HCSB Study Bible, Charcoal LeatherTouch Imitation Leather – September 1, 2015

I have been looking through this Bible since it arrived and so far am very pleased with it.First of all the binding is good. The imitation leather is good. The paper Quality is very nice.I am a bit concerned about how large a Bible it is and am concerned how it will hold up over the long haul. BUT, the binding looks solid and it appears as though it should hold up just fine.I like the study notes that are included with the Bible. They are very factual, written well, easily understood. I think that a Lay Person will enjoy the study notes and find them highly useful.The Translation is good. The list of scholars who translated it is a good list, very conservative, very knowledgable.This Bible is used in most of the LifeWay Curriculum that the Southern Baptist Denomination uses. That is why I purchased it. I'm pastoring now in a Southern Baptist Church and responsible for the content of curriculum being taught in Adult Classes. Since most were use to using the LifeWay Curriculum they were using the HCSB. So, I ordered one and I am pleased with how it reads.By the way, I used some LifeWay Curriculum even when I was in an Evangelical Free Church, so it's not just good for Southern Baptist. But in the E. Free Church we had switched from the NIV to the English Standard Version. Frankly I really like the ESV, but I think that this HCSB reads very well and flows easily.You just have to try it for yourself. The translation work is good, so you won't find areas that seem out of sync with other translations.Enjoy!

I have the personal size HCSB Study Bible. Right off I will tell you I wear glasses to read and I have no problem using this Bible. The print is small but very readable. If your eyes are real, real bad then I would go with the larger one. You may need to use it at the "kitchen table" or on your desk. It is not the type of Bible that one would carry to church on Sunday. If you are looking for a Bible that is something akin to what you used back in 1960-70s then you may not be happy with this study Bible. It is a breakaway from the traditional study bible format....The HCSB is not a "one man's point of view" Study Bible. I find that in most cases the HCSB used the Bible as it's own commentary to explain and express itself. Just add the Holy Spirit and you have a reliable Bible study.I am happy with the cover. I like the "TrueTone" or the newer "imitation leathers" offered today I prefer those over the "boned or cheap" leathers. In my experience they hold up a lot better ...guaranteed for a lifetime. I think they look fine.. But...I am a man and that is just me. I like the ruff "circuit rider" or "old western" Bible look.On the HCSB ...I am not qualified to review a Bible translation. From what I have read I like it,... I believe the HCSB is a trustworthy translation of the Holy Bible. Question about the HCSB translation, Google it.

We (my wife and I) have in our library every major translation and some lesser known ones as well. This study bible is a great resource on the level with the ESV Study Bible. I like the verbiage of the HCSB over the ESV as well as the print size/stye is for me more readable without going to a large print oversize volume. Study notes in sidebars are focused with other helps spread through out. One must remember in studying the Word of GOD to let Scripture interpret Scripture. The notes have been informative and clarifying without getting over doctrinal in scope. I find this refreshing as most study bibles tend to have a doctrinal/denominational bent to them which can and does skew some of the notes. Given this project was driven by the Southern Baptist, so far I find great effort was taken to avoid such a bent. Book introductions are well done and there is much reference material through out that I have not yet found in other study bibles. As with ANY translation, I always utilize other bible translations at the same time for in depth study and further insight. I highly recommend this study bible, it is a wonderful translation as well as a bible on the level of a textbook allowing great discovery.

All but a few pages were stuck together with the gold edging and it has been very time consuming separating the pages. I bought stuff to put on my fingers to make it easier. I found they come apart best by using a damp index finger and thumb slid back and forth on the top or bottom center of the pages. Corners don't work as well. It does leave a very slight crinkle. My husband said I was doing quality control for China. I returned the first one for stuck together pages and the second was the same. I wanted this Bible so I just dealt with it.It is a wonderful Bible otherwise with great maps and picture helps and much, much more. Pages are high quality, very thin as they must be if you don't an 8 inch thick Bible.

I appreciate and love the HCSB version and after learning that HCSB will stop printing this year 2017 and that they updated and reworded the language and changed it to just CSB. I knew I had to get a copy of the HCSB STUDY BIBLE. I have used it before and I like that in the OT they interchangeably use Yahweh and LORD throughout and also in the NT Messiah. The ESV is like MY go to translation but I also like using NLT, NKJV, and the HCSB. This translation is so very good and I love how detailed the maps are and how informative the introductions are as well as the notes. The thing about the notes is I have found it to be the most factual note taking compared to other notes in different bibles which tend to be biased in opinions. I'm very happy I was able to get my hands on this one. Mahogany and the design is so stunning and warm. Very beautiful.

Absolutely amazing. Came early. Love the Bible. It's bigger than I was anticipating which took a bit of getting used to, but it's so worth it. The Bible itself is really beautiful. It's visually appealing. The notes/commentary, cross-references, concordance/dictionary are all really well done and really great to have. The additional features deal with things I'd want to know about, not silly opinion questions or topics I feel should be in a teen Bible. The translation is so great, too -- I love the HSBC because it's a little more on the word-for-word end of things, so I feel it's reliable like the ASV etc., but it reads so well. It's put into great language so it reads more like the NLT. Easy to understand, reliable translation.

translation is what the Bible preface and the introduction pages talks about...it's a mixed, the look of this Bible gives you a history feel or takes you on an archaeological journey, the pictures and the word study, foot notes...it's amazing. If you want to get serious in Bible Study then I would definitely recommend to give a try as it's fresh. I've purchased this Bible after doing a month research on study bibles out there, and what I understood is every individual should have two bibles, one is standard like KJV (although it's word-to-word it's still not perfect translation but a close one) ex: Thompson Chain Reference SB and the second one is for theology or other aspect ex: Heritage KJV SB, HCSB, ESV...one thing about the HCSB is that the inclusion of the archaeological data it accumulated till this date and compound it nicely orderly way.

Excellent translation that compares well with a few other modern works such as the ESV. The notes are plentiful and are generally sound. First class quality binding. Rather a large volume but one would expect that given the amount of notes and helps. Note: This is a far, far better work that the HCSB Apologetics Bible which has fewer notes and less conviction by most of its contributing authors.

Met my expectations. Thanks.

The commentaries and illustrations are excellent. I strongly recommend this to anyone who likes to view the Bible from a historical context.