Category: Bible Reviews

A Pleasant Surprise from Holman, Review of the Holman KJV Minister’s Bible in Black Genuine Cowhide.
Bible Reviews

A Pleasant Surprise from Holman, Review of the Holman KJV Minister’s Bible in Black Genuine Cowhide.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 151

Holman sent this Bible packaged in a cardboard box with some paper padding it.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 137

The retail box was inside.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 139

I had no idea which Bible they had sent me.  I didn’t remember requesting one for review.  I was pleasantly surprised by the arrival of the KJV Minister’s Bible.  When I had originally requested it they were out of stock.  It seems that Holman remembered and sent it when it became available.

When I opened the shipping box I found the retail packaging inside. Keep the two piece gift-box to store your Bible.  This Bible is so supple that it will need to be laid flat for storage.  When I opened the retail box I could see that the Bible was wrapped in a dark colored construction paper to keep it safe from being deformed.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 146 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 147

I like this better than being, “shrink wrapped” with plastic wrap.  Plastic wrap has the tendency to pull the corners down and deform the cover and text block.  If the Bible arrives damaged or during use develops premature wear rest assured, Holman has a lifetime warranty on this product.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 141

I was impressed by the feel of the genuine cowhide leather cover. It was soft and supple.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 157

The Bible is edge lined not case bound.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 153

The edges of the outer cover are rolled over and sewn down.  The spine of the Bible has decorative spine hubs.  They used to be where the signature tapes or ribbons were sewn to the signatures.  The cover would have to be fitted over them which produced the raised hubs.  Now it isn’t an indicator of a sewn binding or not.  You’ll be glad to know this one does have a very flexible sewn binding.  It allows this Bible to do some pretty amazing things and come out unscathed.  It lays flat right out of the box and can even curl back under the spine with both covers at the same time.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 179

I wouldn’t make a practice of that, but it can do it.  When held open with one hand it drapes over your hand.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 177

The spine of the Bible is imprinted with, “KJV” at the top, “Holy Bible” in the Middle, and Holman’s logo at the bottom.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 149

The pages are edge gild with gold colored foil.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 150

There are two very nice quality ribbon markers in this Bible, one is red and the other is black.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 174

The pages are opaque, but could be a little more so.  They have a generous inch wide margin for adding your own notes.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 169

Wide margins are quite helpful for Pastors.  The opacity of the paper is important so that text doesn’t show through the page.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 175

While preaching and looking down at this Bible you should be able to focus on the text and not what is behind it.  The font is equally conducive to preaching.  It is a neat and clean 12 point font that is consistently inked throughout the Bible in this black text edition.  The text is arranged in a double column verse format making it easy to quickly locate verses.  Book names, chapter, and verse are printed on the top of the page along with headings.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 182

There are many aids for Pastors included in this Bible.  Here is a list of some of them; Sixty-six page KJV concordance, eight maps, Where to Turn When, Plan of Salvation, color presentation page, Various wedding and funeral outlines by Jim Henry, “Why Read the King James Version?” by Calvin Miller, “8 Traits of Effective Church Leaders” by Thom S. Rainer, “21 Essentials of Authentic Ministry” by James T. Draper, “Four Kinds of Expositional Preaching” by Ed Stetzer, “30 Keys to Giving an Invitation” by O. S. Hawkins, “Leading a Child to Christ” by Bill Emeott, “Reaching Students with the Gospel” by Lynn H. Pryor, “The Importance of Baptism and Communion” by Rick White, Commitment Counseling, The Christian Year and Church Calendar, The Apostles and Their History, and Table of Weights and Measures.  With all that this Bible offers it would be a wonderful blessing for your Pastor as a gift, even if the Pastor is your Dad.  Pastors shouldn’t feel bad about buying such a nice Bible.  It is money well spent on a product that should last for a long time.

You can purchase it on Christianbook.com, Amazon.com, or direct from Holman.

ISBN-10: 1586409301

ISBN-13: 978-1586409302

Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8 inches

Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds

Intriguing, a Bible that opens from top to bottom you say? Review of the Cambridge KJV Transetto Text Edition Bible
Bible Reviews

Intriguing, a Bible that opens from top to bottom you say? Review of the Cambridge KJV Transetto Text Edition Bible

Bob Snyder2 Comments

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 005

I saw this Bible on the publisher’s web site and was intrigued by it. It was a very novel idea at least and a practical one at best.  Unlike traditionally bound compact or pocket editions this Bible does not open and read like the same.  With a traditionally bound book you would open the front cover from the right to the left and read from the top left to the right and proceed down the page until you move on to the next page to the right and then you would turn the page and continue.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 134

In the picture above I have it laid open on top of a Cambridge Pitt Minion NASB.

In the Transetto you lift the front cover up and you are presented with the two pages becoming one book width page laid out as a double column text format to be read as one page, from to left to right all the way to the bottom of the other open page. Then you would flip up the next page and continue in the same way.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 116 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 117 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 124

The way you read it is not the only unconventional thing about this Bible. The cover is made of a reinforced card paper.  It is not connected to the text block all the way around like a regular book.  It is only glued to the text block on one side while the rest floats freely around the Bible when closed.  When opened and laid flat you can see the individual signatures and how they are sewn together in the spine.  When opened towards the middle of the Bible you can see how the sewn binding allows the Bible’s spine to bend all the way around and back into itself.  This is critical for the success of this kind of binding.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 128 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 120 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 094 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 101 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 100

The only cons of this particular book that I noticed were the corners of the Bible were bent due to the lack of care involved in the shipping process, the flimsy quality of the cover material itself, turning pages up instead of right to left, and the lack of chapter and verse numbers next to the book names on the corners of the pages.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 001 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 002 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 003 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 006 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 090 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 091 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 089

For some reason someone in shipping at Cambridge thought it would be a good idea to package this Transetto KJV with a $250.00 KJV Concord Reference Bible in goatskin leather? The packaging would have been sufficient for just the Concord Bible by itself, but when you cram the Transetto in there on top of it all it is a different story.  The package arrived mostly open due to shipping.  The USPS put a rubber band around it to keep it together.  When I opened the package the box for the Concord Bible was caved in and creased.  Most people like to keep their Bible boxes in nice shape to store their Bibles in.  The Transetto had one corner smashed up about three quarters of an inch.  This wrinkled the pages.  If I had purchased these Bibles instead of getting them gratis for review purposes, I would have had to send the Transetto back for replacement.  This would have cost Cambridge the shipping it should have paid in the beginning as well as a Bible.  Proper shipping saves money and is better customer service and appreciation in the long run.

The cover could be made a bit more sturdy or out of a more flexible fake leather material. They just need to do something a little different to protect the text block.  It is tough to do on an inexpensive, unique binding like the Transetto’s.  It is not a big con, but one nonetheless.

The unique binding makes turning pages counter intuitive. We are all used to doing it the common way so it takes some getting used to.  That being said, it really isn’t a big con either.  How many people have gotten used to hitting a button to turn a page with e-readers?  It’s not a big deal.

It wouldn’t have taken much for Cambridge to put the chapter and verse numbers on the pages along with the book names. It would have made turning to a specific spot much faster.  I can understand why they didn’t do that.  This is a small text Bible meant for reading daily, not as a reference Bible.  We can’t expect too much from something this small and portable.  The main reason for buying this, besides novelty is portability.

cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 122 cambridge kjv, holman ministers kjv and funky lil kjv 121

With all of that in mind, there are more pros than cons or at least the pros are more significant than the cons in my opinion. If you are looking for as compact a Bible as you can find, that is still legible, then this is it.  The layout enables the Bible to use a 7 point font and fill most of the space on the India paper making it easier on the eyes than conventional compact Bibles.  Most conventional compacts use between a 6 point font and a 6.x size font.  You have to buy what they call a large print compact and they are usually thicker and/or bigger in width and height.  So if small, stowable, and legible are your primary concerns for a take anywhere compact then this is a very good option.

ISBN 9780521249294

You want it both ways? So does Thomas Nelson. My Review of the Thomas Nelson Full Color Hardcover 2nd Edition Study Bible.
Bible Reviews

You want it both ways? So does Thomas Nelson. My Review of the Thomas Nelson Full Color Hardcover 2nd Edition Study Bible.

Bob Snyder3 Comments

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 004

First I’m going to address the physical attributes of this Bible and its features with minimal critiques and then I will flesh out my opinions of the essays and notes included in this Bible. Keep in mind that part of the review is highly subjective depending on your theological position.

The Bible arrived sufficiently packaged in a cardboard box.

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 003

It is a pretty big Bible as most study Bibles tend to be.  It measures approximately nine and half by six and three quarters by two inches and weighs a little less than four pounds.  It sells for about thirty three dollars on most internet retail sites.  The Bible has a dust jacket.

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 005 thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 006

I don’t like dust jackets.  They always get in the way.  Some people like to use them to mark their place, but I’d rather have some good quality ribbon markers.  This one only comes with a single brown ribbon marker.

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 016

The hardcover itself is nice enough.  It has kind of a brown marbled look.  It is made in China, but seems to be well manufactured despite that fact.

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 051

The binding is sewn.  The Bible opens and lays flat right out of the box.

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 014

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 017

I expect if it is treated well it should last a long time.  It does have a lifetime warranty.

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 009

It comes with a free download that I found quite useless.  It is not a download of the entire Bible.  Crossway gives you access to their study Bible online when you purchase theirs.   It is laid out really well and makes good use of the full color printing.  It is a double column paragraph format with references in the center column and notes at the bottom of the page.

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 018

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 020 thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 022

Each chapter has a book introduction and outline.  There are full color features like maps, word studies, essays, and photos dispersed throughout.

thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 021 thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 027 thomas nelson nkkv study bible hard cover 025

The impression I got from reading some of the articles and notes is that this is a Bible for the masses. If you are Reformed, you’ll probably want about half of the notes removed.  If you are Arminian you’ll probably want about half of the notes removed.  If you don’t know what either of those are, you’ll probably love this study Bible.  That is just the impression that I got.  It could be that I am being overly sensitive.  Most people will find the notes well balanced between the two predominate theological positions.

An example of that is the language used in the explanation of women’s roles in the Church. It goes to extreme lengths to be sensitive to readers who might not agree with the biblical position and then briefly states the biblical position and then tries to scoot past in hopes of nobody noticing.  This technique usually pleases nobody and only confuses neophytes.  Of course if you wanted a study Bible that was more aligned with your position I imagine you could find one.  I like the MacArthur Study Bible, ESV Study Bible, and the Reformation Study Bible.  When you get a bunch of theologians from different tents within the camp of Christianity together to contribute to a study Bible, you end up with the modern study Bible.  It isn’t supposed to be a systematized theological work.

I actually would recommend the Holman NKJV Study Bible over the Thomas Nelson. You can read my review of it here.  I think the entirety of it is a little more honest and direct.  Think NonDenom vs SBC…  I think that sums it up.

 

 

 

ISBN: 0529114380

ISBN-13: 9780529114389

I received this Bible from the publisher gratis for the purpose of review and am under no obligation to render a positive review.

An outstanding reference Bible and a great value! Review of the Trinitarian Bible Society, Westminster Reference Bible, Authorized KJV, 90U/BK in Black Premium Calfskin Leather.
Bible Reviews

An outstanding reference Bible and a great value! Review of the Trinitarian Bible Society, Westminster Reference Bible, Authorized KJV, 90U/BK in Black Premium Calfskin Leather.

Bob Snyder24 Comments

three bibles 055

Just a little disclaimer first, I am not a KJV only guy. I love the KJV and I do read the KJV, but I also use the NASB as my primary translation.  In addition I use the ESV, NKJV, HCSB, and Geneva.  This should be good news to people looking for an honest, unbiased, review.  The bad news is that I received this Bible gratis from TBS.  Some of you might believe that will make me biased, but if you look at my blog you can see that there are a few publishers represented by reviews of their products, all of which were gratis.  I am under no obligation to give a positive review to any of the books or Bibles I review.

That being said, this is an AMAZING reference Bible! I was very surprised to see the quality of this Bible considering the price they ask for it.  You can purchase one from TBS directly for $80.00 and they use the proceeds to provide Bibles and resources to Christians around the world.  Or you can buy it from evangelicalbible.com for a little less.

TBS took great care in packaging this Bible for shipping. When it arrived at my house it was in a clamshell type cardboard box filled with packing peanuts.  The Bible was placed on top of a foam pad inside the box.

three bibles 052 three bibles 053 three bibles 054

Its retail packaging is a blue clamshell box with product information on it.  Save the box for storage.

three bibles 064 three bibles 060 three bibles 058 three bibles 055

I was so glad to see they took good care to ensure the Bible arrived undamaged.  I have received numerous Bibles that have had bent corners, wrinkled covers, and scratches on them due to insufficient packaging.

When I opened the box I could smell the calfskin leather. It was soft to touch and has a fairly smooth texture.  It isn’t heavily textured.  The cover is lined with typical vinyl looking material that is glued down.  It is a case bound book.

three bibles 071

The first and last pages are glued up higher to ensure the text block is securely fitted to the cover.

three bibles 073

The printing and binding were done by Jongbloed in the Netherlands.  They are well known for producing luxury Bibles like R.L. Allan, Schuyler, and Cambridge.

three bibles 084 three bibles 085

The spine has, “Holy Bible” at the head, “Westminster Reference Bible” in the middle, and the TBS logo at the foot. These are written in gold lettering.  The page edges are gold gilt as well.

three bibles 069

three bibles 070

The binding is smyth-sewn and very flexible. Fresh out of the box the Bible lies flat on the table from the first book to the last.

three bibles 106

When you hold it by the spine it drapes over your hand.  The cover has some rigidity due to the lining.  This is only a con if you are looking for a cover that edge lined.  I have had both types of covers on Bibles.  For a time I thought it was the mark of a good quality Bible to have a lining as flexible as the cover material, but I have come to appreciate some rigidity in the cover.  It helps to hold onto the Bible, if there is something to hold onto.  Some of the Bibles without it are more difficult to read because they are too flexible.  They tend to flop around.  This one has a great quality cover and it adds to the utility of the Bible.  The fit and finish of the text block to cover is very clean and well done.  It is obvious that they are doing this work with honoring God in mind.

The Bible comes with four ribbon markers. There are two red ones in the Old Testament and two black ones in the New Testament.  Both sets of ribbons are good quality and about a quarter inch wide.  I really appreciate this feature.  Often times Bibles only have one ribbon marker if you are lucky.  Sometimes you can get them with two, but four is almost unheard of.  I end up gluing more in on my own.  I love having four.  I can use one from the Old Testament for my daily reading plan and the other for following along with the sermon.  I do the same with the two in the New Testament.

three bibles 105

The first pages are made out of a heavier paper and TBS instead of just leaving them blank has tastefully printed some scripture quotes on each one of them. Instead of being out of place, they were quite a propos and well done.  After that we have a presentation page on the same paper, and then the paper changes over to Bible paper for the, Translators to the Reader, Epistle dedicatory, and the, Guide to Using the Westminster Bible, pages.

three bibles 081

At the beginning of the books there are verses that are helpful for the reading of each book and the Chapter numbers are larger and bold. The text is in a double column verse format with over 200,000 references printed on the gutter and page edge sides of the page.  I love these cross references, the TBS Westminster lives up to the claim of being a reference Bible.  They aren’t there to be pretty.  They actually are relevant to what you are reading.  One of my favorite features, is the archaic words are in the margin with an * by them in the text and in the margin.  In the margin you get the modern word or short definition.  This makes reading the KJV much simpler.

three bibles 095 three bibles 099

In the top outside of the page you get the Book and Chapter, the inside has the heading, while the bottom outside has the page numbers. The font is clear and sharp 9.6 point, with consistent ink distribution making it quite legible and easy on the eyes.  The paper is opaque and a bit thicker than some of the very thin paper used in lesser Bibles.  It is a bit off white, but not so much as to diminish the contrast against the text.

At the back of the Bible there is a, Tables of Weights and Measures, List of Words and Proper Names with their Pronunciations, Daily Reading Plan, Maps and an extensive concordance. I was impressed with the size of the concordance.  Most Bibles have one, but generally they are little more than a few pages.  This one is actually large enough to be useful.

After spending some time using this Bible and reading from it, I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a King James Version Reference Bible. I have some Local Bible Publishers Bibles and the TBS is superior in the printing and binding.  Compared to the ones made in China and Korea the TBS wins hands down.

ISBN: 9781862281684

Review of the Lockman Foundation, Large Print, Ultrathin, Reference Bible, in Black Calfskin Leather.
Bible Reviews

Review of the Lockman Foundation, Large Print, Ultrathin, Reference Bible, in Black Calfskin Leather.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

three bibles 140

I’m kind of biased because I love the NASB translation and Lockman Foundation… but, I know there is always a, “but” after the review starts the way this one did.  The, “but” in this case is the hit and miss nature of  some of the Chinese manufacture processes.  This would have been a great Bible if fit and finish quality of the work were better.  This is $100.00 Bible and should reflect that in the finished quality.  Their was a section in the back where the overly thick card paper edge was glued improperly so that the white paper edge was visible and exposed.

three bibles 178

also on the front of the Bible the card paper was splitting on the bottom corner.  I don’t know if it was not glued well, bent during shipping from China, or the card paper that was used was just to thick and rigid for this application. three bibles 147

The Head and foot areas of the Bible could do with more precise attention to quality.

The notches could be smaller.

three bibles 148

The ribbon markers could be a thicker, higher grade of ribbon. three bibles 169 Lockman needs to move away from using the higher clay content shiny paper for the presentation pages and maps and move to a flat paper.  The glossy ones are too prone to falling out.  The presentation page should have been a couple of pages in so that you could actually write on it.  It is glued to the card paper that attaches to the binding and cover.

three bibles 154

I think if Lockman Foundation left the manufacture of their Bibles that cost less than $50.00 in China it would be alright, but with their middle and top end products they really need to bring it back home.  They sent me a copy of the hardcover Charles Stanley text Bible that is made here in America and it was excellent.  I loved the paper and the binding. If this Bible got the same treatment it would be worth the $100.00 price tag, but as it is I would have to pass.  They did send this Bible to me for free to be reviewed on my blog. With all the cons, I don’t want you to get the idea that this Bible does nothing right.  It has a sewn binding, and a calfskin cover.  It includes two ribbon markers and it is pretty thin considering that it is a real reference Bible.  You get all the benefits of a full reference Bible with a pretty thin profile. The Side Column Reference Bible I did a review on previously had more attention paid to fit and finish.  It was better so I overlooked some of the smaller cons like the opaqueness, excessively notched near the head and foot, and ribbon quality.  The opaqueness isn’t near as bad as other Bibles I’ve seen.  I just mention it because it isn’t as good as some in the same price range.  It seems like a more flexible card paper was used to connect the cover and text block on the side column reference which I love. This one con seems to cause others or make them more noticeable.  It is difficult to design the perfect Bible because, well it is subjective.  We like what we like though, so you can either make a ton of variations and try to please a lot of people, or you can make a few, really well made Bibles and hopefully sell a bunch of them to a smaller crowd. The bottom line is that you still get a great translation, in a sewn binding that is very flexible and lays flat, with genuine calfskin cover.  If you order one and it is good it will be very good.  If not, it has a lifetime warranty.  Just mail it back for a replacement.  I’m sure Lockman Foundation will stand behind their product.  I would just suggest they make these here in America or lower the price. Features, Ultrathin, large print 10 point font, making it easy on the eyes, double column verse format with center column references, Black letter edition, 8 pages of full color maps, Concordance, 2 Ribbon markers, gilt page edges, Presentation page, Family record pages, Gilded edges, Smyth Sewn, Printed on high-opacity paper to limit bleed-through, Lifetime guarantee, Black Calfskin leather.

Review of the Holman HCSB Electric Blue Large Print Compact Colormax Bible.
Bible Reviews

Review of the Holman HCSB Electric Blue Large Print Compact Colormax Bible.

Bob Snyder2 Comments

three bibles 005

This is kind of an odd little Bible. It is odd because of the cover color, material, and size of it.  The cover is smooth and shiny.  It reminds me of candy apple blue car paint.  The cover is smooth and shiny like the corfam oxford dress shoes the Marines wear.  You know the ones that never need polishing.

three bibles 006 three bibles 013

It is flexible, but the binding is stiff.  I think that’s because it’s a tight binding.  The cover is lined with some blue paper.

three bibles 014

On the spine of the Bible the word, “Colormax” is printed in silver colored letters, and then the logos on the top and bottom.

three bibles 002

The pages are gilded with silver colored foil.

three bibles 004

The size of the Bible puts it in between a true compact and a small reference Bible.  It is thicker than most of the compact Bibles.  This is good in the sense that the font can be larger, but it doesn’t lend itself to going into a pocket or a bag as easy.  I would say it would be good in a lunch box, or backpack.  I think that was kind of the idea with this one.  The cover is obviously aimed at younger people.

This is a red letter edition of the HCSB text with 7 point font.

three bibles 032

The printing is clear and legible and the pages are opaque enough to limit ghosting.  The read text is bold, but not distracting.  It is dual column paragraph format.  There are limited references at the bottom of the page this makes more of the page real estate available to font size.  This makes it easier to read.

This Bible was made in South Korea.

three bibles 020

It seems the quality is better than many of the Chinese made Bibles.  There is one ribbon marker that matches the color scheme in silver.

three bibles 044

This Bible was shipped in a white plastic bag.  The retail packaging is a multicolored card-paper sleeve.

The topical concordance and “where to turn” index were very limited, but helpful, especially for younger or less mature Christians. You should already expect that when buying a compact.  The fact that it has any extra features is a bonus value in my mind.  It also includes, presentation page, eight maps, a, “how to use the Bible” page, plan of salvation, table of weights and measures, Titles of Jesus, and HCSB introduction and bullet notes.

After using this Bible for a while it loosened up a bit. The cover still doesn’t close right after bending it up a bunch.

three bibles 041

You kind of have to wait for it or put something on it.  The good news is that it appears to be a sewn binding.  So regardless of if you like the cover or not the Bible should hold up pretty well.  I kind of got a kick out of bringing this little Bible to Church last Sunday and showing it around to some of the fellas.  For the price, under twenty dollars, this is a nifty little Bible.  I think it would make a great Bible for the young person in your life.  Inexpensive enough to not be worried about the rigors of youth, and decent build quality to hold up to some abuse.

Dimensions: 5.67 X 4.00 X 1.13 (inches)

ISBN: 1433614448

ISBN-13: 9781433614446

 

I was given this Bible for free to review on my blog and am not required to give a positive review.

Review of the Holman, New King James Version, (NKJV) Large Print, Personal Size, Reference Bible, in Brown Genuine Cowhide, Indexed, Red Letter Edition.
Bible Reviews

Review of the Holman, New King James Version, (NKJV) Large Print, Personal Size, Reference Bible, in Brown Genuine Cowhide, Indexed, Red Letter Edition.

Bob Snyder9 Comments

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 001

Not too many Bibles from large publishers like Holman surprise me. This one is the exception.  I am accustomed to receiving Bibles from big publishers that are for lack of a better term, “disposable.”  Many of them seem to make Bibles that you can use for a couple of years and then have to throw it away when it begins to fall apart.  This Bible truly surprised me.  It came in the mail packed in a white plastic bag-elope.  I was immediately expecting some substandard, mass produced, mail abused, Bible.  I opened the bag and didn’t notice any damage to the box…  bonus!  I was glad that the corners weren’t mashed.  I opened the box (keep the box for storage) and was presented with black construction paper.

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 005 holman nkjv large print personal size reference 006 holman nkjv large print personal size reference 007 holman nkjv large print personal size reference 008

I seriously hoped that wasn’t the cover.  Upon closer inspection I determined that the black construction paper was there to protect the supple and soft genuine cowhide cover.  It smelled like a new leather jacket and the texture was very pleasant.

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 009

One of the most important parts of a Bible is the binding.  Naturally I checked that next.  I was pleased to see that it had a sewn binding.  This makes a Bible last longer and lay flat when you want to read it.

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 043 holman nkjv large print personal size reference 044

Have you ever had to struggle against an intrusive and rude cover made of bonded leather, always trying to close on you?  Have you ever had a fake leather cover get stained, scuffed, or torn?  Well I have, and that is why I love genuine leather and goatskin covers with sewn bindings so much.  This Bible’s chocolate brown colored leather cover is lined with a vinyl sheet matching the cover’s color.  The lining is glued down.  This is pretty typical.  I was hoping to see it lined with a higher quality material sewn to the cover, but for the price of this Bible and the features it has I can’t complain.

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 039

This Bible can be purchased for about $48.00 on a couple of different web sites. Christianbook.com has it here and Amazon.com here.  I was a bit surprised to see that this Bible was made in China.

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 020 holman nkjv large print personal size reference 002

I was surprised because they seemed to have put it together pretty well.  There is a slight problem with the binding at the bottom, but that could be one of the drawbacks of having it banged around during shipping from China to the States.  It didn’t look like a manufacturing problem as much as shipping damage.  The pages are gilded and indexed.

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 010 holman nkjv large print personal size reference 027

The indexes caught my eye as they are rectangular with rounded shoulders.  The usual ones are crescent shaped.  The New Testament ones were red and the Old Testament ones were black.  The spine is gilded with the, NKJV in a circle at the top, and, “Holy Bible” in the middle, with Holman’s logo at the bottom.  The spine has decorative hubs.

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 011

When you open this Bible up you first have the normal presentation and records pages as well as the publishers information.  Then there is some info on the NKJV translation and a page with the plan of salvation.  I was expecting cheaper paper that was more translucent, smaller font, and more ghosting. (text from the page behind showing through)  I was very pleasantly surprised again.  The paper was pretty opaque for a less expensive Bible.  Well, even for some more expensive Bibles it was pretty opaque.

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 031 holman nkjv large print personal size reference 025

The font looks to be twelve point and is clear and legible.  The Bible is a double column, paragraph format with some foot notes and references at the bottom of the page.  This was a smart move.  Doing it this way enabled them to print some large font while keeping the size down.  This was going to become my daily reader until my dear wife picked it up.  I think to quote her she said, “Oooh this is so soft and nice…  Can I have it?”  What can you do? This Bible has one ribbon marker matching the color of the cover.

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 041

It opens nicely and is very easy to read.  I love the accuracy of the NKJV.  This Bible has some colored maps at the end.  I highly recommend this Bible for those looking for a daily reader without a bunch of distractions.  It is comfortable to hold and easy on the eyes with the opaque paper and large font.  All of this with the low price makes it an excellent value and asset.

Dimensions: 8.13 X 5.38 X 1.13 (inches)
ISBN: 1433613190
ISBN-13: 9781433613197

I received this Bible free of charge for the purpose of writing a review and am not obligated to write a positive review.

Review of the 1560 Edition Geneva Bible in Genuine Black Leather from Hendrickson Bibles.
Bible Reviews

Review of the 1560 Edition Geneva Bible in Genuine Black Leather from Hendrickson Bibles.

Bob Snyder5 Comments

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 009

I requested this Bible from Hendrickson for review on my blog not knowing if they would send one or not. I had never done any reviews for them as of yet. I am happy to say that they sent me one without any begging or reminding. The Bible arrived packed in a cardboard box with an airbag cushion.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 001 1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 002

Upon opening the box I found that it was in a two piece retail box.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 005 1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 006

Inside it the Bible was wrapped in shrink wrap.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 009

The genuine leather cover was pretty stiff. After picking this Bible up I could understand why that was so.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 013

This is a monster of a Bible. It is large to say the least. The inside cover is paper lined with vinyl glued to the cover.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 014

The Bible has one ribbon marker of mediocre quality.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 019

The Bible was printed in China.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 023

The page edges are gold gilt as well as the spine. The spine has the words, “The Geneva Bible 1560 Edition Hendrickson Bibles” on it.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 012

This Bible has a sewn binding which is quite flexible for a Bible this size. The sewn binding allows it to lay flat brand new, out of the box.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 015

The paper is good and opaque. It has to be for the small size of the original print.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 024 1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 017

Of course the most important feature of this Bible and most likely the reason you are considering buying it is that it is a facsimile Bible of the 1560 Geneva Bible translated by the Reformers Calvin, and Knox and cherished by the Puritans. It is the Bible that predates the King James and was brought to America by the Puritans on their quest for religious freedom and to glorify God. The makers of this facsimile scanned existing copies of the 1560 Geneva Bible and cleaned it up as best they could before printing it on good paper and binding it together.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 043

The old print can be difficult to read as it is small and not up to modern standards. The notes and references are great! I love being able to peak back into history and see what they thought was important to note during the Reformation. You should get this and read what they said about Rome 🙂 ahem… That is why they were hiding in Geneva. It also includes the Apocrypha.

1560 hendrickson Geneva Bible 042

The book introductions are full of history. The chapter numbers are Roman numerals. The letters are early modern English. “v” for “u” and “f” for “s” and the like. It can be a bit difficult to use as an everyday Bible, but as a study in history and for comparison to modern translations it is a great tool. Especially good for when someone repeats the liberal mantra of, “The Bible is so messed up from being translated a gazillion times…” Just whip out your handy Geneva and show ’em who’s boss! Enjoy the pics at the bottom of the page and if yov haue any qvestiones be ye not afraid to comment on the article.

“…Facsimile of the University of Wisconsin Press edition of the 1560 Geneva Bible
Features clear, legible type throughout (marginal commentary is in smaller type)
Complete, original marginal commentary, maps and woodcut illustrations
Authoritative introduction to the Geneva Bible by Lloyd E. Berry

Genuine Leather
Vendor: Hendrickson Publishers
Publication Date: 2007
Dimensions: 9.75 X 7.75 X 2.5 (inches)
ISBN: 1598562134
ISBN-13: 9781598562132
…“Christianbook.com

I received this free of charge for the purpose of writing a review. I am not obligated to write a positive product review.

 

Review of the Cambridge Pitt Minion Bible in Black Calf Split Leather
Bible Reviews

Review of the Cambridge Pitt Minion Bible in Black Calf Split Leather

Bob Snyder4 Comments

Cambridge pitt minion 002

The Pitt Minion Bible from Cambridge came in a clamshell type box.

Cambridge pitt minion 006 Cambridge pitt minion 001

It would be good to hold onto and use for storing this Bible. The calf split leather is much more durable and rigid than then a Bible bound in goatskin leather, or faux leather, however, it is more flexible than one bound in bonded leather. Bonded leather is made from leather scraps, and dust. It is bonded together with adhesive and formed into sheets. This type of Bible cover is usually very rigid and you have to fight against it to keep your Bible open, or to make it lay flat. Being made of scraps makes this type of cover very inexpensive. The Pitt Minion from Cambridge I received for review was covered in genuine calf split leather. It has durability and flexibility, granted it isn’t as supple as goatskin, or top grain leather but, it will hold up much better than just about anything out there. It lays flat on the table, yet it is also rigid enough to be held up and read. It is also pretty small.

Cambridge pitt minion 045

This is great if you are sitting in a chair and reading. The inside cover is lined with what appears to be typical vinyl lining.

Cambridge pitt minion 014

The binding is smyth-sewn. This is the major factor that contributes to its durability and flexibility. Sewn bindings are more expensive to manufacture do to the many steps that are taken to produce them. The pages are folded into pamphlets called journals. These are then stacked and sewn to journal tapes. These are all sewn together. This is more time and resource consuming than glued bindings. Most inexpensive Bibles that fall apart after a couple of years are made with glued bindings. Even the best glued binding cannot compete with a good sewn binding in durability and flexibility. If you want a Bible you can hand down to your children, buy one with a sewn binding.

Let’s face it, if you are interested in a Bible this size it is because you want one to carry around with you. It isn’t for the size of the font. The font for the Bible text is 6.75 point. The lexicon font is 7 point. This is pretty small. It is printed clean and sharp. It is a consistent black that contrasts well with the paper it is printed on.

Cambridge pitt minion 036

It is printed by Jongbloed (Youngblood) of the Netherlands. Jongbloed is famous for their high quality and attention to details. They have been producing luxury Bibles since 1880. The quality of the print job does make it easier to read than less expensive, lower quality printings. Other companies skimp on paper quality. The paper is too transparent and not opaque enough so the text from the other side of the page bleeds through making it more difficult to read. This is not a problem on the Cambridge Pitt Minion. Even with its small font it is easy to read compared to its competitors. I have a Trinitarian Bible Society Bible, Royal Ruby Text Bible. It is smaller and has smaller text. When you compare the two the difference in the font size is obvious. It isn’t much of a difference, but it makes a huge difference in the work you have to do to focus and read. Hopefully most of us are buying Bibles to read.

FSCN1177 DSCN1175 DSCN1174

You can see it in comparison to the Cambridge Clarion in the pictures below.

Cambridge pitt minion 050 Cambridge pitt minion 049 Cambridge pitt minion 048 Cambridge pitt minion 047

The Clarion is bigger all around.  It is more to carry and too large for some situations

The Pitt Minion has gilded page edges and spine. The spine is rounded and imprinted with, “Holy Bible” “New American Standard” at the top and “Cambridge” at the bottom.

Cambridge pitt minion 009 Cambridge pitt minion 008 Cambridge pitt minion 013

The first and last page is glued up higher to keep the text block firmly attached to the cover. This also keeps the pages in the front and back from falling out or separating as easily as they do without this detail.

Cambridge pitt minion 025

There are five blank pages and one presentation page in the front of the Bible.

Cambridge pitt minion 027

The text is arranged in paragraph format in dual columns with references in the center column. There are footnotes as well. Chapters have headings and the Chapter numbers are bold and larger in size.

Cambridge pitt minion 019

There is one black ribbon marker.

Cambridge pitt minion 017

The words of Christ are in red. The red ink is not offensive in its brightness or contrast. It blends in with the text around it. Of course the entire Bible is the word of God so highlighting part of it as the word of God can seem silly to some, yet to others it is a nice feature to have. It helps them recognize when the 2nd person of the Trinity is speaking.

Cambridge pitt minion 023

At the end of the Pitt Minion there is an 83 page concordance and color map index for the 15 pages of maps. At the end there are 7 blank pages.

Cambridge pitt minion 037 Cambridge pitt minion 040 Cambridge pitt minion 041

I have to admit, after carrying this Bible around with me for a while I can appreciate the size and convenience it offers. It has some very important features and the attention to detail makes the higher price less of an issue. The only thing that disappoints me a bit is the paragraph format. I am a fan of the verse per line or the verse format. It helps me look up and identify the verse I’m after more quickly. It is a small thing in comparison to all you get in this Bible. You can spend the money for this one up front, or buy a new $20.00 Bible every couple of years. This one makes more sense in the long run. We should invest in God’s word. I know I would have loved to receive my Fathers Bible after he died. It would be a nice feeling to read the word of God from the same Bible as he held in his hands for many years. Unfortunately, Dad never had access to Bibles of this quality. I hope to leave some well-worn Bibles to children when I go on to glory. I hope you feel that way to.

Here is a youtube video from Jongbloed’s facility; http://youtu.be/5r_CzfaCAOg

ISBN 13: 9781107686885

Review of the Lockman Foundation, NASB, Topical, Reference Bible, Hardcover, Red Letter Edition.
Bible Reviews

Review of the Lockman Foundation, NASB, Topical, Reference Bible, Hardcover, Red Letter Edition.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

nasb topical 001

This edition is just the right size to carry around. The hardcover reduces the cost and also improves the durability in my opinion compared to some synthetic covers. The hardcover also helps if you want to sit in a chair and read instead of at a table. The hardcover keeps the pages from flopping around while you are reading.

nasb topical 004 nasb topical 003 nasb topical 007 nasb topical 002

The sewn binding ensures that this Bible opens beyond flat when held and lays flat on a table or desk right out of the box. You won’t be fighting against the cover of this Bible while reading it, matter of fact, it helps you.

nasb topical 010 nasb topical 009 nasb topical 011 nasb topical 008

The nine point font makes this easy on the eyes. It is clearly printed against a white paper giving you good contrast. This edition does have the words of Christ in Red. The red might not be as bright as some other publishers use, but this seems less intrusive to my eyes. The binding is sewn as I mentioned earlier. Between the binding and the spine being rounded this Bible opens up very well.

nasb topical 006 nasb topical 005 nasb topical 010 nasb topical 011 nasb topical 021

I wouldn’t let the fact that this Bible was made in China stop you from buying it.

nasb topical 018

It is a little jewel. 255 pages of topics at the front of this Bible in alphabetical order make it easy to look up most of the things a person might want to look up.

nasb topical 024 nasb topical 025

After the 255 pages of topics you have a full Old and New Testament Bible.

nasb topical 031 nasb topical 028 nasb topical 030 nasb topical 029

It is in double column format with center column references. The text is in paragraph format. After the Bible we have 210 pages of dictionary/concordance/thesaurus and after that, Genealogy of Jesus, God’s Promises, Miracles of Jesus, Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, Parables of Jesus, Titles of Jesus, Introductions to the books of the Bible, a year Bible reading plan, and maps at the end. The maps are printed on a glossy paper like the presentation, and records pages at the beginning of the Bible.

Contains over 20,000 topics and sub-topics cross referenced to over 50,000 verses. Topics were researched and prepared by Biblical scholars, and include contemporary topics relevant to today’s issues.
Also includes a 4,200 entry dictionary—concordance—thesaurus and over 95,000 center-column cross-references to enrich your reading. ISBN-13: 9781581351477

Disclaimer, I received this Bible free from the publisher for review purposes. I am in no way obliged to write a positive review.