Customer Reviews

TNIV Audio Bible: Complete Bible (Today's New International Version)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With apologies to all who have winced upon reading 'God is my copilot' on the back of somebody else's car, this audio version of the Bible (Today's New International Version) makes car time like, well, like having God as one's copilot.

Brilliantly read without the cutesie music and drama that are available on other recordings, this is just the Bible, read with the right amount of panache to bring out this great book's dramatic potential but without making anybody cringe or suspect that the reader needs to invest in an over-the-counter hemorrhoid remedy.

Because I love the Bible and spend lots of time in my car, I am very excited about this product's recent arrival. To boot, it comes in one very handy carrying case, the whole shootin' match fitting in a small-to-medium-sized-purse in a masculine or neutral color that fits in any number of crevices in the average car.

But of course nobody drives the average car. We each drive *our* car and *mine* just became a little bit better place for spending quality time.

Good grief, life is good.

If you want music, strange cadences, and over-dramatic readings skip this, but if you want voices that read clearly, without rushing, and with feeling appropriate to the meaning and drama of the text ... check this out. My only suggestion would be to increase further the diversity of voices and accents without loosing the English language quality. Good move in the right direction!

This is an excellent way to learn the bible through audio. I listen to it while driving to and from work. The persons reading the bible do a very good at dramatization.

I purchased this Bible several months ago and I LOVE listening to it! I was a custodian and had plenty of solitude and was sick of listening to music on my iPod. So, I purchased this MP3 Audio Bible and I LOVE it! I couldn't wait to get to work so that I could listen to the Bible while I cleaned.

The voices are easy to understand and very well read. I get so caught up in the verses and stories that time seems to pass quickly. I enjoy listening to the introductions and hearing about the book in a way that is modern and up-to-date with today's world.

To anyone who is looking for a great audio Bible, I would recommend this. It has been a wonderful addition to my iPod library.

I find listening to someone else read the bible is a lot easier for me. I can follow along if I wish or I can get lost envisioning everything going on as it is read to me.

Well read, authoritative. Think of buying no other version. Complete, with a very nice case to house the CDs. This is it.

In my earlier years, I spent many hours reading the Bible and reaped huge benefits.

Now, I am too busy to devote time to serious reading.

The Audio Bible has reintroduced me to the Great Stories that I thought I knew.

I skipped over the Introductions at the beginning of each chapter. They may be just fine. I don't know.

This is my first experience with an Audio Bible. Others may be just as excellent. I don't know.

I listen to it in my car. Even with the background noise, the words are crystal clear, the stories are compelling.

As most people know, there are a few dull chapters in the Old Testament.

The details of constructing the Tabernacle were the worst for me.

If you have read this review this far, you have more than enough focus/concentration to listen to the Bible on Audio CD.

I recommend this more highly than any other product available at Amazon.com.

When I used to read the NIV printed Bible, I listened to Zondervan's Dramatised NIV (ISBN 9780310918639) - which is excellent. But having upgraded my Printed Bible to TNIV, I ordered this product to replace my Audio Bible. What an anti-climax! Moving from a dramatised Bible to a narration is like downgrading from a colour TV to a black & white. I've already sold this product privately for eur20.

Firstly, the matching of voices to books is perfunctory. No-one knows who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews but the most likely candidate is a woman. For more information, read Ruth Hoppin's excellent "Priscilla's Letter" (ISBN 9781882897506) & its reviews. On this occasion, Zondervan have employed a MALE voice for Hebrews and a FEMALE voice for the Letter of James, which is anomalous.

INTRODUCTIONS:

These are read over some tacky, late-80s style background music. While the intros to certain books are mildly helpful (eg. Genesis, Exodus, Ephesians, 2 Peter et. al.), others are not. In some cases there's a lack of attention to detail so uncharacteristic with Zondervan. For example, we're told Paul wrote 12 NT letters when in fact he wrote 13. Also, the 'tone' employed can sound patronising. The intro to Song of Songs is worded for 10-year-olds. Adults simply don't speak that kind of language in the 21st century. Moreover, in attempting to "modernise" the presentation they've tried TOO hard to cite contemporary, everyday situations that are just not appropriate to the Biblical context. Below are just five examples...

LEVITICUS (Traffic lights)

2 SAMUEL (Loan officers approving loans)

2 TIMOTHY (A golfer's shot off the tee)

TITUS (Your car's overdue oil-change)

3 JOHN ("Muscle memory")

Just to elaborate on 2 Samuel slightly; Reckless lending artificially inflates the cost of essential resources such as homes. Scripture does not support the notion that increased personal debt is a blessing. If anything, it argues the reverse (Isaiah 5:8).

To give credit where credit's due, Zondervan have used voices from BOTH sides of the Atlantic, which helps to give the message a more 'global' flavour. And it's presented in the usual tastefully designed, zip-up case. But this Audio-Bible just doesn't "light my candle". Zondervan's TNIV 80-CD "Bible Experience" (see ISBN 9780310926306 & its reviews) is not without flaws, but it beats this one hands down.