The KJV Thompson Chain Reference is one of the oldest study Bibles still in print. For the past several years it’s been published under different brands with lots of edge-lined cover options. One such Thompson is the Large Print edition in lambskin from The KJV Store. In this review, I take a close look at this edition from The KJV Store.
The KJV Store 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 Bible is available from The KJV Store
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Table of Contents
- Video Review
- Cover and Binding
- Paper
- Typography
- References
- Comprehensive Bible Helps
- Concordance
- Maps
- Conclusion
Video Review
Cover and Binding
The cover is black lambskin. The lambskin is soft and has a nice texture. It doesn’t have a heavy grain but it’s not smooth either. It does look and feel nice. It’s edge-lined with a synthetic liner and has perimeter stitching. It’s Smyth sewn and stays open to any page easily.
The spine has five raised ribs and gold printing. It includes HOLY BIBLE, King James Version, LARGE PRINT, THOMPSON CHAIN, and The KJV Store’s logo.
It has two black ribbons and black and gold head/tail bands. The overall size is 10.75 x 7.75 x 1.75″ and it weighs 3lbs, 12.8 oz.
Paper
The paper is offwhite in color and has a rough texture that’s easy to turn. It’s not as opaque as I’d like. It doesn’t have any glare under direct light. It isn’t enough to keep me from using it, but if I could make one change it would be to improve the opacity of the paper. I love the color and texture. I’m not sure of the gsm, but it isn’t too thin. I’d guess it to be in the 30’s.
Typography
The page includes four columns: two inner columns for the text and two outer columns for chain references and footnotes next to the verses they correspond to. The text is verse-by-verse. Each chapter includes a summary under the chapter number before the first verse. The header shows the book name, chapter number and verse number in the outer margin and a page summary in the inner margin. The footer shows the page number in the center.
The font is 9 point. The black letter is dark and the red letter is bright. Both are consistent throughout the text. The text has no reference or footnote keys within the text. It does include the simplified style of self-pronouncing text and italics for supplied words. It has around 7 words per line.
The margins include a list of topics in the verses along with a pilot number to find the topic in the back and a reference to the next verse on that topic. The margins also include the translators’ footnotes, section headings with parallel passages (only in the NT), alternate renderings from the RV, and possible dates the events took place.
The layout helps make the tools useful while getting them out of the way of the text. It looks busy, but it’s actually easy to use and you can read the text without distractions.
References
It includes 100,000 chain references in the margins next to the verses they correspond to. The references give the topic name, pilot number, and the next verse in the chain if it has one. Some only include the topic number, but you’ll see the verses for these chains in the back. This helps to save space in the margins. It also includes parallel passages and references of where something is quoted from.
Here are some examples:
- Genesis 1:1 – p.p Jn 1:3; Heb 1:10; Creator Ex 20:11; Heavens 1 Chr 16:26
- Deuteronomy 6:4 –
- Isaiah 9:6 –
- Matthew 17:20 – Faith 21:21; Unbelief Lk 1:20; Mustard Seed Mk 4:31; Obstacles Removed; Promises to Believers; Spiritual Power; Spiritual Failure
- Mark 11:23 – p.p Mt 21:21; Lk 17:6; Verily, Verily; Obstacles Removed; Blessing ac to Faith
- Mark 12:29 –
- John 1:1 – Christ, “The Word” 1:14; Christ, Eternal 8:58; Christ, Divine Rom 1:4
- Acts 2:38 –
- 1 John 1:1 – Christ Eternal; Disciples as Witnesses; Experimental Knowledge, p.p. Lk 24:39; Christ the Word Re 19:13
Comprehensive Bible Helps
In the back is the Bible helps section. It includes the topical lists for study and information about study methods, marking, etc. The major sections include:
General Index – this is a large index of all of the topics found in the Thompson. It includes the pilot number that you can use in the next section to find the references for that topic.
Condensed Cyclopedia of Topics and Texts – this is the main topical section of the Thompson. It includes chains with the verses printed, chains with references, chains that are not found in the margins, and suggestions for related topics. This is one of the most useful tools for topical study and it’s one of the reasons the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible has been around for so long. I like it for personal devotions, study, and sermon prep.
Outline Studies of the Bible – this section includes an overview of the main Bible translations in English up to 1990. It also has an overview outline of the Old and New Testaments and an outline of each book of the Bible. They contain an analysis of the topics.
Character Studies – this is biographical sketches of the most prominent people in the Bible. It includes historical information and topical links.
Prophecies Concerning Jesus and Their Fulfillment – this is a table that shows Old Testament prophecies and their fulfillment in the New Testament.
Bible Harmonies and Illustrated Studies – this includes lots of illustrations including life trees, pictorial maps, charts, outlines, graphs, etc.
Topical Treasury – this is a topical index of studies for Christian workers. It includes meetings, men’s and women’s studies, and lots more.
Archaeological Supplement – this section covers the places in the Bible and archaeological information about digs, artifacts, etc. It includes black and white photos of places and artifacts.
Glossary – this includes old English, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words. It provides modern meanings where words have changed in meaning or are no longer in use. It shows the part of speech and references to the verses where they’re used.
All of the content is keyed to the topical system,. There are a few references in the margins that point to these sections. This section is great for personal study, devotions, sermon prep, etc.
Concordance
This is one of the best concordances in any Bible. It’s 97 pages with 3 columns per page. It includes the pilot numbers so you can find them in the helps section, which has a lot of entries and links to topics. It’s an excellent concordance for study and sermon prep.
Here are some sample entries with their number of references.
- Christ (topics 677-723, 4301-4306, 4308), 37 references
- Christ Jesus – 7
- Christian – 3
- Christs – 1
- Faith (topics 283, 1201-1218, 1985, 3608, 4035), 81 references
- Faithful – 33
- Faithfulness (topics 565, 1228-1232), 14 references
- Faithless – 4
- God (see general index), 91
- God of Heaven – 9
- God of Hosts – 4
- Goddess – 3
- Godhead – 2
- Godly – 5
- Godliness – 5
- God-ward – 3
- Gods – 11
- Praise (1451-1454, 2569, 3110), 36
- Praise – 15
- Praised – 8
- Praises – 6
- Praising – 6
- Pray – 30
- Prayed – 4
- Prayer (2816-2841), 25
- Prayers – 10
- Prayest – 2
Maps
In the back are 14 full-color maps printed on thick glossy paper. It includes a 12-page index that divides the maps into 6 divisions:
- Archaeological Sites
- Biblical Names
- Cultural Features
- Points of Interest
- Land Features
- Water Features
The maps are colorful and show borders, distance, rivers, seas, topography, and cities.
The maps include:
- Archaeological Sites in Palestine
- Archaeological Sites in the Bible Lands
- The Ancient World of the Patriarchs
- The Twelve Tribes in Canaan
- The Kingdom of David and Solomon
- The Divided Kingdom of Israel and Judah
- The Assyrian Empire / The Babylonian Empire
- Palestine in the Time of Our Saviour
- The City of Jerusalem in Old Testament Times
- The City of Jerusalem in New Testament Times
- Paul’s First and Second Missionary Journeys
- Paul’s Third and Fourth Missionary Journeys
- The Growth of the Christian Community First and Second Centuries
- The Holy Land Today
Conclusion
The Large Print Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible is an excellent Bible for topical study. It provides lots of topical lists to link verses under specific topics, allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. It also provides lots of tools to dig deeper into characters and places.
The large print edition from The KJV Store in black lambskin looks and feels elegant. It stays open to any page, so you don’t have to fight against it trying to close while using it. The paper has an excellent texture, but I’d like to see more opacity. It does look better with some lighting than others. It’s some of the easiest to turn that I’ve used. The two ribbons are helpful for study and preaching.
Even though it’s a large Bible, it’s not too large for desk study or preaching, and I’ve seen many people carry them. If you’re looking for a large print edition of the KJV Thompson Chain Reference Bible that’s made to last, The KJV Store’s lambskin edition is a great choice.
_________________________________________________________
This Bible is available from The KJV Store
_________________________________________________________
The KJV Store 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.
Just saw the mid sizeb2018 printing, it’s a clean printing but I did notice that it was printed in China, I guess these are no longer American made from Kirkbride
I’ve heard that too, but I haven’t seen them in person. Is the paper improved?
Paper from what I see is thicker, print is perfect
I’m looking for more opaque paper Bible, I bought couple of Bible KJV from Hendrickson actually three of them still waiting for the other one, I found the paper to be thin and sensitive to touch I thought, it’s not as opaque, the red color is so light, that it’s harder to read. I learned from that that’s why I’m looking for a more easier to read , opaque like ,that I can’t see the next page when reading it, not too thin. Can you recommend a brand ? Thank you.
Hi Carmen. One of the most opaque that I’ve seen is the KJV Preaching Bible from Thomas Nelson. It’s one of my favorites, but it doesn’t include a concordance or maps.
Randy, Kirkbride’s own site is very depleted in Bibles! Shall we see- eg , especially I wish to purchase some – ESV’s (or anything) soon.
Hi! Looks like the font in the large print is 9pt and the mid-size is 8.5pt. Do you know if the large print noticeably easier to read?
I do find the large print noticeably easier to read. It also seems darker.
Excellent – Thank You!
My only complain with this version is the lack of “Index to the scriptural Atlas”
all my other Thompsons have that section (with maps on thin paper).
I loved my new lambskin Thomas Chain Large Print, but we had a couple from the Ukraine, and they did not have any Bible. I gave it to them, and I grieve the loss. going to have to buy a new one now. All my notes are gone.