Dwelling richly in Suchet

NIV BIBLE: THE GOSPELS
Enhanced audio book (Kindle) £4.99
or audio-only file (iTunes) £2.95

There are many ways to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Chief among these are regular personal study and sitting week by week under faithful expository preaching.

But it would be naïve to think that there are not other ways to let God’s Word get into our bloodstream. I’ve found audio Bibles to be an excellent way of using time in the car or out walking to do just that.

We need to be realistic, of course. For most people, listening to someone else reading the Bible is not a substitute for opening the written page and looking for ourselves. Nevertheless, I find listening to Bible reading an important part of getting to know God’s Word better.

Indigenous voice

However, I have a confession. I want to hear an anglicised version read in a UK voice. Perhaps I am revealing too much of my inner sinful prejudice, but having grown up in the UK, I find that listening to an indigenous voice the best way to take things in.

That’s why I was delighted to see that Hodder are gradually releasing a new audio version of the NIV read by David Suchet. I bought the enhanced Kindle book – where you get the text and a button by each chapter which allows M. Poirot himself to read to you. His voice is well suited to the project. It is clear, careful and measured. You sense that this is more than a text to him.

I found the Kindle experience slightly limiting. I could not plug my phone into the audio player in the car, for instance. Each chapter requires a new press of a button. But the audio files are also available as standard iTunes downloads – for just under £5 you get almost 9 hours of Gospels. I think that represents pretty good value and I’m looking forward to making the most of this medium. I phoned Hodder to ask about future plans, and over the next 12 months or so you and I can expect the rest of the Bible to be released. Highly commended.