Guest Review: Jerusalem Bibles

Thanks to reader Eric on this fine guest review of these two Jerusalem Bibles. 

I have used the original 1966 Jerusalem Bible as my primary study Bible for several years.  I’ve enjoyed the nice way it reads and the notes and cross-references.  However, the weight and size of what I like to call Big Red is uncomfortable for me to hold for long periods of time, and I’m not a set-it-on-the-table-and-read-it type of guy.

 

So, I’ve been seeing something called the thin paper edition (hereafter referred to as the TPE) on E-Bay and been curious as to how it would compare to Big Red.  I’ve thrown a few bids around and been outbid every time, so apparently I’m not the only one who likes the idea of a thinner version of Big Red.  Well, as luck would have it, I found a seller on AbeBooks who had a copy still in the box, which was aggressively priced (i.e., so inexpensive that I almost felt guilty buying it, and using a 10% off coupon code to make it even more affordable… ALMOST).  Well, it arrived yesterday and Tim said he would love to have a compare/contrast between the two editions.

First, the outside….

 

The cover is what the box calls ‘flexible binding.’  What it feels like to me is a textured cardboard that’s meant to look like leather.  The feel on the hand is underwhelming – Big Red’s cloth hardback feels nicer on the skin.  BUT, the fact that the TPE is about half as thick as Big Red, the weight savings and being able to comfortably wrap my hands around the spine, more than makes up for the lame cover material.  The cover does flex, and there is a definite flex mark along the spine.  Page edges are gilded and it comes with a ribbon marker.  Other than the cover material, win-win all the way around.  This would be a prime candidate for a Leonard’s rebind to something nice (Love, are you reading this?  Leonard’s gift certificates make wonderful Christmas gifts… hint hint). 

Now, the inside….

 

The paper is thinner, with significantly more ghosting on the TPE than Big Red.  Also, it has a less-than-smooth feel that more recent bible papers have.  I don’t know if it’s related to the thinness or just age, but it is something that makes me want to tread slowly when turning its pages.  The thickness feels to me similar to the paper that comes on the Oxford compacts or the Little Rock Study Bible hardback (just not as smooth).  While the ghosting is much more noticeable, it is no worse than the Darton Longman Todd Popular Edition of the Jerusalem Bible I also have (as a traveling/casual reading copy).  Contents are identical between Big Red and the TPE, right down to the page numbers.

 

So, to summarize some thoughts here….

 

If you want to get ready for the ‘gun show’ but not hit the weights, get Big Red.

 

If you want to be able to hold your Jerusalem Bible comfortably in one hand, yet still have all the notes, get the TPE.

 

Of course, if you just want the text of the Jerusalem Bible that can be comfortably held in one hand and don’t care about all the notes, just get the Doubleday Reader’s/DLT Popular Edition.

 

For me?  I’m keeping the thin paper edition (and trying to treat it gently until I can save up some cash and get it rebound).  I’ll probably keep the DLT Popular Edition I have for awhile (besides, the resale value on them stink on E-Bay) and maybe let my kids use it as a starter Bible.  But, after a wonderful journey with Big Red, it’s going to go online and hopefully travel somewhere in the USA to another reader who would like a good copy of the full Jerusalem Bible and nice biceps to boot.

And the winner is.....

Leighton!

Just send an email to me at mccorm45(at)yahoo(dot)com with your address and full name and I'll get the commentaries out to you.  Thanks to all who participated.

Sunday Knox: Matthew 14:22-33

Knox:
As soon as this was done, he prevailed upon his disciples to take ship and cross to the other side before him, leaving him to send the multitudes home. When he had finished sending them home, he went up by himself on to the hill-side, to pray there; twilight had come, and he remained there alone. Meanwhile the ship was already half-way across the sea, hard put to it by the waves, for the wind was against them.  And then, when the night had reached its fourth quarter, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When they saw him walking on the sea, the disciples were terrified; they said, It is an apparition, and cried out for fear.  But all at once Jesus spoke to them; Take courage, he said, it is myself; do not be afraid. And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is thyself, bid me come to thee over the water. He said, Come; and Peter let himself down out of the ship and walked over the water to reach Jesus. Then, seeing how strong the wind was, he lost courage and began to sink; whereupon he cried aloud, Lord, save me.  And Jesus at once stretched out his hand and caught hold of him, saying to him, Why didst thou hesitate, man of little faith?  So they went on board the ship, and thereupon the wind dropped.  And the ship’s crew came and said, falling at his feet, Thou art indeed the Son of God.


NAB:
After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.  When it was evening he was there alone.  Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.  During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea.  When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.  “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.  At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”  Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.”  Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  After they got into the boat, the wind died down.  Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Saint John's Bible: Olivia Clarke

USCCB Communications sends over 1,200 donated bibles to unaccompanied minors detained in Arizona

USCCB Communications sends over 1,200 donated bibles to unaccompanied minors detained in Arizona

End of Summer Contest

Thanks to a generous gift from my friend Louis at Baker Book House (Grand Rapids) I am happy to offer this contest to all my (North American) readers.  I have one more week of summer recess before I head back to school to prepare for the upcoming academic year, so why not go out with a bang!  So, for this contest I will be offering three brand new volumes of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture.  The editions include the ones for 1 Corinthians, First and Second Peter & Jude, and Philippians, Colossians, & Philemon.  


Rules for the contest:

1) If you have a website or blog or are active on Facebook, please announce this contest. If you don't, that is OK. You can still enter the contest.

 2) Please enter your name in the comment section of this blog post. I (or my wife) will randomly draw one winner at the conclusion of the contest, which will be on Sunday August 10th at 11:59 PM.

 3) I will announce the winner on Monday August 11th. The winners must contact me, via email, within a week with their full name and address.

 4) One entry per person.

 5) Contest is only available to those who live in the United States. (Fear Not! There will be an international-only contest hopefully in the coming month or so.)

Sunday Knox: Isaiah 55:1-3

Knox:
So many athirst; who will not come to the water? So many destitute; who will come and get him food, get wine and milk free, no price to be paid?  What, always spending, and no bread to eat, always toiling, and never a full belly? Do but listen, here you shall find content; here are dainties shall ravish your hearts. To my summons give heed and hearing; so your spirits shall revive; a fresh covenant awaits you, this time eternal; gracious promise of mine to David shall be ratified now.

NAB:
Thus says the LORD: All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk.  Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy?  Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare.  Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.