I’m really excited to finally get to talk to you about the Word on Fire Bible. This is the first volume, which includes the four gospels. The Bible is officially released today, June 15th here in the United States. It will ship to other countries in the fall.
The material I received and what I’ve read online, Word on Fire ministries really want to stress two key things about the Bible: It’s not a study bible and not a devotional bible. While I understand what they are saying, but I disagree – it kind of is a study bible. You are getting fantastic commentary on individual verses on almost every page of the bible. Now, this is not a true study bible in the sense of the Ignatius New Testament – but your knowledge of scripture will be enhanced from this bible. And it definitely is a devotional bible. I’ve used the bible everyday during the past two weeks for my quiet/reflection time. It’s the best bible I’ve ever used for Lectio Divina. The bible brings your attention to scripture and the artwork makes it come alive.
Christians from all walks of life will love this bible. Catholics will take pride in calling it our own, but I really believe there will be a strong attraction to the bible from Protestant and Orthodox Christians.
VIA PULCHRITUDINIS – The Way of Beauty
One of the things I love about the older bibles is the artwork. I have two old Douay–Rheims bibles and the artwork there is amazing. When I was young, the pictures are what I was drawn too. I remember flipping through my grandma’s big family bible and all of the colorful artwork. It’s something lacking in many modern bibles.
And this is what makes the Word on Fire Bible stand out as a Cathedral in Print. Yes, that’s the catchphrase they use in every commercial and advertisement, but man is it accurate.
Almost every few pages features amazing artwork from people like:
Claude Monet
Hans Memling
Leonardo da Vinci
Martin Schongauer
Michelangelo
Raphael
Rembrandt
Vincent van Gogh
The Word on Fire Bible says, “…this Bible features many striking works of art as well as literary explanations of those pieces—all designed to introduce the seeker to Christ through the aesthetic splendor that he has inspired.” Not only does the bible just have copies of the artwork, but it includes essays from Michael Stevens that connects the art to scripture.
THE DETAILS
- Translation: New Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition
- Pages: 591
- Church Father Commentaries
- Recent Scholars
- Bishop Barron Commentaries
- Single Column Scripture
- Greek Word Studies
- Via Pulchritudinis Art and Commentary
- Book introductions
- Superior quality Artic Paper with a matte-coated finish
- Smyth-Sewn Binding
- Angelico 9pt Font, (a custom font drawn especially for this Bible). The font is named after Blessed Fra Angelico, a Dominican friar, and Early Renaissance fresco painter.
BIBLE COVER TYPES:
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Leather – $59.95 – Top grain leather produced in Eppertshausen, Germany, along with the gold foil debossed design. The edges of the book block are finished with brilliant gold foil.
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Hardcover – $39.95 – Covered in a rich black cloth manufactured by Italian-based Manifattura Del Seveso. It is naturally textured, ruggedly durable, and will resist fading over time. The artwork on the cover and spine is debossed in gold foil.
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Paperback – $29.95 – The paperback edition features a scuff-free matte lamination for longevity and the same gold foil-stamped design. This finish will resist fingerprinting and will increase durability.
Order them online now!
CHURCH FATHERS AND MODERN SCHOLARS:
St. Augustine
St. John Chrysostom
St. Cyril of Alexandria
St. Irenaeus
St. Gregory the Great
St. Hilary of Poitiers
St. Clement of Alexandria
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
St. Gregory of Nazianzus
St. Gregory of Nyssa
St. Ignatius of Antioch
St. Jerome
St. Justin Martyr
St. Theophylact
Fulton Sheen
G.K. Chesterton
St. Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Merton
St. John Henry Newman
St. Francis de Sales
Hans Urs von Balthasar
René Girard
Flannery O’Connor
Pope St. John Paul II
Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)
Pope Francis
FINAL VERDICT:
This Bible is an astonishing achievement in the world of Catholic Bibles. You will grow in your faith because of it. I was apprehensive when I first heard about the concept. And I wasn’t alone. The phrase “It sounds like a coffee table bible” parroted time and again. And I thought do I really want a multi-volume bible? Before holding the bible in my hand I thought no, now that I’ve had for a week and a half I scream YES! I do want to disclose that Word on Fire Ministries did send me a copy to review, but was only asked to give an honest review. If the Bible was as disappointing as I thought it would be I would have told you. But I have nothing but glowing praise for the Word on Fire Bible. Great work to the folks at Word on Fire Ministry, Bishop Robert Barron, and Brandon Vogt!
I love this bible. This is the New Testament and Psalms from Ignatius Press. It comes in dark blue bonded leather, however, the bible looks black to me. The cover has the now-familiar golden four evangelists artwork by Christopher Pelicano which is also on the Ignatius New Testament Study Bible. Some reviewers are calling this a “pocket New Testament,” but I’d have to imagine they have big pockets!
Measuring seven inches, it’s more of a medium bible. Similar to the size of Oxford’s Compact RSV:CE. Regardless of the size, it is a delight to hold in your hand. When you open the bible you see high-quality cream paper with a really nice typeset. I would guess the lettering at 10 points, which makes it extremely readable. The New Testament is laid out in two columns, with a few footnotes at the bottom. While the Psalms are laid out beautifully in a single-column format. The bible comes with an appendix with 16 pages of explanatory notes.
Trent reveals study notes in the New American Bible that is problematic at best and quasi-heretical at worst!
