With the release of their second volume this month, the Word on Fire Bible has become (to the best of my knowledge) the first Bible to include commentary from J.R.R. Tolkien.

Word on Fire generously offered to send me a review copy, which I enthusiastically accepted once their publishing director mentioned that Tolkien’s commentary was included among other contemporary authors.

The excerpt included in the commentary is one from his essay “On Fairy-Stories”, in which Tolkien proposes, “The birth of Christ is the Eucatastrophe of Man’s history”. This is a passage I had been reflecting on over Advent and Christmas, so when I received the Bible in the mail this week I was so thrilled to see it printed alongside Scripture in this way.

My unboxing video:
(featuring my son Ambrose)

About the Word on Fire Bible

If you’re unfamiliar with the Word on Fire Bible, this is the second volume in a set that is currently in production. Volume One, which included the four Gospels, was published in 2020. This Volume includes the Acts, Epistles, and Revelation. Volume Three is expected to release in 2023 and will include the Pentateuch. Subsequent volumes will include the remainder of the Old Testament.

What sets apart the Word on Fire Bible from others, in my opinion, is that it was created specifically for an audience who may be unfamiliar with Scripture. Many Study Bibles assume the reader is already committed to belief in the claims of Christianity, but the Word on Fire Bible’s reading tools are written with the unfamiliar or skeptical in mind.

At the beginning of the Bible itself and before each subsequent book, readers will find an introduction which frames the Scriptures in their proper context. And as readers journey through the Acts, Epistles, and Revelation, they will be accompanied by the commentary from a variety of Catholic voices and artists — from Church Fathers, to Saints, to Pope Francis, to Catholic authors, and Bishop Barron himself.

When asked what makes this Bible unique, Word on Fire explains,

First, its evangelical purpose. This is not a study Bible. Its goal is not merely to transmit historical knowledge or textual insight. It is also not a devotional Bible, offering self-improvement tips. The mission of this Bible is evangelical. It is meant to introduce not mere facts but a person: Jesus Christ. It aims to do that by unveiling Christ throughout each chapter and verse of the Scriptures, leading readers to a life-changing encounter with him.

Second, its accessibility to new readers of the Bible. It doesn't presume any experience with the Bible, catering to those unfamiliar with its many events and characters, while still providing rich insights to even the most biblically literate.

What I love about the Word on Fire Bible

• Beauty and Quality in Design: This Bible is stunning. It’s obvious that a great deal of time, effort, and talent went into the design of the Bible, and the craftsmanship as seen in the leather edition is masterful. Bishop Barron is known for using the True, Good, and Beautiful to evangelize and all three are reflected in this Bible.

• Because Fra Angelico is my chosen Saint for this year, I was so excited to see his name come up in the introductory pages as the font was named after him!

• I also really like that the Bible’s reading tools (introductions, explanations, and commentary) were written for those who might not be theologians or Bible scholars. While I’ve been a Christian for all of my life, I’m still relatively new to Catholicism so I appreciate the level at which most of these are written.

• This Bible serves as a reminder that there are many, many people in the world who have not encountered the person and story of Jesus Christ. While many Catholic ministries look inward to the needs of current members of the church, Word on Fire is focused on reaching the religiously unaffiliated and sharing the Gospel with them through Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. It can be tempting to become caught up in the squabbling between various groups or ‘sides’ of Catholics and lose sight of our common call to evangelization, and I personally feel that I needed this reminder.

• I really enjoyed the commentary from the Church Fathers and Recent Authors. The commentary from the Church Fathers served as a concrete illustration of the early church, which supports the credibility of the Scriptures and adds depth to the reading experience. The commentary from Recent Authors made me feel connected to the modern church. Having them all together in one book felt like it offered a more comprehensive picture of Catholicism than what Scripture alone, or commentary alone, could provide.
  

• This Bible feels very meditative, like a slow walk through the Scriptures. I once read an anecdote about Tolkien in which his friends mentioned that Tolkien couldn’t simply go on a quick walk because he would so frequently stop to point out a particular plant or insect, often stopping altogether when something interested him. This Bible feels a bit like this, in the most delightful way. You can’t just rush through the Scriptures, it’s best to work through them slowly. It feels almost like a long walk through the Sistine Chapel or a forest perhaps.

• The artwork was stunning! I really enjoyed being able to learn about the different pieces of artwork highlighted throughout the Bible.

Critiques of the Word on Fire Bible

• According to the Word on Fire website, the commentary included is about 2/3 Bishop Barron’s. This feels like a little too much. I understand that his personality and fame serve as a bridge to connect many readers to the truths of Catholicism, but it began to feel a little bit like “The Bishop Barron Bible” as I read on. However, if you’re here to read Bishop Barron specifically then you will not be disappointed.

• I didn’t notice a lot of diversity among the commentators chosen. There were only about 5 female commentators in the ‘recent authors’ category out of 30+. In the future it would be nice to see more women included.

• The commentary from Bishop Barron was often difficult to distinguish between the Scripture due to formatting. In some cases, Barron’s commentary was printed against a grey background, but in other spots this was not the case. While Bishop Barron’s commentary is printed in a Sans Serif font and Scripture is printed in a Serif font, it was still a bit confusing.

• Most of the introductions are written by staff members at Word on Fire. At face value, I don’t think this is a big problem, but many of the authors are also content creators in their own niches, and some are highly active on social media. To put it plainly, it feels weird to see something written by someone I may have beefed with on twitter printed in a literal Bible alongside Sacred Scripture. However, I think this could also serve as a reminder that the Saints themselves were human just like us and that the commentaries of today are a part of Church history just as much as those of the early Church. Also, that I should beef with less Catholics on twitter, haha!

If you would like to learn more about the Word on Fire Bible or purchase it after its January 17 launch date, you can visit the Word on Fire site here. If you have any specific questions I may be able to help with, please get in touch via twitter @teawithtolkien or email me at kaitlyn@teawithtolkien.com.

The Word on Fire Bible is a beautiful resource for anyone interested in learning about the Catholic Tradition alongside Scripture in a personal, meditative way. Whether you’re brand new to Christianity or already practicing but hoping to deepen your understanding, this Bible serves as an introduction (or re-introduction) to the richness of our Catholic faith.

If you are on the market for a Study Bible, I would suggest the Ignatius Catholic Bible. If you are looking for a journaling Bible, I would suggest the Blessed is She journaling Bible (I would not recommend writing in the Word on Fire Bible due to the glossy coating of the pages).

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Also, for Reference here are some quick stats on the Word on Fire Bible, Volume II:

• Title: The Word on Fire Bible, Vol II (Acts, Letters, and Revelation)

• Translation: NRSV-CE

• Release: January 17, 2022

• Pages: 841 pages (42% longer than Vol I, twice as many commentators)

• Formats: Leather, hardcover, paperback

• Website: wordonfire.org/bible2

This article also may be of interest: “How Tolkien nearly translated the entire Jerusalem Bible”