The ESV Creeds and Confessions Bible

A review of Crossway's English Standard Version (ESV) Bible with Creeds and Confessions in black Trutone imitation leather (ISBN 9781433566875). This Bible features a dark, reasonably
bold 10 point font with line-matched text arranged in two columns and divided into paragraphs. The approximately 26 gram per square meter (gsm) paper is white, reasonably opaque, and somewhat
glossy. The text block is Smyth Sewn and the cover is attached using a paste-off method with a paper liner, and the Bible lies open in Genesis.

The Trutone cover feels good to the touch and is more flexible that one might expect. References are printed in a 6.5 point font located on the lower right-hand corner of the page.

Text and translation notes are in an 7.5 point font at page bottom. There are 8 color maps, two black ribbon markers, and black and yellow head and tail bands.

No book introductions were provided, but the concordance has over 2400 word entries, almost 10,000 references, covers 60 pages, and is printed in a 7.5 point font.

The 174 page Creeds and Confessions section includes the following: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Chalcedonian Definition, the Augsburg Confession, the Belgic Confession, the Articles of Religion (of the Church of England), the Canons of Dort, the Westminster Confession, the London Baptist Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Westminster Larger Catechism, and the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

Detailed Contents

00:00 Dimensions, margins, layout, font ... (three charts)
00:27 Size compared to the ESV Large Print Thinline
00:47 Size compared to the ESV Study Bible
01:01 Page layout
02:11 Margins
02:47 The font in the text
03:55 The references and the text and translation notes
04:19 Paper qualities
04:47 Print non-uniformity (variations in darkness)
05:54 The words of Christ are in black ink!
06:22 The table of weights and measures
06:31 The concordance
07:06 The creeds and confessions
07:51 The 8 color maps
08:15 The stitching is visible in the maps section
08:46 The Bible lies open and nearly flat
09:30 The ribbon markers and the head and tail bands
10:25 The copyright page
11:35 The Nicene Creed is not the original; it includes later, Western additions, such as the filioque
12:01 The Westminster Confession does include the Scripture references
12:14 The font compared to that in the ESV Large Print Thinline
12:45 A close-up look at the font
13:14 The font compared to that in the ESV Study Bible
13:29 A glance at the slip case (there is no box)
14:04 How literal is the ESV? A translation continuum chart
14:52 How often does the ESV depart from the Masoretic text and follow the Dead Sea Scrolls or an ancient version like the Septuagint?
15:23 The ESV's New Testament compared to four Greek New Testaments, the Nestle-Aland 28th edition, Westcott & Hort, Robinson-Pierpont, and the Tyndale House Greek New Testament
16:54 The black Trutone cover with its five raised hubs
17:25 Summary

[Alex-zqru]

Just want to say thanks for putting so much effort into all of your reviews, you don’t know how helpful the time codes in the description are. This is the third Bible I’ll be getting after a review of yours. God bless:)

[anthonyfmoss]

Another thorough review for which many thanks. Interesting that at 6:34 the second paragraph contains the words: “The concordance in the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible....” I know as you said this Bible is largely based on that work, but leaving those words in was a little sloppy. However, it doesn’t detract from this Bible in any way. I’m glad that you’ve found an ESV with a dark and larger print that meets your requirements. I had the same. I managed to purchase an ESV Archeology Study Bible at a reduced price as someone had returned it due to a slightly damaged corner (hardback). This has the advantage of having excellent notes - but is stated as having 9 point text, though it looks larger to me. As a result of a previous review of yours, I invested in the NKJV SCR with the Nelson “Comfort Print”, grey cloth over board. I’m so glad I did, it’s an absolute delight to read with its bold 10.5 point size and lay-flat binding. I’ll look at your review of this ESV again as it’ll be somewhat more portable than my hardback, with even more readable print - not that I’m going too far these days, in locked-down, dark, rainy November evenings in the UK!

[Yesica]

Thank you for your very thorough reviews! Wish I'd found your channel earlier.

[johnwilderspin]

My Dear Sir, thank you for a fine review. I recently purchased a Schuyler NKJV credo which includes similar additional info as this Bible. My plan is to review the creeds etc when l’m sitting in church after my retirement (God willing still a few yrs off) & bored by the preaching.
Blessings
Rev John Wilderspin

[ryansantoni]

Thanks for the review, I haven’t seen raised hubs on an imitation leather bible before so that’s a nice touch. I think I would get this bible if it was a bit smaller and perhaps had wider inner margins. I have bad eyesight so I read with a magnifying glass so I tend to appreciate a bible that’s light that can be held in one hand with ease. Anyway I already have the creeds in my reformation study bible which is not light at all lol. I hope you enjoy your read through the ESV, I’m attempting to read it cover to cover for the first time in my ESV thinline in order to see if I truly like the translation or not. I would normally use the KJV but i’m appreciating the clarity of the ESV, though I fully agree with your opinion that translators should seek to use elevated rather than mundane language.

[chrishansenbiz]

Analyzing a book in this way, in such detail, is new to me. Very interesting! I collect firsts of novels from my favorite authors. You've given me a new perspective for appreciating them.

Can you recommend a first edition Bible? I should get one. I've read it several times.

I'm not sure why your video bubbled up to me on YouTube. It's unlike the type of content I watch regularly and channels to which I'm subbed. Relevant randomness is its own reward. No manufactured meaning needed to find it inspirational.

[williamearle]

For some reason this is the best, most natural looking and feeling trutone Crossway Bible I've gotten. Am I right remembering you had a copy of the large print ESV Study Bible trutone Walnut Celtic design? I was really disappointed with that one in person, and wondering if there is a way to treat them to look n feel more like real leather (I heard a reviewer mention that years ago, but have no idea which video or method beyond some kind of oil or such). Any ideas on that or on the longevity of these, or how to improve that? My Zondervans etc started crumbling after a few years. (PS I got my ESV Study Bible in Jan 2020, it's OOP, do you know if they've changed method or materials for covers since?)

[kirbysmith]

Hello, Grant. I just stumbled across this. I have a thinline large print ESV. I agree, it is not one of my favorites. 8 point is not large print, and it is thin and light. Not pleasant to read at all. Blech.
I would love this Bible if it did not have the creeds and confessions. I don't need them, and it makes the Bible too big.
You don't have an ESV suggestion do you? If not, I'll just stick with my old RSV. If someone would republish that (Protestant version), I think it would sell very well.
Pardon my rambling!

[Vagueperson]

I asked in a different video (a comment you may not have seen) if you have ever looked into the New Testament volumes published by Holy Apostles Convent in Buena Vista, Colorado. They call it the Orthodox New Testament. The convent is non-Canonical, but I have seen the New Testament praised by Orthodox not only for its literal translation but also for the copious notes taken from the Fathers. I'm awaiting delivery of a copy, but I'd be very interested in watching you dissect what these volumes bring to offer.

[daviddinwiddie]

I love the recording of the opening hymn on your videos! Is that a recording that is generally available? If so, where can it be acquired?

[trevorhare]

Are you using a Muji pencil? It looks cool.

[peterwycka]

It would be cool to see the list of 153 verses or a video on it.

[createsinme]

Hi, great, thorough review. A question though, in the video you say the paper is approximately 36 gsm, but in the typed information it says 26 gsm. I was just curious which one it was, thanks

[seektruth]

PLEASE ANSWER:
Which ESV bible do you suggest for heavy, everyday reading? I want it to have *ALL* of these:
1. Line-matched
2. No show-through (thick opac paper)
3. At least 10p font, good spacing, black, sharp.
4. (Smyth) swen binding
5. Two paragraph format, cross-references in a box below, not as a mid column.

I dont care if the book is thick and not portable. I want something for desk reading.
I want it to remain flat. Also, it does not need to have comments, intro pages, maps etc.

Thank you so much and God bless!

[cesaresp]

Do you plan on reviewing the reader’s esv? I’m sure you’re planning on reviewing John macarthur’s legacy standard Bible right?

[Mason_O]

Is there other bibles with all those confessions in it

[bizzaro]

Can you do a review of the Cepher bible?

[jimcook]

Mr. Jones, I think you may be interested in the book "Pope Peter" by Joe Heschmeyer.

[ivanfourie]

Hi again, i am considering doing a few bible reviews of my own and I was wondering about copyright issues. . Do you have to gain consent from the publishers before you can review a bible or is it assumed that you can review any bible considering fair use ?

[coondogbob]

Love your reviews, have you seen the word on fire bible from bishop robert barron ?