Rick Mansfield Reviews the TNIV Reference Bible

I hope you've already got Rick Mansfield's excellent blog bookmarked, but just in case, I want to mention that he's posted a hands-on review of the TNIV Reference Bible, and a follow-up that features his own mock-up for a wide-margin edition (which looks great). Unfortunately, it looks like the publishers are sticking with that oddball font choice -- otherwise, the design seems very attractive. It's a single column setting, which always warms my heart. If you haven't already, be sure to check it out.

Comments

[David Swain]

I like this edition. I hope they hit the stores soon.

I would be very excited if Zondervan did make a wide-margin version without the side references based on Rick's mockups.

Personally, I like the font that they are using. From my experience it is very easy on the eyes, and I don't seem as prone to lose track of which line i'm on, even when the lines are very long as in the Books of the Bible edition. Thankfully, it doesn't look like the reference edition's lines are so long.

[ElShaddai Edwards]

My objection to the TNIV Reference Bible font isn't so much the font itself (which has been fine in the TNIV text editions), but that from a typographical aesthetic, it would be easier to read if the main text and the cross references were in more contrasting font styles. As it is, the font has elements of serif and sans serif that, in my opinion, are too close in style to the sans serif font used for the cross references. There isn't enough visual differentiation between the two, making everything run together. That said, I'm looking forward to reviewing the pages in person rather than through PDFs.

[ElShaddai Edwards]

For those interested, I've posted some additional photos and observations of the TNIV RB on my blog:

http://heissufficient.net/2007/12/15/a-visual-introduction-to-the-tniv-reference-bible/

[John Laughlin]

Great site and so helpful I cannot thank you enough, John

[Rod Summers]

I received the TNIV Reference in Renaissance Fine Leather this week. I also have the Bonded Leather version. Bottom line- I plan to return the Renaissance version due to poor quality. The leather is very nice- soft and flexible. The outside cover is much better than the bonded version. However, there is a problem they did not fix that being a poor quality paper used on the inside covers. The paper is not the right kind for this application on both Bibles. What happens is the cover paper easily creases with normal use which also results in the cover creasing. My bonded version has already creased so I was hoping for some improvement. Just by using this Renaissance version a few times, the covers are already beginning to show crease marks. While some may prefer that creasing (like well worn shoes), it's not my cup of tea. If you want this Bible I would recommend buying the bonded version, which is sewn, and getting it recovered in a high quality material. (One reader of this blog did that as discussed in a separate article.)