I have the Top Grain and can honestly say it's a beautiful Bible that I can't recommend enough. I spent about a year buying a new Bible just about each month trying find one that I could settle on for life (or at least the long long foreseeable future) and that I could call my own. I was unhappy until I bought this Top Grain in October, and I haven't thought of wanting to switch to another since. It's fantastic. Ghosting really hasn't been an issue for me. Sure, you can see a slight shadow when you concentrate, but when reading and enjoying the word, it's not at all distracting for me in my own experience. And maybe I'm biased toward the Top Grain, but the Omega does appear to have slightly more noticeable ghosting. I suppose the decision is yours though! But I can't speak highly enough of the Top Grain! I'm really pleased with it, have enjoyed using it daily since and look forward to it being my Bible for years to come! Glory to God and bless you in Christ, brothers and sisters!
"Floppinization" Hahaha! That was such a win, Pastor Matt. As usual, an excellent review from you. Please keep posting more Bible reviews and comparisons! God bless you and your channel!
They updated the top grain to a stiffer binding and a little thicker leather. Had one I bought like this in January 17 and had to replace under warranty in November. It took two replacements to get it right and I love it, but it definitely isn't as good of quality as the one from January.
Thanks for taking the time to post this! I would rather go with the top grain large print thin line, but I just wish for the price that they would add even some cheap red art gilding to it, similar to the omega thinline.
After preaching with the Goatskin Omega for about 5 years, I am switching to the cheaper thineline edition. The Omega's paper feels like tissue paper and wrinkles and creases really badly. The regular thineline in this video is standing up much better in the long run. It also seems more opaque and heavier than the Omega. Love the Goatskin in the Omega, but the thineline has a great leather as well. Definitely think you get more bang for the buck with the cheaper thineline.
I was told that about two years ago, mainly Thomas Nelson and also Zondervan- both are owned by HarperCollins, for cost effective reasons- shipped their American Press/Printers and German made Heidelberg Press/Printer (premium digital, analog and premium printers) that were in the United States was shipped to China. So rather then as in the past, where American Bible Publishers would always print and publish in the United States and on special occasions have printings in Europe like the UK and Belgium; now they contract have printings in China and also they even have a bindery, to have the printing- that’s now a Smyth sown text block- to have bindings of synthetic or natural leather covers- fully producing and publishing a Bible or book- for cost effective reasons. That may change now with the new import tariffs- not sure but we’ll see. So as in this comparison with the large print Omega ESV- one from Jongbloed and the other a Chinese printing and other reviews too, I have seen on a few occasions (as Chinese printings usually can’t compete with or come close to American and especially, European Printings such as Jongbloed and LEGO- as they are the standard top premium Bible printer and premium book Printers and Publishers) that a few Chinese Printings are premium printing, which is a shock. This is because the Chinese printing factory that was contacted used American and German printing presses- special premium printing machines and they also used premium Bible paper with a higher GSM with good opacity from American or European paper companies, that produces an excellent quality Bible paper from European or American wood- as this produces better quality paper. Also North American Cowhide or Calfskin is a much more superior premium leather because of what is feed to them, access to natural food in their environment and their diets is strictly controlled. Also Goatskin from certain areas in Europe or in Africa like Nigeria has high quality and superior Goatskin become their diets being controlled and the natural food in their environment produces superior quality leathers. As opposed to the thinner and lower quality Chinese leathers, because their food is not quality controlled with good access to natural wild food- being crowded in large cities or very poor countrysides with low quality food- because of the poor environment. Normally Chinese printings get a bad rap- because their printers that are made in China are not made at the same standard as a German or American printer. Also Chinese’s Printers- print just about everything from Newspapers, Magazines, lower quality books and cheap quality Bibles. The high rate of production and lack of quality control and very little maintenance, produces lower quality products and dull blades and inferior inks. So when an American Bible Publisher contracts this certain Chinese printer- that has American and German premium printers/presses- machines- with providing good quality European or American Bible Paper (mainly American Bible Paper) when using these premium printers, mainly from Thomas Nelson Publishing and some from Zondervan Publishing- now you can see how a “Chinese Printing” can produce an excellent quality printing for a Bible- that can be similar, equal to or even a little better then an European Printing such as Jongbloed. Still the vast majority of the best printings and producers of high quality premium Bibles are from Jongbloed, LEGO, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press and other private premium Bible Printers and Publishers. If anyone knows the contract company or name of this special Chinese Printing- that’s uses these premium printers from America and Europe, let us know in the commits. I have seen one name listed among Chinese printings (Donnelly) but I am unsure if this is the same contact printer that is used by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan- special premium printers and presses and digital premium printing machine such as the Heidelberg Press Printer from Germany. If anyone knows which specific contractor- Chinese printing is used and their name- let us know. I wish they would put their name in the information section so we can know we’re buying a good quality printing for a better price and cause the other Chinese printers to shape up or ship out or just only produce printings for their newspapers, magazines, lower quality books and pamphlets, keeping their lower quality products isolated as we can know and buy good quality Bibles with good to excellent quality printing and Bible paper. The ESV Premium Top Grain Cowhide Large Print Bible and the Premium Omega Goatskin Heirloom Edition Bible. The difference was the Chinese printing has a premium printer with a little high GSM but with a higher opacity from either premium American Bible Paper or most likely premium European Bible Paper as opposed to Jongbloed using (from an order from Crossway) a certain level GSM- since their quality of Bible Paper from Jongbloed is very high and the best, supposing to use a medium level GSM Bible Paper- that with the great premium printers at Jongbloed would beat any competition. Since the Chinese printer had an American or probably used the German press printer with a letter high quality GSM with more opacity- that’s how the Chinese printing of the Top Grain ESV was better. Premium printer be Premium printer even though one was in China and the other in Europe- so this even out, then it came to quality of GSM and quality of opacity of the Bible paper and since the contracted Chinese printer using a premium printer has a little better quality Bible paper- then it obvious what won- the Bible paper and not the printer. Let’s say 30 GSM with premium medium to high opacity Bible paper was used compared to 32 GSM Bible paper with a premium high opacity Bible paper- so the higher opacity and the little even though small boost GSM is what was clearly seen and what won. Knowing all the facts- Jongbloed and LEGO are still the best premium Bible Printers and Producers in the world. 📖 🙏🏻
medical rob I would love to see the old kJV Thompson Chain get a make over, their Nasb,NIV,NKJV and now ESV all have really nice prints but their kJV is really getting aged.
The 2011 Thin line has ghosting way beyond those two BUT the line matching for me makes it a none issue. If it didn't have line matching it would be tough one to read from, Crossway makes a great product.
TLDR: Thin bible = thin paper = less opacity = greater "ghosting" There are only a few ways to manufacture a book with 1,200 pages to be 1 1/4" thick, and one of them is to reduce the thickness of the paper. These bibles use paper that is very close to the thickness of tissue, but is amazingly strong. It would follow that the paper's thickness would be directly related to its opacity. Looking at the thickness of the spines, the top-grain leather appears to be slightly thicker than the Omega goatskin, which makes me think the paper is thicker. Therefore it should not be a surprise that the Omega's paper is slightly less opaque. That's the trade-off; you want a thin bible? You have to give up the contrast between the text and the paper.
The top grain large print thinline reference is my absolute favorite Bible. Lots of real estate on the page (less page turning while preaching and teaching) and the layout is fantastic. I wish it came with two ribbons, but that is a minor quibble.
If they don't have the Aleph/Tav in place they are neutered. All Christians should look in to what the Aleph/Tav is all about. There are many videos about it here on youtube.
I have the Top Grain and can honestly say it's a beautiful Bible that I can't recommend enough. I spent about a year buying a new Bible just about each month trying find one that I could settle on for life (or at least the long long foreseeable future) and that I could call my own. I was unhappy until I bought this Top Grain in October, and I haven't thought of wanting to switch to another since. It's fantastic.
Ghosting really hasn't been an issue for me. Sure, you can see a slight shadow when you concentrate, but when reading and enjoying the word, it's not at all distracting for me in my own experience. And maybe I'm biased toward the Top Grain, but the Omega does appear to have slightly more noticeable ghosting.
I suppose the decision is yours though! But I can't speak highly enough of the Top Grain! I'm really pleased with it, have enjoyed using it daily since and look forward to it being my Bible for years to come!
Glory to God and bless you in Christ, brothers and sisters!
"Floppinization" made my day. 🤣
"Floppinization"
Hahaha! That was such a win, Pastor Matt. As usual, an excellent review from you. Please keep posting more Bible reviews and comparisons!
God bless you and your channel!
They updated the top grain to a stiffer binding and a little thicker leather. Had one I bought like this in January 17 and had to replace under warranty in November. It took two replacements to get it right and I love it, but it definitely isn't as good of quality as the one from January.
Thanks for taking the time to post this! I would rather go with the top grain large print thin line, but I just wish for the price that they would add even some cheap red art gilding to it, similar to the omega thinline.
Thanks for all your reviews!
After preaching with the Goatskin Omega for about 5 years, I am switching to the cheaper thineline edition. The Omega's paper feels like tissue paper and wrinkles and creases really badly. The regular thineline in this video is standing up much better in the long run. It also seems more opaque and heavier than the Omega. Love the Goatskin in the Omega, but the thineline has a great leather as well. Definitely think you get more bang for the buck with the cheaper thineline.
I was told that about two years ago, mainly Thomas Nelson and also Zondervan- both are owned by HarperCollins, for cost effective reasons- shipped their American Press/Printers and German made Heidelberg Press/Printer (premium digital, analog and premium printers) that were in the United States was shipped to China. So rather then as in the past, where American Bible Publishers would always print and publish in the United States and on special occasions have printings in Europe like the UK and Belgium; now they contract have printings in China and also they even have a bindery, to have the printing- that’s now a Smyth sown text block- to have bindings of synthetic or natural leather covers- fully producing and publishing a Bible or book- for cost effective reasons. That may change now with the new import tariffs- not sure but we’ll see.
So as in this comparison with the large print Omega ESV- one from Jongbloed and the other a Chinese printing and other reviews too, I have seen on a few occasions (as Chinese printings usually can’t compete with or come close to American and especially, European Printings such as Jongbloed and LEGO- as they are the standard top premium Bible printer and premium book Printers and Publishers) that a few Chinese Printings are premium printing, which is a shock. This is because the Chinese printing factory that was contacted used American and German printing presses- special premium printing machines and they also used premium Bible paper with a higher GSM with good opacity from American or European paper companies, that produces an excellent quality Bible paper from European or American wood- as this produces better quality paper.
Also North American Cowhide or Calfskin is a much more superior premium leather because of what is feed to them, access to natural food in their environment and their diets is strictly controlled. Also Goatskin from certain areas in Europe or in Africa like Nigeria has high quality and superior Goatskin become their diets being controlled and the natural food in their environment produces superior quality leathers. As opposed to the thinner and lower quality Chinese leathers, because their food is not quality controlled with good access to natural wild food- being crowded in large cities or very poor countrysides with low quality food- because of the poor environment. Normally Chinese printings get a bad rap- because their printers that are made in China are not made at the same standard as a German or American printer. Also Chinese’s Printers- print just about everything from Newspapers, Magazines, lower quality books and cheap quality Bibles. The high rate of production and lack of quality control and very little maintenance, produces lower quality products and dull blades and inferior inks.
So when an American Bible Publisher contracts this certain Chinese printer- that has American and German premium printers/presses- machines- with providing good quality European or American Bible Paper (mainly American Bible Paper) when using these premium printers, mainly from Thomas Nelson Publishing and some from Zondervan Publishing- now you can see how a “Chinese Printing” can produce an excellent quality printing for a Bible- that can be similar, equal to or even a little better then an European Printing such as Jongbloed. Still the vast majority of the best printings and producers of high quality premium Bibles are from Jongbloed, LEGO, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press and other private premium Bible Printers and Publishers.
If anyone knows the contract company or name of this special Chinese Printing- that’s uses these premium printers from America and Europe, let us know in the commits. I have seen one name listed among Chinese printings (Donnelly) but I am unsure if this is the same contact printer that is used by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan- special premium printers and presses and digital premium printing machine such as the Heidelberg Press Printer from Germany. If anyone knows which specific contractor- Chinese printing is used and their name- let us know.
I wish they would put their name in the information section so we can know we’re buying a good quality printing for a better price and cause the other Chinese printers to shape up or ship out or just only produce printings for their newspapers, magazines, lower quality books and pamphlets, keeping their lower quality products isolated as we can know and buy good quality Bibles with good to excellent quality printing and Bible paper.
The ESV Premium Top Grain Cowhide Large Print Bible and the Premium Omega Goatskin Heirloom Edition Bible. The difference was the Chinese printing has a premium printer with a little high GSM but with a higher opacity from either premium American Bible Paper or most likely premium European Bible Paper as opposed to Jongbloed using (from an order from Crossway) a certain level GSM- since their quality of Bible Paper from Jongbloed is very high and the best, supposing to use a medium level GSM Bible Paper- that with the great premium printers at Jongbloed would beat any competition. Since the Chinese printer had an American or probably used the German press printer with a letter high quality GSM with more opacity- that’s how the Chinese printing of the Top Grain ESV was better. Premium printer be Premium printer even though one was in China and the other in Europe- so this even out, then it came to quality of GSM and quality of opacity of the Bible paper and since the contracted Chinese printer using a premium printer has a little better quality Bible paper- then it obvious what won- the Bible paper and not the printer. Let’s say 30 GSM with premium medium to high opacity Bible paper was used compared to 32 GSM Bible paper with a premium high opacity Bible paper- so the higher opacity and the little even though small boost GSM is what was clearly seen and what won. Knowing all the facts- Jongbloed and LEGO are still the best premium Bible Printers and Producers in the world.
📖 🙏🏻
medical rob I would love to see the old kJV Thompson Chain get a make over, their Nasb,NIV,NKJV and now ESV all have really nice prints but their kJV is really getting aged.
this comment was a little hard to read but had so much useful information! thanks for taking the time to write it all out!
The 2011 Thin line has ghosting way beyond those two BUT the line matching for me makes it a none issue. If it didn't have line matching it would be tough one to read from, Crossway makes a great product.
I love your reviews!
It seems like more people are worried about ghosting then I am, it doesn't ever bother me I guess I'm just used to it
TLDR: Thin bible = thin paper = less opacity = greater "ghosting"
There are only a few ways to manufacture a book with 1,200 pages to be 1 1/4" thick, and one of them is to reduce the thickness of the paper. These bibles use paper that is very close to the thickness of tissue, but is amazingly strong. It would follow that the paper's thickness would be directly related to its opacity.
Looking at the thickness of the spines, the top-grain leather appears to be slightly thicker than the Omega goatskin, which makes me think the paper is thicker. Therefore it should not be a surprise that the Omega's paper is slightly less opaque.
That's the trade-off; you want a thin bible? You have to give up the contrast between the text and the paper.
Awww.....I LOVE EM😇 TOTAL ESV LOVER, And one special Christian .
I returned the top grain leather one. It was absolutely gorgeous, but it seemed like the text was cramped. Was not enjoyable to sit and read.
Better paper even with more ghosting is more durable and easier to flatten if crinkled ..Nevertheless bad ghosting is intolerable.
The top grain large print thinline reference is my absolute favorite Bible. Lots of real estate on the page (less page turning while preaching and teaching) and the layout is fantastic. I wish it came with two ribbons, but that is a minor quibble.
Add you own! It is way easier than many people think.
I’m a fan consider this fan mail
The less expensive bible did look better.
BaconNBeer I agree dude
Flopinization...it is now in the dictionary.
If they don't have the Aleph/Tav in place they are neutered. All Christians should look in to what the Aleph/Tav is all about. There are many videos about it here on youtube.
Thinline uses thinner paper.
Oh, nope. Never mind. Still using that CURSED ESV.