The Unvarnished New Testament

Rating:
Summary: Great New Testament for all ages
Review: I love it! It is so easy to read. You feel like Jesus is in the same room with you talking to you like a friend. This translation is like reading a novel. Children can identify much easier to this translation than to the King James version of the Bible. I wish the Old Testament was in the same format. RJB

Rating:
Summary: I read it!
Review: This rendition of the New Testament was so good, that I actually finished the whole thing for the first time, without it putting me to sleep. It was remarkably clear and readable. Another interesting facet of this book is that there is a purer translation of the gospels without the interference of church councils that interpret them through the myths of the church. This is a great book to read and to have.

Rating:
Summary: This Is More Like It!
Review: When I opened Andy Gaus' translation of the New Testament, and began reading Mark, I literally experienced a shock, whether of the spirit or of recognition, I can't be sure. Mark's headlong, atemporal enthusiasm burst off the page as I had always imagined it should, but never had, in any other translation. Further reading of other books continued opening facets of these texts I had only guessed at. Gone is the theologically anachronistic language of standard translations (and Lattimore) which puts concepts into the text that weren't there when it was written. In Gaus, churches are assemblies, repentance is a change of heart, baptism is bathing, gospel is the good word, angels are (often) messengers, spirit can be breath, and so on. The translation is sometimes less literal than I would have liked, but translation is always a balancing act, and overall, Gaus has found a great balance for the reader who doesn't know Greek and is frustrated by the jargon which encrusts most New Testament editions. I don't know anything about Mr. Gaus, or who he is associated with, but my hat is off to him. For me, this New Testament is right alongside Richard Elliott Friedman's Torah.