Posted by: Nick Norelli | April 14, 2008

Which Bible Would You Buy?

I have something like 35 Bibles, so I don’t really need another one, but I don’t love any of my Bibles.  The one Bible that I absolutely loved fell apart on me and rebinding it won’t solve the problem because the cover was part of what I loved about it.  It was a burgundy, bonded leather, giant print, KJV, center-column reference Bible, and I had worked that thing until the bonded leather was like calf skin.  But the binding came undone and most of the New Testament fell out.  I tried to buy the exact same model in black, but it was an updated version, and it was just not the same.  So right now I work with a variety of Bibles, but I wonder, if you had to buy any one Bible, which Bible would you buy?  Give details, to include the translation, binding, cover, notes/no notes, etc…

B”H

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Responses

‘Translation’? For shame!

By: Jim on April 14, 2008
at 7:10 pm

Or not.

By: Nick Norelli on April 14, 2008
at 7:12 pm

I have an ESV in bonded leather by crossway and it is practically falling apart and I’ve only had it a couple years - it is horrible. Whereas I have an NIV Study Bible in genuine leather (I think) and it has never had any problems and that one I got way back in the early 90’s after I graduated from High School.

So, I don’t know really what to get anymore.

ps. I can read some Greek, but sadly I am not in the same boat as Jim who can read it like a native so I have to have an English Bible for general reading at times. For an MDiv graduate, that is sad, I know.

By: Brian on April 14, 2008
at 7:34 pm

I like using a few Eglish translations to see the approach of others in how the text was rendered. So I use a random NKJV and an NASB. My regular English translation is the Oxford Annotated Ecumenical NRSV. The notes are fantastic and the text is good. It cost about 50 bucks.

By: Drew on April 14, 2008
at 7:34 pm

Well if money is no object… By far the best Bibles out there are by R.L. Allan across the Atlantic. I have purchased one already and it is exquisite. My next Bible purchase will be their upcoming run of ESVs using the 2007 updated text. I believe they are going to have three ribbon markers and their fabulous goatskin covers. Don’t take my word for it, Mark does a much better job of it than I do:

Link to a great blog and beautiful Bibles

By: Nathan Stitt on April 14, 2008
at 7:55 pm

I forgot to mention that though they make other translations, the majority of their Bibles are reference KJV since that seems to be your thing. You can visit R.L. Allan’s website directly here.

By: Nathan Stitt on April 14, 2008
at 7:58 pm

Best Bible for reading, hands down, is Books of the Bible. It is a joy to read!

By: masstheology on April 14, 2008
at 8:39 pm

my two swear by’s are my ESV bonded leather (I used to live in my niv study but i find I spend more time reading the notes than the book if its a study bible), the very same that Brian didn’t like…

my other is a pocket sized nasb. I like having one on my all the time and its OT and NT and fits in my pocket no problem. Leather and everything.

By: Roger Mugs on April 14, 2008
at 8:46 pm

Well, I’d have to honestly say that I just bought the Bible that I’ve been looking for: a black, genuine leather, sewn-binding Oxford Study Bible with the REB translation. It’s everything a Bible-thumping Bible should be!

By: ElShaddai Edwards on April 14, 2008
at 9:04 pm

The genuine leather REB Oxford Study Bible. It’s God’s gift to the English-speaking world.

By: Esteban Vázquez on April 14, 2008
at 9:21 pm

people keep tempting me to consider the REB…. (don’t have the cash for the leather edition though)

By: Brian on April 14, 2008
at 11:04 pm

Brian! It is no temptation. It is the divine voice telling you, “Pick up and read the REB! It is My gift to the English-speaking world!” ;-)

By: Esteban Vázquez on April 15, 2008
at 12:00 am

It would be the HCSB 2 column, center reference bible with supple, soft leather, with sewn-binding. Oh wait I already have that one. ;-) I really do love this bible. Still getting use to the size, sounds like it is the same size as Nick’s KJV.

Actually I would love to have an HCSB single column, reference bible with supple, soft leather (don’t care if it’s goat, or cowhide, so long as it is supple & soft) with sewn-binding, and ultrathin, no large print.

Some advise whatever bible translation you decide on, make sure that it is sewn-binding. This will make the bible last a very long time. You can always have it rebound in a nice leather.

By: Robert on April 15, 2008
at 1:03 am

The cheapest, of whichever translation I needed. Anything more is usually a waste of money.

TNIV is my favourite translation, but I wouldn’t buy it because I already have it - in fact two copies which is over the top, but the second one was a small format edition which is useful for taking to small group meetings.

By: Peter Kirk on April 15, 2008
at 7:33 am

It’s all about the ESV for me baby. I happen to use a hardcover ESV that I picked up at ETS in 2005. It’s holding up quite well. Recently, I’ve gotten pretty used accessing the ESV on my blackberry at http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/mobile/. : )

By: Shaun Tabatt on April 15, 2008
at 10:08 am

For all the advertising, I haven’t been that impressed with the ESV personally. Whichever Bible I got, it wasn’t a sewn binding and the supposed leather is shedded, torn and all that, I have barely used it and an pretty respectful of my Bibles.

By: Brian on April 15, 2008
at 12:01 pm

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