Maclaren Reference Bible Review
Maclaren Bible Photos
TBS Large Print Windsor/Family Bible Review
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Known for bringing very high quality KJV Bibles to market at incredible prices, Trinitarian Bible Society has done it again. The have refreshed their Large Print Family Presentation Bible with an upgrage to one of their most popular Bibles, now bringing the Windsor text into a large print edition.
(TBS provided this Bible free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review only an honest one and my opinions are my own.)
Cover & Binding
My review copy has the black ironed calfskin cover, a change from the very textured cover on the Large Print Family Presentation Bible. It is Meriva Calfskin. To the best of my knowledge, this is the same ironed calfskin that can be found on the unrivalled perfection that is the Westminster Reference Bible. The paste down liner was rather a surprise. I had expected it to make the cover a little more stiff such as with the Large Print Family Presentation Bible. While it does make the cover more sturdy, it is still more limp and supple than other Bibles I own with a paste down liner.
The text block is smythe sewn as is the case will all TBS Bibles. As I have said in almost every review I have ever written, a sewn text block is an essential feature in a quality Bible; it is this feature that helps the Bible to last across generations.
Paper, Layout, and Font
The paper is crisp white but rather thin allowing modest show through (also called ghosting). The paper does have a minor issue, there is some page curl. The page curl is not severe enough to be challenging but I do find it mildly irritating.
We are given a plain text Bible, laid out in a double column verse by verse format. The 11-point font is crisp and very deep ebony. I do not know of TBS making a red-letter edition of the Bible and this is no exception, a black letter text all the way through. The font is more of a semi-bold as opposed to the blackface/bold font style of the former Family Bible.
For Preaching/Teaching
This is an excellent Bible for preaching and teaching. The verse by verse format makes it very easy to locate the passage of Scripture you wish to use. Truth be told, I prefer the previous version of the Large Print Family Bible series. Please do not take that to mean that I have any dislike for the Large Print Windsor.
I very much enjoy the Windsor for daily reading but I find the older edition easier on the eyes with its very bold black format.
The Large Print Windsor will lay open on a pulpit or other type of lectern quite easily. It is also light enough to be used with one hand, which is especially handy if one is peripatetic.
For daily use
At less than an inch thick and weighing in at a little over a pound, the Large Print Windsor is very practical for daily carry.
I am not sure that I would recommend writing in this Bible, unless it was done in pencil.
Should you buy
As I said earlier this is an excellent Bible. You cannot go wrong owning it.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this Bible is representative of everything I have come to expect from Trinitarian Bible Society. If TBS ever makes a wide margin Bible this would be the perfect choice. If they don’t, this is still a solid choice of KJV to own.
KJV Sovereign Reference Bible Review
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When it comes to KJV Bibles, few players have more experience than Thomas Nelson, Cambridge and Holman are, perhaps, the only two. Lately, Thomas Nelson Bibles (hereafter Nelson) has been putting out some very nice Bibles and, now, they have put out what may well be the best KJV in its price class, the KJV Sovereign Reference Bible.
Before we go further, I want to disclose that Nelson sent this Bible to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review just an honest one.
The Elephant in the Room
Let’s just deal with this now…The Sovereign Reference Bible bears a striking similarity with the flagship of KJV Reference Bibles, the Schuyler Canterbury. There are those who accuse Thomas Nelson of copycatting the Schuyler but I think that is a little disingenuous. Where most people see a copycat, I see an homage. It is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery and if that is true, Schuyler Bibles ought to be very flattered. Schuyler has put out an incredible product (I know because I have it) but at a price point that is out of reach of a good many Christians, most of whom will have only one Bible for most of their lives. The Sovereign Reference Bible has similar design cues but they are in fact, rather different Bibles. I will highlight some of those differences as we go.
Cover and Binding
I am reviewing the black genuine leather edition and one of my several contacts at Nelson has informed me that the “genuine leather” is actually cowhide. I have handled enough leathers over the years that my initial assumption was “this must be cowhide” and I was right. There is a very pronounced pebble grain on the cover of the Bible. The grain makes the Bible a delight to hold which also makes one more inclined to read the Bible. I was surprised that we have an edge lined cover. I had expected a paste down liner and was glad to find otherwise.
The text block has a smythe sewn binding. The Sovereign in sewn a little tighter than most other Bibles. The tighter sewing makes the Bible feel more sturdy. The tightly sewn binding will require a little break in for the Bible to lay flat in Genesis and Revelation but rest assured it will happen.
Paper
The paper is one of the most obvious differences between the Sovereign Reference Bible and the Canterbury. It is a darker paper and just a bit thicker. It has a somewhat linen feel to it
Marking in the Sovereign Reference Bible should not be an issue regardless of what you choose to use as a writing instrument. I am partial to Prismacolor brand of colored pencils.
Layout and Font
The font is 9-point in Comfort Print. It is elevated by red ornamental drop caps fir the first letter of each chapter. They are quite beautiful and, incidentally, the reason people feel this Bible copycats the Canterbury. In both Bibles, I love the ornamental drop-cap feature. The KJV is steeped in elegance, majesty, and shows off the beauty of the English language in ways other works cannot and the ornamental dop caps highlights that elegance.
The Sovereign is laid out in a double column verse by verse format with references in the footer and book introductions in the header of the text. Subject headings are provided in a bright red font.
The Black Letter text portions are the darkest font that I can recall seeing recently. It calls to mind the Brevier Blackface Bible from R. L. Allan
The NT is a red letter edition which ought to be self-explanatory. The red is very nicely done, a deep rich red, almost cranberry in color. It is very easy on the eyes.
Helps
Cross References
Thomas Nelson’s complete reference system offers 72,000 time tested references, a clear advantage over the Canterbury. For decades pastors, myself included, have relied on Nelson’s Comprehensive Reference System for sermon preparation and understanding the Bible.
Concordance
The comprehensive Topical Concordance is another of Nelson’s best features. This is not as in-depth as the Cyclopedic Concordance that Nelson includes in the Open Bible but, to the best of my knowledge, this is the most comprehensive Concordance available outside of two specialty Bibles. It is an incredibly valuable tool.
Introductions
Each book of the Bible gets a one paragraph introduction. The introduction offers basic background information on each book of the Bible.
Miracles of Jesus Reading Plan
The Miracles of Jesus Reading Plan offers 37 miracles that prove the deity and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Parables of Jesus Reading Plan
The Parables of Jesus Reading Plan presents us with 39 lessons that Jesus teaches about Kingdom Life and being His Disciple.
Full Bible Reading Plan
The Full Bible Reading Plans give us a Morning and Evening reading to guide us through the entirelty of Scripture in a year.
As a Preaching Bible
For almost everyone that takes this Bible into the pulpit, this is an excellent choice. I have a single gripe about the Sovereign Reference Bible and it is here-I would find it easier for preaching if the font were 10-point. Otherwise, it is an almost ideal choice. The paper and font perform extremely well in most instances.
As an Every Day Carry Bible
Being a “personal size/hand size” Bible makes this unit ideal for carry. It is a little thick for my usual briefcase but that is easily correctable. You should have no problems carrying the Sovereign on a day to day basis.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I find the this Bible to be quite nice. I wish the font were a little bigger but it is not a deal breaker for me. I think most people who own this Bible will find it to be quite enjoyable.
Introducing the Bible Essentials Series
Introducing the Bible Essentials Series
As we transition into 2021 and the Bible Essentials Series, I want to provide some background as well as structural/organizational materials for you to better understand the Bible.
Let’s begin with some introductory material adapted from What the Bible Is All About by Dr. Henrietta Mears, Halley’s Bible Handbook, Wilmington’s Bible Handbook, the NKJV Open Bible, the Essential Bible Companion, athe the Bible Reader’s Companion.
The Old Testament is an account of a nation (the Jewish nation). The New Testament is an account of a man (the Son of man). The nation was founded and nurtured of God in order to bring the man into the world (see Genesis 12:1–3).
God Himself became a man so that we might know what to think of when we think of God (see John 1:14; 14:9). His appearance on the earth is the central event of all history. The Old Testament sets the stage for it. The New Testament describes it.
As a man, Christ lived the most perfect life ever known. He was kind, tender, gentle, patient and sympathetic. He loved people. He worked marvelous miracles to feed the hungry. Multitudes—weary, pain ridden and heartsick—came to Him, and He gave them rest (see Matthew 11:28–30). It is said that if all the deeds of kindness that He did “should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” (John 21:25).
Then He died—to take away the sin of the world and to become the Savior of men.
Then He rose from the dead. He is alive today. He is not merely a historical character but a living person—this is the most important fact of history and the most vital force in the world today. And He promises eternal life to all who come to Him.
The whole Bible is built around the story of Christ and His promise of life everlasting to all. It was written only that we might believe and understand, know and love, and follow Him.
Apart from any theory of inspiration or any theory of how the Bible books came to their present form or how much the text may have suffered in passing through the hands of editors and copyists or what is historical and what may be poetical—assume that the Bible is just what it appears to be. Accept the books as we have them in our Bible; study them to know their contents. You will find a unity of thought that indicates that one mind inspired the writing of the whole series of books, that it bears on its face the stamp of its author, and that it is in every sense the Word of God.
Old Testament—Principal Places
There are 12 principal places around which the history of the Old Testament is written:
- Eden (Genesis 1–3)
- Ararat (Genesis 8:4)
- Babel (Genesis 11:1–11)
- Ur of the Chaldees (Genesis 11:28–12:3)
- Canaan (with Abraham) (Genesis 12:4–7)
- Egypt (with Joseph) (Genesis 37–45, especially 41:41)
- Sinai (Exodus 19:16–20:21)
- Wilderness (Numbers 14:26–35)
- Canaan (with Joshua) (Joshua 1:1–9)
- Assyria (captivity of Israel) (2 Kings 18:9–12)
- Babylon (captivity of Judah) (2 Kings 24:11–16)
- Canaan (the land of Israel—return of the exiles) (Ezra 1:1–2:70)
As you build the story of the Bible around these places, you see the whole history in chronological order.
Old Testament—Principal Facts
Still another way to think through the Bible is by following the great facts in order:
- Creation (Genesis 1:1–2:3)
- Fall of man (Genesis 3)
- Flood (Genesis 6–9)
- Babel (Genesis 11:1–9)
- Call of Abraham (Genesis 11:10–12:3)
- Descent into Egypt (Genesis 46–47)
- Exodus (Exodus 7–12)
- Passover (Exodus 12)
- Giving of the Law (Exodus 19–24)
- Wilderness wanderings (Numbers 13–14)
- Conquest of the Promised Land (Joshua 11)
- Dark ages of the Chosen People (Judges)
- Anointing of Saul as king (1 Samuel 9:27–10:1)
- Golden age of Israelites under David and Solomon—united kingdom (2 Samuel 5:4–5; 1 Kings 10:6–8)
- The divided kingdom—Israel and Judah (1 Kings 12:26–33)
- The captivity in Assyria and Babylon (2 Kings 17; 25)
- The return from exile (Ezra)
New Testament—Principal Facts
- Early life of Christ (Matthew 1:18–2:23; Luke 1–2)
- Ministry of Christ (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
- Church in Jerusalem (Acts 1–2)
- Church extending to the Gentiles (Acts 10–11; 13–20)
- Church in all the world (Romans 10–11, 15; Ephesians 1:22–23)
Principal Biblical Periods
- Period of the patriarchs to Moses (Genesis)
- The godly line—leading events
- Creation
- Fall
- Flood
- Dispersion
- The chosen family—leading events
- Call of Abraham
- Descent into Egypt; bondage
- Period of great leaders: Moses to Saul (Exodus to Samuel)
- Exodus from Egypt
- Wandering in wilderness
- Conquest of Canaan
- Rule of judges
III. Period of the kings: Saul to the captivities (Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, the prophetical books)
- The united kingdom
- Saul
- David
- Solomon
- The divided kingdom
- Judah
- Israel
- Period of foreign rulers: captivities to Christ (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, prophecies of Daniel and Ezekiel)
- Captivity of Israel
- Captivity of Judah
- Christ (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
- The Church (Acts and the Epistles)
- In Jerusalem
- To the Gentiles
- In all the world
Principles and Helps for Bible Study
Accept the Bible just as it is, for exactly what it claims to be. Pin your faith to the Bible. It is God’s Word. It will never let you down. For us human beings, it is the rock of ages. Trust its teachings, and be happy forever.
Read your Bible with an open mind. Don’t try to straitjacket all its passages into the mold of a few pet doctrines. And don’t read into its passages ideas that are not there. But try to search out fairly and honestly the main teachings and lessons of each passage. Ultimately, the text says what the text says. We need to look at the cultural context, genre, word choices, etc. Our search is to understand the Bible in similar fashion to how the original readers would have understood it.
Keep a pencil at hand. It is a good thing, as we read, to mark passages. Mark texts that resonate with you and passages that challenge you to grow in your faith. Reread passages you have marked. In time a well-marked Bible will become very dear to us, as the day draws near for us to meet the Author.
Habitual, systematic reading of the Bible is what counts. Occasional or spasmodic reading does not mean much. Unless we have some sort of system to follow, and hold to it with resolute determination, the chances are that we will not read the Bible very much at all. Our inner life, like our body, needs its daily food.
Try to set a certain time each day for whatever reading plan you are following. Otherwise it is likely that one would neglect or forget to read the Bible.
The particular time of day does not greatly matter. The important thing is that we choose a time that best fits in with our daily round of work, and that we try to stick with it and not be discouraged if now and then our routine is broken by things beyond our control.
Memorize favorite verses. Thoroughly memorize them and repeat them often to yourself — sometimes when you are alone, or in the night to help put yourself to sleep on the everlasting arms. These are the verses that we live on.
Suggested Reading Plans
The Learning Supplement for each book will include options for reading each book.
On Marking and Journaling
Start with a wide margin Bible in your favorite translation. I find Prismacolor Pencils to be ideal for marking. You could underline specific words or entire verses. Some people draw symbols or pictures. Others put detailed nots into the margins. Whatever you choose to put in the margins, these notes and symbols are what makes the Bible truly yours.
Spiritual Renewal and Recovery Themes in Revelation
Redemptive History reaches its final culmintation in the Book of Revelation and it is here where God gives us our final lessons on being renewed and restored to relationship with Him and our final lessons on recovering from our sin…
God Rules Over All
God is sovereign. He is greater than any other power in the universe. Nothing and no one can compare to him. When we look at the turmoil in the world today, the problems we face, the pain we have suffered or the pain we have caused others, we may wonder whether God will really be able to right all the wrongs. But John wrote this book to assure us that though evil may seem to win today’s battles, God is all-powerful and will assert himself for his people. In the end, all things will be made new in Christ.
God Is the Source of Hope
The book of Revelation reveals to us the ultimate source of hope—Jesus Christ. He is coming again and will deal with the problems of our sin-scarred world, restoring what is broken and dealing with the injustices around us. Life is never hopeless, regardless of what has happened to us or what we have done. We can focus on God’s love, grace and forgiveness. He has made our restoration possible in Christ, and Christ will return to complete his task of renewal throughout all creation. If we are looking to Christ, we can hang on to our hope despite the difficult circumstances that we may face.
The Pain of Consequences
Every one of us cries out for justice. When evil and injustice prosper, we begin to feel angry. It often appears that people get away with their selfish and wicked deeds. But in reality God will judge all wicked actions. Those who openly defy him will ultimately face the awful consequences of their sin. Those who turn to God in repentance for forgiveness need not fear the future day of judgment. Judgment is an awful thing, and the pain of sin’s consequences should motivate us to turn our lives over to God and obediently follow his plan.
Justice Belongs to God
Being in recovery does not release us from our sense of justice. As we deal with the wrongs we have done, we may feel that others are not dealing with theirs and that we have legitimate grudges to harbor. While these feelings are natural, they are not godly and endanger our recovery. The book of Revelation makes it clear that justice belongs to God; he alone has the right to avenge the wrongs of others. What’s more, he alone has the power to change their lives. Anger and bitterness make recovery more difficult than it already is. Part of giving our life and our will over to God is releasing the bitterness we feel toward others.
**This lesson is adapted from the NIV Spiritual Renewal Study Bible and the KJV Life Recovery Bible**
Why Standard Lesson?
I recommend resources from Standard Lesson on, at the very least, a monthly basis and I am, often asked why. The question goes like this “Matt, I’m seminary trained, why should I use Standard Lesson?” or “Matt, Standard Lesson isn’t from your denomination, why do you recommend something that isn’t Baptist?”
I would like to offer some answers to those questions:
- The material is very easy to understand and is accessible to most audience members. I am not seminary trained and neither is most of your audience. (I have acquired a seminary grade understanding of Scripture via self-study of a host of resources plus I am mentored by several men, two of whom are seminary professors.) When we amass great learning we can miss the forest because of the trees. Standard Lesson’s resources remind me to keep it simple when I teach.
- It is very theologically conservative and broadly evangelical. When you read the commentary notes, the study Bible notes or other resources, you can see that the writers take Scripture seriously. Equally important, they take the command to make disciples seriously. Integral to making disciples is teaching and these resources will be most valuable in lesson prep.
- Resources are available in KJV and NIV. Standard lesson offers resources in KJV for the most staunchly conservative and the NIV for those desiring a more broadly evangelical audience. KJV and NIV are the two most widely read English translations of the Bible and pairing resources with those translations ensure that you are able to reach the most people possible.
- It takes the fear out of teaching. The Standard Lesson Commentary not only provides expositional commentary on the Scripture, it also provides a complete lesson for those who are new to teaching. The Standard Lesson Study Bible provides expository notes on the Scripture AND it adds discussion questions. The Standard Bible Dictionary provides insight on 2,000 foundational terms your students should be familiar with.
- There is a Uniform Series. The Standard Lesson Commentary follows the International Sunday School Lesson Uniform Series. This is important because on any given Sunday, churches around the world are teaching the same lesson. You can, literally, walk into any Sunday School that uses Standard Lesson Commentary and pick up right where you left off. Additionally, the Standard Lesson Commentary will take you through every book of the Bible in 6 years, not every single verse but you will get every book.
There are more reasons to choose Standard Lesson Resources but these are the reasons I give when I recommend Standard Lesson to pastoral colleagues and Sunday School Teachers
Large Print Wide Margin Text Only Bible from CBP
One of my favorite Bible formats, my preferred in fact, is a wide margin and, today, I am reviewing one of the best wide margin Bible available, the Large Print Wide Margin Text Bible from Church Bible Publishers {CBP}. (Disclosure: This Bible was not provided by CBP, neither did they solicit this review. This is on my own and at my own cost)
Bible Photos
A comment or two on Church Bible Publishers
Church Bible Publishers is based in Cadillac, Michigan and are owned and operated by a local church pastor and former missionary. If you follow them on social media, you will see that they still have a missionary zeal for getting the Word of God into the hands of the people.
ALL CBP Bibles are printed and bound in the United States, a rare feature in the realm of Bible Publishing. These Bibles tend to be much higher quality than their internationally printed counterparts, most if which tend to be printed in China. CBP has a video on YouTube showing actual production of CBP Bibles, including multiple quality checks along the way. One fact, when dealing with CBP, is that they hold the Bible in highest regard, no, they cherish the Bible. Each Bible is unique as is each reader of the Bible.
Translation
CBP is a dedicated King James Bible Publisher. In their case, I really appreciate this fact because it enables them to focus on the quality of the Bible they produce and give both the Bible itself and the reader the honor deserved.
Cover and Binding
This is a black lambskin cover with edge to edge synthetic leather lining. Generally, lambskin is the softest and most supple leather you can find. It is also a more tender leather and will need daily handling to prevent it from drying out.
CBP has ironed the lambskin so that it is very supple. I love a good grain on my Bible, especially pebble grain, but here that would be somehow disrespectful. There is a bit of sheen to it that will eventually turn into a nice patina, although I am not sure how obvious it would be since the Bible is black.
The liner, as I mentioned, is billed as synthetic but I have to say that does not impact the limpness or flexibility in the slightest. It most likely adds to the durability since lambskin is so delicate.
CBP sews all their Bibles, a testament to the quality they provide. The company is run by a group of local church pastors, if you had not already guessed from the name, and they know the demands placed on a pastor’s Bible hence the sewn binding. A sewn binding guarantees a lifetime of use and I wager the leather will need replaced long before the stitching.
Layout and Font
We have a 12-point font in a double column verse by verse format with 1.75 inch margins. It is a pure text edition meaning there are no helps, not even translator’s footnotes. It is obvious that this format is designed for pulpit use or for the classroom.
CBP has given us one of the best red-letter editions available. The red is crisp and a deep rich cherry color. I tested the red under the brightest, most unforgiving light I could find, the Arizona Sun, and had absolutely no issues. You will, no doubt, have no issues under the lights on your platform.
Paper
This is around a 36 gsm white paper. It is fairly thick and makes for easy page turning. It is nicely opaque; I did not notice any bleed through with my pen.
For marking, I recommend that a colored pencil be your first choice; Prang is the brand I use. For ball-point pen I suggest Pilot Pen Company’s Better Retractable brand pen. Pilot gives, in my experience, the most consistent ink flow and does not leave the annoying pen impressions on the other side of the page.
Helps
The only study aid provided is a double column concordance. It seems to mirror the Cambridge Concordance and provides a fairly comprehensive index for study.
Compared to my other lambskin KJV
I have one other lambskin KJV (which I think was also done by CBP), a wide margin Classic KJV Study Bible, a special edition from the KJV Store. The leather feels identical, leading me to believe they are from the same source.
The look and feel of the paper is also very similar and the writing experience also seems to be the same.
I treat these as companions. The Classic Study Bible is by my bedside for evening reading and the Large Print Wide Margin is in my rotation for lesson prep.
As an Every Day Use Bible
This is not a small Bible, most large print Bibles are not. It runs a little on the heavy side at about 3.5 pounds, so frequent one-handed use may be impractical. All CBP Bibles are pulpit ready, their large print even more so, since as a teacher you should be using the largest font size possible in the classroom.
I have begun some markings but have not decided which categories of annotations I will add; generally I do word studies and sermon points. If I do it correctly, I can preach most, if not all texts, with nothing else than the marginal annotations.
A little more about caring for this unique leather
I want to add a couple tips for caring for lambskin as it tends to be a more delicate leather.
- Don’t wash your hands immediately before handling this Bible. The oils from your hands work into the leather keeping it rich and supple.
- Use Lexol when cleaning the Bible cover. It removes dirt but still nourishes the leather and keeps it supple
- Handle this Bible regularly if it is not your primary Bible. Remember that the natural oils in your skin will work into the leather. Each Bible will have a unique shine because of your natural oils.
The Price Point
CBP sells their Bibles at cost or as close to it as possible. This Bible will run you about $75-$85 before taxes and shipping, depending on if you have a coupon.
Should you buy this Bible
The Large Print Wide Margin Text Bible is for you if you are looking for an unadulterated text block with plenty of room for your annotations.
If you are a Bible Teacher, in any capacity, then you should consider this edition.
KJV Life Principles Bible Review
One of the most helpful Bibles you can find is the Life Principles Bible from Thomas Nelson. It is now available in a 2nd Edition and I am actually really excited to review this for you.
Life Principles Bible Photos
(Note: Thomas Nelson provided this Bible free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review simply an honest one. My opinions are my own.)
Translations Available
Currently the 2nd Edition of Life Principles Bible is available in the NKJV, NIV, NASB, and, for the first time, the King James Version. It is the KJV edition that I am reviewing.
For over 400 years the KJV has been the standard bearer in English Bibles and so it is a welcome sign to see the KJV finally join the lineup.
Cover and Binding
This particular edition is burgundy leathersoft with a sewn binding. When it comes to imitation leathers, Thomas Nelson has really stepped up its game in their leathersoft covers. Even though they are made from polymers, they feel fairly like a real leather. I am quite impressed with this cover. It should go without saying that the sewn binding is a great choice to ensure your Bible lasts a lifetime.
Paper, Layout, Font
The Thomas Nelson Comfort Print Font really shines here. This is a black letter edition set in my favorite layout, double column verse by verse. The second edition has a bit of an Easter egg for you, in between the text of Scripture and the notes, Thomas Nelson has provided their full set of cross-references, 72,000 in all.
The paper is fairly similar to other Thomas Nelson Bibles but it presents as more opaque than other Nelson Bibles and is certainly more opaque than the first edition. The increased opacity is vital in this edition because Dr. Stanley provides such good content that you will want to add your own markings and notes to go along with it.
Helps
- 30 Life Principlesarticles highlight Dr. Stanley’s essentials for Christian living. These lessons are derived from more than 40 years of teaching and encompass the essentials of a life pleasing to God.
- 2,500 Life Lessons verse notes bring to life the practical and personal nature of God’s Word to us. These notes will help to relate to and internalize the Scriptures.
- Over 300 highlighted verses make it easy to find God’s promises throughout the Bible text that encourage, strengthen, and bring hope
- Answers to Life’s Questionsand What the Bible Says About articles bring scriptural insight to bear on topics of special importance to every believer
- Topical indexes give immediate access to hundreds of life-giving principles and promises throughout the Old and New Testaments. This includes a condensed concordance for a more in-depth topical study.
- Book introductions provide an overview of the themes and literary structure of each book. Each introduction includes the Life Principles which are addressed in that book.
- Life Examples are character profiles that illustrate a particular life principle.
- In-text maps and charts are a newish feature this time around and are designed for visual learners to gain a better understanding of the Bible.
Experiencing the Life Principles Bible
I have two copies to the 1st Edition, one in NASB and a signed NKJV in addition to the KJV I am reviewing. I have found it most useful in situations of 1 on 1 discipleship.
What should be added
It would be a great idea to add notes pages when we get to the third edition. I have seen several Life Principles Bibles out and about and it tends to be much more marked up than others that I have seen. This leads me to believe that notes pages would be a very heavily used tool.
Who should use the Life Principles Bible
If you said that this Bible should be used by new disciples, you would not, per se, be incorrect. However, I recommend more for the intermediate level disciple. A basic understanding of sound doctrine is critical for proper application.
Final Thoughts
All in all, this is excellent. I have a few minor points of disagreement with Dr. Stanley but overall he is very helpful. I commend it to you for your study.
Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible, Full Color Edition
Additional Photos
The King James Version…It is has been the definitive English Bible for over 400 years. For nearly 225 of those years, Thomas Nelson has been publishing the KJV Bible and offering some incredible resources to aid in your understanding of Scripture. In this article, we are looking at Nelson’s KJV Study Bible, Full Color Edition. (Pursuant to law: Thomas Nelson provided this review copy free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give positive feedback and my opinions are my own.)
The Translation
As its name suggests, the translation offered is the King James Version. I do not really need to say much about this choice. It has been a mainstay of English Bibles for generations and will continue to do so.
The Cover and Binding
There are a range of cover choices available from hardcover to “genuine leather.” Genuine leather, by the way, is a case study in understatement. I have handled a ton of leathers in my lifetime and I knew, at a touch, that we were being treated to real cowhide/calfskin. Typically genuine leather refers to pigskin but this is absolutely not pigskin. The grain is delightful. As I have mentioned before, your Bible should be a delight to hold and in the case of a full leather Bible that is accomplished.
It has a paste down liner. Many of my colleagues object to a paste down liner and, in some cases, I would agree. However, in a Bible this size, a leather liner would be a disaster since it would make the Bible too floppy to use single handed and would, most likely, lead to dropping.
Nelson did give us a sewn binding and I am glad to see publishers going back to sewn bindings. Sewing the binding allows for it to lay flat anywhere you open the Bible and it also guarantees a lifetime of use.
Paper, Layout, Font
The paper is delicious. I have handled more Thomas Nelson Bibles than I can even recall but this is the best paper I have handled. It has a bit of a newsprint feel to it, a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. I think that Nelson hit on a paper that would work very well for highlighting/marking. Too bad it doesn’t have wide margins but that would probably make this Bible unreasonably large.
While not billed as comfort print, we have a 10-point font for the Bible text and an 8-point font for the notes. We do have a red-letter edition with the red letters being done very well. Often, red letter Bibles have a tendency to turn pink. Thankfully that has not happened here.
The Bible is laid out with the standard double column verse by verse format. The study notes are located in a very generous footer section. These are not commentary notes as some suggest but they are expository notes, around 7000 of them, designed to help you draw out the meaning of the Scripture.
Full Color Helps
Book Introductions
The Book Introductions contain all the usual helps that you would expect to find: author, date of writing, background, etc. There is a specific item I wish to bring to your attention, full color photos. Example: The Introduction Romans includes a photo of ancient Rome.
Detailed Outlines
Ordinarily, I would not call out the outlines separately. However, the outlines in the KJV Study Bible are, likely, the most detailed I have seen in a study Bible. The emphasis on teaching and understanding the Bible is quite evident in the outlines. Teaching each book of the Bible is essential for the pastor, Sunday School teacher, or small group leader and the outline of each book provide an excellent tool to guide your teaching.
Topical Indexes
There are several topical indexes. Most importantly, there are indexed to the Gospels and Teachings of Jesus, The Life and Teachings of Paul, and Eschatology. The topical indexes are fairly detailed and contain anywhere from 3-10 years’ worth of teaching material.
Cross References
The Thomas Nelson Cross Reference System contains over 50,000 references. In addition to reference links, you will also find translation variants and footnotes. The references are in the center column of the page for easy access.
Doctrinal Footnotes
Doctrinal Footnotes are unique to this study Bible. These footnotes, in a separate box in the text, cover major points of Christian Doctrine. Each one gives you an appetizer size bite of doctrine to whet your appetite into digging into each doctrine.
For Every Day Use
This Bible is not small. I would say it weighs in at about 4 pounds which makes carrying it interesting. I do take it with me, to my secular job, on Mondays so that I have it when I start the first draft of a new sermon. It would probably be a good idea to make this a keep on your desk Bible.
Overall Thoughts
Does this Bible come up to the mark? This question was posed to me when I received this Bible for review. I will repeat my answer to the asker: The only way the KJV Study Bible could be more up to the mark would be if there was a rural Baptist Church included in the box.
I would not be surprised to find Nelson’s KJV Study Bible in the backpack of every undergrad student at Bible College. I would encourage EVERY Sunday School teacher to have a copy. In fact, for those who prefer the King James Version, this is one of two must own study Bibles, the other being the Standard Lesson KJV Teacher’s Study Bible.
Nelson’s KJV Study Bible is available on OliveTree Bible Software. I primarily use it there so that I can easily pair the excellent study resources with multiple translations simultaneously.
TBS Family Bible Review
Trinitarian Bible Society makes some of the best King James Bibles currently available, so it is a pleasure to review another of their Bibles. This time they sent me the Large Print Family Presentation Bible in exchange for an honest review. (This Bible was provided free of charge but my opinions are my own and were not coerced by TBS).
The Cover
As with all TBS leather Bibles, this is a calfskin cover with a paste down liner. In most cases TBS uses an ironed (smooth) calfskin. This time, however, there is a very pronounced grain which I love. The front is plain black and there is gold stamping on the spine.
The Text Block
The text block is a special edition from Cambridge University Press. The font is 10-point and very dark. It is double column and verse-by-verse. The paper is similar to that in the Concord but perhaps a little heavier.
This Bible would generally be categorized as personal/hand sized. It is very lightweight and easy to carry around. The paper offering is very opaque, not a lot of show through at all. This is one Bible I can easily recommend marking in; I don’t see there being a ton of issue with bleed through. I do not recommend a liquid highlighter but then I never do. However, there are a number of other tools for marking, any of which will do.
For Every Day Carry
Overall, this particular Bible is just about perfect for every day carry. It fits into my regular briefcase nicely but I also have a smaller messenger bag with a pocket that is just the right size for carry. As it happens the rich black font lends itself to easy reading in most lighting situations.
For Preaching
In the King James Version, this is one of the best preaching Bibles I have encountered. It is one of the two easiest for me to read, the other being the KJV Hallmark Reference Bible from Hendrickson.
Even though TBS did not design this Bible specifically for preaching, it is, actually, ideally suited to the task. Many pastors will carry a text only edition into the pulpit so that there are fewer distractions on the page. I tend to walk when I preach and carry the Bible one handed while doing so. The TBS Family Presentation Bible’s size lends itself quite nicely to this task. What really shocked me is that this Bible is much easier to preach from than my KJV Longprimer Reference Bible from Allan and sons. That fact also amused me; Longprimer is considered the flagship KJV and yet the TBS Bible is more comfortable for reading and is more hand friendly
Something Missing I Did Not See Coming
To my surprise, there is no concordance. A missing concordance is not really an issue as I have a host of topical study tools, dictionaries and other tools so it doesn’t bother me.
Should you buy?
Much like all Bibles TBS offers, I give this a hearty recommendation. This Bible is about as vanilla as you get. If the KJV is your preferred English Bible, then a Bible from the Trinitarian Bible Society absolutely should be your first consideration.
Final Thoughts
When you need a very high quality KJV on a tight budget, you cannot go wrong with the TBS Family Presentation Bible.
