Word on Fire Bible (Volume 1): The Gospels

I am trying to think of the last time I waited so excitedly for a chance to sit down and read the Bible. That's because my new Word on Fire Bibles arrived. We got the evangelization pack which had one leather-bound version and 4 paperback copies.<br /><br />As soon as the box was opened we all began excitedly showing each other various features.<br /><br />It is above and beyond anything I could have asked for myself. I mean to say, they designed a typeface for the pull-quotes. That is my kind of commitment to beauty.<br /><br />Even the paperback is really great, which is what I'd expect but I was curious to see for myself. The pages are high quality paper, the gold type is there just as in the leather version. I was wondering if it would stay open in your hand without forcing the spine — and it does!<br /><br />I've dipped in a little here and there and the commentary is as good as the design and thought provoking yet accessible.<br /><br />It truly is, as they said when it was announced, a cathedral in print. Thank you, Bishop Barron!<br /><br /><b>UPDATE: </b><br />Upon using this daily I am pulling back just the slightest on my previously unabated enthusiasm for the layout. I understand that the commentary is important but it has been emphasized in layout to the point where it can be difficult to follow the scripture when simply trying to read through before turning to the commentary. Partly this is because the commentary is in large san-serif type - not unpleasing to the eye - but it can pull attention away from the scripture if there is lots of it on the page. Partly this is because there is not a common spot to look for the scripture when turning the page. It may begin halfway down the next page, it may be on top, it may begin a page or two later - and only for a few paragraphs. I like all the content but think this is just an unintended visual difficulty in squeezing everything in. <br /><br />I am still using and liking it and recommend it highly, but I did change the rating to 4 stars instead of 5 because of the difficulty it causes me.

This was like reading the Gospels again for the first time. I read every page, learned so many new things and poured over the artwork. Fantastic. That it was a gift from a dear friend for my Final Promise to become a Secular Carmelite will always make it all the more special.<br /><br /><br />March 15, 2021: Bishop Baron offers 5 strategies helpful in interpretive reading of the Bible (assuming of course the reader <i>wants</i>* to glean the most from his/her reading): <br />1) Always be critically attentive to the variety of genres on display in Scripture, i.e., recognize that the Bible is more than just one book, it is actually a library of individual books. <br />2) While the Bible is a library in one sense, Scripture is also—in another sense—one book. The individual books within the cover of the Bible support each other to all tell the ‘story’ of God’s Love for humankind. <br />3) The correct interpretation of the Bible is <i>always</i> Jesus’ command to love God above all things and our neighbor for the sake of God. Any and every story, poem, doctrine, or saying in Scripture should be read as ultimately designed to inculcate love of God and neighbor.<br />4) Distinguish what is in the Bible from what it teaches, i.e., sift the ancient cultural chaff (wind blows away) from the timeless wheat (saved, savored and basis for one’s life). <br />5) The Bible is the Church’s book. Each of the individual books was culled from dozens of other potential books during the canonization process. <br /><br />January 17, 2021: Received this as a gift from a fellow Carmelite for my Definitive Promise. THANK YOU Lou! This is a stupendous gift and I love it! God bless you! <br /><br />*Hostile readers, and there are always those too, will not gain any good because that is not their intention.

Amazing book. As a Catholic Christian going to mass every weekend, I would always hear readings at Sunday or weekday masses, but I had never read through the gospels in their entirety. I came across new stories I did not remember. It was much easier to see the bigger picture of Jesus's life on earth and his mission.<br /><br />Bishop Barron's commentary is also priceless. I am not a biblical scholar, but Bishop Barron is. Without that knowledge it is easy to miss political issues or important themes and prophecies being revealed. You would miss out on so much by reading through the bible by yourself without any guidance.<br /><br />Now the hard part comes of trying to imitate Jesus and grow in greater communion with him!

This is beautiful! The inclusion of art made it for me, and I wish it had even more. Perhaps I'd just like to read an art history book focusing on art about faith. I also appreciate the single column text, the leather didn't break while reading it and sometimes the commentary helped my understanding of the Word, and I appreciated the historical commentary. For me, an improvement would be to include modern commentary from other people than just Bishop Barron, but this is his bailiwick so I suppose it's to be expected. <br /><br />This is advertised as the Bible for those who have never read it, and most theologians suggest starting with the Gospels, and so if you are seeking one to try, I'd give this a go. It is a beautiful volume and I enjoyed learning from it over the last few months.

So many beautiful features of this bible: first off, the art. I love the art, and I think it's one of the best parts of the Bible! <br />The layout is superb--great paper, and also one column, which makes it easier to read. No footnotes or tiny print or squinting to see what's going on. <br />The essays from Catholic authors and theologians, as well as the bishop himself, enhance the reading experience. I can't wait for the rest of the volumes!

This is a beautiful edition of The Gospels with a lot of great commentary. It is encouraging to see a Catholic Bible that is so beautifully designed (even if this is just the first volume). I was hoping for more from the Church Fathers and Recent Authors than from Bishop Barron, but it is his project. I *loved* the Via Pulchritudinis Art Commentary and think a collected volume of those at the end of this project - once all the volumes of the Bible are completed - would be amazing.

Really beautiful. Love the art and the weaving of commentary by lots of voices old and new. It is definitely more thematic and less deep textual commentary but it's very pleasing to read.

Reading the Gospels with first volume of the Word of Fire Bible was like going through a guided meditation on these 4 narratives bearing witness to Jesus Christ. Each of the 4 Gospels are printed to be read like a story, with reflections from various authors and Word on Fire's founder interjected in a way that strongly compel the reader to pause and think about the significance of the events unfolding. <br /><br />The marketing from Word on Fire advertises this as a "cathedral in print". True to that apostolate's ethos, it is indeed a beautiful book. The incorporation of art pieces, with brief reflections on those works, add to the <i>via pulchritudinis</i> that Word on Fire believes is the best path for bringing people in the modern age towards an encounter with Christ and his Church. That feature is the most successful part of this project.<br /><br />If I had one small gripe, it's that I hoped for a little bit more of the art and a little bit wider selection of Church fathers reflecting on the Gospels. It seems that modern publishing rights reared their head a bit in that regard, which is a mild shame. <br /><br />But every time I pried open the box and smelled the leather, I enjoyed methodically going through these Gospels one at a time. Volume 2 is already on my shelf. Volumes 3-7 will follow when published.

This was such a joy to read through. For starters the effort to bring such a high-quality physical book from the cover, binding, and page. Just aesthetically masterful and meant to be read and re-read without falling apart.<br /><br />Bishop Barron provides the majority of the commentary. There is plenty of commentaries also from the Church Fathers along with later masters of scriptural interpreters. I especially appreciate the inclusion of more modern voices such as G.K. Chesterton and Venerable Fulton J. Sheen.<br /><br />Since Bishop Barron has always had a focus on the way of beauty and how beauty can be integral to evangelization it is no surprise that the pages include paintings from the masters. What is included with this are helpful keys and interpretation to understanding the artists and what they were trying to achieve with the specific presentations included. Just about everything from the font to the layout was aimed at aesthetical beauty. <br /><br />So looking forward to subsequent volumes to be published.

Det er så mye bra her! Kommentarer fra kirkefedre og teologer, utlegginger fra Barron og ikke minst de nydelige artiklene om kunst knyttet til tekstene i evangeliene. Opplevelsen forstyrres dessverre av dårlig grafisk design. Kommentarene og andre innlegg kommer i «hytt og pine», som gjør det vanskelig å fokusere på å bibelteksten. Men alt i alt, en god opplevelse!