Customer Reviews

Thompson Chain-Reference Bible King James Version/Large Print/Deluxe Black Leather

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

 

 

I was very disapointed with the Black Genuine Leather KJV Thomson Bible I recently obtained. My older Thomson Bible was printed on quality India Paper and had a nice stitched in binding. It was made to be worth the 90 dollar price tag charged. Now however the Kirkbride people are producing shoddy and inferior bibles and still selling them at a premium price! The new Thomson Bibles have CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP paper (Thomas Nelson/Zondervan quality) which is nothing like the supple and long lasting paper of the older bibles. The paper is so inferior that the words of the text on the OTHER SIDE OF THE PAGE show through and cause a very distracting and annoying reading experience. Also the Kirkbridge clan is not stitching the bindings in anymore - it is all glued like the cheaper Bibles you see at Wal Mart. But please do not take my word for it. Place your older Bible next to the recent printings and you will see the shameful deterioration of quality. Kirkbridge should be ashamed! It is cheating the public by still charging top dollar prices for their goods when they obviously do not any longer put quality materials in their Bibles. BUYER BEWARE !!!!

I purchased a Thompson with a morocco cover. In the past I have also purchased Thompson products as gifts because I was always impressed with their quality and the Kirkbride company that publishes it is located in my state.

The chain system is unique and very useful. I never used any of the rest of the "helps" in the back.

After a short time of owning this Bible I noticed that the leather was cracking and chipping off around the edges. Also the gold page edging was turning colors and coming off. I contacted Kirkbride, the publisher. First off, it took them several days and much persistance on my part before someone would talk to me. Finally some junior salesperson responded and sent me an email. He told me that their guarantee was not lifetime and that it only covered defects that you noticed right away. He then sent me an email with a lot of questions in it which I responded with the answers. I told them that I was not looking for a free replacement because I had used the Bible and did not think that was fair. I would have been satisfied with any accomodation that they thought was fair. Evidently they think that nothing is fair because I never heard another word from anyone. At the time I bought the item they were promoting their Bibles as lasting a lifetime. Although they carefully avoided a lifetime guarantee.
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Update: It is now 02/2011. Several years after the above review. A relative of mine purchase a Thompsons Bible a while back and it had none of the issues I mentioned above. Recently, I decided to give Thompsons another chance and because I had some credits to use with another retailer (sorry Amazon), I bought a Thompson NASB Genuine Leather Bible. It is perfect. Beautifully constructed and great in every way. It was made in the USA and has no issues I have found. I did notice that there is no longer a "lifetime" guarantee. Good thing, they didn't mean it anyway. But I got this Bible for $33.00 and will keep it as my everyday and Church Bible.

Looking at other reviews it appears that Kirkbride went with cheaper overseas construction and printing of their products for a period of time. Evidently they are not doing that now and it shows.

I thought it only fair to add this.

I looked forward to owning a Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, but had to return it. The copy I purchased was printed in Korea, and the type quality was uneven and not up to my expectations. Particularly in the New Testament red letter sections, some of the pages were pale pink and at least two pages were hard to read because the print was so faint. Sorry to not give a great review, but the quality doesn't match the reputation. Maybe they should reconsider the practice of printing it in Korea . . .

I love the New King James Version, put out by Thomas Nelson, but I loath Thomas Nelson Bibles. This is how I happened upon the Thompson a few years ago as I was relieved to find a NKJV not made by T.N. I first bought an NKJV in bonded leather. After 2 years of very heavy use, I bought an NKJV in genuine leather, and later a handy size KJV in genuine. All three of these Bibles are wonderful in every way.
The Thompson Study system is very helpful and they've graciously spared us from a myriad of religious cliche and personal opinion. The page layout is smart. The Bible text actually fills the page and all study helps and references are relegated to the side margins. There are so many ways to use the studies and references, I am unable to number them here. The concordance is as extensive as any I've seen. The 14 maps are colorful and very well done. Simply put, it's a complete, Jesus-exalting study Bible designed with excellence.

The construction of these Bibles is equally impressive. The paper is just right--not too thick, not too thin. The print is dark and sharp. Their font is subtil and very appropriate for the Bible, if you ask me. The red words of Jesus are RED. They're not muddy brown; they're not pink; they're bright, deep, beautiful red. They are printed consistantly page to page, not some pages lighter or misprinted, as the Thomas Nelson folks are plagued by.

Now that I own three Thompsons, I feel about them the way a good ol' boy down in the South feels about shotguns. "I have more than I need, but not as many as I want!"

I think I should warn you all in fairness about this issue over the current quality of Thompson bibles. I used to be very pleased with the quality of Thompson Bibles. I bought several for my church people. Now however, they are making them so cheap that they are NOT WORTH the amount of money they are asking. I agree with the reviewer that revealed how shoddy the Thompson Bible is now being made. The paper is so thin and cheap that the words on the other pages show through. I can't stand that in a Bible.
In short. I was so disapointed with my Bible I gave it away to someone else.
Please save yourself some trouble and buy a Cambridge or Oxford Bible instead.

Pastor Doug

I must warn you all that Kirkbride is producing very low quality Bibles these days. I bought a Thompson KJV Genuine Leather about 6 years ago. It was printed on very nice quality Bible paper, creamy white with the words in Christ in a very beautiful RED. The paper held up to lots of wear and tear and still was in good shape. It was a pleasure to own
But what happened? The new Thompson Bibles are printed on very very cheap paper that is of such poor quality that the letters and words on the other side of the page shows through. I can feel the paper of the new Thompsons and compare it with my older edition Thompson and I was very unhappy to learn I was scammed. Also the words of Christ in red are in such a light shade that I found it hard to read - gone are the deep red print of yesteryear.
I do not know what prompted the Kirkbride people to this. Maybe they want to get the more profit from thier Bibles and cut corners on paper quality. They are cheating the public by selling very shoddy Bibles and still charging thier high prices.
Dont make the mistake I did and pay 90 dollars for a lousy version of a former great study Bible. I am sorry a classic Study Bible fell victim to corporate GREED.

My experience with the Thompson Chain Reference Bible has been wonderful. It has many scriptural cross references, (The King James Version)is true to the original meaning expressed in the Greek Textus Receptus. As a seminary student, this Bible has been most helpful to me in sermon preparation, illustration, and contextual application. I highly recommend it. By the way, I strongly urge you to use the Authorized King James Version. Though some words are old, the use of a dictionary can bring new meaning to the words. Additionally, some of the newer translations leave out important words, i.e. "Blood" in Col. 1:14. In the Manuscripts, the word Blood (haima) is there but for whatever reason the translators conveniently chose to leave that out. I know what Jesus did for me, and I know that the Blood of God was shed for me so that I could have remittance of sin. I am offended that modern translations leave out references to the divine payment for sin.

Years ago(not too many years, though) Thompson Bibles from Kirkbride were a quality product. There was Morrocco Leather, Cowhide, Bonded Leather. The smooth and thick Cowhide leather has disappeared, and has been replaced aby some sort of Levant(pebble)grained madness that sells for $84.99, versus the $89.99 of the Cowhide. Definitely not worth it! There are now Bonded Leather editions in some horrible shade of bright purple, and also a forest green---both with black ribbon markers---is Kirkbride so cheap they can no longer afforsd to coordinate the ribbons? Also, most of the ribbon markers are cut very short, so they serve no purpose since there is nothing to hold onto...then there is this miserable Kirvella substance, which comes in Ivory, Grey, and Black. As soon as you hold the open Bible in your hands, the spine caves in. I don't care for red print in the Gospels, but the red-letter is now pink on some pages, or very light red, and hard to read. Bleed through with the inferior-quality paper. Need I go on(there IS more), or have I made my point as to quality?
The helps in the Bible are excellent and unchanged. The Thompson has been around for going-on 100 years, and still sells, so something must be right. You can learn much from the Thompson Bible. It's almost a Bible school between the pages. Unfortunately, the product quality now stinks, but the outrageous prices continue. Your choice.

I purchased this bible for a Christmas present for my husband. He has several ( all King James Versions though) bibles that he uses for study.But, the Thompson Chain Reference Bible is now his favorite study bible. He doesn't need to go from one type of bible to another to run reference anymore. This bible has it all.

I love KJV bibles and own several different kinds of KJV bibles. However, the KJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is the one I would take with me if I were to be away from home for a long time. This bible uses scripture to back up scripture, less of man's input and more of the holy word. I love the way the chain references was set up and ton's of bible information at the back. I could take this bible with me anywhere and enjoy every minute of learning subjects and issues based on scripture and the excellent chain references. I always look forward to reading the KJV with this bible. I purchased the large print because it makes it easier to read the sideline scripture references and because I am going on 50. If you're looking for the only KJV bible for your home or if you know someone who loves the KJV bible and needs a replacement, this is the bible I highly recommend and the one I would buy for love ones. May the holy bible transform and renew your mind, that you may prove what is good, acceptable and the will of God.