The Westminster Books Exclusive Cloth Over Board ESV Creeds and Confessions Bible Review
The new ESV Creeds and Confessions Bible has been generating a lot of news. If you’ve just been looking at Crossway’s website or Amazon then there is an edition you may not have seen. I first saw the Westminster Books Exclusive ESV Creeds and Confessions Bible when I was scrolling on Facebook. I stopped and immediately commented on the post asking where that Bible came from. Once the person finally responded, I found out that you can only get this edition from wtsbooks.com. The Westminster Books exclusive edition is striking and can be had for a great price exclusively from their website.
Packaging
When you receive this Bible, you’ll notice that it comes in a black and red slipcase with gold accents. The slipcase is very similar to the box that the goatskin edition comes in and it’s very attractive packaging. Many hardcover Bibles don’t come in slipcases and I thought this was a really nice touch.
Outside
This Bible is a tan cloth over board. On the front cover, you’ll notice a reflective gold colored Jerusalem cross design that is also found on the slipcase. The spine has five raised ribs, which really creates a nice aesthetic. On the spine you’ll find the words “Holy Bible”, “with creeds and confessions”, the ESV logo, “English Standard Version”, and the Crossway logo. The back is blank and the page edges are white. This edition has some really nice black and red head and tail bands as well as well as two single-sided satin, red ribbon bookmarks.
This is a beautiful Bible as I said, but I do worry about the tan color choice. This is a light tan and I could definitely see it getting dirty easily even from just handling it with your hands. However, Bibles are meant to be used and it’s possible that the coloration that will eventually come could make this Bible have an older feel to it that makes it look even better. Only time will tell.
Inside
When you open the Bible, you’ll notice it has a paste down liner that has a repetitive diamond pattern with the Jerusalem cross design inside each diamond. The paper is a gold color. I think is a really cool looking design and adds great character to this Bible. You’ll also find a presentation page as well as family records at the beginning of the Bible. After these, there is a preface as well as an explanation of features of this edition.
I’ve seen many asking if this edition has the same paper as the goatskin. From everything I can tell in comparing the two—the answer is yes. The paper seems to have the same thickness, the text appears to be line matched, and the page layout looks exactly the same down to having the same content on the same page number. This is very good news for those wanting the same textblock quality without the goatskin price. To add to that good news, this edition also has Smyth-sewn binding, which will increase its durability.
Many are saying that this seems to be almost identical to the 80th Omega layout, which when comparing the two seems to be the case. The references are set at the bottom right of the page, which shortens the length of the second column of text. The text itself is a 10-point Lexicon type. It’s black letter and the printing is a nice, bold, and consistent black throughout. This is a very attractive and easy to read layout. There is a reason the Omega layout is one of Crossway’s most popular. In the back of the Bible you’ll find a concordance and eight color maps.
Creeds and Confessions
You are most likely interested in this Bible for the 13 historic creeds and confessions included. You may be asking, “Why would I want this in a Bible? Why should I care about these creeds and confessions?” Essentially, these historic confessions help us see the truth of the Word thoughtfully and carefully summarized. They teach the truth of Scripture succinctly and in one place. Catechisms help us learn solid answers to questions about God and the Bible. These creeds and confessions are valuable pieces of Christian history that can still aid and help us today. If you haven’t ever explored them before, they are certainly worth your time to check out. Having them in one convenient location behind the Word of God makes this Bible very attractive for many. These are the 13 creeds and confessions included:
Apostle's Creed (ca. 200 - 400)
Nicene Creed (325)
Athanasian Creed (381)
Chalcedonian Definition (451)
Augsburg Confession (1530)
Belgic Confession (1561)
Articles of Religion (1563)
Canons of Dort (1618 - 19)
Westminster Confession (1646)
London Baptist Confession (1689)
Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
Westminster Larger Catechism (1647)
Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)
Conclusion
I love hardcover books because of their durability. You can put a hardcover book in a bag and not think twice about it, whereas most people wouldn’t do the same thing with a leather cover. Not only is this Bible durable, it’s really attractive. I love the Jerusalem cross design on the front and the ribs on the spine. The red bookmarks really pop. For $32.50—which is what Westminster Books is selling this edition for at the time of this writing —this Bible is a steal. If you’ve never explored the creeds and confessions before then I’d encourage you to check them out. If you already have, then you know having them paired with the Bible in one volume is really nice. I love what Westminster Books has done with this Bible so head to their site because that’s the only place it’s available.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Westminster Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.
