The ESV Scripture Journal: Hardcover New Testament Boxed Set presents the books of the New Testament in 19 small books with the biblical text on the left page and a blank page on the right, creating plenty of space for notes. This set has already been available in two different paperback styles (black and illuminated). In this review, I’ll take a look at the hardcover set ISBN: 9781433567261, and compare it to the softcover editions. It was printed in China.
Crossway provided this Bible in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions are my own.
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This book is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
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Table of Contents
Video Review
Cover and Binding
The books are black hardcover editions with gold foil stamped on the front and spine. The front includes ESV and the name of the book. The spines show the name of the book and the Crossway logo. They’re sewn and have pasted liners. The seem to be covered in vinyl. The hardcover isn’t the typical book-style of cover. The spines are rounded and don’t include indentations where the front and back bend.
The footprint for each book is 8.1” x 5.75”. They stay open on their own with no trouble. They’re easy to write in while holding the book in your hand or in your lap.
The set comes in a cardboard case with a removable cover with the title and logo on the front and specs on the back printed in gold. The case is black and has gold foil stamping to match the books. It includes the title and logo on the sides. The sides have a slant on the sides at the top to make it easy to remove the books.
The books are a little loose in the case. I did have to make sure they were all here. It looks great on the shelf. The overall size of the set is 7″ wide, 6″ deep, and 8.5″ high.
Paper
I’m not sure of the gsm, but the paper is very thick and extremely opaque. It’s a lot thicker than any journaling Bible I’ve used. It’s cream in color, but it isn’t yellow like the ESV Journal Bible. I love the color and texture for reading and writing.
They have a few lined pages in the back for notes.
This paper is perfect for highlighters, Pigma Microns, pens, etc. The amount of showthrough will depend on what you use. In the examples above, I’m using a brown 01 Pigma Micron. It isn’t noticeable at all.
Typography
The text is placed in a single column on the left page. It’s set in standard ESV paragraph format with poetry in stanzas. The header has the book name, chapter number, and verse number in the outer margin, and the page number in the center. The right page has dotted lines for notes. The margins have an inch of space on the inside, outside, and bottom.
The font is 11.75 point and it has a generous leading (line spacing). It’s a black-letter text that’s dark and has excellent contrast with the paper. This makes it a great choice for reading for long periods of time. The text doesn’t include references or footnotes, but it does have the standard ESV section headings. Verse numbers are bold superscript. They’re large enough to find easily, but I could also ignore them when reading.
It has around 12 words per line with 30 lines of text. The blank pages have 30 lines per page for notes. It’s line-matched but as thick and opaque as the paper is it was hard to tell.
Several of the smaller books are combined. Like the previous editions, a few books are placed together in a single volume, taking them out of biblical order. Each book has the short version of the ESV Preface.
Comparisons
Here’s how the ESV Scripture Journal: Hardcover New Testament Boxed Set compares with the paperback version. The hardcover box set is noticeably wider. The paperbacks have to be held open while the hardcovers stay open on their own.
I’m holding the softcover edition open becase it would close on its own.
Conclusion
The ESV Scripture Journal: Hardcover New Testament Boxed Set is by far my favorite version of the journal sets. Just like the other versions, it’s excellent for notes, thoughts, prayers, and reading. The hardcovers really do set them apart. They’re much easier to handle because they lay open by themselves to any page and it’s easy to write in them when holding a book in one hand or laying it in your lap.
I find them great for taking a couple of books with me. They fit perfectly into a Bible case or backpack, and since they’re hardcover, I don’t mind tossing them around. Like the paperback set, I hope to see them sold individually as well as in the set. The hardcover set is around twice the price as the paperback set, but for me the ease of use is worth it. I highly recommend Crossway’s ESV Scripture Journal: Hardcover New Testament Boxed Set for both individual and group study.
_________________________________________________________
This book is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
_________________________________________________________
Crossway provided this Bible in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions are my own.
Thank you very much for this review! I was trying to decide which one to go with (either hardcover or paperback). I hope they come out with the Old Testament Hard Cover Set.