The Only Bible Review I’ll Ever Do
I love the Bible, and I love a well made Bible. If you’re not aware, there’s a subculture out there of Bible collectors and aficionados. They throw out terms like “yapp,” “Oxford hollow,” and “Berisford ribbons.” They debate which bindery is the best and which thickness of Bible paper has the least amount of “ghosting.” Personally, I love it. I’m not a collector myself and I don’t have a very expensive Bible, but I appreciate the craftsmanship and the beauty of a premium Bible. With that being said, it’s the contents of the Bible that matter. Yes, even something like a well made Bible can become idolatrous, as ironic as that may be. But, somewhere in the middle of apathy towards reading the Bible and too much attention spent on the design and materials of the Bible is a middle ground where having a Bible you love to pick up and read everyday lives. This will most likely be the only Bible review I ever do. The goal isn’t even really to review the Bible, but to shed light on a particular Bible and particular translation that is accessible to almost anyone. If you’re looking for a good Bible that should last you a long time, but won’t break the bank this is the Bible for you.
You may have read one of our earlier posts that gave a brief overview of the Bible and a short explanation on Bible translations. The Bible that we’re focusing on today is an English Standard Version translation. I’ll admit right away that I’ve always been an ESV guy. It’s my main translation and I could write an entire post (and more) on why it is such a great Bible translation. But I won’t. I will say that it is a trusted translation and fits in the word for word camp of Bible translation. Meaning, the translators made it a point to stay faithful to the Greek, Hebrew and Aramiac, attempting to render these languages into English as closely as possible. No paraphrases or added words needed. This means that the translation is as close to the original author’s intent as possible. But, the ESV also puts an emphasis on readability, it doesn’t feel “wooden” when reading it. It is wonderful to read and at times is reminiscent of the poetic flow of the King James Version.
The Bible we’re talking about specifically is the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible. It can be found on the publisher’s website (crossway.com) for around $199. But, Alistair Begg and his ministry, Truth for Life, sells the Bible at cost for $35. Yes, you read that right. No catch at all. Alistair Begg and his ministry want you to have access to an amazingly beautiful Bible that will last you potentially a lifetime. And why is that important? We’ll, if you’re using your Bible the right way, you should be reading it every day, or at least most days. So, your Bible naturally becomes one of the most important items in your life. Especially because it is the living, breathing Word of God. It’s something you’ll hopefully pass down to your children, and then their children.
This Bible has a cowhide leather cover, it’s edge-lined constructed, has high-quality paper and includes maps, a concordance and cross-references. Everything you need to study the Bible in-depth without having a robust study Bible. It’s a nice sized Bible, not too big and not too small. Pretty much a Goldilocks Bible.
I could go on and on about the highlights of this Bible, but ultimately it is a solid Bible at a price that is unheard of. For the price of a decent dinner for two you could get this Bible that will last for generations.
So, why am I making this post? Well one of our main goals at Generational Dads is to encourage men to read their Bibles and learn the truths that fill the pages. We believe that the Bible is the best handbook for fatherhood and manhood. When you have a Bible that is built well with high-quality materials, is easy to read and has features that help you dig deeper, you will naturally engage with your Bible more. Alistair Begg and his team have opened up an opportunity for you to have one with the click of the button and the price of a dollar a day.
If you don’t have a Bible or one that you enjoy using, head to their website here: https://www.truthforlife.org/store/products/books-and-booklets/esv-large-print-thinline-reference-bible/
