This was the very first Bible that I selected for myself. I still have it, along with several other Bibles, but it is still my main Bible because it makes it so easy to study the Word of God for myself. It used to cost over $70, and my father bought it for me when I was in college after I asked him to.

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Product Description

This burgundy bonded-leather KJV Bible employs the Thompson Topical Study System, acclaimed for more than six decades as the most helpful study system available, and which now has been completely updated and expanded.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1852981 in Books
• Published on: 1993-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Leather Bound
• 1923 pages

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Customer Reviews

Chained to Thompson's!
I have owned one version or another of the Chain Reference Bible since I was a teenager in the seventies. My 'standard' Bible has been the large print KJV for many, many years and it remains the first Bible I pick up. I purchased the NIV Chain Reference, but just didn't like the translation, it just didn't 'read' right for me. I've enjoyed the NAS translation, but it is awfully dry reading when the heart desires poetry. So, I ended up purchasing the NKJV. It has been a real pleasure to read, combining the elegance of the KJV with a modern and accurate adaptation.

As for the chain reference system used by Thompson, it's such a part of my Bible reading and study that I'd have a really hard time switching to another system. Some of the illustrations and charts have been revised from my older KJV, but not to an extreme. The Thompson system remains, for me, the quickest and easiest way to study a topic through the Bible, or just through either the New or Old Testament. The Bible also includes an excellent concordance; for someone new to chain reference study they can start with the traditional concordance and work their way into the Thompson system. Also included are excellent maps, revised from the earlier versions, and a historical dictionary with photos of significant Biblical locations, with explanations.

I agree with another reviewer that Nelson Bibles are, in general, not made for people with serious intentions on daily Bible use. They are constructed down to a price, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as these can provide a very inexpensive introduction to the Bible. However, when one is ready to use a Bible in a serious, daily way, a better Bible will easily pay for its higher price.

Though this Bible is well-made, it is NOT as well made as my older, large print KJV. My older Bible has whipstitching clearly seen in front and back, with pages secured as well today as when I bought it. This newer Bible appears to have pages that are glued in like cheaper ones. Additionally, the paper is comletely different than my older edition, and thinner. The older paper had almost an eggshell texture, whereas the newer paper is much slicker and thinner. In first use it's really quite difficult to get the pages apart. However, it's still a very well-made Bible, just not up to the standard of the older ones. That should in no way deter someone from buying it, though.

As a one-volume Biblical library, I haven't seen anything to beat the Thompson's. As another reviewer noted, it's also refreshingly free of editorial bias, which certainly can't be said of all its competitors. Most of all, each of us needs to find a Bible they can live with daily, and any Bible available is better than none at all! Thompson Bibles aren't inexpensive but they will last twice as long as cheaper Bibles, particularly if kept in a cover. Also, the supplemental atlases and historical additions might well save purchase of other books to accompany Biblical study. Highly recommended!

Kirkbridge going the way of Thomas Nelson!!!!
I was very disapointed with the Black Genuine Leather KJV Thomson Bible I recently obtained. My older Thomson Bible was printed on quality India Paper and had a nice stitched in binding. It was made to be worth the 90 dollar price tag charged. Now however the Kirkbride people are producing shoddy and inferior bibles and still selling them at a premium price! The new Thomson Bibles have CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP paper (Thomas Nelson/Zondervan quality) which is nothing like the supple and long lasting paper of the older bibles. The paper is so inferior that the words of the text on the OTHER SIDE OF THE PAGE show through and cause a very distracting and annoying reading experience. Also the Kirkbridge clan is not stitching the bindings in anymore - it is all glued like the cheaper Bibles you see at Wal Mart. But please do not take my word for it. Place your older Bible next to the recent printings and you will see the shameful deterioration of quality. Kirkbridge should be ashamed! It is cheating the public by still charging top dollar prices for their goods when they obviously do not any longer put quality materials in their Bibles. BUYER BEWARE !!!!

Very disappointed in their customer service
I purchased a Thompson with a morocco cover. In the past I have also purchased Thompson products as gifts because I was always impressed with their quality and the Kirkbride company that publishes it is located in my state. I was generally satisfied with this Bible although I find the almost 1000 pages in the back to be mostly of little value. They need to put out an edition with only the chain system and leave all of that other commentary out. It makes the Bible almost too big to be practical for carrying around. I use it mainly for desk reference.

The chain system is unique and very useful. I never used any of the rest of the "helps" in the back.

After a short time of owning this Bible I noticed that the leather was cracking and chipping off around the edges. Also the gold page edging was turning colors and coming off. I contacted Kirkbride, the publisher. First off, it took them several days and much persistance on my part before someone would talk to me. Finally some junior salesperson responded and sent me an email. He told me that their guarantee was not lifetime and that it only covered defects that you noticed right away. He then sent me an email with a lot of questions in it which I responded with the answers. I told them that I was not looking for a free replacement because I had used the Bible and did not think that was fair. I would have been satisfied with any accomodation that they thought was fair. Evidently they think that nothing is fair because I never heard another word from anyone.

So I would say, beware of their quality and that the publisher doesn't stand behind their guarantee. I would have been satisfied with a 10% discount. But I guess they would rather loose a faithful customer. I will NOT be purchasing another Kirkbride product.