Oecumenicum is a three-volume set that removes the chapter and verse number to create a reader’s edition of the ASV (with a few changes) with the Apocrypha and the book of Enoch added to create the United States Christian Bible (USCB). It’s available in hardcover and softcover. I’m reviewing the softcover set, made in the USA.
This Bible set was provided by the author 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 on the publisher’s website
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Table of Contents
- Video Review
- About Oecumenicum
- Materials and Construction
- Typography and Layout
- Comparison
- Conclusion
Video Review
About Oecumenicum
The changes made to the ASV are relatively minor and I do think they make the text easier to read. The main changes of the ASV include the use of Yahweh as the proper name of God, capitalizing pronouns, adding quotation marks, and removing the word “he” from the dialog, replacing it with the person’s name. It also includes several Apocryphal books added to the mix. All of the books are in the public domain, but all of the changes mean this becomes a new translation that is in copyright. The chapter and verse numbers have been removed to create a reader’s edition. Each volume includes an introduction to the set that explains the purpose and design of Oecumenicum.
Three Volume Set
The Bible and Apocryphal books are placed into a three-volume set.
Volume 1 has 618 pages and includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Songs, Wisdom, and Sirach.
Volume 2 has 762 pages and includes Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Manasses, Esdras, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Tobit, Judith, Maccabees, and Enoch.
Volume 3 has 774 pages and includes Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, Peter, Johannine, Jude, and Revelation.
I’d prefer to see a 5 or 6-volume set to break them up a little more and create smaller books.
Materials and Construction
These editions are paperbacks with glued bindings. They’re traditional paperbacks. For my editions, the covers are oversized on the front and volume 1 is starting to come unglued. It’s great for reading at a desk, but I’m not sure how long it would last.
The paper is extra-thick and extremely opaque. It seems to be around 80gsm. It’s great for reading. Of course, this does require a multi-volume set, and each volume is heavy. This isn’t ideal for carrying around and reading on the go.
Typography and Layout
The USCB (modified ASV and the Apocrypha) books are placed in a single-column, paragraph format. The header on the left page shows the page number, Bible book name, and a note that it was formatted by the author of the set. The header on the right page shows the name of the set, the column number, the Bible book, and the page number. Letters are separated from the rest of the text by decorative icons. Each of the Psalms also includes these icons.
The font is around 10 point. It has around 12 words per line. Many lines do have a little extra space between the words to make them right-justified. It has a good amount of space between the lines to make it highly readable. The font is black-letter and it’s dark and consistent. I found the text to be highly readable.
Overall, the setting is done well. There are a few areas that could use some refinement. Page 320 of volume 1, pages 62-65, and 189-192 of volume 2, and a few pages in volume 3 include a poetic setting. All other poetry is in paragraph format. Proverbs are placed in verses. There are several Psalms where the name of the Psalm is printed at the bottom of one page while the Psalm starts on the next page.
Comparison
Here’s how Oecumenicum looks next to the CSB 5-volume Reader’s Set. The footprint is about the same. The CSB has thinner paper, but it has more white space in the text and includes a poetic setting. It does not include the Apocrypha.
Conclusion
Oecumenicum is an interesting set of the United States Christian Bible (USCB). Especially if you like the ASV or are interested in the Apocryphal books. I’d like to see it separated into a few more volumes. For example, instead of volume three covering Isaiah – Revelation, I’d like to have a volume that’s just the New Testament. I haven’t seen the hardcover editions, but I think they would be a better choice than the softcover editions.
_________________________________________________________
This Bible is available on the publisher’s website
_________________________________________________________
This Bible set was provided by the author 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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