Late in 2007, Zondervan released the original TNIV Reference Bible, which I felt was the first “serious” TNIV Bible for teaching and preaching. For the most part, the TNIVRB was well received. It had a higher quality binding than many of Zondervan Bibles, and it was very affordable--at the time it could be obtained through many outlets for less than $20. But one feature many still wished for was a higher quality cover. Although the TNIVRB laid flat when held open (which any Bible with a stitched binding should), the cover itself was bonded leather and there were a few folks who simply wanted something a bit higher in quality.

Later this year, Zondervan will release another edition of the TNIVRB, this time with a much nicer cover, described as “Renaissance Fine Leather.” There’s a movement in publishing circles away from naming the animals from which the leather is obtained [I’m still waiting for “genuine dairy cow”], but the new “Renaissance Fine Leather” is probably calf. I’m waiting on confirmation, and if this is incorrect, I’ll edit this post to reflect it.

[Update: Okay, here’s the scoop. The Renaissance Fine Leather is cowhide. It is not calf, goat, or pig. I’ve been told that what makes it special is its “Soft supple feel, complemented with stitching accents, & sewn binding.” Further, “the soft supple feel is achieved by the case construction, which has flexible endsheets without a stiff cover board. Some [Renaissance Leather] Bibles also have foam to give it more structure, but maintain the flexibility. So instead of using a thin bookbinding leather and then attaching it to a stiff board (like 99% of Bibles), we use a thicker leather and let the material itself become the cover.”]

The new edition of the TNIVRB has these features:

• November release*
• Over 10,000 references
• Bound in our new premium hand-crafted Renaissance Leather*
• Single Column
• Black letter
• Topical ties at bottom of page
• TWO ribbon markers*
• MSRP: $99.00*

*indicates features pertaining only to the new edition.

I was sent some photos of the new Bible from Zondervan today, which I am reproducing here. Be sure to click on an image to see it in its original size.







This does, indeed, look to be a very fine Bible. It was described to me in correspondence with these words “I wish you could touch this leather. Smooth as butter. Supple. Exquisite.”

Now, I know that Zondervan has promised to give away some of these Bibles through TC Robinson’s New Leaven website. But today they also contacted me and have generously offered to do something similar through This Lamp.

I’ll spell out the particulars in a day or two, so be sure to stay tuned for more...

Tags: TNIV, Zondervan