Review and Giveaway - King James Version Bible

 

This month LEV3L Digital gave me the opportunity to review 3 types of Holman's KJV Bibles. All are RED LETTER Versions.

ABOUT: For over 400 years, the King James Version has been the trusted translation for millions of believers, capturing the majesty of God’s Word and shaping the worship of generations.

Since 1611, Christians have turned to the King James Version of the Bible for a faithful and beautiful rendering of God’s Word. Its rich tradition has guided generations of pastors, authors, and scholars, while its reverent language continues to shape our words today.

The KJV was translated in the beginning of the 1600s. The scholars translating it were among the top scholars of their day, and most were deeply familiar with literature and poetry as well as with theology and ancient languages. They were also intent on creating a translation that would last for generations, so they avoided recent changes to the language, often using words and phrases that sounded formal even then to ensure the dignity and longevity of the translation.

Upfront, I want to admit that the KJV is not my first choice for daily reading, but I do like it. This is the version of my childhood and early adult years. In fact, most of my favorite verses are memorized in KJV... from John 3:16 to the Lord's Prayer and more. As for Bible study, I prefer a variety, including KJV, to help grasp the nuances that I may read over in casual reading. Whether you want this as your only Bible or as an additional Bible for your personal collection to use for a deeper study of God's Word, I believe everyone should have a King James Version... with the words of Jesus in red.


Here is an overview of the 3 Bibles I received:

     HOLMAN KJV STUDY BIBLE

This is my favorite simply because I love study Bibles. Covered in brown bonded leather, it has a supple cover that allows the pages to be turned easily and is easily held in one hand and forearm... despite being a larger Bible. The main feature is inside... like the alphabetized Table of Contents, plus many footnotes and Scripture references inside, along with maps, photos, and illustrations throughout the pages, and the back has more maps, measurements, a concordance, and a unique feature that I believe many will find useful --- A Glossary of King's English!  

My only issue with this Bible is the lack of space for notes. But, there is room at the end of chapters to write, along with several blank pages designated for notes at the end of the Bible. I simply have a personal preference for writing in the the margins next to a verse or passage that speaks to me or added illumination. To be fair, more space may make the Bible too heavy to use with ease. So, this is just a tiny problem and I do recommend it highly!! 

 

            ONE BIG STORY BIBLE  

The KJV Children's Bible is much different than the Bible I had as a child. I love that one and have precious memories, but this one is much more inviting for a child to read and the hard cover makes this Bible more durable. It is colorful and the illustrations help to make the stories more memorable to kids. Apparently there is a way to bring these illustrations to life, but I am "tech-challenged."

Features that I absolutely love include "Christ Connections," "BIG Questions," "Seeing the BIG Picture," and the 100 Memory Verses. There is also an explanation for some big words used in Scripture. Introductions to each book are simplified for a child and the concordance is easy for a child to use. This is the best children's Bible I have seen. Excellent! 

 

 HOLMAN KJV ULTRATHIN REFERENCE BIBLE

With a brown two-toned LeatherTouch soft cover, this Bible is the style and size of a gift Bible or one many typically take to church. It's light-weight, easy to hold, and the print is large enough for the average person to read comfortably. This Bible has some of the same features as the Study Bible: cross-indexed Scripture references, the words of Jesus in red, maps, parables and prophecies, concordance, and the KING'S ENGLISH glossary.

The disadvantage is that there is even less room for personal notes. But, I do believe this would be a convenient companion book for the Study Bible. Carry this one to church or keep with you for times you need your Bible with you, but then use your Study Bible for any questions that arose while reading the smaller version. Personally, I find my favorite Bibles too heavy for me to carry around, so I love having a smaller one for travel purposes.

              GIVEAWAY 

If you are interested in receiving one of these Bibles, simply leave a comment on the blog post or the social media post telling me your choice of STUDY BIBLE, CHILDREN'S BIBLE, or ULTRATHIN BIBLE... and be sure to use #KJVBibleL3

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CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible

 

Visit the Holy Lands without Ever Leaving Home! The CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible is a visually immersive Bible reading experience featuring over 1,200 images, maps, and illustrations to provide greater insight and understanding of the people, places, and events of scripture. Book-specific introductions provide the setting and circumstances of writing for each book, and every image includes a descriptive caption to help better understand what is pictured.

Features include:

• 1,200+ images, maps, and illustrations
• 275 full-length commentary articles
• 40+ “Digging Deeper” call-outs

 

 

 

MY REVIEW: Are you a serious student of the Bible, looking for details and descriptions that aren't found in your average Bible? Then, the CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible (Holman Bible Publishers) is the Bible you need! Not only is there the entirety of holy scripture, but there are numerous articles, photos, and maps to provide a depth of enlightenment and understanding of what was happening, where, and who was involved. Dedicated scholars have poured their knowledge into a single volume that is a treasure trove of information. Check out the Table of Contents here. 

 

And, you can't forget the maps! They have fascinated me since my first Bible I received as a 6 year old, and I am happy to see them in this Bible. There is also an extensive concordance to aid you in searching for specific scripture. Naturally, the introduction to each book is a major asset in discovering the author, audience, time frame, and any other relevant info.

There are a few downsides, though. The book is literally heavy. Weighing in at nearly 4 pounds, I cannot carry it in one hand without fear of dropping it. The print is readable, but I would have preferred it to be just a bit larger. And there are no margins for notes that I like to make when studying. However... those additions would make this Bible even heavier. Keep in mind, I am older, so I am speaking only of my personal preferences. The info and photos outweigh the cons. Plus, I love how the CBS Holy Land Illustrated Bible lies flat while open. That makes it easier to read and to write notes in a notebook, or my computer, without worrying over losing my place. I definitely recommend this Bible!

GIVEAWAY: Lifeway Christian Resources and LEV3L Digital will send 1 hardcover CSB (Christian Standard Bible) Holy Land Illustration Bible ($49.99 retail value) to one reader of my blog. The rules are

• 2020 was a difficult year for many. Tell me one thing you are most thankful for this year?
• Use #HolyLandBibleL3 in your response. 

Contest ends on Thanksgiving Day (Nov 26, 2020) and the winner will be announced on Nov, 27, 2020.

Much gratitude to Lifeway Christian Resources and Lev3l Digital for supplying my review copy and the winner's copy at no cost to me.

SOCIAL LINKS:

• Website

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• Video

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  PURCHASE
  

Life Essentials Interactive Study Bible

In the CSB Life Essentials Study Bible, renowned Bible teacher, Dr. Gene Getz guides readers through Scripture by expounding on 1,500 life principles found throughout the Bible. Distilling these truths into life principles, Dr. Getz helps readers remember and apply the Bible’s wisdom to everyday life. The CSB Life Essentials Study Bible integrates a multimedia digital study system with more than 250 hours of in-depth video teachings from Dr. Gene Getz on these essential life principles (accessed through smartphone-accessible QR codes). Questions follow each principle to inspire personal reflection or group discussion. A topical index and cross-references for all 1,500 life principles are included, and each book introduction provides a list of corresponding life principles found in that book.

 Features include:

• Commentary and application questions on 1,500 life principles
• 250 hours of free in-depth video teaching to accompany each life principle
• Two-color interior design
• Smyth-sewn binding
• Presentation page
• Two-column text
• Topical subheadings
• Black-letter text
• 9-point type
• Textual footnotes
• Concordance
• Full-color maps

The CSB Life Essentials Study Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others.

Dr. Gene Getz: 

MY REVIEW: I always love the opportunity to review Bibles and this one is an exciting discovery. I get frustrated with myself when I am doing daily Bible reading and my mind gets distracted. I have tried various plans, and really need them while reading a few books (like Leviticus, Numbers, etc), but my mind does tend to wander. So the set up of this Study Bible is an intriguing surprise.

Using a structured technique in each chapter: "The Nehemiah Principle," "The Amos Principle," "The Romans Principle,"... and you get the idea, Dr. Gene Getz gives insights, as well as highlighting key verses to help the student [of the Bible] to focus on what is being said. Of course, you should read it all, but that extra illumination is a huge help for me to hone in with what the Bible is saying. Commentaries, maps, concordance, and footnotes are very useful inclusions that I use.

The Reflections and Response section is useful for both personal and group study. They are connected with smartphone-accessible QR codes to videos. There are more than 250 hours of videos by Dr. Getz. A downside for me is that I don't own a smartphone (but have been considering getting one). However, I believe the Life Essentials Interactive Study Bible is well worth owning for the other info I am gleaning. The hardcover and stitching are very sturdy and the print size is comfortable to read.

GIVEAWAY!! There will be a very short turnaround on the giveaway this time. Type #LifeEssentialsL3 in comments to be entered. The contest ends on May 16, 2020. Many thanks to the publisher and LEV3L Digital for the giveaway!!