As we discussed last week, Bibles make great Christmas gifts. Whether it be for a family member, a friend, church member, or someone else, one of the Bible’s we have discussed may be the perfect gift for someone on your list. Last week we discussed the English Standard Version and the New English Bible. This week we will discuss two translations that have been trusted for generations.
King James Version (KJV)
Probably the most beloved Bible translations is the King James Version (KJV), also known as the Authorized Version. Originally published in England in 1611, the KJV has become a cherished Bible translation to many English speaking people the world over. While modern Bible translations are based on more accurate biblical manuscripts than the translators of the KJV had access to, many people today still love the eloquence of the KJV.
The Bible publishers at Thomas Nelson understand the significance that the KJV has on culture and the church. For this reason, they preserve this trusted translation through elegant binding options. One such option is the KJV Giant Print Center-Column Reference Bible. The features of this edition include: larger print font (12pt) for easier readability, cross reference system for deeper study, and the Thomas Nelson Comfort Print typeface for ease of reading. Premium features include: a goatskin leather cover, art gilding edges, premium European Bible paper, and three satin ribbon markers. This edition of the KJV Giant Print Center-Column Reference Bible, would make an excellent gift.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Another popular and trusted Bible translation is the New King James Version (NKJV). This translation seeks to keep the eloquence and flow of the KJV while updating the language to modern English idiom. The NKJV is beloved by many who grew up with the KJV, but desire a more readable translation. Thomas Nelson Bible publishers offers several editions of the NKJV that would make a wonderful gift. One such edition is the NKJV Single-Column Reference Bible. Features of this edition include: an extensive cross reference system for further study, the Thomas Nelson Comfort Print typeface for readability, and easy to read 10.5 font size. Premium features include: a goatskin leather cover, art gilding edges, premium European Bible paper, and three satin ribbon markers. The NKJV Single-Column Reference Bible would make a wonderful gift for someone on your list.
This year, Thomas Nelson released the Matthew Henry Daily Devotional Bible, a new devotional Bible based on the writings of Puritan pastor Matthew Henry. Best known for his classic commentary series, Matthew Henry was a prolific writer. His teachings have stood the test of time and have been trusted for generations. The Bible takes portions from the commentary and Henry’s other writings and arranges them in daily devotions throughout a full text edition of the NKJV. Each devotion is arranged within the text but not canonically. For example, one day the devotion may be based in Genesis and the next day may be in 1 Timothy. The reader is forced to flip back and forth throughout the Bible each day, rather than the next devotion being on the next page. Each devotion does provide the page number for the next devotion, however this arrangement feels cumbersome.
A better arrangement for the devotions would be in canonical order so that the reader can essentially read the entire Bible in one year. Otherwise, the devotions would be better suited as a devotional book rather than within a Bible. As a devotional book it would not matter that the daily texts are not in canonical order. This resource, however, does serve to point the reader to the biblical text and encourage deeper study. For this reason, it would be a good resource for personal Bible reading and spiritual growth.
Bibles make excellent gifts any time of the year, but especially for Christmas. In the Lord’s providence, the Christmas season is a wonderful time of year to have gospel conversations. While the religious meaning of Christmas is being replaced in modern culture, there are still plenty of references to Jesus and the biblical account of his birth this time of year. Because of this people are more open having biblically based conversations. For this reason, a Bible may be the perfect gift to give someone this Advent season. The options discussed above provide a range of options for anyone on your list. May the Lord bless you and your family this Advent.
Editor’s Note: The resources discussed in this article were provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Zach Kendrick is the editor of Reading For The Glory.
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