ESV Personal Reference Bible (TruTone, Brown/Walnut, Portfolio Design)

This review (October 2024) is for the Crossway ESV Wide Margin Reference TruTone Bible. I had tried a number of local stores to try and find a copy of this Bible so that I could see and feel it in person, but no one local to me carried it. After a year of reading reviews and watching videos I finally ordered it. I opted for the TruTone version because it was less expensive and because I wanted to test this Bible with my note taking and highlighting. So let me compare this against the Crossway Bibles that I have experience with. Their ESV Journaling Study Bible in TruTone is much softer and floppy/bendable. This Wide Margin version is stiffer. Not a plus or minus, just an observation. This version also is one solid color where as the Journaling Study Bible is two colors.Now let me address the main questions and that is the typeface, paper, and margins. The Journaling Study Bible is 7.5, the Wide Margin Reference is 9. That was one of the main reasons I had been wanting this Bible was the larger font. I use 1.0 Reader Glasses and the 7.5 while readable would still be a slight challenge after a long day of looking at a computer screen. The t9 point font is much nicer.The paper is thicker/heavier than the Journaling Study Bible. There is one YouTube video that compares the Crossway Wide Margin with a Cambridge Wide Margin and his conclusion is the Crossway paper is heavier/thicker. I would say the paper is similar to the Thomas Nelson NKJV Single Column Wide Margin Reference Bible. I write all of that to simply say this paper is meant for note taking. Yes there is ghosting, but much less so than in the Journaling Study Bible that I have. Please note that I use the Pigma Micron 01 and 005 pens and no I've not tested any other pens mainly because I started with them and have stayed with them. I am still using the same set I purchased a year ago with no indication that they are wearing out, so the initial price for me was worth it. Also the weight of the paper lends itself to less crinkling of pages as you flip through them.The Bible is two column with one inch margins on both side. Now the inside margin (writing space) is slight more and that is due to Crossway moving the text outward toward the edge providing a true inch of writable space. This was one of the reasons I was leaning toward this Bible for so long. I have space to write next to the individual scripture. In the Journaling Study Bible you have two column text with a two inch margin on the outside which results in notes written away from the scriptures which are in the inside column. Neither method is right or wrong, just two different layouts.My final thoughts are I really do like this Bible due to everything above. I still like the Journaling Study Bible, but had I started with this one I would probably go ahead and get the ESV Study Bible as a complementary piece. As for the TruTone cover, I have no long term experience with it. I think one of the reviewers here on Amazon showed his as being worn out after ten years and suggested that you go ahead and purchase the real leather version. From a cost perspective I can see both sides and that is something that as an individual you will have to decide. For me I wanted to test the format out on the less expensive version and then after a year or so decide if I want to purchase the leather version or just have this one rebound.I know this review has been long, but I hope it has been helpful as I tried to address the main points/issues that I had when I was researching this particular Bible.

Excellent Bible, quality construction and best price! Many study resources: concordance, accurate explanatory notes, cross references, subject index, sound theology and doctrine, more. Excellent quality construction, smyth-sewn binding, printing, quality paper, more. The best

The media could not be loaded. Just got this delivered within the hour so I’m still exploring it and ensuring there is no pages missing, understanding the layout etc.bible itself is beautiful, clean and fresh. I love the extra space on the side for notes/placing tabs etc.the Words of Christ are true red (not pink like some bibles).Words aren’t too big but aren’t small. Comfortable size.My only little issue is I noticed Is that all the pages I have Attempted to open up to inspect are stuck together. lol!! See video.I’m not mad but I actually think it’s funny lol.Idk if this is an “ESV” thing because this always happens with ESV’s but hasn’t happened with any other Bible translations (… and I have Several).The explanations are clear in regards to how to use the ESV references/footnotes etcOverall I am very pleased!

I have been looking for a Bible since December. I wanted to regular size, (not one of those little books), I also wanted room to take notes and to be able to highlight. Plus what Jesus says is very important and should be in red. It's so had to find a Bible with red letters lately. I've not only looked on amazon, but I've check other places too. Finally...a Bible I can truly enjoy reading. This is the best purchase I've made. Before this one I bought two other Bible's on here and gave them away cause it wasn't what it appeared to be on here. I was very hesitant to even buy this one, but thank God I did. The lettering is not too small for someone with bifocals, you can highlight and it not bleed thru (I use Mr. Pen SLEEK), the color of the pages are just like they should be, not that old yellow stuff. And not too thin at all. Plus not too heavy to pack. My husband bought me a beautiful Bible for my birthday and I love it, but it's too heavy to pack to church, so it's my every morning reading Bible.This Bible also has maps, page to write family marriages, births/adoptions and deaths.The only part I didn't like, it came in one of those slip in things you see them in in a store, wrapped in plastic, in a bubble wrap that amazon put it in. Not enough protection for God's word. There is a creece at the top of my Bible that goes halfway through the Bible at the top of the book because it wasn't protected as well as it would have been had it been in a box. You can mail me at a baby shark toy and it's in a box 3 sizes big with packaging all around it, but you can't mail out something as precious as God's word in a box to protect it?I gave it 5 stars for the Bible, not for the way it came to me. I pray this helps you make your decision. God bless

I was looking for a daily carry Bible. This one is small enough with references and single column so you can read it easier.

Very attractive and well made Bible for the price.The translation is very good in places and questionable in others, as is the case with most versions.

Love the red letters and large print.

Beautiful, well made Bible