A Survey of Wide-Margin Bibles By Version
08/10/2006 07:30 Filed in: Faith & Reason
When I was a child, I was not only taught a high view of Scripture, but a high view of my personal Bible. I was told never to write in my Bible because that would be adding to Scripture (Rev 22:18). And I wasn't even allowed to put another book on top of my Bible because that would be exalting a man-made book above Scripture. Fortunately, we found our way past these self-imposed taboos, and today, I feel like I haven't really used a BIble if I haven't written in it.
Above: a two-page spread from my NASB Side Column Reference Bible from Foundation Press. Pardon the messy handwriting.
I've always made the suggestion to my students to read the Bible daily, and study the Bible one to two times a week. To me there's a difference between the two. Perhaps in a future blog entry, I'll give greater delineation, but for right now let me suggest that real study of the Bible will include taking notes, and for me, I enjoy writing the most significant information directly into my Bible. I find my own habits humorous, but difficult to break. Perhaps it goes back to that overly exalted view of the physical Bible, but I find myself writing in my Greek New Testament only with a pencil. Usually these marks are of a textual or grammatical nature. Or sometimes I write in an English gloss for a very obscure Greek word. However, in my wide-margin NASB, I write in a multitude of ink colors and dry highlighters (I'll have to soon blog separately about my marking system, too). The notes in my English translation range from background information, underlying Greek or Hebrew wording, commentary, my own thoughts and reflections and profound quotations picked up here or there that seem to go with the text. Perhaps I'm more conservative to the Greek text because it's nearer in my mind to those actual autographs. I don't know, but my system is working for me.
My current habit is to study a passage of Scripture making the appropriate notes in my Greek New Testament and a wide-margin NASB from Foundation Publications. I prefer a more formal, literal translation for my notes, but I'm not saying that you have to do the same. I have a second wide-margin that I'm also using these days. Since our Sunday School literature uses the Holman Christian Standard Bible (and because I really like this translation), I have a copy of the HCSB Minister's Bible that I take with me on Sunday mornings to church. Since it's margins are smaller, and because I don't need everything I've noted anyway, I copy a subset of notes into my HCSB. Again, this is a system that is working for me.
I know that for some, it's very hard to start writing in the margins of your Bible if you grew up with the same mindset that I did. But I can testify to you, that I've never once accidentally mistaken one of my notes, written in the margin, as actual Scripture. And if you saw my handwriting, you'd agree that there's no chance of making that kind of mistake. I encourage everyone to make a habit of taking notes in your BIble. You will be amazed at how your Bible study is enhanced and how much those notes will come in handy at a near or later date. For even more encouragement on this subject, I would direct you to a blog entry by J. Mark Bertrand, entitled "Marginal Interest: Why You Need a Wide-Margin Bible."
In light of my encouragement to you to use a wide-margin Bible for personal study (in the translation of your choice), I have made a search on the internet for available wide-margin editions and grouped them according to translation (listed alphabetically). Below, I've tried to comment on these Bibles giving you the positive and negatives. I am not going to comment on extra features in a particular Bible such as the minister's helps in the HCSB Minister's Bible as that is not relevant to this blog entry topic. I have examined most of these Bibles by hand and I personally own two of them. Rather than linking to a particular outlet like Amazon.com, I am instead giving you the ISBN for each particular publication. All you need to do to find a supplier is to search for an individual ISBN in Google or your preferred search engine. You can also take these ISBNs and search for them directly on a site like Amazon.com or Christianbook.com or even give the number to a local merchant for ordering.
I'll hand it to Crossway for coming up with a number of really nice bindings that combine a traditional look and feel with quality materials. There are essentially two ESV Bibles with wide-margins.
These Bibles feature a traditional two-column text with a center column reference. Margins for taking notes are slightly less than one inch. The premium calfskin edition is one of the nicest (but also most expensive) ESV Bibles money can buy. Nitpicks: Top and bottom margins are not wide and therefore not suitable for much note-taking. Also the inner margins will not give you as much room for notes simply because of the binding itself.
Hardcover: 1581344368
Bonded Leather: 1581344384
Premium Calfskin: 1581343507
This edition of the ESV Bible is a fairly new release from Crossway and has received lots of attention. I really like the concept of this Bible, but I have a number of problems with the final product. Regardless, there's a lot to like here. The ESV Journaling Bible looks like something out of the Moleskine Catalog. It's hand-sized as a change of pace from many wide margin Bible and has a generous two inches of note space at the edges of the page. It has a two-column layout with center-column cross references. The paper is off-white, giving it an antique look in keeping with its moleskine design. The outer cover of the less-expensive edition (I haven't handled the calfskin leather one) is a padded hardback with an elastic strap (again in moleskine fashion) to keep it closed when not in use. I initially read in one review on the internet that it opens flat, even at Genesis 1, and while in a bookstore recently I confirmed that to be true. The price is also right for this Bible. I've seen it as low as $17.99 at a couple of websites. Nitpicks: I haven't heard anyone say a positive word about the size of the print. It's a tiny 7.5 type, the size in your average compact Bible. This is way too small to be useful as a note-taking Bible in my opinion, in spite of my attraction to the compact size. I think you just can't easily have both. Also, while I generally prefer a one-column text layout over two columns, if there are two columns in a Bible designed to take notes, it's imperative to have space next to the inner column. Otherwise, it's hard to designate notes for the inner column. And this is just me, but I would prefer no ruled lines since I often bracket verses and even write vertical headings. Perhaps Crossway is making a distinction between a Bible to journal one's thoughts in as opposed to a Bible to write notes in. I don't know. Regardless, as I said, I really like the concept of this Bible, but until another edition comes out that addresses some of the above concerns, I would have to recommend the Deluxe Reference Edition as a note-taking Bible to the person partial to the ESV.
Original (Elastic Strap): 158134838X
Calfskin Leather: 1581348398
To my knowledge, there is currently only one wide-margin HCSB Bible available as of this writing, but I would hope that there will be more coming as this translation is still fairly new.
The HCSB Minister's Bible has a nice single-column text that is at a decent 9.5 pt. typeface in a text layout that feels neither crowded or rushed. The one-inch margins are at the outer edge, top and bottom of the page, but not in the center of the spread. The text has only black typeface (which I prefer), and the quality of the leather is good with raised ribs on the spine adding a nice touch. This is the Bible I teach out of on Sunday mornings. Nitpicks: The paper in this Bible is too thin. In an attempt to create a Bible suitable for taking into the pulpit, B&H made this Bible a quasi-thinline by using thinner paper. When you write on a page, the paper will curl. Closing the Bible for a while corrects this curling, but it can be annoying while you are using it. Personally I believe the sweet spot for a wide margin Bible is one and a half inches, not one inch alone. In poetic and prophetic sections, there is ample room for notes. But in prose sections such as the gospels or the epistles, there really isn't adequate room to write extensive notes. I can't imagine a pastor trying to copy his outline in these margins. Also, for the person who does not consider himself (or herself, as the case may be) a minister, the title on the spine may be a bit disconcerting.
Black Leather: 1586401696
There have been a variety of NASB wide-margin Bibles along the years in both the original 1977 edition and the updated 1995 edition. Currently, I cannot find a single-column NASB text that is also in paragraph format.
I use this Bible myself. The paper is thicker than that in many of the Bibles on the market today which is helpful for reducing bleedthrough. The outer edges sport a one-inch margin but the nature of the side-colmn references often allow for another inch of space (see the scan of my copy above) for passages with fewer cross-references. Regardless of the debate about verse-by-verse format vs. paragraphs, the nature of the individual treatment of the verses allows the user to add notes above and below verses in some cases.This Bible will lay flat immediately, and the bindings of all Foundation Press Bibles is usually well above par. Nitpicks: There seems to be less room in the 1995 update than in the previous 1977 edition. There used to be more space between chapters and at the beginning of books of the Bible. This newer edition feels a bit cramped at times. If you prefer passages in paragraph format, you will be disappointed in all of the wide-margin NASB Bibles, not just this one. I could also do without the vertical line between the cross-references and the text.
Blue Hardcover: 0910618461
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 091061847X
Black Bonded Leather: 0910618488
Burgundy Genuine Leather: 0910618496
Black Genuine Leather: 1885217668
Blue Genuine Leather: 188521796X
Blue Genuine Leather Thumb-Indexed: 1581350384
Burgundy Genuine Leather Thumb-Indexed: 188521782X
Black Calfskin: 1581351127
Burgundy Calfskin: 1581351135
Blue Calfskin: 1581351143
There's very little not to like in this Bible. The most impressive feature is the two-inch outer edge margin. There is lots of extra space at the beginning of books and an incredible amount of space for writing in poetic sections. The pages are thick enough not to easily bleed through. Nitpicks: Very minor really. Personally, I like the cross references in the Foundation Press NASB Bibles, but if this is not an issue to you, the greater space for notes is to your advantage. the type-size is at an 8.8 slightly smaller than some wide-margin Bibles. I recommend viewing the print in a store before buying this Bible and subjecting weak eyes to hours of staring at the text. I might also wonder how these bindings hold up after a few years' worth of use. There is nothing above a bonded leather grade available.
Hardcover: 0310921848
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 0310921856
Black Bonded Leather: 0310921864
Fans of Kay Arthur's Precept Bible study methods will appreciate this wide margin edition of the NASB. However, I have also personally known individuals who bought it simply for its large typeface and one inch margins. This is a large Bible with thicker paper than some Bibles, specifically designed to be written in. Nitpicks: Often the margins will be filled with study helps completely obscuring the area for writing in your own notes. Unless you're a Precept student, I would recommend buying one of the other Bibles listed here.
Hardcover: 0736900160
Hardcover Thumb-Indexed: 0736900225
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 0736900179
Burgundy Bonded Leather Thumb-Indexed: 0736900233
Burgundy Genuine Leather: 0736900187
Burgundy Genuine Leather Thumb-Indexed 0736900241
The margins go around the entire two columns of text with these dimensions: 1.25 inch outter margin, bottom, 1.30 top, 0.75 inch inner margin. The differences between this bible and the side-column wide margin is that there are no references or translation notes in the margin space leaving more space to write. The In Touch edition is not branded by Charles Stanley, but merely has an Introductory note from him, right after your presentation page. He isn't even on the copyright page, which informs you that this is a Note Taker's edition of the NASB. This edition has a 10.5 pt. typeface. Nitpicks: The inside margin is too narrow to be usable.
Hardcover: 1581350732
Burgundy Genuine Leather: 1581350686
Burgundy Calfskin: 1581350708
Black Calfskin: 1581350716
Blue Calfskin: 1581350724
I know of three wide-margin editions of the NIV. If you know of others, please let me know.
If you prefer your text in two columns, Cambridge wide-margin editions are better than anything else you'll find. They really get this right. Many of these editions are more expensive than what you'd pay for other bindings, but you get what you pay for because the quality is matched by just about no one else. One reason why Cambridge gets these editions right is because the margins (over an inch) go all the way around the two columns of text, including the inside of the page. Nitpicks: None of any real significance. The only detractor is the cost, but note that an edition is available in imitation leather at a very affordable price.
Black Imitation Leather: 052160334X
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 052150869X
Black Calfskin Leather: 0521508797
Black Goatskin Leather: 0521691206
See description of NASB edition above. The only difference in the NIV edition is paragraph format for verses.
Hardcover Thumb-Indexed: 0736900225
Bonded Leather Thumb-Indexed: 0736900233
Genuine Leather Thumb-Indexed: 0736900241
Single-column text--for a complete description see the Zondervan NASB Wide Margin Bible above. The only difference in the editions is the paragraph format of the NIV Wide Margin.
Hardcover: 0310922143
Black Bonded Leather: 0310922151
Navy Bonded Leather: 031092216X
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 0310922178
There's only one NKJV Bible to my knowledge, and it may be out of print.
I have not actually seen one of these Bibles firsthand. The Thomas Nelson website seems to indicate they are in print, but Amazon does not offer anything but used purchases. Regardless, they are the only wide-margin NKJV's I can find. The TN site describes them as "Printed on heavy paper to lessen 'show-through' from ink or pencil inscriptions, each page has a wide margin completely surrounding the text. Center-column references and translation notes open doors to in-depth Bible study." Obviously, these are two-column Bibles, and from what I read at Amazon.com, the margins are one-inch and includes the inside of the page. Nitpicks: Reading the comments at Amazon, I gathered that the paper might not be as thick as what the TN description describes. However, I would never recommend using any pen but a ballpoint anyway to avoid bleedthrough. There was also a comment suggesting the the top margin was more narrow than the other margins.
Hardcover: 0840728905
Burgundy Genuine Leather: 0840728948
Black Genuine Leather: 0840728921
There are currently no NLT wide-margin Bibles in print, and I have confirmed this with Tyndale. However, an out-of-print edition that I mentioned in a blog entry the other day can still be obtained at very reduced prices, so I am going to list these here for reference. Note that these are only available in the first edition NLT (1996), not the second edition (2004).
I have to say up front that the layout in the NLT Notemaker's Bible may be the best layout of any wide-margin Bible in my opinion. This Bible has a generous 1 1/2" margin on the sides for notes and an incredible two inches of lined space at the bottom for journaling. The text is in a single-column format (which I prefer for a wide-margin Bible) and I don't know the exact type-size, but it's definitely larger than your average reference Bible and easy on the eyes. The pages are also thick enough that reasonable note-taking shouldn't bleed through. Words of Christ are in black (which I prefer). If you prefer leather over hardback, Tyndale has really improved the quality of their leather--even bonded leather--in recent years, and the Notemaker's Bible is no exception. This is a quality-made Bible that will last a long time. Nitpicks: These are obvious--this edition is out of print and only available in NLT1. I wish other publishers would take note (pun intended) and apply a similar layout to other translations. Some might object to the ruled lines at the bottom, but the space between the lines is more generous than that in the ESV Journaling Bible, so that might not be a problem. Be sure to check Christian Book Distributors for extremely low prices while supplies last.
Hardcover: 0842375724
Black Bonded Leather: 0842375732
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 0842375740
To my knowledge, there are no wide-margin NRSV Bibles currently in print. For a while, Cambridge published a wide-margin NRSV, and I am offering those ISBN's below as they can still be obtained used.
Presumably, these Bibles would have a similar layout to the Cambridge NIV Wide Margin that I described above. Please see that description above for more details.
Hardcover: 0521507790
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 0521508436
The TNIV is the newest translation in this survey, and there aren't too many choices yet. I would like to see Zondervan publish an edition of the TNIV similar to their wide-margin NIV and NASB offerings. I assume that such editions will be available in the future.
These Bibles are just what they say they are--they're square. Zondervan has taken a TNIV Thinline Bible and added about an inch and a half to the outer margins for the purposes of note-taking or journaling. Nitpicks: I have the same criticism of this Bible that I have for many two-column wide-margins--there's no room for taking notes on the inside of the page to relate to the inside column of text! There's also a thin vertical line between the text and the outer margin that might get in the way if you take notes like I do with lots of lines and arrows. The paper is really too thin to use this Bible longterm for notes (in my opinion, thinline Bibles don't make good note-taking Bibles). Personally, I'm not wild about any of the covers of these Bibles, but I suppose that's off-topic.
Italian Duo-Tone, Dark Burgundy/Pale Blue/Brown: 0310934990
Italian Duo-Tone, Dark Burgundy/Tan: 0310935008
Italian Duo-Tone, Bright Pink/Melon Green: 0310935016
Italian Duo-Tone, Meadow Green/Melon Green: 0310935024
Some of this information is incomplete. If you have a correction or know information I don’t, please let me know and I will add it to this entry. Here are some questions that I could foresee some folks having:
I do not know of any Greek or Hebrew texts with wide margins. There used to be a 26th Edition Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament with a wide-margin, but I do not know the ISBN. Personally, for taking notes in a Greek New Testament or Hebrew Bible, I recommend that you use the larger print editions (which I use myself):
Large Print NA 27: ISBN 3438051036
Large Print (technically the standard edition) BHS: ISBN 3438052180
I don’t know of any wide-margin editions of the Message, but I didn’t look. Also, Cambridge has a nice selection of wide-margin KJV Bibles in a similar layout to the Cambridge NIV Wide Margin Bible I described above. I did not include either of these translations in my survey because I personally don’t recommend either for serious study, although they have other value.
As far as I know, there aren’t any wide-margin editions available for these translations. If you know of one, please send me a description and I’ll amend this blog entry.
Redacted 10:30 PM. Special thanks to Matthew Mansini for his information regarding the NASB In-Touch Ministries Edition. be sure to read his additional insights regarding wide-margin Bibles in the comments.
Above: a two-page spread from my NASB Side Column Reference Bible from Foundation Press. Pardon the messy handwriting.
I've always made the suggestion to my students to read the Bible daily, and study the Bible one to two times a week. To me there's a difference between the two. Perhaps in a future blog entry, I'll give greater delineation, but for right now let me suggest that real study of the Bible will include taking notes, and for me, I enjoy writing the most significant information directly into my Bible. I find my own habits humorous, but difficult to break. Perhaps it goes back to that overly exalted view of the physical Bible, but I find myself writing in my Greek New Testament only with a pencil. Usually these marks are of a textual or grammatical nature. Or sometimes I write in an English gloss for a very obscure Greek word. However, in my wide-margin NASB, I write in a multitude of ink colors and dry highlighters (I'll have to soon blog separately about my marking system, too). The notes in my English translation range from background information, underlying Greek or Hebrew wording, commentary, my own thoughts and reflections and profound quotations picked up here or there that seem to go with the text. Perhaps I'm more conservative to the Greek text because it's nearer in my mind to those actual autographs. I don't know, but my system is working for me.
My current habit is to study a passage of Scripture making the appropriate notes in my Greek New Testament and a wide-margin NASB from Foundation Publications. I prefer a more formal, literal translation for my notes, but I'm not saying that you have to do the same. I have a second wide-margin that I'm also using these days. Since our Sunday School literature uses the Holman Christian Standard Bible (and because I really like this translation), I have a copy of the HCSB Minister's Bible that I take with me on Sunday mornings to church. Since it's margins are smaller, and because I don't need everything I've noted anyway, I copy a subset of notes into my HCSB. Again, this is a system that is working for me.
I know that for some, it's very hard to start writing in the margins of your Bible if you grew up with the same mindset that I did. But I can testify to you, that I've never once accidentally mistaken one of my notes, written in the margin, as actual Scripture. And if you saw my handwriting, you'd agree that there's no chance of making that kind of mistake. I encourage everyone to make a habit of taking notes in your BIble. You will be amazed at how your Bible study is enhanced and how much those notes will come in handy at a near or later date. For even more encouragement on this subject, I would direct you to a blog entry by J. Mark Bertrand, entitled "Marginal Interest: Why You Need a Wide-Margin Bible."
In light of my encouragement to you to use a wide-margin Bible for personal study (in the translation of your choice), I have made a search on the internet for available wide-margin editions and grouped them according to translation (listed alphabetically). Below, I've tried to comment on these Bibles giving you the positive and negatives. I am not going to comment on extra features in a particular Bible such as the minister's helps in the HCSB Minister's Bible as that is not relevant to this blog entry topic. I have examined most of these Bibles by hand and I personally own two of them. Rather than linking to a particular outlet like Amazon.com, I am instead giving you the ISBN for each particular publication. All you need to do to find a supplier is to search for an individual ISBN in Google or your preferred search engine. You can also take these ISBNs and search for them directly on a site like Amazon.com or Christianbook.com or even give the number to a local merchant for ordering.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I'll hand it to Crossway for coming up with a number of really nice bindings that combine a traditional look and feel with quality materials. There are essentially two ESV Bibles with wide-margins.
Deluxe Reference Edition
These Bibles feature a traditional two-column text with a center column reference. Margins for taking notes are slightly less than one inch. The premium calfskin edition is one of the nicest (but also most expensive) ESV Bibles money can buy. Nitpicks: Top and bottom margins are not wide and therefore not suitable for much note-taking. Also the inner margins will not give you as much room for notes simply because of the binding itself.
Hardcover: 1581344368
Bonded Leather: 1581344384
Premium Calfskin: 1581343507
Journaling Bible
This edition of the ESV Bible is a fairly new release from Crossway and has received lots of attention. I really like the concept of this Bible, but I have a number of problems with the final product. Regardless, there's a lot to like here. The ESV Journaling Bible looks like something out of the Moleskine Catalog. It's hand-sized as a change of pace from many wide margin Bible and has a generous two inches of note space at the edges of the page. It has a two-column layout with center-column cross references. The paper is off-white, giving it an antique look in keeping with its moleskine design. The outer cover of the less-expensive edition (I haven't handled the calfskin leather one) is a padded hardback with an elastic strap (again in moleskine fashion) to keep it closed when not in use. I initially read in one review on the internet that it opens flat, even at Genesis 1, and while in a bookstore recently I confirmed that to be true. The price is also right for this Bible. I've seen it as low as $17.99 at a couple of websites. Nitpicks: I haven't heard anyone say a positive word about the size of the print. It's a tiny 7.5 type, the size in your average compact Bible. This is way too small to be useful as a note-taking Bible in my opinion, in spite of my attraction to the compact size. I think you just can't easily have both. Also, while I generally prefer a one-column text layout over two columns, if there are two columns in a Bible designed to take notes, it's imperative to have space next to the inner column. Otherwise, it's hard to designate notes for the inner column. And this is just me, but I would prefer no ruled lines since I often bracket verses and even write vertical headings. Perhaps Crossway is making a distinction between a Bible to journal one's thoughts in as opposed to a Bible to write notes in. I don't know. Regardless, as I said, I really like the concept of this Bible, but until another edition comes out that addresses some of the above concerns, I would have to recommend the Deluxe Reference Edition as a note-taking Bible to the person partial to the ESV.
Original (Elastic Strap): 158134838X
Calfskin Leather: 1581348398
Holman Christian Standard Bible
To my knowledge, there is currently only one wide-margin HCSB Bible available as of this writing, but I would hope that there will be more coming as this translation is still fairly new.
Holman CSB Minister's Bible
The HCSB Minister's Bible has a nice single-column text that is at a decent 9.5 pt. typeface in a text layout that feels neither crowded or rushed. The one-inch margins are at the outer edge, top and bottom of the page, but not in the center of the spread. The text has only black typeface (which I prefer), and the quality of the leather is good with raised ribs on the spine adding a nice touch. This is the Bible I teach out of on Sunday mornings. Nitpicks: The paper in this Bible is too thin. In an attempt to create a Bible suitable for taking into the pulpit, B&H made this Bible a quasi-thinline by using thinner paper. When you write on a page, the paper will curl. Closing the Bible for a while corrects this curling, but it can be annoying while you are using it. Personally I believe the sweet spot for a wide margin Bible is one and a half inches, not one inch alone. In poetic and prophetic sections, there is ample room for notes. But in prose sections such as the gospels or the epistles, there really isn't adequate room to write extensive notes. I can't imagine a pastor trying to copy his outline in these margins. Also, for the person who does not consider himself (or herself, as the case may be) a minister, the title on the spine may be a bit disconcerting.
Black Leather: 1586401696
New American Standard Bible
There have been a variety of NASB wide-margin Bibles along the years in both the original 1977 edition and the updated 1995 edition. Currently, I cannot find a single-column NASB text that is also in paragraph format.
NASB Side-Column Reference Wide Margin (Foundation Publications)
I use this Bible myself. The paper is thicker than that in many of the Bibles on the market today which is helpful for reducing bleedthrough. The outer edges sport a one-inch margin but the nature of the side-colmn references often allow for another inch of space (see the scan of my copy above) for passages with fewer cross-references. Regardless of the debate about verse-by-verse format vs. paragraphs, the nature of the individual treatment of the verses allows the user to add notes above and below verses in some cases.This Bible will lay flat immediately, and the bindings of all Foundation Press Bibles is usually well above par. Nitpicks: There seems to be less room in the 1995 update than in the previous 1977 edition. There used to be more space between chapters and at the beginning of books of the Bible. This newer edition feels a bit cramped at times. If you prefer passages in paragraph format, you will be disappointed in all of the wide-margin NASB Bibles, not just this one. I could also do without the vertical line between the cross-references and the text.
Blue Hardcover: 0910618461
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 091061847X
Black Bonded Leather: 0910618488
Burgundy Genuine Leather: 0910618496
Black Genuine Leather: 1885217668
Blue Genuine Leather: 188521796X
Blue Genuine Leather Thumb-Indexed: 1581350384
Burgundy Genuine Leather Thumb-Indexed: 188521782X
Black Calfskin: 1581351127
Burgundy Calfskin: 1581351135
Blue Calfskin: 1581351143
Zondervan NASB Wide Margin Bible
There's very little not to like in this Bible. The most impressive feature is the two-inch outer edge margin. There is lots of extra space at the beginning of books and an incredible amount of space for writing in poetic sections. The pages are thick enough not to easily bleed through. Nitpicks: Very minor really. Personally, I like the cross references in the Foundation Press NASB Bibles, but if this is not an issue to you, the greater space for notes is to your advantage. the type-size is at an 8.8 slightly smaller than some wide-margin Bibles. I recommend viewing the print in a store before buying this Bible and subjecting weak eyes to hours of staring at the text. I might also wonder how these bindings hold up after a few years' worth of use. There is nothing above a bonded leather grade available.
Hardcover: 0310921848
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 0310921856
Black Bonded Leather: 0310921864
The New Inductive Study Bible
Fans of Kay Arthur's Precept Bible study methods will appreciate this wide margin edition of the NASB. However, I have also personally known individuals who bought it simply for its large typeface and one inch margins. This is a large Bible with thicker paper than some Bibles, specifically designed to be written in. Nitpicks: Often the margins will be filled with study helps completely obscuring the area for writing in your own notes. Unless you're a Precept student, I would recommend buying one of the other Bibles listed here.
Hardcover: 0736900160
Hardcover Thumb-Indexed: 0736900225
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 0736900179
Burgundy Bonded Leather Thumb-Indexed: 0736900233
Burgundy Genuine Leather: 0736900187
Burgundy Genuine Leather Thumb-Indexed 0736900241
In Touch Ministries Wide Margin Edition
The margins go around the entire two columns of text with these dimensions: 1.25 inch outter margin, bottom, 1.30 top, 0.75 inch inner margin. The differences between this bible and the side-column wide margin is that there are no references or translation notes in the margin space leaving more space to write. The In Touch edition is not branded by Charles Stanley, but merely has an Introductory note from him, right after your presentation page. He isn't even on the copyright page, which informs you that this is a Note Taker's edition of the NASB. This edition has a 10.5 pt. typeface. Nitpicks: The inside margin is too narrow to be usable.
Hardcover: 1581350732
Burgundy Genuine Leather: 1581350686
Burgundy Calfskin: 1581350708
Black Calfskin: 1581350716
Blue Calfskin: 1581350724
New International Version
I know of three wide-margin editions of the NIV. If you know of others, please let me know.
Cambridge NIV Wide Margin
If you prefer your text in two columns, Cambridge wide-margin editions are better than anything else you'll find. They really get this right. Many of these editions are more expensive than what you'd pay for other bindings, but you get what you pay for because the quality is matched by just about no one else. One reason why Cambridge gets these editions right is because the margins (over an inch) go all the way around the two columns of text, including the inside of the page. Nitpicks: None of any real significance. The only detractor is the cost, but note that an edition is available in imitation leather at a very affordable price.
Black Imitation Leather: 052160334X
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 052150869X
Black Calfskin Leather: 0521508797
Black Goatskin Leather: 0521691206
NIV New Inductive Study Bible
See description of NASB edition above. The only difference in the NIV edition is paragraph format for verses.
Hardcover Thumb-Indexed: 0736900225
Bonded Leather Thumb-Indexed: 0736900233
Genuine Leather Thumb-Indexed: 0736900241
Zondervan NIV Wide Margin Bible
Single-column text--for a complete description see the Zondervan NASB Wide Margin Bible above. The only difference in the editions is the paragraph format of the NIV Wide Margin.
Hardcover: 0310922143
Black Bonded Leather: 0310922151
Navy Bonded Leather: 031092216X
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 0310922178
New King James Version
There's only one NKJV Bible to my knowledge, and it may be out of print.
Holy Bible Wide Margin Center-Column Reference Edition
I have not actually seen one of these Bibles firsthand. The Thomas Nelson website seems to indicate they are in print, but Amazon does not offer anything but used purchases. Regardless, they are the only wide-margin NKJV's I can find. The TN site describes them as "Printed on heavy paper to lessen 'show-through' from ink or pencil inscriptions, each page has a wide margin completely surrounding the text. Center-column references and translation notes open doors to in-depth Bible study." Obviously, these are two-column Bibles, and from what I read at Amazon.com, the margins are one-inch and includes the inside of the page. Nitpicks: Reading the comments at Amazon, I gathered that the paper might not be as thick as what the TN description describes. However, I would never recommend using any pen but a ballpoint anyway to avoid bleedthrough. There was also a comment suggesting the the top margin was more narrow than the other margins.
Hardcover: 0840728905
Burgundy Genuine Leather: 0840728948
Black Genuine Leather: 0840728921
New Living Translation
There are currently no NLT wide-margin Bibles in print, and I have confirmed this with Tyndale. However, an out-of-print edition that I mentioned in a blog entry the other day can still be obtained at very reduced prices, so I am going to list these here for reference. Note that these are only available in the first edition NLT (1996), not the second edition (2004).
NLT Notemaker's Bible
I have to say up front that the layout in the NLT Notemaker's Bible may be the best layout of any wide-margin Bible in my opinion. This Bible has a generous 1 1/2" margin on the sides for notes and an incredible two inches of lined space at the bottom for journaling. The text is in a single-column format (which I prefer for a wide-margin Bible) and I don't know the exact type-size, but it's definitely larger than your average reference Bible and easy on the eyes. The pages are also thick enough that reasonable note-taking shouldn't bleed through. Words of Christ are in black (which I prefer). If you prefer leather over hardback, Tyndale has really improved the quality of their leather--even bonded leather--in recent years, and the Notemaker's Bible is no exception. This is a quality-made Bible that will last a long time. Nitpicks: These are obvious--this edition is out of print and only available in NLT1. I wish other publishers would take note (pun intended) and apply a similar layout to other translations. Some might object to the ruled lines at the bottom, but the space between the lines is more generous than that in the ESV Journaling Bible, so that might not be a problem. Be sure to check Christian Book Distributors for extremely low prices while supplies last.
Hardcover: 0842375724
Black Bonded Leather: 0842375732
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 0842375740
New Revised Standard Version
To my knowledge, there are no wide-margin NRSV Bibles currently in print. For a while, Cambridge published a wide-margin NRSV, and I am offering those ISBN's below as they can still be obtained used.
Cambridge NRSV Wide Margin Bible
Presumably, these Bibles would have a similar layout to the Cambridge NIV Wide Margin that I described above. Please see that description above for more details.
Hardcover: 0521507790
Burgundy Bonded Leather: 0521508436
Today's New International Version
The TNIV is the newest translation in this survey, and there aren't too many choices yet. I would like to see Zondervan publish an edition of the TNIV similar to their wide-margin NIV and NASB offerings. I assume that such editions will be available in the future.
TNIV Thinline, Square (TNIV Thinline Bible2)
These Bibles are just what they say they are--they're square. Zondervan has taken a TNIV Thinline Bible and added about an inch and a half to the outer margins for the purposes of note-taking or journaling. Nitpicks: I have the same criticism of this Bible that I have for many two-column wide-margins--there's no room for taking notes on the inside of the page to relate to the inside column of text! There's also a thin vertical line between the text and the outer margin that might get in the way if you take notes like I do with lots of lines and arrows. The paper is really too thin to use this Bible longterm for notes (in my opinion, thinline Bibles don't make good note-taking Bibles). Personally, I'm not wild about any of the covers of these Bibles, but I suppose that's off-topic.
Italian Duo-Tone, Dark Burgundy/Pale Blue/Brown: 0310934990
Italian Duo-Tone, Dark Burgundy/Tan: 0310935008
Italian Duo-Tone, Bright Pink/Melon Green: 0310935016
Italian Duo-Tone, Meadow Green/Melon Green: 0310935024
Questions? Thoughts? Comments? Rebuttals?
Some of this information is incomplete. If you have a correction or know information I don’t, please let me know and I will add it to this entry. Here are some questions that I could foresee some folks having:
What about original language texts?
I do not know of any Greek or Hebrew texts with wide margins. There used to be a 26th Edition Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament with a wide-margin, but I do not know the ISBN. Personally, for taking notes in a Greek New Testament or Hebrew Bible, I recommend that you use the larger print editions (which I use myself):
Large Print NA 27: ISBN 3438051036
Large Print (technically the standard edition) BHS: ISBN 3438052180
What about the KJV or the Message?
I don’t know of any wide-margin editions of the Message, but I didn’t look. Also, Cambridge has a nice selection of wide-margin KJV Bibles in a similar layout to the Cambridge NIV Wide Margin Bible I described above. I did not include either of these translations in my survey because I personally don’t recommend either for serious study, although they have other value.
What about the CEV? GNT? NCV? GWT? NAB? NJB? RSV? REB? Or my other favorite translations?
As far as I know, there aren’t any wide-margin editions available for these translations. If you know of one, please send me a description and I’ll amend this blog entry.
Redacted 10:30 PM. Special thanks to Matthew Mansini for his information regarding the NASB In-Touch Ministries Edition. be sure to read his additional insights regarding wide-margin Bibles in the comments.