Are "Nice Bibles" Un-Christian?

October 14, 2008 Posted by David NcloseAuthor: David N Name:
Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com
Site: http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com
About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority. In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed. Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!" Education Info: --Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California --2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University --2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (75)

For those of you who don't know yet, Cambridge Bibles (pretty much the best Bible maker in the world!) is about to release their very first edition of the ESV.  The edition is a familiar one in other translations:  the Pitt Minion.  It's a small, hand-sized Bible with a center reference column.  The type size is large and clear for such a small Bible.  But the best part:  it comes bound in beautiful, supple goatskin leather (of course, you'll have to pay a bit more for that!).  The goatskin will be available in both black and brown, as well as a burgundy French Morocco leather and a two-tone imitation leather (see all 4 side-by-side in the image below).  The nice thing about goatskin (besides the way it feels) is that it's extremely pliable and durable.  So if you decide to spend the extra cash, it's well worth it, as you're likely to be keeping the Bible around for many more years to come. 

I used to be your average Bible consumer.  All of my Bibles were bonded leather.  My first ESV was “tru-tone” (basically just imitation leather).  Then I found this site.  Ever since I first read the insightful aesthetic comments of J. Mark Bertand, I have been a “Bible snob.”  Unfortunately I am also a “poor graduate student”, so that means I'm still using bonded leather bibles.  However, when I learned of Cambridge's plan to release an ESV, I decided to save up and spring for my first really nice Bible.  Mark will be reviewing all four editions of the Cambridge Pitt Minion ESV some time next week, so make sure to check back for that (in the mean time, browse his blog.  He's probably written something witty and interesting about your Bible!).

Now that I've admitted to buying one of these expensive things, I have a question for you (and I'm a philosopher who probably overthinks things, so you can take this or leave it).  I've found there to be something of a paradoxical conundrum to the “nice Bible.”  On the one hand, I can see how it would be far more worthy to spend $80 on a Bible than on useless junk I don't need.  And further, buying a Bible that has obviously taken great skill and care to make seems to say something about how important God's Word is to you.  But is there something all too modern and Western about the “Cambridge goatskin Bible” market?  After all, the words are the words.  I can be spiritually fed just as well by a paperback Bible, and give the other $70 to my church, or to a homeless shelter.  Then again, is there something about that very sentiment that is equally “modern” and “Western”?  Can anything be said for a Bible that is, in itself, a work of art?

So what do you think?   Am I still a good Christian? 

Related posts:

1. J. Mark Bertrand Reviews New Cambridge ESV
2. Speaking of New Bibles…
3. Book Review: Choosing a Bible by Leland Ryken
4. The 2009 Christian Web Conference is this Satuday
5. The "Green" Bible
6. Book Review: Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul

Posted in Book Reviews, David's Posts, Main Page, Poetry/Scripture/Liturgy/Etc.