Customer Reviews

NASB Large Print Pew Bible (Black, Hardcover Cloth)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The NASB is in the forefront of Biblical scholarship, and if you want to own only one copy of the Bible (word for word translation) and you are a non-Catholic Christian, then I would tell you to seriously consider this version (I would point Catholics towards the NRSV or NAB). The NASB does not use inclusive language, it is a very strict interpretation but flows smoothly, and also tends to favor the traditional phrasing.

The NASB has traditionally been awarded the title of "the most literally accurate translation", and while I don't believe this to be 100% accurate, I think it's close on the mark. The NASB does benefit from excellent scholarship, and from major advances in Biblical discovery from the last few decades. Throw in the benefit of the cost of this Bible, which is very inexpensive, and you have an excellent Bible to use for a long time. In addition, the concordance at the back of this bible is frosting on the cake.

Although not terribly far advanced in my Greek studies I have been able to see that the New American Standard is a far better translation than most translations out there. Because of the Lockman Foundation's licensing the NAS is usually a more expensive version, but this is a great deal on one. The print is a good size and there is a concordance in the back which is somewhat larger than most I've seen. There are no cross references in the text, which is not much of a loss in my opinion. What I like best about this Bible is that it lays flat when it's open. That can sometimes be hard to find in hardbacks and is almost impossible to find in paperbacks.

I have used several translations (NKJV, NIV, TEV, the "complete jewish bible", and even the Masoretic texts) and this is my personal preferance. The NASB stays true to the original hebrew as much as possible and does not lose the intended message as is sometimes the case with translations like the NIV. It may take some getting used to for those familiar with more loosely translated versions like the TEV but it is none the less my favorite translation. The only downside to the NASB is it does not give the chapter and verse notation of OT quotes found in the NT as do some other translations. All-in-all, it is still the holy word of God. Seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him.

Actually, I chose this Bible over another slightly more expensive Bible that had wide margins because one of the reviewers here said this Bible contained a comparably good concordance. Well, I probably should have chosen the wide-margin one, since, as of beginning of 2006, the Bible they are shipping (I'm talking of the hardcover edition) doesn't have a concordance. The usual lists of Jesus' parables, Old Testament prophecies Jesus fulfilled, Jesus' miracles, and the "Where to find help when ..." which is always there in Gideon Publishers free Bibles. Other study helps include 10 maps (black-and-white, but very detailed), and a reading plan to read through the Bible in a year. That's pretty much it.

Otherwise, 2-column text, rather narrow margins (see my customer images), words of Christ in black (which I prefer) and a high-quality hard cover. I've had a similar one earlier and I can tell it can withstand a lot of battering :). The paper is ok, has some bleed-through, but is not very thin. The binding is thickly glued and on a fabric base, so, though it is not exactly smyth-sewn, it will hold long (again, see my customer images).

To sum up the physical characteristics, this is your basic Bible, but a one that can really live longer than some bonded-leather Bibles (again, I'm talking about the hardcover edition). My personal disappointment about the absence of a concordance aside, for a price of 10 dollars, this is a very decent deal. So I am giving it 5 stars.

To say a couple of words about the NASB text, it was already mentioned by other reviewers that its accuracy is its most valuable asset. Some people complain that the style suffers because of that. I disagree. A "good style", for an average reader, is in reality plain style. I read a lot, and have read the Bible a lot, and I have a good memory, so sometimes when re-reading something that I've read only recently, I notice that my mind skips over very familiar passages. With a Bible, where every word is a gem to be explored, this is not exactly good. But a style that is slightly "out of place" makes my eye stop here and there, and it has its own vividness, which I greatly appreciate.

I am reveiwing the paperback edition of the NASB:

I purchased this Bible from amazon for the incredible price of $5.99! I cannot believe how much benefit I've derived from such a small investment.

The NASB itself has become my favorite. The NIV used to be my favorite, but I have since moved on to the NAS. The NIV is fine for a "new believer," but the NAS is better for the mature Christian (i.e. the serious student of the Bible).

This is a great way to check out the NAS, without spending too much money.

I hope you decide to give the NAS a try. It has been an incredible blessing for me!

This electronic version of the Bible is not engineered for the Kindle. When you search for a text string you find it, but nowhere can you tell where you landed in the Bible. You would have to page forward or backward to find what book you are in, which, as Kindle users know, could take a long time. Needs a book reference somewhere, in the search results summary page or on the text page when you get there.

This is the version I got introduced to in Christian College, where some of its translators were teachers. Therefore, memory verses were learned in this version. I like it since it seems between modern English versions like the Living Bible and the old King James. Just about right for me. And I like that it is touted as the most literal English version of the Bible. This is important when you believe each word is God-breathed. 2Timothy 3:16-17, 2Peter 1:20-21.

It's not flashy or full of helps but it does have all of its Scripture clearly printed and neat. It is exactly what I was expecting of it... basic.

It looks like Amazon just threw all the reviews of NASB together in one hodgepodge. This is a review of the Audible mp3 downloadable version, narrated by Dick Hill.

The NASB's literal translation proves to be difficult listening at times, especially in the epistles. I'm not acquainted with Greek, but I understand that writers like Paul typically don't use puncuation that we're familiar with. This carries over into the translation, where complex ideas are often contained in one very long, convoluted sentence. Unless you're an auditory learner these passages won't be much good for studying; though Hill reads clearly and pleasantly, he's already half way through a letter by the time you've figured out the first sentence!

And Hill is definitely what makes this audio version such a pleasure. His subtle expressiveness brings out character and emotion that I otherwise wouldn't have noticed, without ever veering into distracting overacting. His reading of the Pslams is an emotional high point. He's got a wonderful cadence that makes for great listening, especially in the Old Testament books. I love to fall asleep to his reading of Genesis. The more literal translation is also less of an issue in the OT and the gospels, where it's mostly storytelling instead of doctrine.

The books are grouped together in fourteen tracks, usually with several books to a track. It can be a pain if you're looking for a specific book, or heaven forbid, a certain verse, on your mp3 player. Again, not well-suited to detailed study. But if you're looking for an audio bible with excellent, engaging narration, this is a sure bet.

So, I've read the King James Version, New Revised Standard Version, the New Living Translation, and the New International Version, and this bible, the New American Standard, is the one I personally connect with the best. I have fallen in love with this bible knowing that it is considered the "most accurate" of bible translations and that the way it is worded is now so fluent and engaging. I feel as though, after reading all the translations above, this is the truest of the translations. I believe the original texts have been translated perfectly into English in this version while preserving the true nature of words of the prophets of old. I have had spoken with a number of other people in lessons and prayer groups, and we have compared scripture from a number of different bibles; it is almost unanimous that this bible reigns above all in it's accuracy and in the way it is worded. My mother reads the New Living Translation, because she finds bible hard to understand. When I read scripture from this bible to her, she understood immediately and said, "that's beautiful." Her words express my point: it's simple enough for anyone to read, and accurate enough to study. If you're looking for the best bible out there, you've found it, in my opinion. A review that I read on the Top 10 Bible Versions said this was #3 on his list, yet if he could bring one version with him to a desert island, this would be it. I don't agree with the #3 ranking, but I agree that this would be my choice of all the bible's I've read. Bless all those who seek God in their lives!