Rating: 
Summary: Love the Thompson Bible, but NASB edition needs updating
Review: As far as study bibles, the Thompson Bible is far and away my personal favorite because its outstanding chain reference system is based on the concept of using Scripture to interpret Scripture. Although annotated study notes can be very helpful, I personally prefer the Thompson approach of linking Scripture by related topics and themes.My one serious problem, and the reason that I've had to reluctantly discard my Thompson NAS Bible, is that they have not yet published it in the NAS as updated in 1995. Anyone considering purchase of this otherwise outstanding study Bible should be aware of this. Hopefully, Kirkbride will soon address this issue.
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Summary: Old NASB but questionable quality control in print
Review: I expected much better quality. Some of pages have words dimmed and even hard to distinguish, especially in the red letters.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best
Review: I love the New King James Version, put out by Thomas Nelson, but I loath Thomas Nelson Bibles. This is how I happened upon the Thompson a few years ago as I was relieved to find a NKJV not made by T.N. I first bought an NKJV in bonded leather. After 2 years of very heavy use, I bought an NKJV in genuine leather, and later a handy size KJV in genuine. All three of these Bibles are wonderful in every way. The Thompson Study system is very helpful and they've graciously spared us from a myriad of religious cliche and personal opinion. The page layout is smart. The Bible text actually fills the page and all study helps and references are relegated to the side margins. There are so many ways to use the studies and references, I am unable to number them here. The concordance is as extensive as any I've seen. The 14 maps are colorful and very well done. Simply put, it's a complete, Jesus-exalting study Bible designed with excellence. The construction of these Bibles is equally impressive. The paper is just right--not too thick, not too thin. The print is dark and sharp. Their font is subtil and very appropriate for the Bible, if you ask me. The red words of Jesus are RED. They're not muddy brown; they're bright, deep, beautiful red. They are printed consistantly page to page, not some pages lighter or misprinted, as the Thomas Nelson folks are plagued by. Now that I own three Thompsons, I feel about them the way a good ol' boy down in the South feels about shotguns. "I have more than I need, but not as many as I want!"
Rating:
Summary: Excellent in all respects
Review: I purchased my first Thompson Chain Reference Bible as a new believer back in the 70's. It was and continues to be the best study Bible for those who desire to search out the Word for themselves and compare scripture with scripture. And, the extensive Bible study helps in the back of the Bible do add a rich dimension in addition to the topical chain references. I was a little concerned about the "new" TCR's as several reviewers mentioned degradations in quality and I certainly didn't like the thin glossy paper I saw in the hardbacks in the bookstore. I was delighted today when I received my large print deluxe leather edition Bible. The Bible I received has excellent flat, opaque Bible paper perfect for note-taking. And, the binding appears to have stitching in addition to the glue, so I'd say the quality of the binding is fine and should serve one well for years. One caveat in regard to the large print edition--It is LARGE! Not the print (it's 9 point instead of the regular 8), but the Bible itself. It's not so unwieldy that I would think twice about using it, but if size is an issue for you, check the dimensions and choose accordingly. I can't say enough good things about this Bible. It has my highest recommendation; you won't be sorry in choosing this Bible.
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Summary: A study bible that allows you to study!
Review: I really enjoy the Thompson Chain Reference bible. It is a great resource for anyone who really desires more fulfillment in their individual or group studies. I will not buy another bible. You can purchase this bible in at least three translations (That I am aware of), but it is the additional material given that makes it better than all other study bibles. The best part about this bible, is that it gives you enough information to start a study, but allows the student to finish the study, and to go as deep as he/she wants to go. The study is not done for you. Some study bibles have a complete exegetical study for you, removing the effort involved in seriously studing the word. It is a great tool, even if you are only reading. It does not confuse the reader, between what is the actual word, and what is the study notes. Maps, topics, study tools, etc... are contained in this bible. Purchase it now. You will not be disappointed. May God bless your studies.
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Summary: The Single Best Study Bible
Review: I use the Thompson NASB and it is great. I will just echo other sentiments that the layout of this Bible is great. This Bibles greatest strength is that it uses Scripture to teach Scripture. There are no notes on the page. If one wants to dig into a specific passage or specific book the references will take the student into the Bible as deep and as far as they want to go. This is my main Bible, along with the Dickson New Analytical KJV, to read and study God's words. There are too many specialty and study Bibles on the market. All the major publishers bring them out each year like boxed cereal. I too own and use some specialty study Bibles for specific purposes. These are great if you want to study from a specific point of view, like Dispensational or Charismatic, or understand what an interesting teacher of the Word may have to say like Tim LaHaye, John MacArthur, RC Sproul, or Henry Blackaby. But on a daily basis the Thompson Chain Reference is the one that can bring the best out of the student of the Word.
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Summary: PAPER TOO THIN TO WRITE ON. BLEEDS THROUGH.
Review: I wanted a Bible whereby, I could make notes in the margins. The paper was extremely thin and unusable for notes. Aslo, the size of the bible was too large for a standard Bible zipper case cover. The leather was not soft and pliable and would crease over extended use.
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Summary: Kirkbridge going the way of Thomas Nelson!!!!
Review: 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 !!!!
Rating:
Summary: A high-quality Bible for the serious student of the Word!
Review: In our opinion and without a doubt, the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is the most useful Study-Bible that money can buy. It's an excellent tool for the individual who is interested in studying the Word of God the way it's supposed to be studied, namely in categories. Meaning, with this Bible the serious student has a powerful tool at hand to study God's thoughts pertaining to thousands of specific topics. We've used the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible for well over a decade, and with each opening of the Word, there's always something refreshing as the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of God in this or that area. It's an adventure, and while this Bible is extensive, it is easy to use, and we're certain that it will provide great insight to every attentive reader and draw him or her closer to God. The purchase of this Bible is highly recommended and will have eternal benefits.
Rating:
Summary: Old NASB but questionable quality control in print
Review: It has become harder and harder to find copies of the old NASB (NASB 1977) vs. the NASB Update as the newer version has largely replaced the older one. I have looked through the NASB Update and actually find it harder to read than NASB 1977. Personally, I feel NASB 1977 has more of a "college level" feel while the NASB Update (much like the NIV) has more of a "high school level" feel in terms of their use of english. NASB Update and NIV are fine translations but I prefer reading something that is at least at the college reading level. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is one of the last publications of NASB 1977 that I could find anywhere. I purchased the burgundy genuine leather version with thumb index in April 2004. When you don't have much of a choice, you buy what is available. Here are my impressions of this publication taking into account other reviews:
- no damage in shipping from Amazon using free shipping;
- inconsistent quality control
-- overall, the Bible was in excellent condition. pages were nicely trimmed, ink darkness was consistent throughout (unlike in other reviews) though the red was on the light side, and there was no problem with the binding.
-- closer look revealed flaws in quality control. there was a big gash on the front GENUINE leather cover and it was apparent the inner leather liner was severely folded and creased before someone glued it back in place. this is supposed to be their premium Bible which would hopefully be used for a lifetime. i was surprised this particular print made it to the bookshelf.
-- paper was thinner than my thomas nelson printing and thin enough to allow the letters from the underlying page to show through. i don't mean the print on the opposite side of the same page, i mean two pages before...i.e. the underlying page. whereas my thomas nelson used some special cloth-like paper, the paper in this publication appears like "thin" high quality tracing paper but nothing special.
- i have returned this item to Amazon for a replacement.
- printed in Korea, hopefully by a Christian publication company, otherwise it would be a shame for a Bible publishing company to succumb to bean counting.
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