This text is a part of the The Crossway Podcast collection.
How It Feels to Learn and File the Total Bible
On this particular episode, Bible instructor, creator, and hip hop artist Jackie Hill Perry shares what it was prefer to spend over sixty-five hours studying God’s phrase aloud in a recording studio with unsaved audio engineers listening in the entire time. She additionally shares how God used that have to alter the way in which she views the Bible.
The Bible is made up of 66 books that inform the magnificent story of God’s redemptive work by Christ. On this audio recording of the complete Bible, that story comes alive in a contemporary approach by the voice of poet, Bible instructor, hip-hop artist, and creator Jackie Hill Perry.
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Subjects Addressed in This Interview:
Matt Tully
Jackie, thanks a lot for becoming a member of me at present on The Crossway Podcast.
Jackie Hill Perry
Thanks for having me.
Matt Tully
A few week in the past, you posted a quote on Instagram from the late Francis Schaeffer. Francis Schaeffer is somebody that perhaps Crossway readers will know and respect. He’s revealed books with us. However that quote appears actually related for the dialog that I’m hoping we are able to have at present concerning the Bible. So I ponder in case you might begin us off by studying that quote, after which simply inform us why you posted it.
Jackie Hill Perry
I’ll learn it. It’s from Francis Schaeffer’s Loss of life within the Metropolis. It says, “I might say to you who name yourselves Bible-believing Christians, in case you see the Phrase of God diminished as it’s in our day and usually are not moved to tears and indignation, I ponder when you’ve got any comprehension of the day by which we reside. If we as Bible-believing Christians can see God’s Phrase, God’s verbalized, propositional communication, handled as it’s so typically handled and usually are not stuffed with sorrow and don’t cry out, ‘However don’t you notice the top thereof?’—I ponder: will we love His Phrase?” I had simply spoken at Liberty College for his or her convocation, and the textual content that I spoke from was 2 Timothy 4, the place Paul addresses Timothy, telling him to evangelise the phrase. It was a heavier, more durable, aggressive phrase that I gave to the scholars, however it actually was the emphasis that we now have to evangelise the phrase and never a phrase, however the—God’s revealed phrase within the Scriptures. And in order that’s the place that got here from.
Matt Tully
For the scholar convocation, why did they want that, in your thoughts, a extra aggressive, extra simple, problem or cost to evangelise the phrase?
Jackie Hill Perry
I simply pay loads of consideration to what’s taking place on social media, what’s taking place in church buildings, what’s taking place from pulpits. And one of many issues that I saved seeing is only a decrease emphasis on the facility and worth of simply flat-footed preaching of God’s phrase. There simply gave the impression to be an imbalance of self-centered educating—educating that leaned extra on illustration than it did doctrine. I simply felt burdened. I felt a approach. And so round December, I informed my husband, “I believe I’m going to write down a message on 2 Timothy 4, and each venue that invitations me to show I’m educating that very same message.” So it isn’t even simply significantly Liberty, however each single place (moreover two) that I’m educating at this 12 months, I’m educating 2 Timothy 4 about itching ears and preaching God’s phrase. As a result of it must be heard.
Matt Tully
Jackie, you’re a bestselling creator. You’re a hip hop artist. You’re a Bible instructor, as you simply stated. You are a poet. And also you’re now an audio Bible narrator. What do you make of that?
Jackie Hill Perry
Grace. Grace. I imply, I shouldn’t be on this place to have the ability to affect folks, to have the ability to train or preach or write poetry. I actually shouldn’t. I’m actually not on some false humility sort of stuff. I actually shouldn’t be doing this in case you knew the place I got here from. Not solely did I come from Adam however I got here from St. Louis. I got here from a spot that was simply dry and estranged from life. And so I believe for God to not solely name me to himself however to additionally launch me to have the ability to stroll in my presents in quite a lot of other ways, that’s a privilege. And it’s thrilling to indicate folks the probabilities of what can occur to a life when the Lord snatches you up, as a result of he certainly snatched me up.
Matt Tully
Do you are feeling like you may have a deeper appreciation and gratitude to God due to coming from St. Louis and among the particulars of your individual story? Does that feed into the way in which that you consider the way in which God is utilizing you at present?
Jackie Hill Perry
Yeah, as a result of I believe, from a cosmopolitan vantage level, it looks as if the people who find themselves influential have been positioned to be so. In order that they had been born in the precise household, they’re part of the precise denomination, they’ve been to the precise seminaries and Christian establishments. I had none of that. Completely none of it. And so even with me and my husband, on both aspect of our household we’re one in all perhaps two Christians. And so after I take a look at my life and I take a look at the lives of different people who I’m related to, it’s simply clear that when God has one thing to say, he’ll use anyone to say it.
Matt Tully
And the reality of that’s that every one of us are simply as equally saved by God’s grace and are determined for his grace, however it’s cool when there are individuals who can testify that to that in a novel approach and in a strong approach, and it might remind all of us of our shared desperation for him.
Jackie Hill Perry
That’s it. That’s it.
Matt Tully
Your recording of the complete ESV Bible clocks in at sixty-five hours, ten minutes lengthy. I requested, and that’s it proper there. That’s a very long time to spend in a recording studio, studying out loud. So I simply marvel in case you can provide us an image—what was that like for you?
Jackie Hill Perry
Painful as a result of I underestimated the vocal pressure of recording for an prolonged period of time. So I might speak to my pals who had been singers and simply ask questions on how do you preserve vocal stamina and endurance. I might try to learn for 4 to 5 hours at a time, and my voice couldn’t take it to the purpose that after I would train the next weekend or talk, I used to be hoarse. And so I needed to simply begin taking higher care of my voice. I believe on the opposite finish, it actually was a present to only learn the Bible out loud. If there’s one thing about saying it that offers life to it in a specific approach. And one story that I’ve been sharing, and I haven’t shared it publicly, however my engineers within the studio—as a result of you must have an engineer to watch the sound and all of the issues—they must learn the Bible together with me to ensure that I wasn’t lacking any phrases or sentences. And so the Lord simply sovereignly had it the place the engineers, none of them had been Christians.
Matt Tully
Wow. What was that like for them?
Jackie Hill Perry
I believe they loved it. I believe it was attention-grabbing as a result of I might speak to them about their engagement. The final engineer I had, he was with me—I began backwards. I began within the New Testomony after which the Outdated Testomony—he was with me whereas I used to be studying all of the prophets, after which I ended up having to re-record Genesis. And so we learn by all of the prophets, and on the finish, I don’t know what the final prophet that I learn was, it may need been Jeremiah or one thing, I requested him earlier than the session began and earlier than I began Genesis, “What have you ever been excited about these books? How do they really feel?” And he was like, “Man, I don’t learn the Bible. It’s like they only don’t get it proper. It’s like they preserve forgetting that God retains saying the identical factor over and over.” And I used to be like, “That’s actually what the prophets are doing is simply repeating the identical factor that God has been saying.” And I informed him, I stated, “Effectively, this e-book that we’re about to learn, Genesis, will present you why God has to maintain repeating himself. Due to sin.” And so simply the testimony of how God used the recording even to show folks to his phrase, that sort of stuff is a really particular reminiscence that I’ll have.
Matt Tully
Yeah, completely. You talked about a minute in the past that there was simply this vocal pressure that perhaps you weren’t anticipating with studying out loud for therefore lengthy. You’re a recording artist, you’re a hip hop artist, you do spoken phrase poetry. Do you suppose that have that you simply’ve had with verbally expressing your self in numerous methods, did that come to bear and have an affect even on Scripture, which is stuffed with poetry? Did you are feeling a connection there? Did you may have issues that you might draw on that helped you in that studio?
Jackie Hill Perry
Oh, for certain. I went into the recording with the intention to provide life to the phrases, as a result of I believe typically the Bible is learn as if it isn’t God’s phrase. And studying it with the intention of giving the actual life that e-book required. So if I’m studying a psalm of lament, there ought to be a measure of lament in my voice, proper? If I’m studying a psalm of reward, there ought to be a measure of reward in my tone. The whole lot shouldn’t be the identical as if the author had the intention of it being heard in the identical approach. However there’s additionally this type of moderation that I needed to take when it got here to an epistle, for instance, or the narratives particularly. Your tone can even perform as interpretation. And so in locations the place I didn’t essentially know the angle of the textual content, I needed to ensure that my voice was impartial in order to not talk a tone that wasn’t really true to what the author meant. And I believe that’s me being a instructor, understanding learn how to method the textual content.
Matt Tully
As a Bible instructor who’s spoken to a whole lot and hundreds of individuals, the educating energy of what you emphasize right here, what you decelerate and say over right here—I might think about you’re having to make some selections there on the fly as you’re studying.
Jackie Hill Perry
Yeah, the place I didn’t know what I used to be doing, it was simply impartial. You’re simply going to get plain. Not boring, however not a very articulate method emotionally to my tone of voice. So I might pull it again in. However books I’ve learn or studied or that had been very clear, like you already know when Jesus is offended. You recognize that like. “Get behind me, Devil.” That’s intense. However when he’s crying and weeping over his folks as he comes into the town, there’s a sensitivity. So I believe your voice must match what God is attempting to speak. I actually suppose that’s essential.
Matt Tully
What went by your head when Crossway first approached you about this undertaking? Have been you initially enthusiastic about it? Oh, I’ve been ready for this! Or had been you pondering, This isn’t for me. There’s no approach I need to do that. After which what in the end led you to say sure?
Jackie Hill Perry
I used to be excited. I had been telling folks on a regular basis that I needed to do an audio Bible, however it was a remark I might make. “I actually need to learn the Bible sooner or later. I believe it might be enjoyable!” So once they approached me, it was an computerized. The sure was very easy, however it was actually the how as a result of I used to be additionally pregnant, this was throughout the pandemic, and so there’s all these elements. In order that was part of the rationale why I believe my portion was delayed for a very long time. And I actually respect y’all for giving me a lot endurance, as a result of I used to be having infants, I used to be writing books, I used to be doing an excessive amount of. So I stated sure on the improper time, however it labored out.
Matt Tully
Did you ever have ideas in the midst of the recording means of, I don’t know if I can preserve doing this. I don’t know if I need to end this? Or had been you all the time like, Nope, I’m going to get this performed?
Jackie Hill Perry
There was a egocentric motive, however that I believe is definitely a Christian motive, is that is going to assist me serve folks higher—to know extra Bible. So it was a approach for me to know extra Bible. So I used to be dedicated to the method for that motive alone.
Matt Tully
Your recording is offered as a CD, a digital obtain, and is quickly going to be up on Audible. However we’ve additionally made it accessible as a free podcast, which options a couple of totally different Scripture readings day-after-day, and so folks can join free and listen to that day-after-day. And the response to that present has simply been superb. Since this previous January, which is once we launched the present, it’s been downloaded over one million occasions, and we’ve acquired simply tons of actually encouraging suggestions from folks. And I really simply needed to learn a pair feedback and simply hear your ideas on these. Simply three feedback right here. One listener writes, “For me, as an auditory learner, J. H. P.’s audio sticks. It’s straightforward to observe together with. I hear every day. So simply sit again and delight within the phrase of God.” One other listener writes, “I’m a seventeen-year-old senior in highschool, and listening to your podcast soothes my thoughts.” After which only one extra. A listener says, “I simply gave start two months in the past, and now I’m a mother of three, with two youngsters below the age of two. That is such a useful strategy to meditate on God’s phrase after I’m not capable of seize my bodily Bible. I can pop in my headphones whereas I’m feeding my child, and I can hear the phrase of God. It’s so superior.” I might go on. There’s been so many feedback that we’ve acquired like that. What goes by your head whenever you hear folks say that?
Jackie Hill Perry
Oh man. I really feel humbled. I suppose it’s thrilling to listen to folks excited and delighting in and being modified by God’s phrase, particularly by this medium. As a result of when you consider the Bible—these letters and these these books—they had been heard. So I believe we’re partaking with the Scriptures in the identical approach that when the Scriptures had been being written the folks engaged with them. So it’s type of even cool to see the facility of not simply studying Scripture or being preached Scripture however simply listening to Scripture. I believe it affirms what Scripture even says about itself. Both the phrase of God works or it doesn’t.
Matt Tully
I’ve considered that a bit bit. Simply so typically in our tradition and even in our church buildings, the emphasis can so typically be on studying the phrase. And that’s so essential for us to learn god’s phrase, to have a bodily Bible. Clearly, we (Crossway) publish tons of bodily Bibles yearly. However there’s something particular and distinctive about listening to God’s phrase learn aloud. Have you ever skilled that? Even earlier than recording this Bible, have you ever had experiences the place you simply felt like there’s something particular about listening to the Bible learn out loud?
Jackie Hill Perry
Yeah. I’m going to mess this second up, however I keep in mind after I was a reasonably new Christian, we went to this poetry occasion. And this woman acquired up and once more, it’s a poetry occasion, so that you suppose she’s going to do poems, however what she did was recite Scripture. And there was a sentence, and I don’t know what the sentence was, however let’s say it’s John 3:16, she would repeat the sentence over and over, emphasizing totally different phrases. So she stated, “For God so cherished the world, that he gave his solely Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish however have everlasting life. For God so cherished the world, that he gave his solely begotten Son . . . . For God so cherished the world . . . .” And she or he simply would emphasize the phrases, and I had by no means skilled one thing like that in my life, the place it was like simply even the tone and the emphasis that she positioned on totally different phrases made it actually come alive. And that has all the time caught with me. It’s the energy of speaking God’s phrase in a approach that simply does the factor.
Matt Tully
I really feel like I’ve heard you try this. I couldn’t cite a message I’ve heard of yours, however I really feel like I’ve heard you try this in your individual talking and educating.
Jackie Hill Perry
I acquired that from her. I acquired that from her. For certain.
Matt Tully
That’s so cool. What’s one thing about this entire undertaking that stunned you? As you bought into the sales space and you bought recording, had been there issues that had been simply totally different, perhaps good or dangerous, however totally different than what you had been anticipating?
Jackie Hill Perry
I anticipated what I acquired, for essentially the most half. These names, although, man. These names had been robust, and the cities. However it humanized the folks for me. As a result of I needed to mirror and say, You’re saying the title of people who lived, that had life, and that God determined to document in his phrase. And in order that added a stage of significance for me when it felt like going by this infinite family tree and simply all of the issues. It simply felt begrudging. I believe after I remembered that I’m saying out loud the names of people who God knew, and I needed to mirror even again on myself and say, God is aware of my title. He cares about me. He cares about us as people and as a unit. And so I didn’t count on to finish up appreciating the genealogies, however I do now.
Matt Tully
It’s humorous. Along with simply remembering that these had been actual folks, however simply additionally I do know for me typically I can learn the Bible and we type of method the Bible as this particular e-book, as we must always, however we are able to type of neglect that there’s actual historical past right here. These had been actual folks, actual locations, actual occasions, they usually had been folks, in some ways, similar to us at present. Do you are feeling such as you acquired a fair nearer sense of the historicity of the Bible as you had been studying it like that?
Jackie Hill Perry
For certain. However I don’t keep in mind how I felt about it, however I did. I undoubtedly walked away with extra religion after studying it as a result of I believe whenever you learn the entire Bible in a pair months—over the course of some years, too, however like actually concentrated into some months—you get a way of his lordship and his hand over every thing. To see his hand over historical past, after which to mirror and say, Oh! You’re nonetheless the identical. Malachi says it, so certainly your hand remains to be right here. Even when we don’t have a e-book or an epistle to learn that offers us very particular phrases like God’s hand is over your life on Tuesday whenever you stroll down the road, we don’t must know all that as a result of the Bible already tells us that that’s true. I believe I’m extra dedicated now to studying by the entire Bible extra typically for that motive. And I believe all people ought to.
Matt Tully
A lot of our expertise with the Bible will be, and once more, that is all so good, however we are able to do Bible research the place we’re type of one e-book of the Bible or a preacher shall be preaching by one e-book of the Bible expositionally, verse by verse, and there’s simply a lot richness that we get from that method. However typically we type of lose that larger image, that massive swath, that studying the entire Bible in a 12 months, and even much less time, can actually give us.
Jackie Hill Perry
Yeah. It’s essential.
Matt Tully
For me as a guardian, I’ve acquired three younger youngsters, and I do know you may have younger youngsters. I believe you may have 4 younger youngsters, is that proper?
Jackie Hill Perry
Sure.
Matt Tully
I might suppose that if I used to be doing one thing like this, probably the most thrilling issues about this type of a undertaking would simply be understanding that my youngsters would ceaselessly have a recording of their dad studying the Bible. One thing that they might hearken to even lengthy after I’m gone. Did you ever have related ideas as you considered your husband, your youngsters, even your grandchildren sometime?
Jackie Hill Perry
I didn’t, and I really feel like I ought to have! I didn’t, however now, yeah, that’s true. Once I’m useless and gone, they will hearken to the Scriptures in my voice. So I suppose that’s cool. I primarily have considered that when it got here to my books. I don’t know why. I suppose I felt like my books could be simpler preserved, however yeah, that may be a particular factor.
Matt Tully
Would you say that this expertise of studying the Bible—the entire Bible out loud like that—do you suppose that has already had an impression in your writing and talking ministry? Do you see that persevering with to have an effect within the years to return?
Jackie Hill Perry
It’s modified every thing. It actually has modified the sport for me as a result of it’s given me extra instruments in my toolkit. So after I’m having conversations with folks, I’ve simply extra reminiscences of various passages and totally different texts. Once I’m encouraging myself, I simply have extra assets to tug from by which to put my confidence in my religion. Once I’m educating now, I simply suppose otherwise as a result of I do know extra Bible. And so it’s modified every thing for me, as a result of I had by no means sat and browse by the entire Bible. I’ve been within the religion since 2008, and I’ve learn loads of it, however I ain’t by no means sat there and simply learn all of it.
Matt Tully
That’s most likely true for many of us listening right here.
Jackie Hill Perry
To learn by all of Revelation, Amos, Habakkuk, Lamentations, 1 and a pair of Kings, 1 and a pair of Samuel, 1 and a pair of Timothy, Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Numbers—all of it? It’s totally different.
Matt Tully
So I do know that is perhaps a foul query. It’s type of like asking you to select between your youngsters, which isn’t a great query, however in case you needed to choose, what was your favourite e-book of the Bible to learn out loud as a part of this? After which I need to know what your least favourite e-book was to learn, or essentially the most difficult?
Jackie Hill Perry
I’m going to reply it a bit otherwise. I believe the one which was most fun to study from was truthfully 1 and a pair of Samuel and 1 and a pair of Kings, as a result of all of them felt like one steady story actually. In order that was simply attention-grabbing to learn. However I believe my favourite would possibly’ve been the Psalms. Which, duh, however it was the way in which it simply ministered to my coronary heart whereas studying it. It had a simplicity about it. My least favourite by far was Matthew. I really like the Lord, however I didn’t take pleasure in studying Matthew’s work. Matthew has loads of parables. So there’s a repetitiveness to the cadence that simply felt prefer it was irritating me. I can’t even clarify it. If I had a Bible, I might learn it for you. I’m at my pal’s home and I don’t have one. However it was like, “There was a vine dresser, and the vine dresser regarded on the vines and stated, Do you may have three vines?’ And he stated ‘No, I don’t have three vines.’ Effectively, I’ve 4 vines. Effectively, when you’ve got 4 vines and I’ve six vines . . .” It was similar to this type of factor, and it wasn’t fluid. And so to interrupt it up I might typically learn a Gospel with an epistle in order that if I needed to learn this e-book that felt extra redundant in some methods, then I might learn one thing that felt extra simple. So I I didn’t take pleasure in that in any respect.
Matt Tully
If you’re doing a Bible research, these repeated phrases are so useful. You’re type of searching for that as a strategy to get keyed into what actually issues. However I can think about how that might be perhaps more durable to learn in a approach that felt fluid, such as you stated, or type of felt attention-grabbing.
Jackie Hill Perry
It looks like hypnosis. You’re simply saying it time and again. I must keep targeted so to not get into autopilot whereas studying. And John is totally different than Matthew. So I take pleasure in studying John. Perhaps as a result of it doesn’t have 30,000 parables. John felt like a narrative concerning the magnificence magnificence and deity of God whereas Matthew simply felt a lot extra picturesque for me.
Matt Tully
When did you really end the recording? And what was the final e-book? Or perhaps you needed to do some type of pickups after you had been performed with the majority of it, however take us to that second whenever you had been wrapping up the final bit that you simply needed to document and you then type of stated, All proper, that’s it. I’m performed.
Jackie Hill Perry
It’s humorous as a result of my intention was to start out from Genesis to Revelation as a result of I needed to learn it straight so as. And I had did it in my residence workplace whereas I used to be pregnant. Once I had my youngster, the e-book of Genesis didn’t learn properly as a result of I used to be pregnant. So I couldn’t breathe, the tone of it, the breathiness of it. And so I needed to re-record Genesis. And so I completed by re-recording one thing that I had already learn. It felt like an accomplishment. It actually did. I don’t suppose folks can perceive how tough it was and the way a lot of a process it’s to work by the complete Bible utilizing your voice. It felt particular. It felt enjoyable. However it additionally felt like, Thank God I’m performed! Thank God!
Matt Tully
Have you ever listened to the recording?
Jackie Hill Perry
I listened to the primary day of the podcast, and I listened to perhaps the primary chapter of John as soon as it was launched. However I don’t hearken to it typically as a result of I begin to critique myself. So I hearken to Ray Ortlund’s quite a bit. Michael Reeves, proper?
Matt Tully
Yeah. Yeah.
Jackie Hill Perry
These are my go-tos, particularly Ray.
Matt Tully
They’re all so nice. They’re all so good. Jackie, perhaps only one closing query. I ponder in case you can simply mirror a bit bit on what your hope is, and even what’s your prayer, for many who hearken to your recording of the Bible, the complete Bible, whether or not it’s on the podcast, the CDs, or on Audible? What could be your prayer for them as they settle into perhaps their most snug chair, or perhaps they’re on a run, perhaps they’re driving to work, what’s your prayer for them?
Jackie Hill Perry
Intimacy with God, and intimacy that comes by religion. The Bible says religion comes by listening to, listening to of the phrase of God, and intimacy isn’t a follow which you could have other than religion. I’ve to imagine you exist to even speak and to suppose that you simply’ll reply. I’ve to belief God after I’m struggling in order that I can lean into him as a substitute of leaning into idols. And so I suppose that might be my hope is that as folks interact with the Scriptures, that they’re studying one thing of the character of God and the supremacy of Jesus and the finality of his reign and the eternality of his reign and the way he’s good on a regular basis. And so once they return into the world after the podcast is turned off, after the the audio Bible is a wrap, whenever you acquired to return to work, whenever you acquired to return to altering the diapers, whenever you acquired to return into the world, you may have this weight of glory on you that carries you. And in order that’s my hope—intimacy by means of rising in religion, as a byproduct of your data of God.
Matt Tully
Jackie, thanks a lot for taking the time at present to speak with us, to share a bit bit concerning the massive process of recording the entire Bible. We so respect you taking the time at present.
Jackie Hill Perry
Thanks. I respect it.