Several Bible podcasts are actually readings from the Bible with no commentary. I thought I would discuss a couple of these briefly.
One such podcast is simply called The Bible Podcast (which seems to be a very popular title). This particular podcast is a reading from the New English Translation (NET). It presents one chapter from the Bible each weekday. It has been going since 2005 and is up-to-date, although the archives indicates there have been occasional short hiatuses. The readings are done by Michael Lee, a professor of music at Azuza Pacifice University.
The sound quality of this podcast is very good and the reading is clear. It is not done with any dramatization or background music, which makes it easy to make out the words. Although I don’t know anything about the NET Bible, this podcast is certainly one worth having if you want to hear a chapter a day on your iPod.
The Bible Experience podcast is produced by Zondervan. Although it is presented on iTunes as a podcast, it is actually just a sample episode from their The Bible Experience audiobook, which has to be purchased. The one episode available for free is the Passion story taken from Matthew 26-28 in the TNIV. Zondervan’s web site describes the audiobook as follows:
Hear the words of the Bible brought to life like never before. Inspired By… The Bible Experience: New Testament Audio CD is a fully-dramatized reading of the complete Bible performed by an unprecedented ensemble of distinguished African-American actors, musicians, and personalities. The cast is scheduled to include such recognizable voices as: Denzel Washington, Blair Underwood, Angela Bassett, Juanita Bynum, Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin and more. The dramatization is further enriched by an original musical score composed by Grammy award-winning producers. And the recording is truly contemporary, using the accessible and trusted Today’s New International Version (TNIV) of the Bible. The features of The Bible Experience provide a rich listening experience, helping you hear the words of Scripture as if for the first time. The Bible Experience is available in both traditional and mp3 CD formats.
The quality of the audio is excellent and the readings are well done, as you would expect from such a cast and a professional publisher. Unfortunately, the podcast that is available for free is just a sample.
Verbum Domini (also called ReadingForToday.com) is a podcast that includes the readings from the Catholic daily lectionary. The podcast begins and ends with a short musical bumper, while the reading is done without background music. The podcast is featured on SQPN.com, which is a repository of Catholic podcasts. Different lectors do the reading on different days. I couldn’t tell from the website which translation they use.
A final readings podcast is called DTS Devotional, which is listed on iTunes as a daily devotional reading from the NET Bible. A better description would be a devotional reflection on a daily reading. The podcast is done by Reg Grant, professor of pastoral ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. The podcast takes one minute, although almost twenty seconds of that is advertisement for the NET Bible and something called Earsight.1
- A search of the web could not turn up any reference to ear sight, earsight, earsite, or other variations. If someone happens to know what this is, please let me know. [back]
On May 13th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Kevin - thanks for the review and link to The Bible Podcast. It is a popular name; I couldn’t believe the domain name was still available when I finally got around to starting the podcast.
I’ll have to take a listen to some of these other podcast suggestions as well.
On May 14th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Kevin please don’t forget PodBible, the CEV read by ordinary people, daily in chapter a day format (http://podbible.com/podcast) or hear the whole Bible in a year (http://podbible.com/bible-in-a-year). Also going since 2005!
On July 2nd, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Verbum Domini appears to use the RSV, probably the 2nd Catholic edition.
On October 8th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
It’s also available on audible.com the Bible Experience but must be purchased. I think the whole thing’s out now. I kind of prefer TBE to the other audio Bibles. I have never been a big fan of book on tape because I have to sit and listen or I will get distracted and only TBE has kept my attention.
On November 12th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Thanks for your support of the Bible Experience. I am an employee at Zondervan and I was wondering if you were interested in posting a widget that we have on our website. Just go to http://www.zondervan.com/tbe and there is a grey widget on the right-hand side that shows a cover of the product. Just click on “add” and the HTML should display. Thanks! Hope you enjoy listening to the Bible Experience and thanks again for your support!