You’ve probably seen it on a bookstore shelf or popping up in your social feed. It’s got a bold, simple cover and a title that makes some people do a double-take. The Bible by Jesus isn’t a lost archaeological find or some "new gospel" discovered in a cave near the Dead Sea. It’s a book written by Dr. Roy Lamont and it basically takes the New Testament and flips the perspective.
It’s written in the first person.
Imagine Jesus sitting across from you at a coffee shop, or maybe walking down a dusty road, just talking. He isn't talking about himself in the third person. He’s saying "I." This specific approach to the The Bible by Jesus changes the vibe of the text entirely. For some, it’s a breath of fresh air that makes the ancient words feel like a text message from a friend. For others, particularly scholars or those who hold the traditional Greek and Hebrew manuscripts in high regard, it’s a bit controversial. Is it a translation? Not really. It’s a paraphrase. And there’s a massive difference between the two that matters if you’re trying to study the actual history of the First Century.
Why the First-Person Perspective Changes Everything
Standard Bibles are mostly reports. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote down what they saw or what they heard from witnesses. They say things like, "Then Jesus went up on a mountainside." In The Bible by Jesus, that sentence becomes "I went up on the mountainside."
It feels intimate.
The goal of Dr. Lamont was to bridge the gap between "ancient religious text" and "personal relationship." When you read the words of the Great Commission—the part where Jesus tells his followers to go into all the world—and he’s saying "I want you to go," it hits differently than "He said to them." It’s a psychological shift. It removes the narrator. Most people don't realize how much the narrator's voice shapes their reading experience until that voice is gone.
Honestly, we’ve seen this before in other works. Books like The Shack or even The Chosen TV series try to do something similar. They want to humanize the divine. But The Bible by Jesus stays closer to the actual scriptural text than a work of fiction does. It’s more like a creative retelling. It’s a tool for people who feel like the "Thee" and "Thou" of the King James Version—or even the slightly clinical tone of the ESV—keep them at arm's length from the message.
Is It Factually Accurate?
When we talk about the accuracy of The Bible by Jesus, we have to talk about "intent." If you are looking for a word-for-word translation of the Codex Sinaiticus, this isn't it. If you use it for a deep-dive Greek word study on agape versus phileo, you're going to be disappointed.
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It’s a paraphrase.
A paraphrase is basically an author’s interpretation of the meaning of a passage, rewritten in modern language. Think of it like The Message by Eugene Peterson, but with a specific narrative gimmick. Dr. Lamont took the existing English translations and re-worked the syntax. He didn't invent new miracles. He didn't add a fifth gospel where Jesus goes to Japan. He stuck to the canonical stories.
The Limitations of First-Person Writing
There's a catch, though. When you write as if you are Jesus, you have to make editorial choices. You have to decide what his "tone" sounds like. Is he stern? Is he gentle? Is he sarcastic? The Bible doesn't always give us stage directions. So, The Bible by Jesus is inevitably colored by the author's own understanding of Jesus' personality.
- It follows the timeline of the Gospels.
- It includes the letters (Epistles) but frames them as Jesus speaking through his followers.
- It focuses on the emotional resonance of the parables.
Some critics argue that this style can be dangerous because it blurs the line between "God’s Word" and "Man’s Interpretation." If the book says "I felt sad when I saw the crowds," and the original Greek just says "He had compassion," the author is adding a specific emotional layer that might not have been the primary focus of the original writer. It’s a subtle shift, but in theology, subtle shifts are where the big debates happen.
Who Is Dr. Roy Lamont?
You can't really talk about this book without mentioning the man behind the curtain. Roy Lamont wasn't looking to start a new religion. He was a preacher and a writer who wanted to help people get past the "religion" of the Bible and get to the "person." He spent years working on this project. He wasn't some academic ivory-tower type; he was someone who worked in ministry and saw people struggling to connect with the text.
He basically wanted to create a "devotional" experience.
When you read his work, you can tell he’s leaning into the "Red Letter" concept. You know how some Bibles have Jesus' words printed in red? Lamont essentially took the whole New Testament and turned it "red." He didn't just do the Gospels; he even worked through the letters of Paul and Peter. This is where it gets really interesting—and a bit weird for some. How do you make a letter written by Paul to the Romans sound like it's coming from Jesus? Lamont’s solution was to frame it as Jesus speaking through his Spirit to the apostles. It’s a bold creative choice.
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The Cultural Impact of the Bible by Jesus
In the world of Christian publishing, there’s a constant hunger for "freshness." People get bored. They’ve heard the Christmas story and the Easter story a thousand times. The Bible by Jesus tapped into that desire for a new perspective. It’s become a popular gift book. It’s the kind of thing you give to a teenager who thinks the Bible is boring or to an older person who has read their leather-bound Bible until the pages are falling out and wants to see the stories in a new light.
But let’s be real. It hasn’t replaced the NIV or the KJV in churches. You’re not going to see a pastor stand up and say, "Please turn in your The Bible by Jesus to page 42." It’s a supplemental tool. It’s for your bedside table, not the pulpit.
Why It Trends on Social Media
It’s "snackable." Because it’s written in modern, first-person English, it’s very easy to pull a quote from it and put it on an Instagram tile or a TikTok background.
"I am standing at the door of your heart, knocking."
That sounds a lot more immediate than the formal "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." It fits the 2026 aesthetic of "authenticity" and "vulnerability." People want a Jesus who feels accessible.
Comparing the Paraphrase to the Source
To understand why this book exists, you have to compare it to the "Formal Equivalence" translations.
- NASB/ESV: These are "word-for-word." They try to match the Greek grammar as closely as possible. They can be clunky.
- NIV/NLT: These are "thought-for-thought." They prioritize readability but still use third-person narration.
- The Bible by Jesus: This is "narrative-immersion." It prioritizes the feeling of being spoken to directly.
If you’re doing a research paper on the historical Jesus, you use the first category. If you’re at a Bible study, you use the second. If you’re sitting on your porch on a Sunday morning trying to clear your head, you might pick up the third.
There’s a real risk of "eisegesis" here—that’s a fancy seminary word for "reading your own meaning into the text." Because the author is speaking as Jesus, any personal bias the author has becomes "Jesus' words." That’s a heavy responsibility. Scholars like N.T. Wright or Ben Witherington III often remind us that we have to be careful not to make Jesus in our own image. When we read a first-person paraphrase, we have to keep our "discernment" filters turned all the way up.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that this is a "New Age" Bible. It’s not. It doesn't change the core tenets of the Christian faith. It still includes the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the calls to repentance. It’s not "Jesus-lite." It’s just "Jesus-direct."
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Another mistake? Thinking this is a "Catholic Bible" or a "Mormon Bible." It’s generally marketed to a broad evangelical or non-denominational audience. It doesn't include the Apocrypha or any extra-biblical books. It’s just the New Testament, re-imagined.
Actually, some people think it’s a chronological Bible. It isn't specifically designed that way, though it does follow the standard order of the New Testament books. If you’re looking for a timeline-based study, you’re better off with something like The Daily Bible.
How to Use This Book Effectively
If you decide to pick up a copy of The Bible by Jesus, don't make it your only source of information. That’s the best advice any theologian would give you. Use it as a companion.
Read a chapter in the Gospel of John in a standard translation like the NRSV or the CSB. Then, read the same chapter in The Bible by Jesus.
Ask yourself:
- How does the change in perspective change my reaction to the story?
- Does the "I" voice make the commands feel more or less urgent?
- Where did the author add "flavor" text that isn't in the original?
It’s actually a great exercise for the brain. It forces you to stop skim-reading. We’re all guilty of reading the Bible on autopilot. We see the familiar words and our eyes just slide right over them. When the words change to "I did this" and "I said that," it jolts you back into focus.
Real-World Examples of the "First Person" Impact
Think about the story of the Prodigal Son. In a normal Bible, Jesus is telling a story about a father and two sons. In the first-person version, Jesus is telling you a story he made up to show you what his Father is like.
Or the woman at the well. Instead of "He said to her, 'Go, call your husband,'" it’s "I told her, 'Go and bring your husband here.'"
It feels less like a historical record and more like a transcript of a conversation. For someone struggling with loneliness or a sense of disconnection from God, that change is massive. It’s about the psychology of language.
Actionable Insights for Readers
If you're curious about exploring the New Testament through this lens, here is how to handle it properly:
- Check the source: Ensure you are getting the version by Dr. Roy Lamont, as there are various imitations or similar titles that might not have the same level of care.
- Parallel Reading: Keep a standard translation (like the NIV) handy. If a passage in the first-person version sounds "off" or surprising, look up the literal translation.
- Focus on the Gospels: The first-person effect is most powerful in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Start there before moving into the letters.
- Use it for Prayer: Many people find that reading the first-person text helps them transition into prayer, as it feels like the start of a dialogue.
- Acknowledge the Genre: Remind yourself that this is "Devotional Literature," not a "Primary Source." This keeps your theology grounded while allowing your heart to be engaged.
At the end of the day, The Bible by Jesus is a tool for the "heart" more than the "head." It’s about breaking down the walls of tradition to see if the message underneath still has the power to surprise us. Whether you love the idea or find it a bit too "modern," there’s no denying it has changed how thousands of people interact with the most famous book in history.