In their quest to create some of America’s most spectacular Bibles, Zondervan has released that which is presently the most spectacular edition of the New Revised Standard Bible that is currently on the market, the Personal Size Large Print Bible in the Premier Collection. This edition, which was sent by Zondervan free of charge in exchange for an honest review, takes everything I love about the Premier Collection and takes it to a whole different level.
Translation
First up, the translation… This particular edition offers the entire Ecumenical Edition of the NRSV This is the edition accepted by the Protestants, Roman Catholics, and the Orthodox Communions.
NRSV is an essentially literal translation much like its fraternal twin, the English Standard Version. If the NRSV had one advantage over other translations, it would be that NRSV is more widely accepted amongst scholars. The NRSV’s other major advantage is that it is the only translation, to my knowledge, which includes Jewish Rabbis on the translation committee thus giving it what is, perhaps, the most accurate Old Testament rendering you can currently find in a Bible.
Cover and Binding
Before I had even seen this Bible, in person, the cover took my breath away. It happens that purple is my favorite color. This is not just any purple. Though. It is purple goatskin. I have a similar purple in the ink in one of my fountain pens, Diamine, the maker of that ink calls it Imperial Purple and I think that would actually be a fitting name for the color of this Bible, to call it Imperial Purple.
The grain on the Bible cover is the most pronounced on any of the Premier Collection. It is quite delightful to the touch.
Paper, Layout, and Font
We will begin with the font. This is a black letter text which is incredibly well done. Zondervan’s Comfort Print Text really shines here. In fact, it is so superb that it actually tricked me. I had originally thought that it was a 12-point font but it is actually a 10.5-point.
Zondervan presents NRSV in a double column paragraph format. Normally my preference is a verse by verse format due to certain visual acuity issues. However, in this case, Zondervan has added a little nugget to not only make the text easier to handle but also to delight the eyes as well, the Scripture Headings and the verse numbers are in a very rich cranberry. You will find text navigation to be far more use friendly than in most other Bibles with this layout.
My best guess on the paper would be around 32 grams per square inch. The opacity is wonderful; the show, ghosting if you like the technical term, is very minimal and only noticeable in very specific lighting situations
General Format and Helps
This is, for the most part, a text only Bible. You will not find center-column references or end of verse references. Zondervan did include the Translator’s Footnotes. You will find them at the bottom of the pages on the right hand side.
I was surprised to find that there is no concordance. I am not, personally, bothered by the lack of a concordance but I confess a slight twinge of disappointment for some of my pastoral brethren who might need the concordance to help guide their growth as pastors.
There are lined notes pages following the text of Revelation. I am glad of their inclusion, but I cannot figure out why each book of the Bible does not have pages for making notes.
In Practical Usage
This is very much an Every Day Carry Bible; it will fit quite nicely in most laptop bags or briefcases. The over all format lends itself very well to everyday use. In fact, if the NRSV were a main teaching translation for me, which it may yet become, this would be my primary NRSV despite my affinity for its single column cousin.
Is This Bible Right for You?
That is both a yes and a no. The Old Testament in NRSV is outstanding yet some of the NT rendering irritate me so before considering if this edition is right for you, you will need to consider whether or not NRSV is right for you. IF you make NRSV a main translation, you will find this edition to be far superior to virtually every other NRSV out there, except perhaps Cambridge’s editions.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I very much enjoy this edition. I. presently, have it paired the 1662 Book of Common Prayer from Cambridge University Press and, if you can believe it, the Valley of Vision. My ministerial background is not altogether liturgical (I was Pentecostal from the beginning and became a Baptist about 10 years ago). However, through the influence of some Anglican friends, I find myself appreciating more and more of the liturgical formats.
As it happens 2022 will be the first time I follow the readings in the Revised Common Lectionary and I will be following them in this edition of the New Revised Standard Version. I made that choice partially due to its familiarity with most forms of liturgy but also because I want to live out my faith in a way which I have not done before- I have never used NRSV in a devotional setting, only academic. Since Zondervan made such a delightful NRSV that is also a touch whimsical and out of the box, it seemed only natural to select it for a new experience in the Christian walk.
Lastly, I realize that for most of my audience budget is a major concern when selecting a new Bible, a dilemma which may only be faced once or twice in a lifetime. When it comes to choosing an NRSV from the Premiere Collection, I do not envy you having to choose between this the Single Column Reference Edition. If you can only choose one, my best advice would be to decide which is more important, overall portability (Choose this one) or total helps offered (Choose Single Column Reference Bible). In either case, you cannot really lose. You are getting a copy of God’s word that will still be around long after you have gone home to Jesus, and He will keep using it to His glory.
