Holy Bible New American Standard: Red Letter Edition, Paragraphed [Paperback]

Bible (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 1082 pages
• Publisher: Holman Bible Pub; Award ed edition (December 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879810971
• ISBN-13: 978-0879810979
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The One I Bring to Church, February 10, 2003

By 

A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com "What should ... (Glen Ellyn, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Holy Bible New American Standard: Red Letter Edition, Paragraphed (Paperback)

This is a simple Bible. Because of this, I bring it to church. It lacks the study Bible attributes I enjoy in other editions, but, in church, I am not likely to spend the time required to utilize those features.

What I have it a sturdy paperback with a few footnotes to indicates translations variants, or to define an odd term or two. It is flexible, and can withstand (as mine has) being tossed into a briefcase or handbag without worry.

The margins are about the size of any novel, and so notes are difficult to write, but this its best use is as a second or third Bible, not for primary study. Its strength is its clean presentation and portability.

A basic, 62-page concordance is in the back, listing a few citations for key terms for easy lookup during Sunday school.

A section called "Biblical Backgrounds" surveys in a few paragraphs the function and history of all 66 books. This brief introduction says who is believed to have written, for example, I and II Chronicles (Ezra) and how it relates to other books (Samuel and Kings). Short and sweet, the reader will be able to get a quick look in the middle of a sermon and track better the context of the references.

The words of Jesus are in red. Others might find this distracting, but when I am ooking something up, knowing Jesus said something, but unable to remember the verse number, this helps.

The paper is of a decent width without making this book 100 pounds. Set in a Times New Roman or similar typeface, at what appears to be a 10 pt font, I find it easily readable.

It is a paragraphed Bible, meaning that contiguous ideas are connected using paragraphs, much in the same way we do in modern English, complete with indentation. This makes the reading more natural.

There are a few short introductions explaining the principles of translation (how Hebrew tenses were considered, for example), and an "Explanation of General Format," which succinctly presents the ways the publishers of this version managed Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic translation difficulties and what modern punctuation was employed that was unknown during the time of the Bible's writing.

A note on the translation:
The New American Standard translation claims to "adhere as closely as possible to the original languages of the Holy Scriptures, and to make the translation in a fluent and readable style accordingly to current English usage." There are paraphrased editions, like the New International Version (NIV) or New Living Translation that are both more reader friendly. In buying any translation, I suggest looking over samples of each to see which best fits your purposes. Ask your pastor which your church uses if reading along during the service is your goal.

A good way to make comparisons is to read the first few chapters of John from several translations. The differences will be obvious.

I fully recommend "Holy Bible New American Standard: Red Letter Edition, Paragraphed."

Anthony Trendl

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MY FAVORITE BIBLE!..., December 8, 2002

By 

feemeister (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Holy Bible New American Standard: Red Letter Edition, Paragraphed (Paperback)

I have used and looked at many, many versions of the Bible, but this one is the only one I like anymore. First, this is the version that the scholars say is the most accurate (Greek and Hebrew experts and scholars). Second, I find it to be the most readable one there is. I don't like the updated version--just the New American Standard. This one keeps the flavor of the King James with out the unreadability and is accurate to boot. It's readable, understandable and beautiful all at the same time. I don't like the way that people can change the words and meaning in the Bible (including the people who wrote it all through history, even for the King James version). I feel much more comfortable using a version that scholars in the ancient languages have arrived at as the most accurate, since I am unable to make that determination. I can're recommend this version highly enough!...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great print and layout qualities, July 29, 2001

By 

Larry Newman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Holy Bible New American Standard: Red Letter Edition, Paragraphed (Paperback)

Holman did a great job on this NASB (1977). The paragraphing alone (by that I don't mean section titles, but, in the non-poetic books, putting the verses in the same paragraph into one paragraph, not starting every verse with a new line....) makes the text twice as readable when reading sequentially, rather than just looking up verses.

Compared to Foundation's paperback, ISBN 1885217722, you have the advantages such as these:

1) being the 1977 edition, it is closer to the original text, especially in its connectives, the "but ... because ..." words, and in the genders of the original Greek, e.g. Rm 2:6;

2) the Red Letter (a nice, dark-red ink), which is not a theological statement but helps you find familiar phrases;

3) Holman's paragraph titles. The paragraph titles are descriptive rather than analytical, and so while they also help you find passages they do not dictate what you find. They are also more frequent than Lockman's.

4) It stays open on practically any page, whereas Lockman's is too thin for that.

5) The Holman has 16 pp. of helps at the back plus concordance, while the Lockman only has a concordance.