I’m actually on the Bible hunt. I own several Bibles, but the difficulty is that each has a very specific purpose from helping to read the Bible as literature (guess) to a pocket Bible with super small text. I don’t actually have an all-purpose “my Bible” to annotate, underline, and wear out. Here’s what I’m looking for (specific list):
- Must be the ESV translation. Some people pick style over translation. I think the translation is the most important component, and the ESV is the one I will most likely use for the rest of my life.
- Must be sewn. I want it to outlast my children without dropping pages.
- Must lie flat on table. This is actually an important distinction between most books where it doesn’t really matter and Bibles where being able to leave it flat on a pulpit, podium, desk, or breakfast table is essential.
- Must be of medium size. I need to be able to unhesitatingly throw it in a bag (so no enormous study Bibles) but I already have a pocket ESV and find it too small for day-to-day reading (especially in bed in poor light)
- Should be black-letter. As I mentioned in my review of the Literary Study Bible, the whole Bible is the word of God and red letter can distract from understanding that reality, I think.
- Should have some cross-references. Extra commentary, maps, etc.. is not important.
- Preferably leather bound (or Crossway’s TruTone is acceptable as well). I figure cost isn’t a huge object if its well built.
- Preferably more than one ribbons, as I like to be reading through more than one book at a time in my study.
- Preferably single-column, but most are double, so I’m not expecting this one.
I will let my readers know when I find one. I’ve heard Crossway’s Heirloom edition fulfills a lot of these, but it has been discontinued. Go figure. Otherwise, suggestions are welcome. Has anyone extensively used Crossways Single Column Reference? Each verse is on a new line and I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.
If no one makes what you want, do it yourself!
http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2006/11/30/tss-blank-bible-index/
Or was pretty a requirement?