Crossway has released a new ESV Bible that lists each verse on its own line (it looks like they had a version published in 2012, but now they have a new format). I’m not one for this type of Bible, but I know many are, especially since it can facilitate Scripture memory by allowing you to single out and focus on one verse at a time. The major downside of a Bible like this is the inability to see the organization of thought via paragraphs, but sometimes paragraphs can lead you astray as well! I thought I might allow Crossway to try to convince you of the benefits:
Why might you like a verse-by-verse Bible? @crossway Click To Tweet
There is a historical tradition of the Bible text being laid out in a versified format, but in recent years the introduction of the paragraph format (in both double-column and single-column layouts) has resulted in the traditional verse-by-verse format declining in popularity. In other words, you really have to go searching for a verse-by-verse Bible.
Proponents of a versified Bible text appreciate how easy it is to quickly find a specific verse, especially when scanning the biblical text while preaching or teaching. In fact, one of the primary reasons that Crossway offers a verse-by-verse edition is to serve anyone who ministers through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. The importance of being able to quickly find your place in the text cannot be minimized.
Another benefit of a verse-by-verse edition is that it forces the reader to slow down when reading the biblical text. If someone wants to spend an extended amount of time reading through a lengthy passage of Scripture, a verse-by-verse layout may not be the best option. However, when studying the Bible in a systematic and in-depth way, a verse-by-verse edition may be helpful, especially when using supplemental tools like commentaries and interlinears.
Crossway’s ESV Verse-by-Verse Reference Bible will not be the ideal Bible edition for everyone, but it will serve many who choose to use it in a specific context. Think of a verse-by-verse layout as just one tool out of many designed to help you dig into God’s Word. There are times when it’s extremely helpful, but there are also times when a paragraph format is even better. Used in the correct context, a versified Bible can greatly benefit our understanding and interaction with the Bible.
So there you have it! I won’t be using one anytime soon – my main English Bible is now the wide-margin Heirloom Single-Column Legacy ESV from Crossway (it was kindly gifted to me). But if you’re interested in the verse-by-verse format, check it out here on Amazon or on Crossway’s website for more details.
