Crossway ESV Preaching Bible in Black Goatskin - Review, Critique and Opinion

[@WestminsterChurchOnline]

I've been doing some research and this is helpful, thanks! Oh, and I love your t-shirt!

[@xblakelfoglex]

I just got myself a copy! As a street evangelist and English major I LOVE this Bible and would hands down use it to preach from! I am a verse-by-verse exegete so I personally like the single column paragraph.

[@CaseyFleetMedia]

Great job Beau as always

[@tswjjoekue7120]

I truly appreciate your honesty here. I was actually gifted with this Bible and I use it sparingly. I do concur that the verse numbers should've been "popped" out more. Having it a "verse-by-verse" format would definitely aid us preachers better. I also concur with the "why need the maps" section. I've yet to use it while preaching from the pulpit as well. But as for the need for extra paper to write, I actually added a few blank pages in the front/back so as to jot down notes/prayer requests/etc. So we preachers may need to be a little creative with some DIY skills, so as to be more productive. :) Anyhow, great vid. #soliDeoGloria

[@OrthodoxJourney359]

Now, if you will turn to map 4 we'll see Paul go across the pond LOL. Great review brother!

[@nberrios777]

I use a script for preaching. I am in the minority with the paragraph format. In the first part of my sermon I read the entire text (paragraph format comes in handy here). During expository preaching, I often only refer to the verse number, paraphrase it and expound using the script- but will read an entire verse (word for word) when necessary (Greek/Hebrew meanings or when it is a key verse that requires a deeper exegesis). If a pastor (who uses scripts) could only have one Bible to read, study, and preach from - this Bible would be ideal. Lastly, the large margins are really useful - something that most Bibles sacrifice in order to have a nice font size, single verse, two columns, and references. Now, all this being said, for expository preaching without a script, one might need to highlight the verse numbers prior to preaching.

[@matturso2224]

How do you like the paper quality? Do you think the chinese printing reduces the quality?

[@BeauTate]

6 days after this review, the poll in EVERYTHING BIBLES now has 158 total votes, still only 5 votes in favor for the Single column, paragraph format.

[@jeremyhenderson5233]

Great review and you are not in the minority. All the things you asked for in a revision are spot on. 2 column verse by verse, lined paper, 36 gsm, etc... That would be a great preaching Bible. This edition is a nice reader or even study Bible because of the wide margin. Again Beau, great review. Appreciate you brother!

[@Tax_Buster]

I noticed that the Holman Handcrafted Collection CSB Single-Column Wide Margin Bible basically has the same layout or typesetting as this one. For me, it seems like the ideal reader's Bible. Since I love the CSB one that I have, I think I want to have one of these for my daily reading and not as my preaching Bible.

[@mikerichards1498]

It would probably not be my preaching Bible. The large print thinline is closer to the ideal, especially if it were verse by verse, and wide margin.

[@Actschapter7verse55]

Great review. My preaching Bible is the ESV top grain verse-by-verse edition. That is, unless I use my UBS5. I wouldn’t use this Bible for preaching.

[@drewrivera256]

Thanks for keeping it real. very helpful!

[@millerfam128]

Thank you for your authentic review. I do agree that it is not a great edition for preaching. I like what you suggested. On the maps, I think it is funny because I never thought about it before. With my first ESV Study Bible, "oh cool! Full-color maps!" Probably a bad example but in a study Bible I have used my maps to some degree but never really felt that they were all that helpful. For a preaching bible or any other type of Bible, I do not even pay attention to the maps. Essentially I agree, get rid of the maps, go with verse by verse, provide more than two ribbons, and replace maps with more college ruled lined paper.

[@PhillipArthurSimmons]

I’m just holding out for that heirloom SC personal size bible in September. But I really would like an heirloom verse by verse! Maybe one day.

[@Rev.DavidJTowns]

Love the t-shirt Y'all --- GOD Bless

[@sdhute]

Wouldn’t a preachers Bible be a verse by verse and not a huge paragraph type

[@bradleyhurley6755]

I think it depends. If you tend to preach verse by verse, then a verse by verse bible makes sense. If instead you preach precept by precept, or thought by thought, then the paragraph style can be more beneficial as you are probably going to be reading that paragraph in its entirety and are going to be less focused on needing to continue to look at the specific verse, but if you need to you can. The paragraph version lends itself better if you are looking at a complete unit of thought, and not the one specific verse. With that said, a single column paragraph is the worse. With a double column paragraph bible, the text is still together fairly close that if you need to look at the entire thought at once, you can do so. With a paragraph single column, it is a lot easier to lose your place if you glance up from reading to look at the audience, or when going back to the next line. Personally I prefer two column paragraph bibles, as it brings the entire context and thought closer together without arbitrarily separating the thought. Nothing is worse when a sentence is split in the middle by a verse number. With verse by verse, you run into the fact that sentences can be split in the middle.

[@adamdenny5205]

completely agree with everything said. Very disappointing after a lot of hype from one of the best companies in the world.

[@Gegatso]

I just got one and had no clue it was printed in China. I watched a video from Crossway showing that it was supposed to be from Jongbloed. I am severely disappointed to say the very least. I have a $50 bible which is much better than this thing which might end up collecting dust if Crossway cannot solve my problem with it.

[@victorswx]

Thanks so much Beau for your review. As always, I enjoy your videos! I was really looking forward to this, I had hoped for nicer leather and paper, lined paper in the back, and either get rid of the maps or have them on Bible paper. I think it's a bit misleading to call it a "Preaching Bible". I was looking forward to this as my new wide margin bible because of the bigger font and larger margins. Wish they had used Jongbloed for the binding!

[@victorswx]

I also agree with you, I feel that Crossway had a big chance with this bible to change some things, and instead felt its a bit of a step backwards.

[@barblothe3366]

No. Would need VbV with no partial words at end of a line. I’m rediscovering my KJV Open Bible from 1990 and I could see using that for preaching.

[@sandygrogg1203]

I’m not a preacher. But I would definitely choose a verse by verse, with a generous margin, for notes. L as yet: I havre vision issues...and sm beginning to think a really good preaching Bible might be thd best choice for me. C

[@sandygrogg1203]

Do you think Crossway took the time to poll lots of pastors snd teachers, to see what they woukd like to see in a good preaching Bible? It doesn’t seem so. It seems to me that this Bible was designed by someone who was NOT a preacher..

[@sandygrogg1203]

Evidently not.

[@palmettohorn]

Don't understand why Crossway is dragging its feet in publishing this and other versions/editions in double column verse by verse. There's only one Crossway vbv available right now. Hopefully, someday... Regardless, thanks so much for the videos!

[@jessiesears7966]

Gorgeous Bible! Like so much. I would probably love it for reading and perhaps study, but no way would I consider theaching/preaching Bible!

[@cmbailey13]

No, they didn’t. Need to make a wide-margin VBV with thinker paper.

[@julioalvarengamartinez8829]

i would use it as my reading bible not as my preaching bible

[@nickspitzley8539]

This is great edition of the esv. But if i was preaching this is not what i would want. The bible isn't so much of a fail as the marketing and name is. Understand i would love to use one for reading but i can imagine this is akward from a pulpit. I choose a large print double paragraph format. I think these will go on sale.

[@MCGaar]

Even the Chinese heirloom feels better than this leather. It’s like a poor man’s Allan reader. I was disappointed with this leather. Great flexibility though.

[@VinylFlesh]

Crossway goofed on this one

[@bradberry6953]

put my name in for drawing

[@JesseRoland]

Once again it just shows how little these Bible producers actually listen and just throw something a little different with a snappy new name out there and expect people to buy it.