it as a gift to others. Especially the young people. It will be a blessing. The Old Testament is being workd on and will be released in 2007. There will also be a CD of all the music released in 2007. Many of the original cast will return to work on the Old Testament. The voice of God is still to be cast as I understand it. I vote for James Earl Jones! Is there anyone better to play God? I think not.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Done with Excellence!, November 20, 2006

By 

butchdaulton (Parker, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inspired By... The Bible Experience: New Testament (Audio CD)

Fantastic! When I first heard of this product, I expected something very much like my NIV on CD - clearly presented, but still having that "reading-a-book" feel. However, the Bible Experience accomplishes exactly what its name implies. In the Gospels and Acts, you feel the action taking place. In the Epistles, you get the experience of the letters actually being written.

I read an earlier review that criticized the production quality of this project. As a former professional editor in radio and video and as a current pastor, I can assure you that I was thoroughly satisfied with both production and content. The fact that there is little pause between narrator and actor keeps the momentum moving and eliminates the "wooden" feel of more traditional readings. However, even with this more realistic pace, nowhere do you feel that the text is being treated with anything but respect.

I also thought that the background sounds were very well done. Two of my favorites were the marching soldiers panning slowly from right to left in Romans and the dank, dripping feel of the prison in 1 Corinthians. Never overwhelming - just enough to create the "experience".

Finally, I thought the scoring was very appropriate. That was one of my criticisms with the NIV recording, where it seemed that the background music was on a continuous loop and would rise and fall at random times. In The Bible Experience, the music fit the scenes - and there are many times when there is no music, just the ambient sound that would surround a 1st century letter being written.

I have been recommending this project in my church, and will highly recommend it on this website. It treats the NT with reverence, while realistically animating it from an oft-times lifeless page. I can't wait until next year's OT release - the history books are going to be a blast!

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such an Inspiration, November 17, 2006

By 

Readers Paradise "Book Club" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Inspired By... The Bible Experience: New Testament (Audio CD)

I have waited for this release since last year when I first got the email from Gospel.com. As soon as it came out in October I brought it. I love this CD, I have purchase 4 copies already for family and friends. This is on the top of my gift giving list.

I have read many versions of the bible since 2003, and to be honest this is the best. I can see the story as it is being told to me. The drama that is accompanied by the reading is fantastic.

I love the way the executive producers surround the angel "Gabriel" with such a voice and the speed of it "wow" very exciting, you can truly feel his sense of urgency when talking to Zechariah about the birth "John" YES Lord!!
This is such an anointing project and I am sure many who NEVER would pick up a bible or attend church services WILL be blessed by this audio version of the bible.

As God inspired in the four gospels he meets everyone right where they are and then waits for us to get there. The Bible Experience is living testimony of just that...

Missy