2020 update: Click here to read my review of the R.L. Allan 43 KJV.

This is a review of a really cool (and modern) copy of the KJV Bible, The TBS Westminster Reference Bible.  I know, some of you are thinking “the KJV is lame” or “the language is out of date and hard to understand” but trust me people, it is worth your time to read!  The beautiful and inspirational language used within the poetic literature alone is worth it.  Reading the KJV will expand your vocabulary, and with any amount of imagination you will also be able to better relate with the English speaking Christian writers of the previous 4 centuries!

I give you: The TBS Westminster Reference Bible in all its glory. (I will call it Westminster hereon out.)

The Westminster has a smooth (but noticeable) grain to the calfskin.

The cover is black without any traditional “Holy Bible” stamping. The spine is simple, with the usual markings.  Publishers of the KJV usually don’t feel the need to print “KJV” all over the spine like the folks over at Crossway do with the ESV.  Crossway: We don’t need 4 ESV’s on the spine.  We know it is the ESV! (end of rant)

As you can see, the gold gilt edges on the Westminster are really nice and shiny.

The Westminster comes with 4 –  1/4″ ribbons.  Two red ribbons in the OT and 2 black ribbons in the NT.  Reviewers of this Bible have suggested that the red ribbons would be better placed in the NT section (resembling the blood shed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.)  I don’t find the need to over spiritualize the Westminster and am very thankful TBS didn’t cheap out and slap some cheesy ribbons in it and call it a day.  4 has always been my preferred ribbon count in a Bible.

There is a fairly thick piece of cardboard underneath the calfskin in the Westminster.  I rolled the back cover up like a newspaper and as you can see it maintained some of the curl (until I manually forced it back in place.)

The text block itself is where the Westminster really shines.  Personally I am not really familiar with any of TBS’s other Bibles on the market, so I can’t say there aren’t other models that have similar layouts.  However, I have never come across anything quite like the Westminster and I have seen many KJV Bibles.

The Westminster is stitched and lays flat in Genesis and Revelation.  This is a big plus in my book.  (Do you see a small scuff on the gilt at the bottom?  That’s where the ribbon was tucked in when I took it out of its box.  TBS can fix that issue by either allowing the ribbon to pop out fully, or tuck it in with more leeway for movement.)  Also, notice how the paper has a yellow tint to it? No, that is not a lighting issue on my end.  This paper is printed in Netherlands by Jongbloed and has a slight cream tint to it.

Checkout the page layout of the Westminster Bible below.  Note the text on the top right of the picture, the text right before Chapter 2 starts, and the references on both the outside and the inside of the page.  Also note the modern typeset used in the Westminster. The font looks right around 9.5.  This is a double column verse by verse book (a favorite layout of Bible preachers and teachers everywhere).  You can also see where new paragraphs would have started if this were a paragraph format instead of a verse by verse format by the small paragraph marks before the verses. The Westminster has line matching as well, which makes the bleed through minimal.

To demonstrate how good the paper is, I underlined this verse.

This is the opposite side of the same sheet.  Notice how the under lining from the previous side of the page does not bleed through? The paper in Westminster is really good!

Tucked in the back of the Westminster is a 100+ page concordance. This concordance is fairly beefy and most helpful (not everyone carries their smartphone everywhere and it’s nice to have a Bible with these features included.)

It wouldn’t be a review unless there is some sort of a comparison   For this comparison I selected the RL Allan Longprimer (I will call it Longprimer hereon out.)  I was surprised to discover that the Westminster and Longprimer text blocks were really not that much different dimensional wise.  The Longprimer looks bigger because it has 1/2″ of leather popping out from the text block while the Westminster does not.

Longprimer on the left, Westminster on the right.  Both are KJV, both are double column, both are verse by verse, both have references (in different places) and both are outstanding copies of God’s Word.

The Westminster (top) is actually a thicker Bible than the Longprimer (bottom.)

Here is Psalm 63 in the Westminster:

And Psalm 63 in the Longprimer:

There are 16 sheets of blank paper in the back of the Westminster.

The Longprimer has a similar amount of lined paper in the back.

This is a sample of the maps included in the back of the Westminster:

And here is an example of the maps in the back of the Longprimer:

The Westminster uses a cheap, synthetic liner:

The Longprimer is leather lined:

Finally, the Longprimer (top) has 3/8″ ribbons opposed to the 1/4″ thick ribbons used on the Westminster.  Personally, I prefer the bigger ribbons, and the ones used in the Longprimer feel much higher quality as well!

In summary,the TBS Westminster, and the Allan Longprimer are outstanding Bible’s.  While the Longprimer has nicer ribbons, leather lining, and a nicer calfskin, the TBS has the superior text block, a more modern (and enjoyable typeset) and cost 1/3 the price!  Yes you read that right.

God Bless!