<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: the finest Bible I own
Review: I initially purchased this Bible simply because it looked so good. I had little intention of using it frequently, having been told by one of my former professors that the NASB was a biased translation put together by ultra conservative evangelicals. However once I had spent some time using the NASB I realized that my former professor did not know what he was talking about. The translation runs against the current trends of novelty and exaggeration. The translation is literal, based on the former classic, the RV.The publication is qualitatively different from the many other Bibles that I have reviewed. The leather is soft and of a very high quality. The binding is superior, and the text is single column making this a wonderful Bible for sermon preparation, Bible study, private reading, etc. The printing is in a class all of its own. Many Bibles suffer from having a font too small for regular use. This Bible has the PERFECT font size. Not too big, not too small. Perfect. Each verse is printed separately making for greater ease of reading. Another notable feature is the footnotes of the NASB, which are more comprehensive and extensive than any other translation of the Bible. In short, this is the finest Bible I own.
Rating:
Summary: If I Could Have Just One ...
Review: If I had no Bible and if I could have just one and could never have another, I'd choose this version and this Lockman Foundation edition of it above all others.Reasons are not hard to find.Foremost in importance is the translation itself. The New American Standard Version has, for a sufficient number of years to lend credence to the claim, been hailed by minds far keener and better informed than mine to be the most literally accurate translation available in modern English. It is of vital concern to me to have a rendering of God's word that is truly faithful to the best manuscripts of the original biblical languages that we have.This Bible is printed in a single column across the page and set in clear 11-point type. This results in a page that is both inviting and comfortable to read. I don't experience the eye strain that often accompanies the effort to read Bibles that are printed in near-microscopic type.The side references are of two kinds: related scriptural passages and translators' notes, which are generous and extremely helpful. For example, in 2 Timothy 3:16 the phrase "inspiration of God" has this side note: "Literally, God-breathed." In many instances the translators' notes shed more light on the passage than some of the so-called "study Bibles" I've seen. This is not to say that study Bibles should all be thrown in the trash heap. A few are quite good.This Bible has a fair-sized (82- page) concordance and 10 maps. The maps are adequate for general reference, although not in color.The physical characteristics of this Bible (I refer to the genuine leather edition) are commendable indeed, particularly in light of the declining quality of book-binding in America today. The leather is grained, decently thick and supple. The spine is Smyth sewn. This is important if you plan to keep the Bible for a long time and put it to daily use (a worthy goal!) Many Bibles today (even very expensive ones) have what the publishing people call "perfect bindings" -- but don't let the word "perfect" fool you. It simply means that the book is put together with glue, not thread sewn. It has been my observation that over time the binding tends to separate in clusters of pages (called signatures) which may literally come loose and fall out. Moreover, Symth-sewn Bibles will lie flat when opened. Glued ones won't.This Bible, not as bulky as most study Bibles, is easy enough to carry around, but it won't fit in your shirt pocket. On the other hand, you won't need to carry a magnifying glass with you to read it.If you are considering a good, solid, well-made reference Bible in a reliable translation -- one that with ordinary care should last you for a lifetime -- I commend this one to your attention without any reservation whatever.
Rating:
Summary: A very good choice for a study Bible.
Review: One starts by selecting a translation and the NASB is unsurpassed for study. But then there is a confusing array of choices. I selected this particular volume because of (a) the wide margins for notes, (b) the single column format and (c) side column references. It does not disappoint. The only possible improvement would be in the opaqueness of the paper. I like to use highlighters and some (not all) will show through on the other side. Obviously, this would have added to the thickness of the volume and the publisher made a marketing choice. Nonetheless, an excellent study Bible.
Rating:
Summary: An impressive reference bible with excellent readability
Review: Other than the rather bland "rose colored" burgundy leather cover which I expected to be a deep burgundy with something of a sheen to it, this bible is a pleasure to use. It is heavy but not cumbersome.The point size of the font could be reduced to a 9pt and still be very readable thereby reducing the thickness and therefore the weight by some meaningful measure. This is my second copy since I sent the first back because of excessive creasing of about 20-25 pages beginning with the psalms.This is apparently a problem at Foundation since others have made the same comments as far back as 2000. The second bible is much better in that regard with creasing still present but to a lesser degree than the first. The paper is very nice indeed albeit crease-prone. Nonetheless this is a quality bible which will serve me well. It reads very nicely with the single column being a perfect length for quick reading as well as more meditative reading. The type is consistently dark and sharp. Very easy on the eyes in part due to the larger font but just a tad smaller and it still would be excellent. I think this will be one of my favorite reading bibles along with the New Jerusalem Bible. In spite of my negative comments on the creases which I pass on to forewarn people of the possibility, this is a very high quality bible. I recommend it highly since my exchange was better than the first and Amazon's handling of the return was exemplary.
Rating:
Summary: An impressive reference bible with excellent readability
Review: Some of my thoughts might echo some of what others have said. Let me start with what I feel are this Bible's negatives. I have noticed that the quality of the leather cover is not very great, but I don't think I can expect it to be for this price. Another negative, albeit not catastrophic, is that several books run together. In other words, many of the books in this bible do not start on their own pages. A final negative, which I understand might be open to debate, is that the words of Christ are not in red. Now, to be fair, let me share what I feel are this Bible's positives. First, the print size is large, and I love that. Second, the single-column design is wonderful. The single-column design allows this Bible to read like a novel. Third, the wide margin style, although it's not a true wide margin style, is nice. You have more of a wide left or right margin instead of a wide margin on all four sides, including the top and the bottom. I believe that a true wide margin edition should be more centered on the page, with significant white space surrounding it. I do believe the positives far outweigh the negatives, especially for this price. I hope this review helps.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference bible for an excellent translation
Review: The NASB update is my bible, because it is, in my humble opinion, the most literally accurate translation of Scripture in contemporary English. The 1995 update has greatly improved readability and clarity of this translation. This reference bible appears to be a very high quality binding and workmanship. The leather editions are smyth sewn, which I understand produces a binding of the highest quality. My personal preference would be a slightly smaller, handier size reference bible. However, the large 11-point type and wide margins make this impossible. Overall, I would give this fine Bible a 5-star rating, especially for someone in the market for a basic reference Bible of the highest quality. (Additional comments as of July, 2002: Having owned and used a number of Bibles the past few years, I have returned to this edition from Foundation as my primary Bible. As Rev. Comninos so accurately put it, it is indeed the finest Bible I own. Besides the overall dignity, accuracy and enhanced readability of the Updated NASB, the quality workmanship found in this edition as published by Foundation is supurb. The font print size is indeed PERFECT. The binding and overall craftsmanship are excellent. By comparison, I really like the new ESV translation, but the quality workmanship of Crossway leaves a great deal to be desired. IMHO, they would be much better off contracting with Foundation to print their Bibles; Foundation Bibles are that good.)
Rating:
Summary: Great Sudy Bible
Review: There isn't a lot more to add to what my e-mail friend Raoul Comninos has already written other than to say that this is an excellent study edition of the NASB. The print size is great and the margins are wide enough for taking notes, but are not too wide. The leather is beautiful. If you like to collect leather Bibles add this one to your "wish list." The cross references are very good too. The NASB is a very literal or formal equivalent translation. It tries to present as much as possible the sentence structure of the original languages of the Bible, Hebrew and Greek. That makes the NASB very useful for close study of the Bible. Use of the NASB with the RSV/NRSV, NIV, REB, NLT, CEV, TEV and the venerable KJV will provide the student of the Scriptures with a wealth of information. This Bible has a very important place on the study desk. I continue to use this Bible. It is beautiful and one
of the best bibles on the market. It gets an A++ from
me. The translation is outstanding. I use it right
beside the ESV. Again, this is well worth the money.
An excellent Bible. Updated 9/16/2002
Rating:
Summary: Superior quality NASB leather Bible
Review: This publication of the NASB update is extraordinary. The leather itself is soft and of a high quality. The binding is superior, and the text is single column and readable. For a long time I have sought a quality Bible like this. The translation itself runs against the current trends of novelty and exaggeration. If you want to know that what you are reading is actually THERE in the text, purchase NASB. If you are a Bible lover, you will want this Bible. Superior quality NASB leather Bible.
Rating:
Summary: Superior quality NASB leather Bible
Review: This publication of the NASB update is quite extraordinary. The leather itself is soft and of a very high quality. The binding is superior, and the text is single column and wonderfully readable. For a long time as a Presbyterian Minister I have sought a quality Bible like this. The translation itself runs against the current trends of novelty and exaggeration. If you want to know that what you are reading is actually THERE in the text, purchase NASB. If you are a Bible lover, like myself, who boasts over fifty leather Bibles from Oxford, Cambridge, Zondervan, et al. you will want this Bible.
<< 1 >>
| 
