The Zondervan Thompson Chain Reference Bible ('77 NASB)

[@Ambrose_op]

Congratulations on having publishers seek you out for your reviews, Dr. Jones. It's certainly well deserved, as your videos are (in my humble opinion) the best Bible reviews on KZbin. Continued blessings!

[@RGrantJones]

Thanks for the encouraging comment, Parker!

[@jkdbuck7670]

Dr Jones??? He has a Fedora? Awesome!

[@RGrantJones]

@@jkdbuck7670 - and a whip.

[@AmericanShia786]

Yet another superb video. I finally got around to purchasing a Zondervan Thompson Chain and this NASB 77 hardback edition is the one I chose. I prefer the NASB 77 translation to probably all Critical Text translations, with the RSV or ESV next. I'll have to check out Legacy translation you mention. I've been using the Thompson Chain Reference Bible for 35 years now and its my personal favorite. I have spent hours at a time looking up topics.

[@aaronmueller5802]

I was looking forward to this one. Can't wait for the comfort print edition. If only they made an edition without red letters.

[@RGrantJones]

I hope Zondervan listens to us and prints black ink editions! Thanks for commenting, Aaron.

[@fumastertoo]

Another excellent review, and one of my favorite study Bibles. I do appreciate a good hardcover edition and that one seems pretty nice. God bless!

[@balaamsass5540]

The Thompson is my earliest memory of a study bible. When I was 10, I remember looking though my mom's TCR in church and reading through all of the diagrams and the archeological supplement. I have a genuine leather KJV Thompson that I bought in 1994 and I still pull it out every once in a while. I have mostly moved to the ESV since 2006, so it will be interesting to see the TCR in the ESV format. I bought a hardback just to give it a spin.

[@rainstormr7650]

thanks - I was considering buying this one and all the varied info In your vid was a huge help. be well. -

[@sylvia4425]

Wonderfully detailed review! It helped me immensely. thank you.

[@RGrantJones]

Thanks for letting me know, Sylvia!

[@glantern3]

Thank you !!! I went to Amazon and immediately purchased it ! Should be here in about a week since I live outside the US. What a bargain and it has my preferred NAS 77.

[@micahwatz1148]

After having this for a while, i live how the chain reference is in the gutter instead of the actual text you are reading most of the time. I dont really enjoy reading books with text in the gutter. The double lines of text are actually very nice to read. Reminds me of the old kjvs. Great bible, great info in the back. I highly recommend this one. I love how they preserved some of the beautiful language to. Gives a more enjoyable reading in my opinion. As compared to an niv, with very stale modern phrasing. But they both have their place.

[@stephengilbreath840]

I love that layout

[@RGrantJones]

I do too. Thanks for commenting, Stephen!

[@pmachapman]

Thank you for the review - I am glad Zondervan have done this "classic" release of the Thompson Chain until they publish the Comfort Print edition (which I will likely wait for as I already have an NIV78 and NKJV Thompson). My local Bible seller says he still has many customers asking for Thompson Chains, so it looks like this demand will be satiated!

[@RGrantJones]

I suppose Zondervan's challenge will be to improve the TCR without changing it so much that its longtime users are alienated. Thanks for commenting, Peter!

[@PrentissYeates]

great review! So glad Zondervon purchased either the rights or acquisition Kirkbride publishing. I really don't which occurred but the idea that the TCRSB would be gone , terrible thought. Zondervon/Thomas nelson and 2K/Denmark definitely need to be praised.

[@jkdbuck7670]

I bet they bought the intellectual property/copywrites. I'd imagine Kirkbride is in bad shape financially....never buy a company in bad shape ....try to buy their IP and get them to indemnify you if you get sued due to the transfer of assets. I've seen this happen IRL. But I could be wrong. Kirkbride might be totally financially viable.

[@fnjesusfreak]

@@jkdbuck7670 They did buy the copyright (or possibly even Kirkbride itself). The current edition says Copyright Zondervan instead of Copyright BB Kirkbride.

[@micahwatz1148]

I like reading kjv, this, and my niv all at the same time. Sometimes i need the niv just to figure out what the modern English phrasing would be. But the kjv forces me to slow down and absorb the text.

[@dougholiday7523]

Looks like we finally have a '77 in print which has the full set of the translator's footnotes. Would be surprised if Zondervan retains that complete set in newer editions.

[@RGrantJones]

That's definitely a concern. Thanks for commenting, Doug!

[@BigLivingNow]

Thank you, informative.

[@loveisall5520]

My first Chain Reference was a Kirkbride purchased in the mid 70's. Sad that they sold out to Zondervan and the old, fine ways of construction are gone.

[@kituluipitu1644]

Thank you for the wonderful review ! Berean Study Bible might be a good review . Cheers

[@RGrantJones]

Thank you for the recommendation, and for the kind words!

[@richardgreene8171]

Great review! The paper in the printing is an upgrade and I do hope that Zondervan's Comfort print will still further build upon it. Yes, I am starting to like the 1977 NASB version more since I have been reading from it over the last several weeks (I'm using AMG's Key Word Study Bible). Like you, I wish that the NASB 1977 (and 1995 for that matter) would make some more editions in black letter text. It seems like there are not any 1977 editions with the word of Christ in black. I wish Zondervan would give this as and option.

[@RUT812]

Someone gifted me a Kirkbride NASB-77 TCR, red letter edition, copyright 1993. It’s in great condition, & I’m happy to have it. It doesn’t say 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 anywhere, so it might be bonded leather, but it’s really nice.

[@Spiritual_Sniper]

just ordered this it was on sale for AUS$47 : ) score

[@alex-qe8qn]

Thank you for another excellent review! I have the 1971 and 1973 editions of the NASB Side-Column Reference Bible, and three versions of the 1977 NASB : The Topical Chain Reference Study Bible, The Open Bible Expanded Edition, The Harper Study Bible NASB Edition. All of these have been, and still are, greatly enjoyed by both me and my students etc. I did have the 1977 TCR, but I gave that to a student, when I got the ESV TCR. The latter is better, in that it is corrected and updated in both references etc. and archaeological supplement. I do like the TCR, but I do feel that it is incomplete, in that serious Bible study demands *both* textual and topical/thematic cross-references. For some inexplicable reason(s), we do not have a Bible with both sets of references. If only we might combine, say, the latest TCR with the TBS Westminster Bible, or such ideal combination! The problem would be solved if we would accept that a Study Bible is just that - a study/desk edition and not a portable personal-size edition. The modern study size is A4. Let us publish a Study Bible in A4 size, text, translators' notes, textual cross-references, and topical/cross-references all on the same page. Let it be interleaved or loose leaf. Let all other matter either be incorporated after the last Bible book or else be put into a separate book/let, also interleaved or loose leaf. We really need to have a system that is both comprehensive and adaptable. Incidentally, users of the TCR system should have also Howard A Hanke's The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible Companion, though it also could benefit from being gently revised and updated. I suppose the point that I am making is that our imagination is lacking and that our Study Bibles are less than they should be!

[@sylvia4425]

Of all your NASB's...which has the darkest boldest font? (And what is so special about the '77 editions?

[@alexanderthomson3668]

@@sylvia4425 I wouldn’t say that any of my NASB’s has a dark font, but the 1995 Side-Column Reference editions tend to be darker than the 1977’s,and the Open Bible seems to be the darkest of my 1977’s. But, I do find all my NASB’s very easy to read. As to the literal question, I think that Grant’s chart and remarks, from about 23.13 onwards in this video, well illustrate the point : again, I wouldn’t say that much hangs on the matter, but I’d probably take a 1977 (or a 1973 - possibly my favourite) to my desert island.

[@henkdevries1507]

Was hoping for a review of this! I am expecting a copy in black bonded leather this week. Would you consider a review of the older Open bible study version or extended version? Airik 1111 used to show them a lot. Do you know why he stopped doing reviews? Thanks for all the interesting video’s. Greetings, Henk.

[@RGrantJones]

I miss Airik 1111! No, I don't know why he stopped doing reviews. I wish he'd come out of retirement! Regarding the Open Bible, I don't have a copy to review. Perhaps I will if a new edition comes out. I hope you enjoy your bonded leather NASB TCR. I think it's on par with the Kirkbride edition published around 2009, and it's higher quality than the Kirkbride KJV TCR I purchased three or four years ago.

[@mackle491]

One thing I don't fully understand (I have a NASB 77 Thompson too), is it says it uses "Thou" and "Thee" when referring to Deity, but it doesn't seem to do it in the Gospels when people speak to Jesus. I thought then that it was based on whether or not the person thought they were speaking to Deity (so the Pharisees would not use it), but then I noticed even the disciples after the resurrection still said "You." It does use "Thou" in Rev. 5:9 though. Maybe it should have said "Deity except during the incarnation of Jesus," or something like that more specifically.

[@arthurbrugge2457]

I really like the text block, as well as layout in this bible. I'm more used to having references in a middle column, but this is quite tidy and neat. Do you think they will still sell this version, after they roll out the comfort print one?

[@RGrantJones]

My guess is that the Comfort Print edition will replace this one. Thanks for commenting, Arthur!

[@arthurbrugge2457]

@@RGrantJones Thank you. While I appreciate the comfort print, these "older" fonts and styles are still superior. I have friends with schuyler bibles, but the text just looks so washed out to me. I really appreciate the work you put into these videos. Keep up the good work!

[@RGrantJones]

@@arthurbrugge2457 - thank you! I think I know what you mean. I've been dissatisfied with the Quentel font since I first saw it.

[@amen4834]

Does the NKJV and KJV have the missing references like the NASB 77? Or are they missing in all three additions?

[@RGrantJones]

I don't have a copy of the NKJV edition, but the references that should be at Romans 11.26-27 pointing to Isaiah 57.20-21 and Isaiah 27.9, the sources of the quotation, are missing in my KJV Thompson Chain Reference.

[@erichoehn8262]

I have the nasb thompson chain reference kirkbride 1993 edition

[@scotte2213]

If you had to choose this or the Schuyler NASB wide margin which would you recommend. I’m torn because of Schuylers quality (but expensive price) or the zondervan better price (but lacks full reference/note suite)?

[@RGrantJones]

That's difficult. I would recommend against buying the Schuyler wide margin NASB unless you're happy with page-bottom (i.e., less accessible) notes and don't mind the lightly printed type. If those things don't bother you, it's a truly beautiful, high-quality Bible. But you really don't want to spend that kind of money just to be disappointed. This TCR has the advantage of being much less expensive and having what I consider a superior translation, but the chain-reference system may not work well for you. Many love it, but it leaves me flat. I prefer the standard references in the NASB SCR or Large Print Ultrathin. And the lack of line-matching creates clutter issues for me, especially in the red print. Even so, this TCR might be a good temporary Bible while you wait for the right standard reference NASB or LSB edition to come along. I would love a '77 NASB (or perhaps LSB) with the TCR layout, but with the standard (not chain) references aligned with the verses in the inner and outer margins, as in the TBS KJV Westminster Reference.

[@mythco.3461]

Do the kjv study notes and this one line up with the same amount of resources?

[@GarinSavage]

You talk about instances where the LSB is less literal than the NASB77, but the LSB scored more literal overall on the chart. Are there ways in which it is more literal? Or is your concern more that the LSB is not consistent in how it uses tools like italics?

[@RGrantJones]

The LSB scores few liberties than the '77 NASB in verses where the LSB incorporates the marginal 'Lit.' reading into the text. But it would move even farther toward the literal end of the spectrum if it were more careful in its use of italic font.

[@Josh-yk6xk]

I was wondering about your KJV quatercentenary edition. Does It have the 1611 spelling mistakes revised? Idk if you mentioned it in your video.

[@RGrantJones]

The spelling is archaic, so 'she' is sometimes spelled 'shee' for instance. Is there a specific error you know about that you'd like me to check?

[@Josh-yk6xk]

@@RGrantJones no that’s all I wanted to know. Thank you

[@rainstormr7650]

Hi, A review or 2, on amazon says some pages are missing In this one. Quote: _"pages 559 to 622 are TOTALLY MISSING. The following text is totally missing: from 1 Chronicles 23 through the end of 1 Chronicles ALL of 2 Chronicles The first five and a half chapters of Ezra "_ Any idea if this is true ? thx. -

[@RGrantJones]

Rainstorm R - my copy is whole, entire, and complete. Publishers sometimes have bad print runs. I once bought a text book that was missing quite a few pages.

[@rainstormr7650]

@@RGrantJones Thanks for responding..and the info.

[@bls6666661]

With the comfort print and or larger font it will probably be a "bigger" Bible and ive seen that it sometimes holds back Bible publishers, and i hope that DOESNT stop zondervan with the TCRB next year, if it's better a font and line matched and also premium leather premiere editions i would Buy all of them 😂😂😂, so i hope they also make the esv verse by verse in the comfort print on they're future TCRB editions.

[@RGrantJones]

Thanks for commenting, jesus! I hope Zondervan reads your comment! I'm curious about the Comfort Print editions also. For myself, I would be happy with the current font if the text were line matched and in black ink throughout.

[@bls6666661]

@@RGrantJones correct, that in itself would be a game changer for the upcoming zondervan TCRB editions, thanks so much for your reviews, I miss Airik 1111 as well, hope he comes back! God bless you Mr. GRANT

[@caomhan84]

For now, their website only lists the upcoming NIV Thompson Chain as having "premium" options (Buffalo leather, Premier Collection calfskin) in addition to the standard covers. I assume that may be the case for the other translations as well, but there's no way to know right now. The only thing that they're saying is that the pages will get a 2-color, "cleaner" layout refresh (which I guess we can assume means line-matching), book introductions, and a map index in addition to the standard features. Considering that all of the Comfort Print fonts are larger and bolder, we can assume the Bible will be bigger. Who knows if they will also update the study section in the back? That will also make it bigger.

[@hassanmirza2392]

One of the main problems which I see in readers Bible is that they do not provide small book intros and light annotations, notes. So for new people, but also for Christians it is hard to follow the material of it.

[@RGrantJones]

I agree that the lack of intros and notes can be a problem. This particular edition does have book introductions, but they're in a section in the back. To understand difficult passages, I think the philosophy here seems to be that the chain references should guide the reader to other, related passages that will make the meaning more clear. I'm not confident that approach works well for everyone. But most readers have access to free internet tools like eSword, which provides a number of older commentaries at no cost.

[@hassanmirza2392]

@@RGrantJones I have a question: I think Judaism and Christianity are basically one and the same religion, so the correct term for both should be Judeo-Christian religion, which is now divided in two parts. Is this a correct thing to say? Because first followers of Jesus didn't made any distinction between these two branches, the term Christianity is a later construct. Is this all correct to say?

[@RGrantJones]

@@hassanmirza2392 - I had a Jewish coworker about 25 years ago who hated the term 'Judeo-Christian', because in his view Judaism and Christianity are so different -- and he didn't think very highly of Christianity, I might add. His thinking was focused on ethics, not theology, and in his view most Jews see nothing wrong with abortion or acting on what I'll call nonstandard sexual appetites. Jews and Christians differ fundamentally in their understanding of who Jesus is. For Jews, Jesus was a failed want-to-be-Messiah of doubtful birth. It's certainly true that Christianity arose out of the religion of the Jews in first century Palestine. But they separated on questions of theology (who Jesus is) and practice (e.g., is circumcision necessary for Gentiles? must Gentiles keep the dietary laws?). The apostle Paul described the people of God as a tree (Romans 11.17-24), from which some branches had been broken off and other branches grafted in. But I suppose from a certain perspective Judaism and Christianity can be seen as a single religion, a perspective in which distinctions in issues like the nature of the Godhead and in ethics aren't considered to be essential.

[@hassanmirza2392]

@@RGrantJones In a more general sense it is the same religion, but the Judaic branch of it became tribal and mostly redundant, sadly. Your Jewish co-worker is a secular Jew, like Noam Chomsky and Normal Finkelstein, not a religious one. I think basically such secular Jews, Christians and Muslims are actually cultural Christians, because they keep using tropes of Western Secular Humanism, use the universality of Abrahamic monotheism and decline to acknowledge its use. Actually main difference between Jews, Christians and Muslims is on the status of Jesus. He was: 1- A False Messiah and got rightfully executed, which is the Jewish position. 2- Jewish Messiah, Intercessor and Divine, got crucified, which is Christian position. 3- Jewish Messiah, Prophet and a sign of End Times, never got crucified. Islamic claim.

[@sylvia4425]

*Hello. I've recently watched several KZbin documentary videos of discovery of the buried city of Sodom & Gomorrah! IT'S VERY FASCINATING & EXCITING!!!! I checked in the archeology portion of my Kirkbride NASB 1993 Thompson Chain...and unfortunately, (under Sodom & Gomorrah) there are no photos of the Sulfer-Brimstone balls or any of the other interesting finds in back portion of the Thompson Chain. *I was wondering if any of the more updated bibles have any photos or interesting finds of Sodom & Gomorrah are in there. I surely hope there is! If anyone has an updated Thompson...let me know! 😇 Blessings*

[@sylviafriessen9124]

I have heard that the kirkbride NASB TCR's were/are line matched.. Is the Zondervan NASB77 line matched as well??

[@RGrantJones]

Thanks for the question, Sylvia! No, the Zondervan '77 NAS isn't line-matched. I have three Kirkbride TCRs (KJV, NIV, and '77 NAS). They are not line-matched either.

[@sylviafriessen9124]

Ok but would the kirkbride NASB have been linematched then?? Im certain i heard a review just today that mentioned it being line matched

[@RGrantJones]

@@sylviafriessen9124 - the Kirkbride '77 NAS I bought in 2009 is most definitely not line-matched.

[@MAMoreno]

I think that if I were to set out to make the worst possible layout for a Bible, it would come out looking like the Thompson Chain Reference. The extremely narrow columns remind me of a newspaper. There's nothing about it that says "literary text," let alone "holy text." The excessive white space in the margins makes the columns look even more out of place, as if the page came out of a scrapbook with a newspaper article glued in the middle. The chain references bother me, too. They actively encourage reading verses out of their immediate context in service of a supposed recurring theme throughout the Bible rather than doing what I think references should do: draw attention to deliberate literary connections made by the biblical authors.

[@RGrantJones]

I love the layout, but I agree with what you wrote about the chain references. Let me add that when the related verse isn't written out in the Index of Chain Topics, but only referenced there, the user finds himself turning pages twice -- once to see the list of related verses in the index, and a second time to read the related verse.

[@Joe-bw2ew]

I got one. Don't read it though. HA HA ha. I read the NRSV. But Close enough.

[@b.6184]

How is this as an every day carry Bible?

[@RGrantJones]

It isn't a thinline, and it isn't very compact; but it isn't a huge Bible either. I wouldn't have any problem putting it in a backpack and taking it to work.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

In this video your voice is too soft and scratchy. Please project your voice.