Need a Chinese language New Testament? Review of the Mandarin CSB/CUV Parallel New Testament, Black Bonded Leather from Holman.

December 25, 2014 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

This New Testament in CSB/CUV according to what I’ve read is very clear and easy to understand. I do not understand Chinese. I am reviewing this New Testament from a quality and value perspective. I received it gratis from Holman for the purpose of review. This New Testament was well packaged and arrived in great condition. It was shipped in a box with a couple other books; a copy of, “Learn to Read New Testament Greek” and the workbook, “Learn to Read New Testament Greek, Workbook.” I will be doing more in depth reviews of those resources throughout the coming year. Obviously, learning Greek will be an ongoing adventure and require more than a week to do the review of those resources.

The New Testament provided is a parallel, meaning that it presents both the text from the Chinese Standard Bible (CSB) and the Chinese Union Version. (CUV)

The cover is black bonded leather.

If you are not familiar with bonded leather it is made from leather scraps that are bonded together with adhesive and died to the desired color. It is less expensive and pretty durable. It doesn’t hold up as well as leather and is not as flexible. The inside of the cover is lined with black paper glued down.

It appears to have a sewn binding.

This will add to the durability. There is a presentation page and some publication notes with translation notes.

There is one black ribbon marker and the page edges are gilded.

The words of Christ are in red.

The paper is very opaque. The hanzi characters are printed clearly with sufficient contrast to make out all of the details.

There is even a concordance of Chinese hanzi characters in the back. Included are some colored maps. If you know someone whose first language is Chinese and they are interested in knowing more about Jesus this is a good value for evangelism. It is not so expensive that you couldn’t afford to buy several of them, and it is made well enough to last them for a while. If your primary language is Chinese and you would like a New Testament to carry around as you witness to people this one would fit the bill. It is a good value at around eleven dollars from some retail sites.

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Bible Reviews

Wow, the Cambridge Cameo KJV Bible in Brown Vachetta Calfskin Leather is a Triumph of Form and Function!

December 24, 2014January 8, 2015 Bob Snyder5 Comments

I received this Bible from Cambridge gratis for review purposes. It arrived sufficiently packaged in a cardboard box with one other Bible.

They did not deform or break through their packaging and the Bibles were in perfect shape when they were delivered.

Upon opening the box I was presented with the clamshell retail box, which should be retained for storage purposes. The Bible inside the box was instantly striking in appearance. I am accustomed to many different qualities of cover material. When I picked the Cameo up out of the box I was struck by the soft texture of this type of calfskin leather. The grain was smoother with smaller pebbling compared to goatskin leather.

I was expecting a darker brown with a texture like other top grain cowhide Bibles. I was pleasantly surprised. This calfskin was smoother and soft. The front of the Cameo is hot stamped with, “Holy Bible” in gold. There is a channel pressed into the leather around the perimeter of the cover.

On the spine of the Cameo is, “Holy Bible” at the top, “King James Version” in the middle, and the Cambridge Logo at the bottom. They are all hot stamped in gold.

The page edges are beautifully art gilded with red under gold.

The construction of the Cameo is top-notch. In addition to having a wonderful cover that will last a lifetime, it has a sewn binding that will last as long as the cover. Because of these two fine qualities the Cameo is a pleasure to hold and read. The Bible opens well and lays flat easily without being overly flexible.

This edition does everything right. The only way this could be any better is if it were in NASB.

The inside cover is lined with vinyl that is glued down. The corners are finished nicely.

There are two ribbon markers that match the color of the cover as well.

Some less expensive Chinese or Korean Bibles try to entice you with a very supple calfskin cover lined with calfskin or another very flexible material. Then, they drop the ball with either the paper or the fit and finish. That is not so with the Cameo from Cambridge. The paper is nice and opaque. The font is a cleaned up 8 point, Petit Medieval Clarendon type. It is bold and easy to read. The text is arranged in a double column verse format with center column references.

In the front of the Cameo you have publication information page followed by a nice presentation page.

After that is the text of the KJV. Lastly, there is a very useful concordance in the back along with 15 color maps that are indexed.

I know there is a big trend now for the single column paragraph formats. Personally, I find it more difficult to focus on during reading in my home. I have a busy house and am always getting interrupted. As a consequence I routinely lose my place and have to look for where I left off so that I can resume reading. The paragraph format has all of the tiny verse numbers dispersed through the text and finding them or remembering where you left off can be a bit more tedious. I find it easier to pick up where I left off if I can find the verse quickly. This is my personal preference.

The Cameo is a delightful size Bible to hold and read anywhere. I can sit in my recliner and read it, I can read it in bed, I can read it on my work break, and I can read it while I drive… I was just checking to see if you were still awake. Never read and drive! Seriously, seldom will you find a combination of form and function like the Cameo.

Here the Cameo is compared to the Concord.

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ISBN: 0521146100

isbn: 9780521146104

KJV Cameo Reference Red Letter Edition KJ455:XR Brown Calfskin Leather

Bible Reviews

Do you want a large print compact NASB? Review of the Lockman Foundation Large Print Compact Text Edition in Burgundy Leathertex.

December 17, 2014December 19, 2014 Bob Snyder3 Comments

Review of the Lockman Foundation Large Print Compact Text Edition in Burgundy Leathertex.

As usual Lockman did a fine job of packing and shipping the Bible to me.

This edition is not expensive. If you have high expectations you will be disappointed. This Bible sells for about $20.00 it is produced in China.

I’m not making excuses here, but there are some things you need to consider when criticizing a Bible. I know some people have complained about the print and the paper on this edition. They aren’t wrong. The paper could be a bit more opaque or the print could be a bolder type face. It would be much easier on the eyes if that were the case.

What would the consequences of that be? Well, if the font were a bolder type face and stayed 9 point, it would take up more space on the page necessitating more pages. This edition is already pretty thick at about 1 3/16” not to mention that they have already taken out the references and made it single column paragraph format.

There isn’t much in the way of helps either. There aren’t any maps to remove to make this thinner. So what about the paper? Well, same problem if you make a thicker paper that is a higher g.s.m. then the Bible gets thicker. It’s just the laws of physics in a finite world folks. I hate to be a bummer.

This Bible tries to fill a niche that definitely is there. I’ve heard many people complain that they want a nice clean, compact, text edition of the NASB in paragraph format. The Cambridge Clarion is pretty close, but it costs almost $200 dollars in goatskin. You could opt for the calf split leather for around $105-$115 but that is still pretty expensive. So let’s look at what you are getting for $20.00 instead of what you aren’t getting.

This edition has 9 point font, the words of Christ in red arranged in a single column text format with limited footnotes at the bottom of the page.

It has a sewn binding and is covered in leathertex which is modern synthetic leather. It has a cross stamped on the front with a channel around the perimeter.

On the spine is printed, “New American Standard Bible” in large letters from one end to the other.

The page edges are gilded. There is one ribbon marker that matches the burgundy color of the cover. The ribbon is pretty thin and narrow. The inner liner is vinyl and color matched to the cover. It is glued down. There are decorative head and foot bands. You have a presentation page printed on Bible paper and not card paper. Then, you have the copyright page, followed by the foreword with translation explanation. Before the text begins you have a table of contents. After the text of the Bible you have one page of the, “Parables of Jesus” then, four pages of, “Important Events in Christ’s Life According to the Gospels” three pages of, “God’s Promises” and next, two pages of, “Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ” and lastly, one page of, “The Miracles of Jesus.” The outside cover closed measures 7 5/16” long by 5 1/4” wide by 1 3/16” thick.

This is exactly what it is labeled. You can’t expect it to be everything you wanted in a Bible. There are going to be compromises when you make a large print, compact, text edition. I know this review sounds like an apology. I really wanted to like this Bible, but the truth is that it is a bit hard on the eyes due to the seemingly skinny font and thin paper.

For the money though, it is an excellent value and the perfect size to carry with you. The font is much larger than a 6 point font and you really haven’t gained that much in size over a traditional compact edition. I would recommend this Bible for people with good eyes that aren’t going to do long reading sessions. It would be good for break room reading or whenever you have a few minutes.

ISBN: 1581351569

ISBN-13: 9781581351569

Bible Reviews

Need a Large Print Personal Size Reference Bible? Holman Has a Great Value for You.

December 15, 2014 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Let’s look at the Holman HCSB Personal Size Reference Bible, red letter edition, in Brown Genuine Cowhide, with indexes.

Holman shipped this Bible in a cardboard box and cushioned it with paper packaging material.

The two piece retail box should be kept for storage.

Holman wraps their genuine cowhide Bibles with construction paper to make them keep their shape and prevent damage while being shipped. When I opened the retail package I was presented with the wrapped Bible. After removing the wraps, they chocolaty brown genuine cowhide is revealed.

It has the feel of a quality Bible to it. It also has an affordable price. The cowhide is supple and soft.

The cover is lined with vinyl on the inside and glued down. This adds a bit of rigidity to the cover, but in my opinion just as much as is needed to make it easier to hold and read. Some Bibles are too floppy.

This Bible is about 8.25″ x 5.75″ x 1.25″ It is a very convenient size to carry around in your hand or in a medium bag of some kind. It is too large for a small lunch box or purse. I like the size of it for use in a chair without a table or desk. The overall dimensions and format are conducive to reading even though it is not a readers edition.

The spine of the Bible has at the top, “HCSB” and the logo above it, and, “Holy Bible” in the middle, and then, Holman’s logo at the bottom in gold. The spine is also decorated with hubs reminiscent of the raised hubs that were produced by the journals being sewed to the journal cords before the use of thinner journal tapes. Today as a rule they are decorative. They do add a bit of appeal to a Bible.

This Bible has a modern sewn binding. It is pretty comparable to the other Bibles from China with a sewn binding. Holman seems to do a better job of quality control than some of the other publishers I have seen that produce for the same market. The bindings we see from Jongbloed in the Netherlands are still a cut above. That is why they work for the luxury crowd. For a great value, this fits the bill. You can take it all over and not feel like a sinner for indulging in a $250.00 Bible, and you have the added benefit of not worrying it gets a wrinkled page.

The pages are gilded.

There is one narrow ribbon marker that matches the color of the cover.

There is a copyright page showing that this Bible was made in China. Then after that is a Table of Contents, How to Use the Bible, Gospel Presentation, Translation Notes, and then the text of the Bible begins. It is arranged in a two column paragraph format with end of paragraph cross-references, and footnotes at the bottom of the page. This setting is less cluttered making it easy to read. The font is a 10.5 point font that is printed clearly and sharply on the page.

The paper could stand to be a bit thicker. In this edition the words of Jesus are printed in red.

I like the way the indexes are cut on this Bible they are rectangular with rounded corners instead of the more common crescent shape. The Old Testament ones are gold text on black and the New Testament ones are gold text on red.

After the book of Revelation you have, HCSB Bullet Notes, Table of Weights and Measures, Where to Turn, Titles of Jesus, Messianic Scriptures that Jesus Fulfilled, a brief Topical Concordance, and finally eight color maps. I found the Where to Turn section useful for new Christians as well as the section on prophecies fulfilled by Christ.

My overall impression of this Bible is that is a good quality workhorse for daily reading. It isn’t good for note taking due to the margins being minimal to accommodate the text. It isn’t chocked full of notes and references for the same reason. This is a Bible geared for daily reading. The binding does have a bit of page puckering in the gutter near the front and end of the Bible, but it isn’t that bad and doesn’t present at all after the first and last pages. For that purpose it works excellently and is a great value.

This particular Bible is in the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation. It is a more of an equivalent translation than anything else. It fills the gap left by the NIV when it went all apostate on us. Now when people need an easy to read translation I suggest the HCSB.

ISBN-13: 9781586407926 ISBN: 1586407929 Christianbook stock number CBD Stock No: WW407926

Bible Reviews

Review of the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece Greek – English New Testament

December 10, 2014December 10, 2014 Bob Snyder1 Comment

Normally I start a review with all of the unboxing and physical qualities of the Bible I’m reviewing. This is going to be an exception. I am not a Koine Greek expert or scholar. I just know the Greek alphabet and some very basic basics so don’t expect any sage wisdom or keen insights into the Greek from me on this review. That being said, the reason I am listing all of the info from Hendrickson’s site is that there are many Greek New Testaments out there and I want to make sure that if you are looking to purchase one that you don’t accidently get one you aren’t after. After the information from the American Publisher I will do my usual review process.

This Greek New Testament is a parallel New Testament with the Nestle-Aland Greek on one page and the New Revised Standard Version or NRSV and Revised English Bible on the opposing page. Here is some info pulled from Hendrickson’s page;

Product Description

This is the twenty-eighth edition of the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (NA28). NA28 is the standard scholarly edition of the Greek New Testament used by scholars, Bible translators, professors, students, and pastors worldwide. Now NA28 has been revised and improved: • Critical apparatus revised and easier to use • Papyrii 117-127 included for the first time • In-depth revision of the Catholic Epistles, with more than 30 changes to the upper text • Scripture references systematically reviewed for accuracy • The NA28 with NRSV/REB Greek-English New Testament includes the 28th edition of the Nestle Aland Novum Testamentum Graece, the New Revised Standard Version, and the Revised English Bible.

Editor Bio

The Institute for New Testament Textual Research is located at the University of Münster. Their central task is to research the textual history of the New Testament and to reconstruct its Greek initial text on the basis of the entire manuscript tradition, the early translations and patristic citations. Foremost among the results of this research is the ongoing publication of the Editio Critica Maior. The Institute produces several more editions and a variety of tools for NT scholarship, including the concise editions known as the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece and the UBS Greek New Testament.

You can view it here, http://www.hendrickson.com/html/product/700352.trade.html?&category=all#curr

The New Testament arrived in a cardboard box from Hendrickson. It had airbag cushions and arrived undamaged.

Upon opening the box I was presented with the New Testament wrapped in plastic shrink wrap. The cover is a blue textured hardcover, but it is very thin book board.

It is almost exactly the same size as my Cambridge Clarion Bible. There are some notes on the translation in the front.

This New Testament is printed and bound in Germany.

It is a very nice sewn binding. I was a little doubtful of the book being worth $99.00 when I saw the cover, but once I opened it and saw the quality of the print and sewn binding along with the Greek, NSRV, and REB I thought better of it. I am not a fan of the NSRV. I would never buy that version as a standalone Bible. I believe that their gender inclusive directives for translating are not true to the overall context of the word of God. I am not very familiar with the REB. I was surprised that they were able to cram in the Greek and two English translations without making this New Testament bigger than it is. Of course being just a New Testament is the key to the size of this book. When you look at the inside covers of this New Testament you are seeing the only maps it has. If you purchased this I am certain you didn’t do so for maps though. You probably want to do some Greek studies. For that purpose I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I am not sure what size the font is. It isn’t specified in any of the information I’ve seen. It appears to be approximately 8 point font.

I’ll have to e-mail Hendrickson and ask them. When I find out I will post the information as an update. The print is sharp and clear contrasting well against this cream colored paper. The paper is opaque and smooth. It feels like a high quality Bible paper. I already mentioned that on one page you’ll have the Greek and then on the other you’ll have the NRSV and the REB. The NRSV is in plain type and the REB is in italics. There is one gold color ribbon marker that. It appears to be purposely frayed on the end.

The binding is very well done. It is sewn and flexible. I opened it right up and it didn’t need any breaking in. It opens past flat when you hold it in one hand.

I found it to be just the right size for reading or studying. In the back you’ll find the appendices. The only thing I’d like to see is this type of New Testament with the NASB instead of the NRSV. So there you have it, my review of a neat little Greek New Testament with two English translations in parallel.

Retail: $99.95 Size: 5.25 x 7.33 inches Binding: Cloth Hardcover Pages: 1728 Pub Date: April 2013 ISBN: 9781619700352 ISBN-13: 9781619700352 Item Number: 700352

Bible Reviews

Local Church Bible Publishers, The Best Authorized KJV Publisher You’ve Never Heard of.

December 9, 2014July 18, 2015 Bob Snyder9 Comments

A Review of the, “400E1R Mid-Size Note Takers Red 1 Piece (Executive)”

First a little about Local Church Bible Publishers, if you are like me, I had never heard of them, until I did a search on youtube for quality leather covered, sewn binding Bibles. Then I was confronted with what seemed to be southern brother touting the virtues of his LCBP Bible. I was a curious. The cover looked pretty good and the inside cover was edge lined as well as perimeter stitched.

I searched some more and found the video of their manufacture process. I was pretty impressed, but then I found out that they only make the authorized 1611 King James. Now, I don’t have a problem with using a 1611 King James, I just happen to like the NASB and a couple other modern translations better. Now all you KJV onlyists settle down out there, and stop calling me a heretic long enough to read about the positive features of the LCBP Mid-Size Note Takers wide margin Bible. If you want to find out what LCBP is all about you can follow this link to their about page.

As for their products, I have a couple of their Bibles and have found them to be generally superior to all other Bibles in their price range as far as the construction and materials go. The Mid-Size Note Takers in Red Leather came in a cardboard box. The Bible inside was wrapped horizontally and vertically with paper. It was not damaged at all in the shipping process. The first couple of things I noticed when I took it out of the packaging was the smell of leather and the bright red cover. It was very red. It stands out. You don’t see many Bibles as red as this one.

I’ve seen burgundy Bibles, but this is straight, bright, and red. I also noticed that the cover was very soft. It wasn’t shiny and slick like cheaper pigskin leather. I also noticed that it didn’t have much of a texture to it. At first when I went to open the Bible I was being careful turning the pages because I didn’t want to tear the pages if they were stuck together, but me apprehensions were unfounded. The gold gilded page edges didn’t stick together at all.

The cover is very supple and can be rolled up without hurting it.

The inside cover lining is perimeter stitched to the outer cover and is just as flexible as the outer cover. The liner is black. The perimeter stitching is red like the cover and two matching ribbon markers. This is an edge lined Bible. The Bible, despite its name is not mid-size. It is 9.9″ x 6.75″ x 1.75″

I think that their designation of mid-size is in relation to the Bibles they produce and not representative of what we see in the market. The spine has the words, “Holy Bible” at the top and, “Authorized King James” in the middle, and then at the bottom, “Church” heat stamped in gold foil.

The Paper is opaque and thick. There are generous 2.5” margins for note taking.

The paper is thick enough to endure being written on and have minimal show through. The 11 point font is printed clear and sharp. This is a black letter edition all text is black. The text is arranged in a single column verse format. This aids in ease of use and lends itself to note taking and referencing.

The binding is sewn giving this Bible durability and flexibility.

It has a concordance and maps in the back. This Bible is printed and bound in the U.S.A. by LCBP as ministry. You can purchase it at the link below.

http://localchurchbiblepublishers.com/product/400e1r-mid-size-note-takers-red-1-piecered-thread-executive/

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Bible Reviews

So You Would Like to Compile Your Own Study Bible? A Review of the NASB Wide Margin Reference Bible, Black Edge-Lined Goatskin Leather, Red Letter Text Edition.

December 5, 2014 Bob Snyder4 Comments

I like to keep a few of my Bibles unsullied and free of notation. With some high quality Bibles it seems wrong or sinful to make marks in them. It feels like an affront to the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into them. While other Bibles I own are marked up as if a child with a box of crayons were set free on them. I feel no shame in marking up my $30 Chinese made NASB Ultrathin. It is a good sturdy Bible, but obviously there are not aesthetics there demanding appreciation. So margin notes, underlining, and highlighting abounds.

The Cambridge Wide Margin is a strange Bible. It confounds my sensibilities. It is a fine Bible, but it demands that you use it like a workhorse. Moreover, the moment you start using it, you begin to appreciate the craftsmanship, as you never would have, without the resources predisposed for your notation. Besides the 1 5/16” outside margin, you have 32 pages of ruled note paper in the back, and blank index pages with alphabetical headings, so you can compile an index of your own as well. To have a wide margin Bible is one thing, all you need is wide margins, but to have a Bible that you can utilize to make your own study Bible is another.

When I took this Bible out of the box and first held it I was concerned that it was too wide. That was my first impression. I failed to take into consideration the purpose of this Bible. I put the Wide Margin next to my MacArthur Study Bible and was a bit shocked to see that it was only very slightly wider. This type of Bible is meant to be written in. Its natural habitat should be a well-lit desk or table. The type of work that is going to be needed to complete the endeavor the owner of this Bible has embarked on will take many several hour sessions of focused study and notation. I don’t see that happening from one’s easy chair. No, a task this daunting requires a quiet well lit sanctuary alone with God’s word. Picture a monk hunched over, with quill in hand, doing a scribe’s work by candle light in some cold stony abbey, or perhaps his modern counterpart the scholarly theologian, at some stuffy seminary quartered away in an office, in much the same fashion as the monk, only with better lighting, heating, and cooling. Well, that might be how you would see yourself using this Bible for its intended purpose if you were so bold.

Bold enough to actually put your thoughts down on this beautiful Bible paper. It is nice opaque and over 30 gsm.

The quality of the paper will help to keep your notes from bleeding through the page. The color of the paper is off white making for a good contrast between it and the sharply printed text. The text is 8 point font in black and the words of Christ are in red. The red text is printed uniformly and sharply like the black. The text is arranged in a double column paragraph format with center column references.

If the references weren’t there the outer margins could have been closer to two inches, giving you more room for your notes. As it is the references are useful. I think the only way you could do more with a Bible is if you purchased a loose leaf Bible. Most of us will probably opt for a wide margin instead.

In the front of the Wide Margin you will find a presentation page, an introduction to the translation, and table of contents.

The Wide margin includes as previously mentioned 32 pages of ruled paper,

a concordance,

and a blank index section along with 15 color maps and map index in the back.

The maps are in color and printed on a flat paper instead of a glossy paper. The glossy paper tends to crack and tear. It is better to have these features printed the way they are. There are two flat and wide ribbon markers in this Bible helping you keep your place.

This is especially helpful considering the kind of work one would be doing with this Bible. The page edges are art gilded with red under gold.

The front cover is imprinted with the words, “Holy Bible” in gold and the spine is imprinted with, “Holy Bible” at the top, “New American Standard” immediately under that, “Wide Margin Edition” in the middle, and “Cambridge” at the bottom. These are all printed in gold.

The cover on this edition is crafted from black goatskin leather. It has a natural grain that is soft to the touch and comfortable to hold. It is not slick and shiny like some less expensive covers made from pigskin leather.

The inside cover is edge lined and sewn to the outer cover.

The edge lined goatskin cover coupled with the fine smyth-sewn binding make this Bible very durable and supple.

This Bible opens easily no matter where you start and lays flat fresh out of the box.

If hold it in one hand you will find that it drapes over your hand.

The Wide Margin is printed and bound by Jongbloed of the Netherlands. They are known for their craftsmanship in printing and binding fine Bibles.

As usual Cambridge has excelled in producing a high quality Bible that will set the standard for all other wide margin editions from other publishers. They have provided a target to aim for with their NASB Wide Margin in black goatskin leather. I have seen very few wide margin editions that come close to the Cambridge one. I hope that other publishers will rise to the challenge and start manufacturing their Bibles with the concept that it is God’s word and not solely a product to be carelessly mass produced.

In the picture below you can see the Wide Margin compared to the NASB MacArthur Study Bible. This should give you an idea about the size of it.

In these pictures you can see the Wide Margin on the bottom of a stack of Cambridge Bibles. On top is the NASB Clarion, then the KJV Concord, and finally the Wide Margin.

Evidence KJV LCBP Red Wide Margin LCBP Black Hand Size 001

Evidence KJV LCBP Red Wide Margin LCBP Black Hand Size 003

Here are some links to retailers selling this Bible

amazon.com

Christianbook.com

evangelicalbible.com

NS746:XRME

isbn: 9780521702652

Bible Reviews

A Review of the NASB Giant Print Reference Bible, in Genuine Leather, Burgundy.

November 27, 2014December 1, 2014 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Hello, 14 point font! This is definitely what the Doctor ordered if your eyes aren’t what they used to be.

The giant print NASB was delivered to my house, as usual from Lockman Foundation’s sales branch, www.americanbiblesales.com it was packed in a cardboard box with paper as packaging material. It was sufficiently safe from harm.

Inside the box was a two piece retail box. I would suggest holding onto it for storage. Once opened, I was presented with a layer of plastic wrapping that had to be defeated before I could get this beauty out to examine it.

Once the plastic was discarded, I was pleasantly greeted by the familiar smell of a nice leather cover. There are numerous Bibles out there that say they have a genuine leather cover, but they look like and feel like bonded leather. They have a fake grain pressed into them and their covers look shiny. Not this big boy, the cover on this has nice texture and tactile feel to it. Honestly, for the small price of this Bible I’d expect a cheaper feeling cover. I thought the burgundy color was just right as well, not brazen, but still different than the venerable black.

The spine of the Bible has the words, “Holy Bible” at the top. Immediately below is, “New American Standard Bible Updated Edition.” At the bottom is, “Foundation Publications” and the NASB logo. Above them are the words, “Giant Print.” There are decorative lines separating the words.

The cover has a lined pressed into it around its perimeter for decorative purposes. It adds a nice touch to finish it off.

The inside cover is lined with a vinyl liner that is color matched to the cover. It is glued down over the corners and edges of the cover.

The text block is firmly attached to the cover. I noticed no problems with fit and finish. It looked pretty good for a Bible printed and bound in China.

The binding for that matter is a sewn binding. It is a tad bit tighter than some of the other ones that Lockman Foundation puts out. This is neither a draw back or a benefit as far as function goes. The Giant Print edition opens flat and is pleasant to use.

The sewn binding will help ensure years of use. The Giant Print Bible maintains typical 6 ½” x 9 ¼” for the width and height, but is a tad bit thicker at 1 ¾” It is a little heavier than your typical reference Bible, but not by much. Even with the slight size difference it is still pretty easy to hold and read.

The page edges are gold gilded.

The paper is a decent quality standard Bible paper 28 gsm. It doesn’t have a problem with text ghosting. I think Lockman must have realized that if you are buying a Bible with humongous font it isn’t because you have good eyesight. The Bible paper, 14 point font, and uniformly printed text, all aid in making this a very legible Bible without making it too cumbersome.

Also you should note that this is a red letter edition.

The text is in a double column verse format with references at the end of each paragraph. There are limited references, for a reference Bible. This one has about 13,000 references. I doubt that anyone considering a 14 point font giant print edition is worried about having a ton of references though.

There is a ribbon marker that matches the color of the cover. It is of average quality as far as ribbon markers go.

In the end there is a 146 page Dictionary/Thesaurus/Concordance. It should come in handy. There is enough there to be useful, but not so much as to unnecessarily add to the bulk.

After that we have a section devoted to book introductions. Each book in the Bible has a nice introduction to aid the reader in their studies.

Also, a section on God’s promises is provided after the book introductions.

“Where to find help when” and “Verses for reflection” appear at the very end before the color maps.

I think the biggest cons here would be the size of the Bible. For the very frail and elderly this would have to rest on a table for them to read it. However, most elderly people won’t have any trouble holding this Bible to read. The con is a very slight one. We all have to obey physics here. If you want giant text you have to sacrifice something. I don’t think I’ve seen a better job on a giant print edition to date.

The pros here are of course the 14 point font and the wonderful cover at a very reasonable price. Could hardly believe I was holding a $50 Bible. It could have been twice that. A noteworthy thing is that the presentation and records pages in the front seem to be a flat paper as opposed to the glossy paper they have been made out of. I hope that Lockman carries this over to the maps as well. This flat paper doesn’t crack or tear as easy as the glossy paper they have been made of in the past.

If you are in the market for one of these Giant Print Bibles they can be had for around $50. If you are lucky you might find them on sale for less. Here are a couple of links to make it easier.

http://www.americanbiblesales.com/search/isbnlist1.php?ISBN=1581351100&hilite=yes

http://www.amazon.com/Giant-Print-Reference-Burgundy-Genuine-Leather/dp/1581351097/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417034883&sr=1-1&keywords=9781581351095&pebp=1417034894361

http://www.christianbook.com/nas-giant-print-reference-leather-burgundy/9781581351095/pd/51097?product_redirect=1&Ntt=%209781581351095%20&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCG

ISBN: 1581351097

Bible Reviews

Puritans, Pilgrims, and Reformers, a Review of the 1599 Geneva Bible from Tolle Lege Press.

November 14, 2014November 14, 2014 Bob Snyder10 Comments

Tolle Lege Press is responsible for the rejuvenating the 1599 Geneva Bible. Unfortunately not many people know about this or seem to care. (Except for Kirk Cameron) I say it is unfortunate because I truly believe the historical importance of this translation has been overlooked for a blind allegiance to the KJV. Many people don’t know anything about the Geneva translation. They are happy with their King James versions. I’ve always wondered why the KJV onlyists are so loyal to a version that was translated by order of the King to conform to the ecclesiology of the Church of England. The royals and Church leaders were afraid of losing their grip on power. The Bibles of that time period all relied on the Latin Vulgate to some degree as a resource for translation. The Geneva and the KJV were no exceptions. The KJV relied on the Geneva for reference during its translation. The KJV onlyists are always spewing their venomous polemics towards all other versions being Papal translations from Rome. It is disturbing that they can suspend rational thought in regards to the KJV, but seem rational most other times.

The Geneva was translated by the Reformers. They had to flee to Geneva so that they wouldn’t be martyred by the Roman Catholic Church and Bloody Mary. John Calvin and John Knox are most often credited for the Geneva translation. There were other individuals working with them in Geneva to make this translation. The notes and references of this Bible are retained and printed in modern font. They are printed on the bottom of the page like a modern study Bible. These notes are what made this translation such an enemy to the Crowns of the King and the Pope. You have to understand that the Roman Catholic Church was in the business of hunting down and killing the reformers. Then Puritans were persecuted for believing what the reformation brought to fruition. This is what led to them becoming pilgrims. They fled to America hoping to live God honoring lives obedient to His word. The Bible they took with them was the Geneva Bible.

For more on the Geneva’s history visit this site; http://genevabible.com/

Here is a short youtube video about it as well; http://youtu.be/Nq1YhU8cGko

Don’t mind the trolls. They keep complaining about some pagan imagery on the cover, but I don’t see any. I’ve asked them specifically and really haven’t gotten any answers other than, “You’re going to Hell for using anything but the KJV heretic!!!” and now for something completely different, how about the review of the 1599 Geneva Bible?

The 1599 arrived in a cardboard box.

Inside was the Bible in its retail 2 piece box. The cd-rom contains searchable, printable PDFs of the Geneva Bible, plus the Apocryphal Books and Metrical Psalms, was also in the retail box.

The packaging was sufficient to ensure the Bible was delivered without being damaged. Tolle Lege did a wonderful job of giving the 1599 a modern typography. They placed all of the references and notes at the bottom like a modern day study Bible.

The Bible is printed on some pretty opaque paper. It is off white and a bit more rigid than most Bible papers I’ve seen. I don’t know what kind of paper it is for sure, but it seems suitable. The text is printed in a double column verse format with an 8 point font. The notes are printed at the bottom of the page like a modern study Bible. Chapter numbers are larger and in bold print. The pages are bound in a sewn binding done here in America.

The sewn binding makes up for the bonded leather cover. I can’t begin to tell you how much I detest bonded leather. I would much rather see a hardcover or trutone fake leather cover. Of course if this Bible came in a top grain cowhide or goatskin cover with sewn edge lining of leather it would be great. The cover is lined on the inside with white paper that is glued down.

The front outer cover is decorated with, “1599 Geneva Bible” at the top and some kind of flower on the bottom.

I imagine that these are the pagan symbols the kooks are upset about. Who knows? The spine is also gilded with the same as is on the cover except on the bottom of the spine is the Tolle Lege logo.

The sewn binding makes this Bible open better than it would without it. It doesn’t open as nicely as it could with a better cover.

The binding doesn’t completely stop the pages from folding closed on you while you are reading. This is only just out of the box, brand new. As I used it this problem went away. It also will make this Bible hold up much better.

There is one black ribbon marker. The page edges are gilded.

There is a Middle English Glossary in the back and several prayers including morning and evening. There is a purely subjective quality about this Bible that makes me want to sit and read it. The combination of the size, weight, paper, and layout, make sense to me and I find it easy to read. Now just because that is the experience I have with it doesn’t mean I expect everyone to agree with me so don’t go launching fiery darts at me. This Bible should be a part of every Christian’s library. If you don’t have one, go get one.

Don’t get this Bible confused with the 1560 facsimile Geneva Bible. This one is actually useful for daily reading. The 1560 is a little tedious.

Bible Reviews

The Perfect Size Bible to Sit and Read, The Cambridge KJV Concord Reference Bible in Black Edge-Lined Goatskin Leather, Red Letter Edition.

November 13, 2014October 21, 2016 Bob Snyder4 Comments

Before I get into the vital features of this Bible I want to expound on its subjective qualities that have endeared it to me. At first glance most people won’t notice the exceptional quality of this Bible until they pick it up and give it a closer look. Some folks won’t even notice even after picking it up. That is not to say the Cambridge Concord Reference Bible is average or plain. It is because the Concord is how a Bible is supposed to be. It is the quintessential archetype of reference Bibles. It smells like a Bible, it looks like a Bible, and it feels like a Bible. When I pick it up to read from, I don’t have to struggle with it. It does exactly what it should do. It stays out of the way and allows me to focus on reading God’s word. Everything about it is conducive to that end.

For me, it is the perfect size and weight to hold in one hand. I can comfortably read it while sitting in my favorite chair. It isn’t heavy or unwieldy enough to require being laid on a table or desk. It isn’t so small as to necessitate being held close. It is not a thick Bible, yet contains many references and some helps.

It is not printed on such light paper that the pages curl up and blow around while you are trying to read. The pages are not a bright white. They are off white. Bright white pages tend to make my eyes strain during long durations of reading the word. The India paper is strong and opaque.

There is approximately 7/16ths of an inch in the margins for note taking.

The text is a nine point font that is printed appears pretty bold.

The Concord is a double column verse format with pronunciations. It has the references in the center column.

Even with the references, 128 page Bible Dictionary, Concordance, Glossary, and 15 color maps, the Concord maintains a thin profile without sacrificing paper quality. The pages are art gilded. An art gilded page edge compared to a gilded page edge looks a bit more attractive. It gives the page edges a red tint behind the gold color. Before they put the gold colored aluminum foil on the page edges they first coat them with a red ink. Then they apply the gold color gilding. When the Bible is closed the edges show gold, when the Bible is open you can see the red show through the gold.

The binding, outside cover, and inside liner, make it supple and comfortable to hold. This one is edge lined not case bound. It is rigid enough to not flop around like some unlined Bibles do, while it maintains flexibility with its synthetic liner that is stitched to the outside cover edges with black thread.

The Binding is a smyth-sewn binding done by Jongbloed in the Netherlands. They are famous for their quality work and history of Binding Bibles. Currently, most luxury Bibles are bound by Jongbloed. A sewn binding is a must in my opinion. If you hope to hand a Bible down to your children and for them to use it a sewn binding is the only option. With a sewn edge lined binding all of the pages are stacked in separate pamphlets called signatures. These are then stacked and sewn to tapes or strings in the spine of the Bible as well as being sewn to each other. This is why you don’t have the front and back pages falling out of a sewn binding like you would with a glued case bound perfect binding where the pages are cut, then stacked, then rubber cemented together. Those pages are not connected to each other in any way. If you bend the spine in a glued Bible, eventually pages will start falling out. Not so with a sewn binding. If you take care of it and treat it with respect it will last and last. The other benefit of this binding is the functionality of it. The Concord lays flat right out of the box.

The cover doesn’t flop up and get in the way. The covers can be rolled backwards and out of the way even. I wouldn’t do this as a practice, but that is how flexible this Bible is. This particular Bible is a red letter edition.

That simply means that the words of Jesus are printed in red text, including places where He is quoted by the apostles. Some people find this to be a very helpful feature. The Concord has two black ribbon markers. They are good quality without being too thick.

I have had some Bibles with thicker markers that actually imprint on the pages they are between. I have had other Bibles with markers that were so thin that they crinkled up and are almost useless. It is very unattractive to open the Bible up to crinkled pages or markers. The Concord has neither problem. The Bible ships in a clamshell type retail box. I would keep the Box for storage. This Bible is to supple to stand on its edge. It should be laid flat on a flat surface when not in use. There was a slight problem with the shipping. You can read about that here.

Cambridge has assured me they are looking into this and it shouldn’t happen again. This Bible is as pretty close to being perfect. If Cambridge would produce this in an NASB I would be satisfied.

Here are a few good places on the web to purchase this Bible if you are in the market.

Here are a few pictures of the Concord compared to the TBS Westminster

Over all, I found the Concord to be a superlative Bible. It stands out from the mass produced Chinese and Korean Bibles as an example of what they should be aiming for.