Topical Reference Bible – Complete Analytical Study Edition KJV Review

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Some back story

I was first introduced to the Topical Reference Bible in 1992. I bought it from a Preacher that was preaching in a tent revival that we were supporting. I was playing guitar in the revival (I am a Church musician). The edition I bought was published in 1985 by Dugan Publishers. It became my carry and study Bible until I got a genuine leather Thompson for $7.00. I was developing my marking methods and wanted a new Bible to start over. I used the Thompson for many years, but I missed my Dugan (which was bonded leather and very much worn out). I was getting tired of the poor print and paper quality of the Thompson (at least my Thompson), so I searched for another Dugan. I found several on eBay, but they were going for over $100 (out of my price range). I ended up getting the Note-taker’s from Local Church Bible Publishers. I loved the Note-taker’s, but I still wanted a topical reference Bible. I kept searching and learning about Bibles, Bible tools, and Bible publishing. The knowledge I gained from that several years of searching for the perfect Bible, and the Bible’s I was collecting, compelled me to share my knowledge and start Bible Buying Guide. And now I’ve decided to write a review of the Bible that started me down the path of Bible-geekiness. OK, back to the topic…

Note – the Bible in these photos is the Jubilee edition with thumb-index. It was recently acquired and has a damaged cover. I’m planning to have it rebound. When I do, I will be sure to post new photos. I also have this Bible as a Dugan. In this review I’m making many comparisons between the two.

Various publishers

This Bible has been published in many forms by many publishers over the years. I’m not positive as to who published it first. I recently bought a Wilmore edition published by Funk and Wagnall in 1918. This wasn’t the first edition of the Wilmore, but I suspect the Wilmore was the original version of this Bible. It is very large and has thumb index and full color maps. There were versions of it printed in the 70’s for Crusade. They removed the Bible Helps and the Cruden’s Concordance. It was also published by Jubilee (with all of the tools intact). I can’t be sure, but I’ve heard that Jubilee did the printing for Dugan, and when Dugan went out of business, Jubilee just published in it their own name. I saw a Jubilee edition that had a Strong’s Hebrew and Greek dictionary instead of the normal “Comprehensive Bible Helps” encyclopedia. Today’s versions are known by names such as “The Subject Bible”, although the newer versions are not even close to the original because they’ve removed many of the tools that made it such an awesome study Bible. So, what are these tools that have me raving about how awesome the Topical Reference Bible is? Let us look and see…

Features

  • 100,000 references
  • Chapter summaries
  • Translation notes
  • Philip Schaff’s “Comprehensive Bible Helps” (Bible Dictionary/Encyclopedia)
  • Roswell Hitchcock’s “The Whole Bible by Subjects”
  • Topical Index
  • Cruden’s Concordance
  • 9 5/8 x 6 7/8 with thumb-index (6 ¾ without)  x 1.75

Cover and Binding

This Bible was available in bonded leather, genuine leather, or top-grain leather. My Dugan is bonded leather and is badly torn. The Jubilee is also bonded, but its wear is from being chewed by a puppy. I’ll keep it in an organizer Bible cover until I get it rebound.

The binding is sewn and has no problem lying flat on the very first page.

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Paper and Font

The paper is very thin (it has to be since this Bible has almost 2200 pages!), but surprisingly opaque. It has a light cream tone that makes it easy to read. Markings do show through a little, but not so bad that I want to stop marking in it. I’m not sure of the font size for the main Bible section. All of my font sizes for this Bible are guesses. I could be way off. I’m guessing the main text is around 8-point. It has a decent leading, so there’s plenty of space between the lines for underlining. The font is clean and sharp, and has the right amount of boldness for comfortable reading for long periods of time. The Jubilee is darker than the Dugan. This is a red-letter edition. The red in the Dugan is fairly dark and is easy to read. This is one of my favorite shades of red for red-letter Bibles. The red in the Jubilee is lighter and tends to fade. The fonts in the back sections are smaller, but they are all sharp and readable. There are 20 pages in the back to write on, but they’re regular thin pages. Ruled writing paper would have been sweet.

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Layout and Text

The text is King James (KJV). I’m not sure which edition it is, but it does have the British spellings. It is in double-column, verse-by-verse format. References are located on the outside and inside margins. The center of the page has two small columns that include page numbers to The Whole Bible by Subjects section. That’s the page number where that verse is location in the topical section.

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References and Notes

The references and notes are located on the outside and inside margins on each page. They are keyed to the text with the standard keys: letters for references and numbers for notes. I don’t know where I read this, but I read that it has 100,000 references. I’m not counting, but just comparing to other Bibles I can believe it. The notes include translation notes and comparisons to the RV.

Comprehensive Bible Helps

This section is a 124 page dictionary/encyclopedia with three columns per page. Information includes people, places, books, the Bible, harmony of the Gospels, and much more. It also includes a pronunciation guide of names and places. Mostly information you would expect to see in a Bible dictionary. I’m guessing the font size in this section is 6-point. It has a nice leading and is very readable.

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The Whole Bible by Subjects

This section, titled A Complete Analysis of the Holy Bible or The Whole Bible Arranged in Subjects, is by Roswell D. Hitchcock- President of Union Theological Seminary (1880-1887). This section is where every verse in the Bible is printed again- this time under specific topics. The Bible is arranged in 27 books, with each book broken up into many chapters. This is a wealth of topical study. I like to go to this section, choose a topic, and just start reading. Don’t get me wrong- it’s not perfect and I don’t agree with every topical choice, and verses don’t always fit into just one topic, but it’s a great start on a topical study. The text for this section is smaller than the text for the standard section. It is 685 pages. The font size might be 7-point. It also has a good amount of leading and is very readable.

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Topical Index

The topical index contains 32 pages and three columns per page. It includes all of the topics found in the Whole Bible Arranged in Subjects. Each topic includes a page number where that topic will appear in The Bible by Subjects section and the section number. I’m guessing the font is about a 5-point. It’s still surprisingly readable.

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Cruden’s Concordance

This is the best concordance I’ve ever seen in a Bible. It has every instance of every significant word (although my wife found one verse missing). It has four columns per page, has around a 5-point font, and it still very readable. No other concordance in a Bible even comes close. This is the only Bible I’ve ever seen that includes a 342 page concordance. If I could only have one of the tools in this Bible, the Cruden’s Concordance would be it.

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Thumb-index

My Dugan does not have thumb-index, while the Jubilee does. I’ve seen a Dugan with thumb-index and I suspect only the Jubilee had it.

Ribbons

My Jubilee has a ribbon and my Dugan does not. I’ve seen several Dugan’s and I’ve never seen one with a ribbon. I suspect the Dugan wasn’t available with a ribbon and that it was only available with some of the Jubilee editions (most likely the thumb-indexed model).

What I’d like to change or add

These are some features I would like to change or add. They are not in any particular order.

Maps

I would add maps. I don’t understand the removal of the maps from the Wilmore edition. This Bible already has almost 2200 pages. Eight to sixteen more pages wouldn’t make a difference.

Ribbons

I would add ribbons. The Jubilee only comes with one ribbon and the Dugan has none. I would add at least two, but preferably four or five. I’d like to have a ribbon for each major section.

Production

I would put it back into production. I’ve contacted several publishers trying to convince them to produce it, but there hasn’t been any interest so far. There are stripped-down versions on the market, but they’ve taken away what makes it useful. If I were to ever hit it rich, I would see to it that this Bible was produced again, but with these upgrades.

Where to Buy

This Bible is very rare. It’s been out of print for at least 20 years. The only place I’ve seen them is eBay (I did find my Pastor one at a Christian bookstore near Pigeon Forge, TN, but only one). Most go for well over $100. I have seen a few in bonded leather for around $75. Expect to pay $150+ for top-grain leather. I was just blessed with a Jubilee with a damaged bonded leather cover with thumb-index very cheap, so it is possible to find one at a good price. The key is to know what to look for, as not all sellers advertise its features so buyers don’t always know that it’s an Analytical Study Bible.

— Buyer Beware –

Not all analytical study Bibles have all of these tools. Most are stripped-down versions of the Dugan/Jubilee. The Subject Bible does not have the references, encyclopedia, or Cruden’s Concordance. The Crusade does not have the encyclopedia or the Cruden’s Concordance. The Dickson is a completely different Bible all together. Be sure of what you’re getting before you buy.

Conclusion

The Topical Reference Bible – Complete Analytical Study Edition has a fine set of study tools, making it the most useful study Bible I’ve ever used. Remove any one of these tools and this Bible would not be as useful, but all these tools combined make this an excellent study Bible. It is my favorite study Bible of all time. This is the Bible that I use as my answer to the ‘deserted island’ question. One could question its usefulness in an age when we can have better tools on our smartphones and people are carrying smaller Bibles. I use Bibles and dictionaries on my phone. Those are nice. They’re great study tools, but I still want a good set of tools in my Bible. Smart-phones are helpful, but I still want to flip through the pages of my Bible and read through the references, making Scripture connections on the page- rightly dividing the Word of God. I don’t want to rely on having my phone with me and hoping it has a good charge. I also don’t want people to wonder what I’m doing with my phone out in Church. Nothing will ever replace a good study Bible, and IMHO, a good study Bible will give you the tools you need to do your own study. This is where the Topical Reference Bible – Complete Analytical Study Edition shines above the rest. It’s an all-in-one Bible study library that allows Scripture to interpret Scripture.

Here’s a comparison to the regular size Thompson Chain Reference:

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About The Author

Randy A Brown

WordPress writer by day, Bible reviewer by night, pastor all the time. And there's also that author thing.

64 Comments

  1. Ronda Albin

    I have the Topical Refernce Bible, Complete Analytical Study Edition and I love it, its an awesome Bible. I also have a Thompson Chain and A Hebrew/Greek Key Word Study Bible. I love to spend time in my Bibles and study and meditate in the Word.

    Reply
  2. Onesimus

    I have the crusade edition. Back in “73” I thought it too thick for classes and had it rebound. Now I realize that I got rid of valuable material. I hope to purchase one again.

    Your article is enlightening, very helpful. You have inspired hope. A suggestion? Maybe you can ask a question regarding the Printing matter here. http://www.orionpublishing.org; or harvesttime books.org.

    Reply
    • Randy Brown

      Thanks for your comments and links. I’ll check with them.

    • Rhonda D. Jarrett

      I have an original Topical Reference Bible Jubilee Publishing 77162 on the of the Bible and it is dated copyright 1996. I collect old bibles and have decided where I have so many to see some of what I have. I am willing to see this one that is almost brand new. It belonged to an old Pastor that I knew that has sense past away. I am willing to sell for $50.00 and can send pictures if needed. Please let me know if you are interested. Thanks and hope you have a blessed day!

    • Randy Brown

      I am interested. Can you send some pictures? You can send them to randy@biblebuyingguide.com

      Thanks

  3. Scott D. Crawford

    I have the 1985 edition my mother bought me when I went to college. It has been my primary study Bible for low these many years. I think the original cost was < $30 but had it rebound several years ago at 4 times that price and considered it a bargain. I don't always agree with the topical inclusions, but I keep this Bible at my fingertips. As a piece of reference material it is invaluable.

    Reply
  4. Tom Huntford

    I had one of these years ago when I was young in the faith. THE BEST!!! Because it is just THE WORD OF GOD!!! I’m looking for a couple now, my wife is interested, and for a sister in the Lord who is hungry to learn God’s will.

    I LOVE THE WORD OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  5. Jeff J.

    I also have the jubilee version and love it!!! It was given to me for Christmas by my parents in 1996. I was 11 and grew up using it. By far the best bible I’ve got. I actually wrote Local Church Bible Publishers, and told them how much I appreciate the great work they do and the fantastic bibles they make. I also told them about the Jubilee Topical Reference bible and how much it meant to me growing up and asked them since they get permission to print other publishers bibles, if it were possible for them to get the rights to print the Jubilee again, because I think it would be such a help to so many people out there. When they emailed me back they told me that they already had the rights to print the Jubilee bible and that they would be doing it down the road, but they had some other projects they were working on. If more people email them to let them know how interested we are in the Jubilee maybe it will be the push to get started on it!!! Thanks for reading and God Bless.

    Reply
    • Randy Brown

      Hi Jeff. Thanks for the information. This is great news! I’ll bug them about this.

  6. Keith

    I have a Dugan but it is a 1985 KJV ‘The Widsdom Bible’ – know anything about it?

    Reply
    • Randy Brown

      Hi Keith. I don’t remember that one. Is it a study Bible?

    • Keith

      Hey – thanks – it is a Topical Reference Complete Analytical Study Edition. The color is burgundy in genuine bonded leather It contains four valuable aids to the student of the Word of God:

      1. The Holy Bible with marginal notes and analytical references

      2. Comprehensive Bible Helps in alphabetical order, edited by Philip Schaff, D.D., LL.D

      3. The Whole Bible By Subjects a complete analysis, edited by Roswell D. Hitchcock, D.D., LL.D. with alphabetical index

      4. Cruden’s Concordance edited by John Eadie, D.D., LL.D

      The very front of the Bible opens with a full color mug shot of Mike Murdock and his 101 Wisdom Principles.

    • Randy Brown

      Hi Keith. It sounds cool. The Wisdom Principles adds even more features. Even better!

    • Keith

      Cool, Randy – thanks for your input. Much appreciated.

  7. Edwina Hill

    I owned one before… would love to get my hands on another one.

    Reply
  8. Star

    My father drove a semi-truck and was given a Dugan’s Topical Reference Bible (1985) at one of his stops (evidently at Dugan’s Publishing). They simply gave it to him, because the covering was bound both upside down and the front cover was on the back of the Bible and vise versa. I ended up with the Bible and had glanced at it a couple times, but didn’t realize that it was a Dugan’s and how comprehensive it is until reading your article above. I have been hoping to find a good study Bible…and now I have one. I will make a cover for the Bible, both to protect it and so people don’t think I’m reading a book upside down! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts about this study Bible.

    Reply
  9. ED

    I bought 2 new Jubilee Topical Reference Bibles maybe 5 years ago from a pastor in Tennessee. I think his name is Larry Thompson. He had a website where he was selling Bibles. The Jubilee Bibles I purchased have the full set of features. While the Thompson Bible has many scriptures printed under the topical headings in the back of the Bible, the Jubilee has every scripture in the Bible printed in the back, each listed only once and under a specific topical heading. With a Thompson or other topical Bible you can quickly determine that a large number of passages belong under more than one topical heading. Consequently, since the Jubilee Bible lists each passage under only one topical heading, many, many topical headings do not include all the scriptures that could be listed under them. Even so, just to have the topics identified is a great help, and the topical index lists thousands of topics. Plus, the Jubilee Bible has more than 100,000 cross references. By checking a cross reference I might find that the cross reference is listed under a different topical analysis heading in the back of the Bible, so I might find another relevant topical heading by using the cross references. Regardless, that every scripture printed instead of just being cited by book, chapter, and verse is very handy. The cross-references in the Jubilee Bible are a full listing of an often used set of cross-references. I think that the AMG Bible that gives definitions of Greek and Hebrew words in the back of that Bible uses exactly the same, or nearly the same cross references. I have seen other Bibles with the same cross references. With Cruden’s concordance included with the Jubilee Bible’s other features, the Jubilee is a wonderful tool by which to experience the pleasure and joy of contemplating and discovering whatever the Lord Jesus has put on my heart to study and learn. While many Bibles from the quality of the leather, binding and print suggest the dignity of Bible study, I think the Jubilee Bible, by having several different methods of discovering meaning in Bible passages,offers the greatest sense of liberty in Bible study of any Bible that I have used. On a different topic, I want to add that the NKJV of the Thompson Bible has a very much fuller listing of scriptures than the KJV Thompson or any other Thompson. By much fuller I mean that where the KJV might have 12 references, the NKJV might have 70. I would choose the NKJV Thompson over the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Plus, sometimes the Thompson KJV has a scripture cited in the back section under a topic, but turning to that scripture in the Bible shows no listing of that topic beside the scripture. The NKJV Thompson remedied the misconnects that still exist in the other versions. Another great topical Bible is the Nave’s Study Bible. I bought 3 less than 2 years ago. Somebody was selling them new for $20 on Amazon. The Nave’s Study Bible is very much like the Thompson Bible. However, the topical categories with the scripture citations are placed throughout the Bible, not at the end of the Bible. A large number of the topical categories have subcategories, so the categories in the Nave’s Bible are thorough and refined. One last cross-reference Bible is the Monser Cross-reference Bible. This Bible was published only in the American Standard version. Unlike the Nave and Thompson Bibles, the Monser Bible has both cross references and topical categories. The categories of the Monser seem the least abstract, and the categories of the Thompson seem the most abstract. I think that the categories of the Thompson ultimately are a little confusing or jumbled. I like the categories of the Nave study Bible the best. The Nave study Bible is in the King James version, but includes a very large number of American Standard alternative readings along the sides. The Jubilee also has a large number of alternative readings, but does not attribute them to any other translation. I think for pleasurable and rewarding study, the Jubilee Bible and the Nave’s Study Bible used together is a great combination. To research a topic to it’s fullest, I would certainly use a Thompson NKJV. It has the greatest number of references and the most varied range of topical categories. But the Nave’s Study Bible has a topical clarity that I prefer for day to day study. The Jubilee offers great tools and a sense of liberty while studying, a liberty that makes studying a pleasure. If I had to go to that island, I am not sure which I would take, the Thompson NKJV, the Jubilee, or the Nave’s Study Bible. I think probably the Jubilee because, although it only lists each passage once, the topical index is still full of thousands of topics and with the cross references and Cruden’s concordance, I could research a very large number of topics quite thoroughly. The Monser Bible is quite rare. One of its features is very large quantities of alternative renderings from 19th century Biblical scholars. Not that a great number of passages have alternative readings, but that some passages have a large number of alternative readings. I do not care for that feature at all, since I know nothing of those scholars, and the alternative readings do not seem meaningfully different. Maybe I have not given that feature a chance or misunderstand it somehow, but nonetheless, I don’t care for it. As for the Monser topical categories, they are the most literal of the 4 topical Bibles I have mentioned, and the least useful to me. The Thompson Bible, particularly the NKJV, Nave’s Study Bible and the Jubilee Topical Reference Bible all have what I think are better categories of topical analysis.

    Reply
    • Randy Brown

      Hi Ed. I like the way you use the cross references to find other topics. That’s brilliant! I usually use more than one Bible when I’m using this one for study. I find the references in this Bible and I turn to them in another Bible. That way I don’t have to flip back and forth so much. I’m not 100% sure, but I think they’re from an old Cambridge edition. I’ve seen this exact layout in a Cambridge but without the page numbers in the center columns. I’ve wanted a NKJV Thompson for a while. I need to get one. Thanks for the information and tips.

      Randy

    • Abigail

      Hello I’m looking for a 1996 Jubilee Topical Bible with the Cruden’s Concordance to get for my husband’s birthday, if anyone knows where I can purchase one, I’d greatly appreciate any info! abigailmniemela@gmail.com

    • Nick

      Hi Ed,

      Enjoyed your useful information. I was going to buy a Thompson Chain, but after I read your commentary and Mr. Randy Brown’s informative review, I became interested in the Topical Reference Bible – Complete Analytical Study Edition. I did some research and I initially found a Wilmore, which I was going to purchase, but decided against it because it just too big and I’m not currently looking for a huge family bible which I can’t take with me. I researched some more and I finally found a Dugan. So thanks to you and Randy, I pursued a Jubilee/Dugan. This will be my only Bible. I’m waiting for it in the mail.

      Thanks,
      Nick

    • Randy A Brown

      Congratulations Nick! These are hard to find but they’re worth the effort. Please let us know how you like it.

  10. craig brazil

    I have a 1991 printing of the Dugan with all the helps included it has 2 ribbons…..and its new condition In box andfor sale if interested please email inquiries to bigunbrazil@yahoo.com

    Reply
  11. Samue Doran

    Where could I find one of these bibles in excellent condition for a good price, or maybe you know someone that might want to bless one of Gods children and give a nice one a way.

    You can contact me by phone or email at Cell: (910)-789-9673 Email: samkdoran@yahoo.com

    Thank you very much for your help.
    Samuel

    Reply
  12. Luis

    were can I obtain one of these Bibles?

    Reply
    • Randy Brown

      Hi Luis. There’s usually one or two for sale on ebay. Just search for Dugan Bible or Analytical Bible. They can get expensive though. They usually sale for more than $100.

  13. Luis

    please contact me by phone 210-630-3345

    Reply
  14. Luis

    Thanks Randy, I will look. Also if you hear or see one available please let me know; I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

    Reply
  15. Rick Hughes

    As a seminary student, I did some research on these bibles and found that Dr. Roswell Hitchcock and Dr. Philip Schaff is to be credited with much of the content that is included in these bibles. it is as though the publishers took the best of their work and added it to the Dugan Topical Reference bible, Dickson Analytical Bible, Crusaders analytical bible, and the New Teacher’s Anayltical study bible. (The Wilmore’s Analytical Bible is the older Analytical bible, by Dr Hitchcock- But it is super huge. I have one.)

    Every single one of these bibles are similar in scope in that they have Dr. Hitchcocks and Schaff’s comprehensive study system.

    The good thing about these bibles is that they are a one stop shop for studying the bible, you can easily look up a verse for reference and study it through the whole bible without going get a concordance since the Cruden’s concordance is included in alot of these bibles.

    As alot of you guys mentioned, these bibles are high due to being out of print. If you get one, you may want to keep it. It is valuable and most useful in bible study.

    Lastly, if you want a similar bible which is in print today, then you can find one at the KJVstore.com Dr. Gaddy has produced a very similar bible. It isnt a Dugan or Dickson but it is similar.

    Reply
  16. Rick Hughes

    In my research I found this site to be the most helpful of all the rest put together in analyzing the Dugan and other bibles.

    Reply
  17. Janie Enriquez

    I have aCrusader’s bible I purchased back in 1980 and I’d like to know what the price is for ths bible you have on your website. thank you

    Reply
  18. Tiffany Stumbo

    If anyone knows where I can purchase one of these Bibles please let me know. They sound awesome and I’m just starting to take my Bible studying seriously.

    Reply
  19. Tiffany

    If anyone knows where I can purchase one of these bibles please let me know. They sound amazing and I’m just starting to take my Bible studying seriously.

    Reply
  20. Pamela Harrison

    So far, I’ve not found a copy of this particular Bible. However, when searching other clues provided in this extensive review, I came across what appears to be the “Helps”, just without the KJV attached.

    The maps are in the back. I printed the maps from the ‘yellowed’ text to get them in color. The ‘white pages’ though take less ink to print.

    It’s called “The Bible Interpreter” by Hitchcock, Roswell (1322 pp)

    The whole bible arranged in subjects
    Crudens Concor.
    Comprehensive Bible Helps – Philip Schaff.

    Perhaps someone may also find this useful. Best to all as we traverse the Word.

    Archive.org

    White pages:

    https://archive.org/details/cu31924083674287

    Yellowed pages:
    https://archive.org/details/bibleinterpreter00hitc

    Reply
  21. Charles May

    I was gifted a Dickson’s New Analytical Bible in KJV with ASV renderings back in 1974 and I still have it. I was in the USAF and it went everywhere I went though I used my NASB for everyday use. It has bonded leather and the outer binding is badly separating being held by clear packing tape until I can get it to Ye Olde Bookbinder in South Carolina. He has rebound my 1894 Hitchcock’s Complete Analysis of the Bible and my 2010 Geneva hardbound. I was in the USAF and it went everywhere I went though I used my NASB for everyday use.
    I find very few Study Bibles can improve upon it.

    Though out of print it is still available on Amazon

    Reply
  22. Joseph Robbins

    My dad has a Jubilee publishers 1996 edition of this bible that he got at the flea martket years ago for $5 and it is awesome. I have been looking for one for over a year now. If anyone has one or knows someone who is selling one please let me know! Thank you!

    Reply
  23. jehuruth

    When I first got saved, I went to the local Bible Store and they had several Dugan Publisher’s Topical Reference Bibles on clearance. They were silver. I bought several of them and put the names of the people in my youth groups names on them and gave them out. I have used this Bible for almost 25 years and it is irreplaceable.

    Mine is falling apart from use and my eyes can’t read the small print anymore, so for my daily reading I use a large print Bible. But I find myself still going back to my Topical Reference Bible to look up scriptures in the Cruden’s Concordance. I also made my own chain reference inside the Bible that I go back to.

    Sadly, the publisher, Kathi Doris Dugan died in 1996. It would be nice to get this Bible republished. And to be honest, even though I don’t use some of the stuff in it, I don’t think I would change a thing with it, but leave it as her work.

    Reply
  24. Alexander Thomson

    I may have missed it in all the excellent review and comment information here, but is anyone able to say, please, which of this type of Bible had the final ASV changes, directly or indirectly? ……….I have only recently received a good copy of the Funk and Wagnall’s edition of Wilmore’s Analytical Bible, and am looking throghh it, to my delight!…..I’m recommending this excellent site to my fellow-members of the Facebook group, ASV-Amrtican Standard Version Bible; and I heartily commend that group to al here!

    Reply
    • Alexander Thomson

      Apologies for the gremlins in the last sentence – read “American” and “all”!

      I have now found one ebay.com and ebay.ca two Dickson’s with the ASV readings entered in brackets after the AV/KJV renderings. The prices are around €150 and $200 , and I would have to pay around €30 more for shipping to the UK!

      Every keen Bible student should have a copy of the AV and RV and ASV, or a parallel or interlinear or two-version AV/RV with a copy of the two appendices (OT and NT) showing the FINAL changes made by the ASV – the appendices are found in the Nelson ASV and the Prolific Industries reprint.

    • Randy A Brown

      Thanks Alexander!

  25. Alexanderthomson

    The Wilmore’s – and I guess the rest – has great names associated with it : Philip Schaff, Roswell D Hitchcock, John Eadie (with Alexander Cruden) : Americans and Scots! We owe a great debt to these and other such men!…….A good friend of mine thinks that the combination of the Wilmore’s and the ASV appendices are a very attractive idea : yes, I heard his not-so-silent “hint, hint”!

    Reply
  26. David

    My very first Bible was a Dugan Bible, 1985 gift and award Bible with a flap on the side that buttons on top, which my dad gave me as a birthday present on my 8th birthday back in ’88. As I have gotten older, I began to notice a bunch of typos. For example some of the verse numbers were red also where the WORDS of Christ were red. Other typos I can’t recall. Since, and even after a few years the flap has broken off, and now several pages are coming loose. I still cherish it being my first Bible. Just going to have to leave it at home.

    My second Bible was given me by my mom. It is a 1989 Thomas Nelson Slimline Reference Bible. Now this one was made perfectly, and so far haven’t found one to have these certain features that were so beneficial, and such a blessing. We all appreciate the WORDS of Christ in red. This one not only had that. In the New Testament, it the WORDS from the Old Testament in capital letters, that way you can know that it is repeated from the Old Testament. I haven’t come across a Bible that has that. Thomas Nelson doesn’t even do it anymore. It is such a blessing to know how much of the Old Testament is repeated in the New Testament. The WORD endures forever.

    Interesting thing though, is that the leather has held up better than the Nelson, even though the flap fell off. On the Nelson the center title portion is only hanging on by one side showing the inner binding. Also a chunk on the bottom near the left corner tore loose from the bottom to the side. Strange how genuine bonded leather can be different on different Bibles. Well at least the content never changes.

    Reply
  27. Alexander thomson

    Now that I’ve had opportunity to use this type of Bible, I am wondering whether it equals or surpasses the Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Any thoughts?

    And any thoughts on a (re)design or improvements or additions for a modern edition? (I am thinking particularly – but not exclusively – of a modern serious and sober “Family Bible”!)

    Reply
    • Alexander Thomson

      Any thoughts on these two points, please? I ask because a Christian businessman and I might be interested in producing a modern and serious and sober Bible in the style of the analytical study bibles. We have thought of having an interleaved or loose leaf edition.

    • Randy A Brown

      Comparing with the Thompson, the TCR has the advantage of identifying more topics for a single verse. This means that each verse can be used in multiple topics. The Dugan has the advantage of placing every verse under a topic, but they’re only placed in one topic, so something important can be left out. The Dugan does add a few more to some topics by print “see also” (or similar) but it’s only a few verses. Also, the tools in the TCR feel more integrated with each other. The Dugan does have the index and dictionary, and they do point to the other tools, but it still feels like separate tools. The Dugan has a more complete concordance.

      The first thing that comes to mind when making a change to the Dugan is that it’s missing maps. The old Wilmore has them. Also, I’d like to have a larger and darker font.

  28. Alexander thomson

    Randy, Many thanks! All comments are greatly received! (I think I share your thoughts, to a large extent.)

    Reply
    • Alexander thomson

      Randy, In connection with topical/thematic approaches to Bible study, have you used either or both of the following excellent works?

      1. The Hodder Dictionary of Bible Themes (isbn 9780340656457), published in the USA as The Zondervan Dictionary of Bible Themes (isbn 9781310206682)? (There are still some to be had on line, the Hodder seeming to be cheaper than the Zondervan.)

      2. The Collins Thesaurus of the Bible (isbn 9780007134304). (There are a few to be had on line.)

      Alas, although these books can be used with any Bible translation, they have been discontinued! Typical publishing phenomenon!

    • Randy A Brown

      I’m not sure if I’ve seen them. If I have, then it’s been too long to remember.

  29. Alexander thomson

    At present, there are three cheapish/affordable copies on eBay (US and UK) of the Wilmore. These need repair if the are to be retained as intact books, but, by using clear glass A4/American legal pockets, one could easily make a looseleaf/interleaved desk/study system, with the added benefit of being able to add other material/notes ad infinitum!

    Reply
    • Alexander thomson

      The beauty of both thematic works is that they can be used with any translation, and they both have references for every verse of the Bible! The Hodder/Zondervan work was incorporated to the Hodder/Zondervan NIV Thematic Reference Bible.

  30. Denis jacob

    One can find “The Bible interpreter, or, Improved helps to Bible study … : a complete analysis of the Holy Bible, or, The whole Bible arranged in subjects”
    by
    Hitchcock, Roswell D. (Roswell Dwight), 1817-1887; Talbot, Matthew; West, Nathaniel, 1794-1864; Cruden, Alexander, 1699-1770. Concordance to the Holy Scriptures; Eadie, John, 1810-1876; Schaff, Philip, 1819-1893. Comprehensive Bible helps

    https://archive.org/details/cu31924083674287

    Hope that helps

    Reply
    • Alexander thomson

      Denis, Belated thanks! Very useful link!

  31. Troy Deatley

    Hello,
    Anyone have this “Topical Reference Bible – Complete Analytical Study Edition KJV” in new condition For Sale? I’m looking for a nice one please email me at deepinphilippines@yahoo.com

    Reply

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