Book Review - The Bible Illuminated: The Book
A Contemporary New Testament Bible Publication for Modern Readers
When Michel Gyring and Mats Rabe posed the question “Why don’t people read historical texts?” they began a journey that led to the 2007 release of The Bible Illuminated in Sweden, boosting Bible sales by 50% without reducing traditional bible sales figures.
The marketing success of this project has inspired the American launch an English version of The Bible Illuminated: The Book, New Testament (Förlaget Illuminated Sweden, 2008) in October 2008.
The Bible Illuminated – How is it different?
Previous contemporary Bible projects, such as Eugene Petersen’s The Message (NavPress Publishing, 1993), have modernised the translation of the Bible, seeking a more comprehensible and accessible text for modern readers. In contrast, The Bible Illuminated offers a more visually stimulating and challenging format.
The eye-catching front cover and glossy page format with photographic images invites readers to pick up The Book and flick through. Selected verses are brought to prominence through highlighted passages in the text and as part of the visual images. The American Bible Society has approved the use of the Good News translation.
The traditional biblical appearance has been further reduced by removing the chapter and verse numbers from the text. Some may argue that removing these numbers actually returns the text to a format that more closely resembles the original documents upon which it is based. It does, however, make it difficult for those wishing to compare specific parts of The Book with other Bible translations.
A Contemporary Bible Format
As with many modern adaptations of traditional favourites, such as Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 movie Romeo + Juliet based on Shakespeare's well-known play or The Message by Eugene Petersen, The Bible Illuminated is sure to attract negative comments from traditionalists. Others, both Christian and secular, will welcome the fresh appearance sure to stimulate conversation and provide opportunities for discussing the relevance of the Bible for modern society.
While many images are simply beautiful or visually evocative, others will be confronting or readers might debate their relevance to the associated text. Images included in the Gospel of Mark inspired by the verse “God said ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you’.” are sure to spark discussions as readers debate the inclusion of Angelina Jolie, Al Gore and Che Guevera with Mother Theresa, Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Mandela.
The Bible Marketed for a Modern Generation
The Bible Illuminated: The Book carries with it no particular denominational or religious agenda. Answers to frequently asked questions about the development and purpose of The Bible Illuminated are provided in the News section of the Illuminated World website. The Bible Illuminated: The Book, Old Testament is scheduled for release in 2009.
Illuminated World co-founder, CEO and creative visionary Dag Söderberg states that the inspiration of The Bible Illuminated team was “to make a version of the Bible that people want to pick up, instead of hide away or just place on a bookshelf.” They have produced a Bible with a contemporary appearance that confronts traditional expectations and is sure to provide opportunities for both Christians and non-Christians to discuss the relevance of biblical themes to modern lifestyles and events.
As with all Bible translations and formats, the individual appeal of The Bible Illuminated: The Book, New Testament will be a matter of personal taste. Time will tell whether this modern format will be as warmly accepted in the States as it has been in Sweden.
Jill Browne's The Bible Illuminated: The Book, New Testament offers further discussion on the background and humanitarian message of this interesting project.
The Bible Illuminated: The Book, New Testament (ISBN: 978-91-976694-4-3)
The Bible Illuminated, New Testament
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