Book Review: Ancient-Modern Bible
General Review
The title for this Bible sounds a bit contradictory, doesn’t it? The ancient, modern Bible? I don’t think the
title is an accurate representation. What makes this Bible both ancient and modern is that it includes
commentary from Christian theologians, from the past and present such as Huss, Keller, Chrysostom,
Spurgeon, Luther, Graham, Augustine and Wright, just to name a few. Relevant quotes and reflections are
printed in the margin of the pages, alongside of the Scripture they pertain to.
title is an accurate representation. What makes this Bible both ancient and modern is that it includes
commentary from Christian theologians, from the past and present such as Huss, Keller, Chrysostom,
Spurgeon, Luther, Graham, Augustine and Wright, just to name a few. Relevant quotes and reflections are
printed in the margin of the pages, alongside of the Scripture they pertain to.
Other ancient-modern features are the one-page biographies of the various theologians and the art of the
church. The biographies are interspersed throughout the Bible and they include the person’s name, when
they lived, and their important works. The vivid artwork is grouped in a section toward the end of the Bible
and includes images like an ancient Chi Rho symbol from the 4th century, to a 1936 piece by Christian
Rohlfs called “Death, Where is Thy Sting?”. Additionally, there is a collection of articles, written by a few
of these great thinkers of the Faith, dealing with topics such as Salvation and the Trinity, as well as a
compilation of the various creeds of the church over time (i.e. Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, etc.).
church. The biographies are interspersed throughout the Bible and they include the person’s name, when
they lived, and their important works. The vivid artwork is grouped in a section toward the end of the Bible
and includes images like an ancient Chi Rho symbol from the 4th century, to a 1936 piece by Christian
Rohlfs called “Death, Where is Thy Sting?”. Additionally, there is a collection of articles, written by a few
of these great thinkers of the Faith, dealing with topics such as Salvation and the Trinity, as well as a
compilation of the various creeds of the church over time (i.e. Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, etc.).
This Bible is written in the familiar NKJV with a traditional text layout, such as chapter/verse divisions,
however, the words of Christ are not in red. There is a brief introduction to each book of the Bible, which
includes the author, audience, date, purpose and themes of that book. There is no concordance in this Bible,
but there are a few Biblical maps at the very end.
however, the words of Christ are not in red. There is a brief introduction to each book of the Bible, which
includes the author, audience, date, purpose and themes of that book. There is no concordance in this Bible,
but there are a few Biblical maps at the very end.
Personal Thoughts
I liked the presentation of the Bible--hardcover with box-like dust jacket. It has a nice logo on the front
cover with the caption: One Faith. Handed Down. For All the Saints. I don’t care too much for the thin
pages, which can be hard to turn. Although the publisher lists the font size as a feature (8.5 point size), I
don’t care too much for it--give me all the big letters, please!
cover with the caption: One Faith. Handed Down. For All the Saints. I don’t care too much for the thin
pages, which can be hard to turn. Although the publisher lists the font size as a feature (8.5 point size), I
don’t care too much for it--give me all the big letters, please!
Even though there are commentaries on just about every page, I wouldn’t use this Bible as a study Bible.
The commentaries are more topical in nature, true comments on the passages, not study notes or insight to
the meaning of Scripture or cross referencing to bring clarity. For personal use, I’d prefer a study Bible for
daily reading and understanding, something I can dig into. This Bible will do to have lying open on the
kitchen counter or on the coffee table (do people have those anymore?) for reading Scripture here and there
in passing. I appreciate the various commentaries and articles and those things can be useful, especially
when we are talking Church History in our homeschool. However, this will probably not be my go-to
Bible for personal use.
The commentaries are more topical in nature, true comments on the passages, not study notes or insight to
the meaning of Scripture or cross referencing to bring clarity. For personal use, I’d prefer a study Bible for
daily reading and understanding, something I can dig into. This Bible will do to have lying open on the
kitchen counter or on the coffee table (do people have those anymore?) for reading Scripture here and there
in passing. I appreciate the various commentaries and articles and those things can be useful, especially
when we are talking Church History in our homeschool. However, this will probably not be my go-to
Bible for personal use.
(I received a copy of this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
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