The Minister’s Bible from Thomas Nelson provides a handy edition that Pastor’s and Church leaders can carry to events, use for ceremonies, preach from, have examples to follow, etc. It includes the complete Nelson’s Minister’s Manual between the Old and New Testaments. I’m reviewing both the KJV and NKJV editions in black Leathersoft. Both are made in China.
ISBN for KJV: 9780785216322
ISBN for NKJV: 9780785216544
Thomas Nelson provided these Bibles free for review. I was not required to give a positive review – only an honest review. My opinions are my own.
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This book is available at (includes some affiliate links)
KJV Minister’s Bible
NKJV Minister’s Bible
and many local Bible bookstores
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Cover, Binding, and Ribbons
The covers are black LeatherSoft. This is a soft imitation leather that has the look and feel of cowhide. It has a nice grain and is made so well that I would have thought it was cowhide if I didn’t already know it wasn’t. It has stitching around the perimeter. The liner is paste-down vinyl. The front has no printing. The spine has Holy Bible, the translation, the Thomas Nelson logo, and imprinted spine separations all printed in gold. Even though it’s soft to the touch it will need to be broken in before it will lay open in Genesis.
It has three 10mm ribbons- black, gold, and purple (for KJV) or ruby red (for NKJV). The length is a little inconsistent but I like these ribbons. The overall size of these Bibles is 8.8 x 5.75 x 1.12″. I love this size. It’s my sweet-spot for a Bible that I would use as a multi-purpose Bible. It’s excellent for carry.
Paper
I don’t know what this paper is but I want more of it. It feels like it’s in the mid to upper 30’s in gsm. It’s white in color, has a rough texture that’s easy to turn and great for marking, and it’s extremely opaque. It has no glare under direct light. It creates the perfect contrast for the text. The page edges are shiny gold.
Typography
The KJV text is presented in verse-by-verse, and the NKJV text is presented in double-column paragraph with poetry in stanzas. Both have section headings. The NKJV has footnotes across the bottom of the page. The KJV edition doesn’t have footnotes.
The font is 8 point with a 9-point leading. Both editions have the Comfort Print typeface that was designed specifically for that translation by 2K/Denmark. Both red and black fonts are dark and consistent. They have enough leading (space between the lines) that the text doesn’t feel crowded.
It has around 40 characters across with around 8 words per line. Even though the KJV is verse-by-verse, it’s still easy to read and the section headings help see paragraphs. I’d love to see this in paragraph with poetry set to stanzas, but this might be better for teaching and preaching. The NKJV’s verse numbers are a little more difficult to find, but it’s better for reading.
Even though the font is smaller than I prefer for preaching I had no trouble preaching from it. The dark print, leading, and opaque paper improve the readability enough to make this a good preaching Bible (as long as you don’t need larger print).
The layout is the same as the thinline, with the exception of page numbers after the ministry resources (they’re numbered along with the text). It has a darker font and more opaque paper than the thinline.
Resources for the Minister
The ministry resources are actually the complete Nelson’s Minister’s Manual. The manual is 192 pages and is placed between the testaments. The font is 9 point with extra large leading. It has an unmarked thumb index tab for the resources. I’d like to see another one added for the New Testament so you can turn to it quicker. I like that this has it’s own section rather than being placed throughout the Bible.
There are 7 sections of resources that cover weddings, funerals, events, etc. Resources include sample sermons, Scriptures to use, steps to follow, etc. They’re meant to be a quick resource that the minister can have handy within a Bible that they can use for these events.
Here are the sections and titles of each:
- Weddings
- Issues to Address in Premarital Counseling
- Sample Wedding Registration Form
- Sample Wedding Ceremony: Formal
- Sample Wedding Ceremony: Informal
- Wedding Sermon: General
- Wedding Sermon: For a Second Marriage
- Wedding Sermon: Informal/Home
- Vow Renewal Ceremony
- Traditional Wedding Scriptures
- Favorite Wedding Hymns
- Funerals
- Sample Funeral Registration Form
- Sample Funeral Service
- Funeral Sermon: General
- Funeral Sermon: Child or Youth
- Funeral Sermon: Accident Victim
- Funeral Sermon: Non-Christian
- Sample Graveside/Committal Services
- A Memorial Service
- Traditional Funeral Scriptures
- Traditional Funeral Hymns
- Dedications
- Child/Infant Dedication
- Confirmation Service
- Building Dedication
- Home Dedication
- Groundbreaking Service
- Installation/Consecration Service
- Ordination of Ministers
- Ordination of Deacons
- Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
- Baptism Service for Professing Adults and Children
- Baptism Sermon
- Administering the Lord’s Supper/Communion
- Agape Meal/Communion Service
- Communion Sermon
- Worship
- Sample Worship Design Worksheet
- Invocations
- Offertory Prayers
- Benedictions
- Church Year Calendar
- Pastoral Care
- Hospital Visitation Checklist
- Home Visitation Checklist
- Traditional Verses to Share with the Sick, Dying, or Bereaved
- The Roman Road to Salvation
- The Alternative Witnessing Plan: The John 3:16 One-Verse Method
- Invitations
- An Invitation to Salvation
- An Invitation to Recommitment
- An Invitation to Church Membership
- An Invitation to Share a Concern with a Pastor
- An Invitation for Altar Prayer
- An Invitation to Dedication to Christian Service
30 Days with Jesus
This is a chart with 30 different themes with references. They cover topics such as the prediction of his coming, healings, miracles, teachings, etc. This is great as a devotional and as a guide for teaching.
Reading Plan
This is a one year reading plan that provides daily readings from both testaments with each reading marked as morning and evening. It provides the month, date, and Scripture references.
Maps
It has 8 pages of full-color maps, with a total of 7 maps, printed on thick, semi-glossy paper. These are the standard Thomas Nelson maps. There isn’t an index. They include elevation, topography, possible locations of ancient cities, journeys, distance, battles, events, dates, etc. I love the colors. They’re not too bright or vibrant but they do stand out.
Maps include:
- World of the Patriarchs
- Exodus and Conquest of Canaan
- Land of the Twelve Tribes
- Kingdom of David and Solomon
- Jesus’ Ministry
- Paul’s Missionary Journeys
- Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus
Conclusion
This is an excellent choice as long as you don’t need other resources such as references and a concordance. I would love to have a version of this Bible with blank paper in the middle or at the very least a few blank pages in the back. The size is perfect for carry and the opaque paper and dark print make it a good choice for reading and preaching. This Bible’s worth having just for the paper and print alone, and I actually recommend this Bible even if you’re not in ministry. Those in ministry will find the resources helpful and having them in a Bible of this size is extra handy.
_________________________________________________________
This book is available at (includes some affiliate links)
KJV Minister’s Bible
NKJV Minister’s Bible
and many local Bible bookstores
_________________________________________________________
Photography by hannah C brown
Thomas Nelson provided these Bibles free for review. I was not required to give a positive review – only an honest review. My opinions are my own.
Imitation leather? No thanks….
As always, great review Randy. I use Nelson’s Minister’s Manual and this would be a nice Bible to have for the occasions when I need it I have it along with my Bible in just one book.
I have this in calfskin. I really do love the paper, and agree that some lined paper would be nice. Perfect size, and while the text is a bit small, I have no problem reading it. It’s about the same size font as a PSQ, but easier to read due to the paper density and thickness. I’m really growing to love this edition. The helps in the middle are great to have and somehow still stays thin.. even with thick paper. I don’t know how they did it, but I’m glad they did!
How well would this hold up as compared to the leather editions?
This should last a few years of moderate to heavy use. The leather will last considerably longer.