Thank you to HarperCollins Publishing for these Bibles. I appreciate you and your partnership. Today we have two Bible reviews, The MacArthur Study Bible and the Color Code Bible for Kids to consider for gift ideas this season.
The MacArthur Study Bible
Today, I received The MacArthur Study Bible. I’m reviewing the Second Edition, Brown premium Goatskin one. It’s absolutely gorgeous. I can’t get over the beauty of the cover and how soft it is. This is the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) translation. I’m less familiar with this translation, but after reviewing several passages, it’s very understandable. I’ll definitely be checking out this translation more often.
The MacArthur Study Bible includes added commentary, contextual references, and more tables and charts. If you enjoy studying the Bible, I highly recommend a study Bible to help you navigate the texts. It can be daunting and overwhelming to study the Bible alone. This edition features 3 satin bookmarks and nearly 25,000 study notes to help you further understand the Bible.
Features
This is not a red-letter Bible. My current daily Bible isn’t either, and that’s not a deal breaker for me. I just have to pay attention to when Jesus is speaking.
As I flip through it, the study notes excite me! I love learning more, and study Bibles always help me connect events, people, and places. The study notes are a good size print – slightly smaller than the 9.5 comfort font of the text, but still large enough that you can read it. A lot of other study Bibles contain smaller print that can be hard to read.
The maps are full-color, and the charts are pretty incredible. The introduction to each chapter discusses the title, author, date, background, setting, and historical and theological themes. It’s super informative.
Where to Buy
I’m very excited to get to read it and the study notes. This would make a splendid gift for a new Christian, someone wanting to further their knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures, or just someone wanting to upgrade their current Bible. The premium goatskin leather edition is quite pricey retailing at $289.99 while the paperback version is $59.99 on Amazon. The price is the biggest drawback.
As of 11/5/2024 the current Amazon price for the goatskin is $252.66. The list price is $289.99. The paperback version is $59.99.
Color Code Bible for Kids
Next up is the Color Code Bible for Kids. This is the NKJV translation full-color Bible. I found this Bible interesting since it’s color-coded with different themes to help you find your way around.
The introduction explains the Bible and goes through the Old and New Testaments’ books and facts. The 9 color-coded themes are God, Sin, Jesus, Salvation, Love, Worship, Growth, Heaven, and Family. It includes an expanded introduction section with brief descriptions of the different authors of the books of the Bible.
The hardcover binding is good for kids in durability. It also includes a satin ribbon bookmark. There are full-color maps in the back, which is great for kids to learn about places and how far things are away from each other.
This method organizes the teaching of themes in the Bible, including where to find them and other related verses.
Colors Can Confuse
The downside to this Bible is the color-coding. My son is color blind, and the colors used would make it hard for him to use this Bible fully. The font is a good size and easy to read, but the highlighted portions are a bit distracting.
This is not a study Bible nor a red-letter Bible. Jesus is highlighted with red coding in the teachings, but not when He speaks. The presentation of the Bible is fun and colorful. This would make a suitable gift for a child to help pursue their understanding and engagement in the Scripture. I would just be mindful of the colors – if your child or recipient is colorblind it may be very frustrating for them.
Where to Buy
Amazon lists this for $18.99
Retail $29.99
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