The ESV Legacy Bible

I just purchased the ESV Single-Column Legacy Bible, published by Crossway. This beautiful Bible is "a text-only edition with a fresh design. Based on the Renaissance ideal of a perfect page, it features a simple, clear layout that includes wide margins. With a concordance, full-color maps in the back, and the readable ESV text, this is a quality edition that can be read and enjoyed for a lifetime." (link) I chose the TruTone®, Brown/Saddle, Timeless Design.

The English Standard Version has been embraced by a wide variety of Evangelical believers, from Calvinists to Arminians, and Presbyterians to Anglicans and Baptists. What follows is a brief praise for the translation:

• Retaining the majesty of language with the clarity of thought, the English Standard Version is a grand accomplishment. -- Dr. Ravi Zacharias, Author and Speaker
• I have been using the ESV Bible for study and teaching since it came out. I think it's the best overall translation available. It is thoroughly readable, accurate, and trustworthy, with excellent cross references. -- The Rev. John Yates, II, Rector, The Falls Church, Falls Church, Virginia
• An excellent translation that can be trusted. -- Dr. John F. Walvoord, Chancellor, Dallas Theological Seminary
• I believe the ESV is the Bible of the future. It is readable, accurate, and reverent. -- Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner, Professor of New Testament, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
• I recommend the ESV as the best literal translation for Bible study in my hermeneutics class and in Bible study seminars. Congratulations on a job well done. -- Dr. Grant R. Osborne, Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, Illinois)
• Meticulous care and passionate research make the ESV a crisp, accurate, and valuable translation. -- Max Lucado, Minister, Oak Hills Church of Christ
• The ESV beautifully blends good, contemporary English with reverence and accuracy. -- Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, Senior Pastor, Moody Church, Chicago, Illinois

There are passages of Scripture in which the ESV is, in my opinion, unmatched. For example (I have italicized the significant portions of translation):

• Romans 3:25: "[Christ Jesus] ... whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins"; 
• Romans 9:5: "To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen"; 
• 2 Timothy 3:16: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness"; and 
• Hebrews 1:3a: "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." 

The translators, no doubt, recognized the parallels between Revelation 13:8 and Revelation 17:8, both accurately referring the phrase "before the foundation of the world" to the names written in the book of life, and not to any notion that Christ was slain before the foundation of the world. 

I wish the Bible had included cross references. But the project's goal was to construct a Bible that contained as little distraction on the page itself. When I remember that the early manuscripts had neither cross references nor any other helps, I become less critical. I bought my ESV Legacy Bible from CBD, Christian Book Distributors, for $31.49. I cannot give any higher praise for its beauty, quality, and affordability.