I just received new copies of the hardback and leather editions of the Didache Bible. The latest run of each is a little better than the original print, so I thought you might like to check it out.
1. The hardback: The cover is a deeper forest green compared to the original olive drab. The new book is thinner: about 1 3/4" compared to the original 2". And finally, there is one green and one gold ribbon now instead of the two blonde ribbons, and the new edition uses a smaller font on the spine.
2. The leather covered hardback: The book is also now thinner than the original, 2" compared to 2 1/4. The gold edging is a bit darker and shinier in the new edition.
3. About both editions: The book blocks are thinner. The pages look the same on the inside, no more bleed through, although the new ones look nicer. The pages are a brighter white and looks higher in quality when placed side by side with the original. Also, although the binding was good on the originals, the new ones are even tighter. It is still the same sewn binding typical of Ignatius Press. I could not find any indication of where these books were printed, except in the original hardback which states "Printed in India."
19 comments:
And I still don't know why they won't print an edition with a soft/flexible leather cover.
vladimir998
The Bible study/prayer group I have been involved in for 6+ years using the Ignatius Study Bible has opted to use the Didache Bible. I had already extra copies and needed more!
We were really going to continue the OT while we waited for the ICSB complete Bible but... no one really wanted to spend another $10 on a booklet when we could get a whole Bible for $40. Another other factor was that the ICSB is almost TOO MUCH information for our purpose. We are using Jeff Cavin's streamlined plan for chronological study of the OT, but yet don't want to spend a decade or more doing it. And most importantly is that the Didache Bible's notes are really strong on Catechesis and apologetics, which I believe is especially needful today.
If you have an original edition Didache Bible, give it away to someone who will really benefit from it. Then of course you will have an excuse to get a new copy! I gifted one early on to a brother at another parish in town, and that gift spurred a great interest in Bible study there with others obtaining their own copies!
I have a feeling the Didache Bible may be the ideal portable Catholic Bible for Catholics of all ages and walks of life. It is really a great collection of relevant study helps for catechetical classes and study groups at the local parish. Also a great reference tool for on the go reading and apologetics. To me the "medium" size is perfect. I have a feeling that when the ICSB is finished, it will either be to big or in multiple volumes, and end up being primarily a bookshelf reference set. The Didache Bible, however, will be the edition of the RSV that the wife and all the kids will have, the one with which we have family devotions and Catechesis (along with the classic Douay Rheims Challoner from Baronius.) There are a lot of Bible recourses on the family bookshelf, but those are the two I am willing to invest the $ for each family member to have a copy.
So being over a year after its release...does anyone else consider the Didache their primary on the go Bible (RSV or NABRE?!)
Are the ISBNs the same, and may I ask from where you ordered the new editions? I'd like to make sure I get the new ones if I donate my old ones. Thanks--
I had mine rebound last year in genuine cowhide (see guest review) and all though I haven't taken it anywhere yet, if I go to a Bible Study or a class I will take it. I like teaching from the new large print RSV-2CE because of that giant print size.
I have the Didache NABRE (original edition) and would like it to be my Bible-on-the-go but it's way too bulky for such...and not an attractive cover either, but that's not a deal-breaker. If it had a soft flexible cover (no need for genuine leather for me, the faux one as on the Harper Catholic NRSV is perfect) I would be more apt to make it the on-the-go Bible...and I am not the kind of guy to have a brand new Bible rebound just to suit a desire... LOL
Deacon Dave, the genuine cowhide cover works for me because I hand hold my Bibles (usually in one hand) when I use them about three times a day.I have found that most bonded, genuine and faux leathers are too hard slippery to hold comfortably in one hand. The non glossy premium leathers are not only strong but softer and they don't slip in my hand. Since I use my Bible in the Liturgy of the hours twice a day plus the daily readings and my studies for my Bible study and RCIA sessions, my Bibles are constantly in use, so this functionality and comfort are well worth it!
The original hardback Didache is "First Printing," the leather wrapped hardbacks are "Second Printing," and the hardbacks I just got are "Third Printing." The new hardbacks are definitely the slimmest edition, although the difference between all of them is really quite small.
Brian M, the ISBN has not changed. I ordered these latest editions from Amazon as "new." Really the biggest change is in the hardback. Upon closer inspection I think the leather wrapped editions do have the SAME book block, but the binding on the newer on is a little tighter, and maybe the cover slightly thinner. It is hard to tell with its soft padded type covered boards. The book block on the new hardback is definitely different, thinner with better looking paper.
Due to the immense popularity of this title, I doubt that any "new" listing on Amazon would still be of the first run. If you are in doubt, before you open the cellophane, note that the new edition has a description printed on the back instead of the original hardback's plain green back cover.
I saw a hardback in a Catholic bookstore today and it had the two different color ribbons and very white paper, so I'm guessing it's the new one (I don't own a copy of either, but I'm tempted!). If there are copies already just sitting on book store shelves, I'd say Jonny is right. This has been a very popular Bible and any copy you order from a major retailer will surely be the new printing. Of course, there are never any guarantees with that sort of thing.
I'm with Vladimir. I want a flexible cover, without having to rebind it to get that.
Rolf I saw your post with the rebound Didache, and WOW that is beautiful. I usually prefer a quality hardback with ribbons over the thin flexible genuine leather one normally pays more for.
I think rebinding is a great option for those who are into the ultra premium leather books. You can choose your leather, color, number and color of ribbons, style, etc. Looking forward to seeing your large print RSV-2CE rebind. ;)
I purchased a copy of the Didache Bible RSV when it first came out and immediately sent it out to Leonard's for rebinding.
I'm reading it in conjunction with Nicholas King's translation of the Bible using the Septuagint for the Old Testament.
When I'm far enough along, I plan on sharing my thoughts on the place the Septuagint should have in a Christian's daily Bible reading. In the meantime, my Didache RSV is my mainstay.
That's a good improvement, but Ignatius seems to lack of a design consultant.
They also made some erratic choices with the initial prints of the Ignatius RSV-2CE generic Bible, the pages in the leather version are reported to be glossy, and only reverted back to non-glossy paper in succeeding printings.
But it seemed here that the MTF had the final say on the layout of the Bible, the Didache Bible and their Daily Roman Missal (which I have) bear the same Palatino font for the body text. In my opinion as a font enthusiast, or a typophile, Palatino is not good for a bible. However, the font works well for liturgical books such as the Missal. Using Palatino on a Bible gives an impression that it is meant for a casual or somewhat less spiritual reading experience.
Thinking that about now, I am thinking if I could make a guets post on Bible fonts and some bits of typography, being both a Bibliophile and a typophile.
Mark D.,
The Didache version using the NABRE was released one year ago
in early May 2015 by MTF. Obviously Ignatius didn't release it
since their translation is the RSV-2CE.
MTF sells BOTH versions since the Catechism material is comes solely from MTF
Here's the direct link on MTF:
http://www.theologicalforum.org/Browsing.aspx?BrowseBy=Category&ategoryId=124
You'll find both the Didache NABRE and the Didache RSV-2CE
The RSV-2CE version came out 15-16 months ago in January 2015 and the
NABRE a year ago at this in May 2015. I know that for a fact because
that's when I purchased each of them when they were first available.
The RSV-2CE was released simultaneously by both Ignatius and MTF,
while the NABRE version was released and distributed solely by MTF.
I wonder what effect a successful Didache Bible has on the thinking at Ignatius Press and on their planning for the ICSB. Do they think 1) Wow! Catholics really do like study Bibles! Let's get that ICSB done as soon as possible!, or 2) This Didache thing is selling really well. Maybe we should just ride this out as long as we can and roll out the ICSB whenever this dies down?
Something else entirely? Or does it have no effect on the ICSB at all? I'd find that hard to believe. Is the ICSB just on its own creeping pace like at 1950s horror movie monster and there's no stopping it or speeding it up?
Also, is there any public information about which version of the Didache Bible sells better, Ignatius Version versus NABRE?
JDH, I have only seen the Ignatius Didache Bible available at the three Barnes and Noble stores and my local Catholic book store that I visit (here in Southern California). I have yet to see a NABRE Didache Bible.
Rolf,
When you say "I have yet to see a NABRE Didache Bible", do you mean
physically in a bookstore, or did you mean you didn't know it was even available anywhere? If the latter, please be aware that it has been on
sale directly from MTF for exactly one year now, as I got my copies
for me and my friends in both hardcover and leather early last May.
In checking my credit card records, I ordered them directly from MTF
on April 1 last year and received them in the first week of May, 2015.
And it's not like they were slowing sending them out; when I ordered them on April 1, I checked by phone and was told the Bibles would be ready to be sent out in early May. And so almost literally exactly one year ago, I received the Didache NABRE from MTF.
So in case you didn't know about MTF, here's the link:
http://www.theologicalforum.org/Browsing.aspx?BrowseBy=Category&ategoryId=124
I MUCH prefer the NABRE Didache Bible. The internal layout was far superior to the original 2CE edition. They made a creative choice to include BOTH the NABRE notes AND the Didache material. They did so in such a way that it was all visible at a glance on the same page as the Biblical text, but clearly differentiated the translators' notes from the MTF commentary.
The result is essentially a two-for-one commentary Bible that gets you FAR more bang for your buck than the MTF/Ignatius hybrid they started with. When serving as an RCIA sponsor, this is the edition I will give to my candidates.
At the same time, as much as I love it, I opted for Oxford's new edition of the Catholic Study Bible for my own prayer and reading. I prefer the depth of the study guides up front.
Jeff I meant physically, they are not in stock.
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