The Four Holy Gospels, ESV Bible (Slipcase) [Hardcover]

Crossway Books (Corporate Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 14, 2011 | ISBN-10: 1433521946 | ISBN-13: 978-1433521942

The Four Holy Gospels is an exquisitely designed and produced edition of the four canonical Gospels in the English Standard Version, published in commemoration of the 400^th anniversary of the King James Version (KJV) Bible in 1611. 

The Four Holy Gospels features newly commissioned original paintings representing the four Gospel Evangelists, illuminated initial letters, and other embellishments and design elements, printed in full color throughout and on high-quality art paper. The text of the Gospels is reproduced in a highly readable, large font; ideally suited for public reading, liturgical use, and as a family heirloom. 

The artist commissioned for the project is Makoto Fujimura, a devout Christian, and one of the most highly-regarded artists of the twenty-first century. He is the founder of the International Arts Movement and has served on the National Council for the Arts. His art is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, as well as a number of art museums in the US. A premiere exhibition of the art created for The Four Holy Gospels is planned for December of 2010, at the Dillon Gallery in New York City.   

The Four Holy Gospels stands in the historic stream of the beautifully hand-illuminated editions of the Gospels created many centuries ago. This exquisite and unique modern edition carries on a classic tradition, beautifully combining the words of the Gospels and original art, inspired by the text, and brilliantly executed for the glory of God.

• Size: 10.75" x 16"
• 13-point type
• 168 pages
• Double-column, paragraph format
• Black letter text
• Newly-commissioned, full-color artworks by renowned artist Makoto Fujimura
• A full-page, full-color art piece for each Gospel; illuminated letters to begin each chapter, and hand embellishments by the artist on every page
• Printed on highest quality art paper
• Housed in a permanent slipcase
• Smyth-sewn binding

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Christians who have longed for a more readable literal Bible translation will find much to praise in the English Standard Version. The ESV's translation team of over 100 members has admirably attempted to preserve the stylistic variety of biblical authorship and ease of reading (at the eighth-grade level) despite the word-for-word translation, which historically has resulted in a choppier text flow. Bible study aficionados will appreciate the short introductions to each book, an extensive center column cross-reference system, full-color maps, and a 14,500-entry concordance. The hardcover edition includes the basic Bible frills: a presentation page, as well as marriage, birth, and death registries. --Cindy Crosby --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Bibles (January 14, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433521946
• ISBN-13: 978-1433521942
• Product Dimensions: 16.8 x 11.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #386,885 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible is an essentially literal Bible translation that combines word-for-word accuracy with literary excellence, beauty, and depth of meaning.

First published in 2001, the ESV Bible has become trusted by millions of Christian leaders, pastors, and individuals in every part of the world.

The ESV Bible carries forward the trusted legacy of the Bible in English--the legacy established first in the Tyndale New Testament (1526) and the KJV Bible (1611). With this legacy as the foundation, the ESV Bible (2001) reflects the beauty and majesty of the original languages, first captured centuries ago by these early Bible translations.

But the ESV also provides the most recent evangelical Christian Bible scholarship and enduring readability for today. The ESV translation team was built on the trusted foundation of over 100 evangelical Christian scholars and pastors worldwide, committed to the truth, authority, and application of the Bible to all of life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars . . . quite a favorite of ours, January 28, 2011

By 

Ned Bustard (Lancaster, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Four Holy Gospels, ESV Bible (Slipcase) (Hardcover)

The artist Makoto Fujimura is quite a favorite of ours. We first featured him in It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God. Then he was interviewed (twice) in our book Objects of Grace: Conversations on Creativity and Faith. And just recently we did a small book, Soliloquies, showcasing his art alongside the paintings of Georges Rouault.

But enough about us.

This post is to let you know that Mako has recently partnered with Crossway to create a an illuminated harmony of the Gospels to celebrate the KJV's 400th anniversary. It is easy to imagine how lovely the book would be, based on the reproductions of his paintings in our Square Halo titles, but to see it in your hands is breath taking. It is like holding a new Book of Kells. It is a joy to page through and discover the decorated caps at the beginning of chapters, the marginalia gracefully littering the pages, and of course, the full paintings. My favorite of the larger works was the piece that begins the gospel according to John called "In the Beginning."

Mako's art is what I'd call semi-abstract because he often brings in visual elements that the viewer recognizes--like a tree, or a fish, or a flower, etc. This made it especially delightful to page through The Four Holy Gospels (Cloth over Board). The marginalia is a combination of representational and abstract paintings. The art draws you in, making you want to discover what aspect of the text Mako is bringing out visually. There were so many of these "incidental" pieces that captured my imagination, but I was especially pleased to see the last page, where Mako had painted a blood-stained tree reminiscent of the "Shalom" lithograph from Corridor Press that hangs in our home.

This amazing new book looks lovely displayed on a bookshelf, but it resists becoming merely a decoration. Seeing it makes you want to come up with reasons to take it down and read it (when my eldest daughter saw this book she commented on it by saying, "THAT'S what it should be like to read the Bible").

So I urge you, if you are able, get a copy of The Four Holy Gospels (Cloth over Board). When you read it your heart and your mind will be changed as the words of our Lord mingle with the beauty in the art. Soli Deo Gloria.
--
This review originally appeared as a post on [...]

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous book I will treasure for years to come., March 1, 2011

By 

Jane Ray - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Four Holy Gospels, ESV Bible (Slipcase) (Hardcover)

The Four Holy Gospels is a beautiful book. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous--subtle, evocative, draws you into the text. The pages are huge, the print size is clear and perfect for public reading, the paper is smooth, bright and feels wonderful to the touch. There is a wide ribbon marker and a lavish slipcase with another ribbon to slide the book out easily. I admire Fujimura's work and couldn't wait to get this book; I had such high hopes. Unfortunately, the first copy I received had multiple printing and binding flaws--damaged spine, random metallic rub marks on several pages, even a crumpled page. Amazon promptly sent a replacement. The second copy I got has a page that's creased in the middle. I can't decide whether I'll keep this copy or gamble again on a third one being perfect. This is the most expensive book I've ever purchased and I'm both bewildered, and saddened, by the flaws. In my heart I wish I could give this book a 5+.

March 11: I've updated my review because Mr. Fujimura and the publisher have bent over backwards to make sure I received a perfect copy of the book. They've gone way above and beyond the usual idea of customer service. I am amazed at their kindness and generosity, and I totally wouldn't hesitate to buy additional copies of The Four Holy Gospels for gifts.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Illuminated Masterwork of Our Time, January 29, 2011

By 

Shelia Mullican "Anam Cara" (Franklin, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Four Holy Gospels, ESV Bible (Slipcase) (Hardcover)

Where are our twenty-first century illuminators? Who is that artist capable of wedding the triumphs and tragedies of our age with the Story older than time?

Makoto Fujimura is an avant garde artist living at Ground Zero in New York. He contends daily with Kairos-Chronos tension, employing ancient Nihonga painting techniques to speak with a thoroughly modern voice. His passionate, complex, exhilarating works captivate both mind and soul. He has, very possibly, created the illuminated masterwork of our time.

You know you possess a work of extraordinary loveliness when you slide the clothbound book out of its elegant slipcover. The frontispieces are glorious. Charis-Kairos focuses on the Tears of Christ "tears for the atrocities of the past century and for our present darkness." Each of the others is inspired by themes within the gospel. Read Mako's own introductions at [...]

Eighty-nine illuminated capitals begin the chapters. And each page contains gorgeous embellishments that illuminate the passage. As I read through The Four Holy Gospels, it is these that wreck me.

Some are representational and rather obvious: a fish, a serpent, a cluster of grapes. But most are subtle and leave space for you to bring your own creativity...your own story...to the page...

A splash of Nard as a woman pours herself out...
Brooding clouds...tinged with blood...over Gethsemane.
Intimations of water beside a storm tossed boat...or a baptism.
A sapphire sky flecked with gold, but with edges of a troubling gray, over Bethlehem.
Parables of the Kingdom laid against great swaths of gold.
The Passion, devastatingly conveyed with drops and smears of blood.
And finally, a tree of life...redeeming, restoring...making all things new.

If you have never encountered the story of Christ, you could find no better introduction than The Four Holy Gospels. Or if, like me, you cut your teeth on them, I assure you they are new here.

If you splurge on only one thing this year...if you treat yourself to one bit of beauty...it should be this book. There is no part of you that will not be nourished, cultivated, challenged, inspired.