**REVIEW** ESV Economy Bible (Giant Print Paperback)

 As mentioned in my last post, here is the review of the ESV Bible I recently got. 

It is the ESV Economy Bible, Giant Print, Paperback.

I will try to list what I like about it most and/or any criticism:

Affordability - This Bible is less than $10 on Amazon and you may be able to find it even cheaper elsewhere. Check Walmart, Christianbook, and other retailers online or offline. (I will explain in a moment why I mention the affordability.)

Readability - The print is a 12-point type and dark enough for those with aging eyesight (me!). There could be more room between the lines where there are no verse breaks. Pages without a lot of verse breaks look crowded. Another issue is that, like most "large print" books, this Bible is rather large in size. It's not something I can tuck into my purse easily! But because it's paper, it's lightweight and easy to hold and carry one-handed.

compared to my 8-point ESV Bible
BIG difference

Paper quality - The newsprint paper is wonderful for writing on. On the other hand, newsprint can be flimsy and not very "water-friendly". Also, there is not a lot of room on the margins for notetaking.

Helps - There are not many "helps" and extras but the ones included are nice. The Plan of Salvation is detailed - not just a gloss-over. There is a 40-day reading plan. Reading Plans are SO helpful for anyone trying to get started with a book as important and in-depth as the Holy Bible.

The reason I mention the price is that a lot of people just starting to read the Bible may not have a lot of money to spend on one. Also, many people who are new to the Bible are just trying to get started somewhere - anywhere. They might be trying to find a translation they feel comfortable with. If they like this translation, then they can get a copy with more durability and additional things like a commentary, helps, center notes, etc.

Also, if you are buying Bibles for someone, this is more affordable. As a matter of fact, I will buy a copy of this or a similarly affordable Bible for the first three people who contact me saying they would like to have a Bible. As a matter of fact, if enough people contact me, I will find a way to get more Bibles to send to them.

I got this Bible for myself because I like to read the Bible in the evenings while laying in bed or when I am not feeling well. This one has a print size I can easily read and the binding is flexible enough for me to fold back pages. My other Bibles are filled with my stickers and tabs and other markings that I don't want to disturb. 

I've mentioned in the previous post why I like certain translations of the Bible. The ESV is so readable while not straying from true translation. I'm beginning to like it more than I like the NASB for both study and general reading.

I do realize that many people use electronic resources for reading and studying the Bible. I myself use eSword. However, there are some people who are not comfortable with technology - or maybe they just prefer reading and using a physical copy of a book. I sometimes prefer using my hardcopy Bibles - especially for marking and making notes. I can do that in eSword but... I can be old-fashioned!

Anyway, this is a really good copy of the Bible for many reasons. I'm not linking to Amazon for you to buy it there - if you buy it at all - but just because I got my copy there and you can read reviews easier. I'll remind you again to check wherever Bibles are sold to get whatever copy you want. Just do read and study the Bible because it is essential.

Peace

--Free

This is non-sponsored, of course. I got this Bible on Amazon but I also like to shop Christianbook.com. They always have sales and deals. Also, you can sign up to get a discount.

Bible Translations (and preferences)

 (My very next post is going to be a review of a Bible I recently got. For now, I wanted to talk about the various Bible translations.)

Reading the Bible is fundamental to the Christian. Some of us have trouble with (and questions about) the various translations.

For me, the KJV is my favorite for quoting from but I don't find it easy for general reading and Bible study. The NASB has been my go-to translation for Bible study. The first concern I had when I started reading and studying the Bible on a regular basis was the translation accuracy. I'd rather struggle to read an accurate translation rather than enjoy reading a less accurate one.

When I started serious Bible study, I pulled out every Bible I happened to own at that time:

• a KJV study Bible
• an NASB study Bible 
• an Amplified Bible
• an NIV red-letter edition
• a large, ornate KJV family Bible

I stuck mostly to the KJV and the NASB. I avoided the NIV because I was unsure about the translation. Finally, I looked up the key differences between the most common (English language) Bible translations. I cannot find the original source but this chart I found on God's Word is close. 

Got Questions (a go-to resource!) explains the differences further here. For a visual, I will use Christianbook's Genesis 3:8 verse examples of 1 translation from each of the 4 types shown on the above chart:

King James Bible (KJV)

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking around in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees in the garden.

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

The Message

When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.

Personally, the "retelling" versions are way too loosey-goosey for me to ever use as a study resource but I could see someone wanting to use them for reading to a child or for their own casual reading. I love reading the ESV in the evenings while in bed.

By the way, since my next post will be a review of an ESV Bible, here's that translation of Genesis 3:8:

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

When trying to decide which translation to use, I again refer to what Got Questions has to say. They go into more detail and have a video for the subject, but this is the part I take away from it:

There are many more Bible translations than the seven mentioned above. It is wise to have a personal method for determining whether a particular Bible translation is accurate. A good technique is to have a set of Scripture verses you know well, and look those verses up in a translation you are unsure of. A good idea is to look at some of the most common verses that speak of the deity of Christ (John 1:1, 14; 8:58; 10:30; Titus 2:13) to make sure a Bible translation is true to the Word of God. Despite the multitudes of English Bible translations, we can be confident that God’s Word is truth and that it will accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 55:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12).

I put emphasis on what I think is most important out of that suggestion.  It bears repeating:

A good idea is to look at some of the most common verses that speak of the deity of Christ (John 1:1, 14; 8:58; 10:30; Titus 2:13) to make sure a Bible translation is true to the Word of God.

The deity of Christ is the crux of Scripture. Anything that challenges, changes, or twists that fact is to be defended against. We defend our faith in the Lord every day as we live in this world, I don't want a Bible that attacks the very thing it is meant to stand for.

Whichever translation(s) you choose, do read and study the Bible. I never realized the importance of that until I began. I was raised in a church that taught erroneous doctrines and many people still follow those errors. They are relying on the words and interpretations of pastors who may or may not be willingly deceitful. There are church leaders and teachers who twist the Bible to make themselves rich or powerful - or worse. The pastor I was under was a good man but I no longer agree with many of his teachings - not after prayerfully reading the Scriptures for myself. 

Okay, I'm through ranting! I will have the next post up as soon as I can.

Peace

--Free

#Jesus Is Coming Soon

 I rarely use Twitter because I get annoyed by the unorganized clutter of information. So I use the platform for very specific needs. This morning I logged in to DM the USPS about a bad delivery attempt and noticed that one of the Trending Topics is #JesusIsComingSoon. 

The Bible teaches that no one knows the day or hour of Jesus's return. However, whether or not he returns in your lifetime (or mine), we are going to see him when we die. I don't know if people think about that. We don't know how long we have to live. 

As I've mentioned in my blogs, my 36-year-old niece died unexpectedly. On the day she died, she woke up with plans to prepare for an upcoming visit from her twin brother. She had breakfast and fed her dogs and checked her email and logged into her social media accounts. Later, she walked her dogs before going off the part-time job she'd recently started. Her full-time job paid well but she was trying to earn extra money for achieving some additional life goals. A few hours later, she was dead.

We think that we have so much control over everything. We plan and worry and fret and anticipate. Yet we cannot control whether or not we take our next breath, What every one of us will eventually learn is that God is in control.

There are people who stand in pulpits and teach that God is a genie in a bottle that we can "sow seeds" at to get money and healing. They will stand before God and they will know.

There are people who think that they can pray to various "saints" and idols for their salvation and safety and earthly well-being. They will stand before God and they will know.

There are scientists who argue against a Creator and teach that we exist because of a cosmic accident or that we were birthed by stardust or some such nonsense. They will stand before God and they will know.

There are Atheists who perform wonderfully in their debates against those who believe in a Creator. they will stand before God and they will know.

There are Christians who sometimes get weary and discouraged. They too will stand before God and they will know.

You are going to see God and know. I am going to see God and know. We don't make something true or not by believing or disbelieving. What is, is. We have been told and it will be. 

So when I saw that such a truth was "trending" on a social media platform, I was both happy and sad. I worry for the people who refuse to believe what is true.

For it is written: “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, TO ME EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, AND EVERY TONGUE WILL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” (Romans 14:11)

Accepting Christ is not hard, although living for him can be. All you have to do is sincerely ask him to come into your heart and your life. Ask him to forgive you of your sins

That's it. Once you trust in him - truly trust in him - you have made the first step. You will learn to read the Bible and pray for guidance. Pray to find other Bible-believing Christians to connect with. 

None of us know how much time we have to live - whether we live for the world or live for Christ. But we do need to choose. Please think of eternity. Consider carefully what you believe and why.

Peace

--Free