By: Brian G. Chilton | March 21, 2021
Reference Bibles are an important tool to have in one’s theological library. They are helpful to link Scripture with other passages of Scripture that speak to the same issues. As has been noted by many before, the best interpreter of Scripture is Scripture itself. Holman Bible Publishers, under the umbrella of B&H Publishing, recently released the new CSB Verse by Verse Reference Bible. The reference Bible provides many benefits for the student of Scripture. But one of the more notable aspects of the reference Bible is that it is one of the first CSB Bibles that contain the 2020 updated edition of the CSB translation.
Recently, B&H Publishing sent me a copy of the newly released CSB Verse by Verse Reference Bible to review for BellatorChristi.com. Before posting my review, it would be helpful to first note the difference between reference Bibles and study Bibles. A reference Bible contains references at the bottom of the page that is linked with other passages of Scripture relating to the same issue. Think of reference Bibles as being a concordance linked with the biblical text. For instance, John 3:16, the famed evangelistic passage, is linked with John 12:43 (where people are shown to love human praise more than the praise of God), 1 Corinthians 13:1 (which speaks of the importance of love), and Galatians 2:20 (being crucified with Christ and Christ living within oneself). These other passages illuminate the truths brought about in the text at hand. John 3:16’s meaning is expanded in light of these other Scriptures. If reference Bibles are thought of as being concordances linked with the biblical text, then study Bibles are likened to commentaries serving the same purpose. Study Bibles add historical information to assist the reader in their interpretation. Thus, it would be inappropriate to compare the CSB Verse by Verse Reference Bible to study Bibles as both serve different purposes.
The CSB Verse by Verse Reference Bible is a well-made Bible. It contains three ribbons to serve as bookmarkers. The text is divided into individual verses and, thus, avoids the paragraph form that is often found in other editions. The margins are wide enough for notetaking and the references are toward the bottom of the page. Like any resource, one will find strengths and weaknesses in the formatting of the text.
Strengths
The font size is a major strength for the CSB Verse by Verse Reference Bible. Being one who has bad eyesight, nothing is more frustrating than trying to read a Bible that requires a magnifying glass to read. The text in this reference Bible large enough to read with the greatest of ease. The official site states that the text is 9.5 font size. However, the font appears to be closer to 10 or 10.5. The font size is excellent! Second, the size and feel of the book make it quite portable. Some Bibles are either too slick to grasp or too heft to travel. This is not the case with this reference Bible. The reference Bible has a good feel to it. Third, the margins are quite wide and spacious. If a person wanted to take notes or add their own commentary to the reference Bible, then one will find adequate space for their notetaking needs. It cannot be overstated how well the text looks on the page and how spacious the margins are. Fourth, the references are well done. One will find links to several passages of Scripture which adds great depth to the serious Bible student’s studies. Fifth, the CSB Verse by Verse Reference Bible is one of two new Bibles that contain the 2020 CSB update. From everything that I can tell, the updated edition of the Christian Standard Bible seems to be pretty solid. However, I will try to have a separate assessment at a later time dealing with the 2020 update.
Weaknesses
For some, this will not be considered a weakness, but it is for me. It was disappointing to find that the reference Bible was not a red-letter edition. Call it the traditionalist in me, but I like seeing the words of Jesus in red. Yes, I realize that the original biblical texts did not have red ink to indicate the words of Jesus. And yes, I realize that problems can sometimes be found with an overdependence on red lettering. Nonetheless, red lettering is something that has proven beneficial to me. Thus, this weakness may not be as disadvantageous as it appears for some. Second, given that this is a verse-by-verse reference Bible, I realized that the text would be broken into verse form. However, I had hoped that the verse number which began a new paragraph would have been bolded. The only problem with examining a verse by itself is that the context of the paragraph and overarching story is important to properly interpret the text. The verse-by-verse format could lead to abuse if used improperly. Nonetheless, if one were going to abuse the text, it would not matter if the verse were set apart or in paragraph form. The person would still abuse the text regardless.
Conclusion
The CSB Verse by Verse Reference Bible is a really good reference Bible. I have started using it as one of my primary research Bibles because of its portability and ease of reading. The font and margin size cannot be overstated. If you are looking for a study Bible, this is not the Bible for you. But if you are looking for a reference Bible that provides readability and space to take notes, then this is the perfect Bible for you. Out of five stars, I give the CSB Verse by Verse Reference Bible 4 and ½ stars. I highly recommend this reference Bible.
About the Author
Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com, the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast, and the author of the Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics. Brian is a Ph.D. Candidate of the Theology and Apologetics program at Liberty University. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has served in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years. He currently serves as a clinical chaplain.
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