Review: The Breathe Life Bible: Faith in Action

I have been granted an opportunity through Thomas Nelson Publishing's Bible Blogger Program to review The Breathe Life Bible: Faith in Action. My complimentary copy is the black leather-soft edition with thumb index in the New King James Version. It is packaged in a sturdy box which is beautifully printed, comes with two satin ribbon markers, and has a lifetime guarantee. The book has all of the "usuals": presentation page, Table of Contents, explanation of abbreviations, comments from the editors and a preface to the NKJV itself, full-color maps, a table of weights and measures, a list of Jesus' parables, and a concordance. So, what makes this Bible different? The articles.

Within the first several pages is a short essay, The Way Jesus Saves. The first paragraph explains that without salvation in Jesus Christ, "what is presented on the following pages will be like sitting in the driver's seat of a big, powerful automobile without a key to start the engine." Seems like an odd statement for the front matter of a Bible. Isn't God's word the place we get our information about God, our need for a Savior, Jesus' incarnation and work at the cross, etc.? If opening the pages of the Bible will leave you not quite equipped, what are we doing here? Perhaps, the editors were only referring to their commentaries and articles included in the book, the "Faith in Action" supplement. If that's the case, the article, The Way Jesus Saves seems to be a great place to start. However, as helpful as the article is with regard to what Jesus did, it's weak on why we needed Him to do it. It talks about sin but doesn't define it. It uses the word "condemnation" and says Jesus "died in your place;" but there is no mention of Hell, and there is no urgency in the language that stresses need for a Savior --a better option, perhaps, a good thing, but nothing that tells the entire truth: What happens if I take a pass? 

Throughout the book are "seven features with answers and insights designed to help you apply the truth of God's Word to the realities of your life": The Sky, which dives more deeply into the idea of faith in action that is this edition's subtitle; The Air, introductions to each book of the Bible, including insight as to how the book is relevant to the hearts of people of color; We Speak, forty-nine mini bios of people from the Bible; Life Support focuses on ten passages of Scripture and leads the reader to put their faith into action; Inhale-Exhale, #Oxygen, and Release are three groups of articles which "focus on seven tenets derived from the acronym BREATHE: Believe, Reconcile, Exalt, Act, Trust, Hope, Elevate." Inhale-Exhale features forty-nine question and answers addressing everyday challenges. #Oxygen "contains ninety-eight snippets of wisdom drawn straight from the Word of God." Release is a series of forty-nine devotions from pastors and teachers. There is a lot going on here. In addition to all of these themes and sub-themes, at the back of the book there is a list of Prayers of the Bible and a helpful index to the articles.

So, what do I think? Well, I was concerned. I'd read an interview in which the Bible's co-editor, Michele Clark Jenkins referred to the assassination of George Floyd as the impetus for her wanting to "do this project, to talk about how we as faithful people are supposed to respond, no matter what’s thrown at us." My objection lies with her choice of the word "assassinated," a word which implies intent as well as a murder committed for political reasons. The language reeks of conspiracy theory and victim veneration. (For the record and by human standards, Floyd did deserve to live, he did deserve justice, his family deserves our utmost compassion, but he in no way deserves to be hallowed.) When I saw that as her "jumping off point," I was disappointed. Additionally, co-editor Stephanie Perry Moore, in her acknowledgements at the beginning of The Breathe Life Bible, cites Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as her "hero." While I admire King's work for civil rights and some of his teachings on humanity, he was a philanderer with Marxist beliefs who did not believe in the divinity of Christ. Hero? That makes me nervous. All of that being said, I find the modern social justice message these editors appear to embrace does not resonate throughout this edition of the Bible. And that, I believe, is a good thing. The articles which accompany the Scriptures do not advocate teaching or action contrary to Scripture itself. There are messages of forgiveness, of trust in Jesus regardless of earthly circumstances, of loving others, and reconciling wrongs with that which is right. In fact, my biggest objection to The Breathe Life Bible: Faith in Action is the glut of themes, acronyms, and kitschy subtitles. In my opinion, this edition of the Bible is thorough, illuminating, and helpful without all of the overdone, difficult to navigate groupings. I hope you will enjoy your copy.