James Earl Jones Reads the Bible, New Testament

The music is a very nice touch...not too loud and not too much...adds to the flavor of listening.

I find this tape collection to be the very best of those I have heard. I hope Mr. Jones' does an old testament series. I would love to own the entire bible narrated by him.

If you want to be truely blessed...this is the tape series for you...God Bless All


One of the Best   June 7, 2002
Gnomon (Houston, TX)
46 out of 48 found this review helpful

As an avid reader of the Bible, I've listened to several different audio renditions of the Good Book. There are a lot of them out there -- various translations, various readers. But this reading of the New Testament by James Earl Jones is one of the very best in my opinion.

His rolling baritone voice and Shakesperian delivery are perfect for the hoary old King James Version. Unlike so many other taped Bibles, he doesn't try to dramatize the story. And he doesn't have that irritating "announcer voice" I've found on a couple of audio Bibles. Rather, he uses his voice as an exquisite tool to softly sing the lyrical words so lovingly crafted by the translators of 1611.

It truly becomes a soothing, spiritual experience to hear the shades of meaning he brings out. And frankly, his reading of the much-explained Book of Revelation made me see it in a new, almost poetic light.

Frankly, the only other audio Bible I'd rank up there with Jones' is Alexander Scourby's great reading of the King James. None of the others come close to these two. Scourby's is perhaps superior only in that he also reads through the enire Old Testament as well. If James Earl Jones ever performs that feat, I will surely purchase that (from Amazon, of course!) as well.


Darth Vader reads the Bible... The best of both worlds!   November 30, 2005
Freedom Slave (USA)
28 out of 32 found this review helpful

Luke... Chapter 1

What a treat! The Word of God and the mezmorizing voice of James Earl Jones. Some reviewers didn't like the music, but it is so soft in the background, and Mr. Jones' voice is so engrossing that you don't even notice the music (which isn't really that bad if you just focus on the reading of God's Word.). Others didn't like minor changes here and there in the King James Text. I noticed some minor variations, but Mr. Jones mostly just substituted some of the more archaic Old English words for more contemporary words... The complaints were probably from people who think that the KJV is an inspired translation of the original texts. Technically, the King James Bible (as well as any other translation, save the original autographs, which no longer exist) also contains minor variations from the ancient texts for the purpose of clarity (without changing the meaning of the text). It's still God's Word, and His message, and it's original meaning is still completely in tact, praise be to God! So, my brothers, if we are going to strain at gnats, let us do so consistantly, lest we be found guilty of swallowing camels. While the KJV is arguably one of the best translations, I would not go so far as to cannonize it. Now, if these alterations had appeared in a printed Bible, it would be another story...

If you can't read, then I probably would recommend that you look for an audio Bible that adheres more strictly to the Authorized King James Text. If this is just a suppliment to your printed Bible, and you want it so you can listen to the Bible when you're driving or something, this should do just fine. If you want a perfect translation of God's Word, I'm afraid you're just going to have to wait, and hope that there are a few copies waiting for us in heaven.

All in all, this is a great narration of the New Testament for listening to in the car, or relaxing in your recliner. It's a must have for Christians and Star Wars fans alike! It would have been sweet if they could have gotten Alex Guinness (Obi-Wan) to read the Old Testament. And maybe for our Catholic brethren, they could have had C3PO read the Apocrapha. Oh well... You can't have everything.


From a 29 year old that isn't well versed in the bible.great   July 6, 2001
19 out of 21 found this review helpful

For all of you "searching for the truth and meaning of life" I think sooner or later everyone should sit down and read the Bible just to know what it has to say. For most, we don't have time and think,"I can't understand it anyway." I was looking for something like Bible interpretation for Dummies when I found this. I was not raised in a "go to church every Sunday" family. This tape set is perfect. James Earl Jones is the best for this with his distinguised voice. SO if you are a college graduate, I believe you will have no problem listening and understanding most of this without a book of intepretations. And the music is fine and does not overpower this great man's powerful voice.I wish they had it on CD!


james Earl Jones reading of the New Testament   October 23, 2001
Kenneth E. Legan Sr. (Shabbona, Il United States)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

James Earl Jones does a fantastic job narrating the new testament. His speech rate is excellent. His voice wonderful.
I found the readings so comfortable to listen to.
I only wish that he was a reader for the Old Testament as well.