Annabel's Baptismal Cambridge ESV...
To most readers and friends, my view on Bible translations are will known. I'm terribly thankful for the multitude of good English translations, and have been particularly enjoying the 2011 revision of the New International Version. But for a person of reasonable intelligence, proficient in English, it still seems to me that the English Standard Version is the best option. John Piper, in a very dark room, feels the same way.
The ESV was first published by Crossway, and since then, by numerous other Christian and non-Christian publishers. One of the non-Christian publishers is Cambridge University Press which is, for my money, the best Bible publisher around. Having owned a number of Crossway ESVs, it strikes me that they have still not mastered the unique art of Bible publishing. They shouldn't feel bad; I haven't either.
Cambridge, on the other hand, are the world's oldest publisher and printer, and have been working on the aforementioned art since 1591. If you want a Bible that will last, you want a Cambridge. My preference is for their goat- or calf-skin editions, and Elise and I (and Iggy) are thrilled with the black Pitt-Minion that arrived recently and that we have inscribed in celebration of Annabel's Baptism.
Even though you can't smell the beautiful Cambridge leather, I hope you enjoy these photos:
(Bible from Better World Books, Calligraphy by Will's Quills)
