Into this comes a powerful, yet tremendously tender rendition of the New Testament, brought beautifully to life by the majestic voice of the late Johnny Cash. Cash recorded this several years ago (1990), and this is the first time the audio book has been released on CD. The 16- CD set comes in a plain black box with a profile of Cash's face, uplifted in reverence, his expression clearly showing his own belief and devotion to the material within. The readings are likewise plain and unadorned, without dramatics, music, or other unnecessary trappings so the clear, crisp words come through with all their meaning intact.
Cash reads the New Testament with devout humility, with no embellishment. He speaks clearly and plainly, with the odd trace of his Arkansas accent giving the whole a rich, comfortable feeling (with the odd pronunciation of "Pontius" and the very Southern "nekkid"), which draws the listener in, as though we're right there with him, perhaps sitting in a warm cabin on a winter night listening gathered around the rocking chair while being read to.
Every Christian, of whatever denomination, naturally has their own favorite translation that they turn to. It may be the old family King James, or the Catholic Concordance, or a scholarly New World translation. Cash chooses to read the New King James, which retains much of the richness of the first King James translation but updates the language for a modern audience. While I understand this choice - Cash's statement on the cover explains, "I chose the New King James Version because it retains much of the beauty and classic prose and poetry of the original King James Version yet is easily understood by those who might have said, 'I've read the Bible but don't understand it.'" -- personally I miss the "thees" and "thous" and "be not afraids" which have always, to me, given the original King James translation much of its beauty.
I admit, I'm no biblical scholar, and there is much of the Bible I haven't read. It was not only a true delight to listen to the entire New Testament, it was educational and deeply moving, as well. Once past the very familiar passages in the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, I came to less familiar territory. I found myself swept up in the tales of the Acts of the Apostles, and pondering the epistles of Paul, Timothy, and John. Until I really listened to Revelation, I hadn't realized from what text Handel drew the lyrics of the Hallelujah Chorus.
What also struck me, frequently, as I listened to these readings, was how many people today who do claim devotion and faith don't seem to have "read or listened to the words that Jesus said," as Cash put it in the song "Man in Black." There is a great deal in the Bible which speaks eloquently on many of today's problems, and it both concerns and confuses me why people will fixate on one passage and forget completely another. Most importantly why so many "people of faith" will completely ignore some of Jesus's most invaluable lessons, particularly concerning judgment, humility, tolerance, forgiveness, love, and peace.
Certainly, there is much that modern civilization has let pass away from the traditions held by the Bible, and I don't believe we miss all of them, even people who bemoan the lack of "strong Christian Morals." For example, today's women generally don't agree with Paul's admonishment, "But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman is not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." (1 Corinthians 11:5-9)
Yet for all the controversies and no matter where one stands, it's difficult not to be moved by these words being read by a man of simple, basic faith. How one interprets them is purely personal, as it should be.
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