Thompson Chain Reference Bible-NIV

I am a Pastor and I use several study bibles. All of them have a lot to offer in their own right, but the Thompson Chain Bible became my jewel of them all. It is very unique. There are no notes but just references that lead you in a thourough research of a topic. You come to your own conclusions. I was greatly helped when my wife gave me the Large Print KJV version. I had a NKJV version already that I loved. The KJV has better instructions on how to use the Thompson Chain Ref. Bible. I began to notice the different types of Chains, Topical, Historical, Biographical, Present Day Facts, and Ancient findings. (THBPA Chains in short!) I found out that a lot of the information in the annotated bibles could also be found in the helps in the back of the Thompson Chain Bible if I wanted to look them up. Also beside the verses are pilot numbers that may refer you to Topics or Analytical information in the Helps that give a lot of facts. The archeological section is keyed to certain text in the scriptures also. You can find a lot of data by knowing what chain numbers cover what information in the back. By following the chains that refer to the trees of the life of Jesus, Moses, and Paul, you can trace the gradual progression of their lives. The Charts in the Helps section are better that the snap-shot maps in the newer study bibles because they cover the entire life of a persons journeys and travels in sequential order. This bible if understood and used fully can be an effective stand alone bible. The Atlas and Maps are the best layout I have ever seen. The KJV Concordance is great because it also links words to the Index numbers. (I did not see this integration in the NKJV TCRB, to my dismay.) The book outlines are great, espcially in the NKJV. The format is more detailed and precise. There are many more references in the NKJV format also. No incomplete chains! The NKJV also has better print of Old Testament Passages quoted in the New Testament. The NKJV list every verse and where it is found in the Old Testament. I put together my own Theological Chain Section in the back of my NKJV TCRB. All of the Chains about God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Inspiration of the Bible, Salvation,.....I put in my own Theological Index Page. What a study! I will email it to those who email me for it. In Summary, A Great Bible! 5 Stars [email protected]

I purchased my first Thompson Chain Reference Bible as a new believer back in the 70's. It was and continues to be the best study Bible for those who desire to search out the Word for themselves and compare scripture with scripture. And, the extensive Bible study helps in the back of the Bible do add a rich dimension in addition to the topical chain references.I was a little concerned about the "new" TCR's as several reviewers mentioned degradations in quality and I certainly didn't like the thin glossy paper I saw in the hardbacks in the bookstore. I was delighted today when I received my large print deluxe leather edition Bible.The Bible I received has excellent flat, opaque Bible paper perfect for note-taking. And, the binding appears to have stitching in addition to the glue, so I'd say the quality of the binding is fine and should serve one well for years.One caveat in regard to the large print edition--It is LARGE! Not the print (it's 9 point instead of the regular 8), but the Bible itself. It's not so unwieldy that I would think twice about using it, but if size is an issue for you, check the dimensions and choose accordingly.I can't say enough good things about this Bible. It has my highest recommendation; you won't be sorry in choosing this Bible.

I have owned one version or another of the Chain Reference Bible since I was a teenager in the seventies. My 'standard' Bible has been the large print KJV for many, many years and it remains the first Bible I pick up. I purchased the NIV Chain Reference, but just didn't like the translation, it just didn't 'read' right for me. I've enjoyed the NAS translation, but it is awfully dry reading when the heart desires poetry. So, I ended up purchasing the NKJV. It has been a real pleasure to read, combining the elegance of the KJV with a modern and accurate adaptation. As for the chain reference system used by Thompson, it's such a part of my Bible reading and study that I'd have a really hard time switching to another system. Some of the illustrations and charts have been revised from my older KJV, but not to an extreme. The Thompson system remains, for me, the quickest and easiest way to study a topic through the Bible, or just through either the New or Old Testament. The Bible also includes an excellent concordance; for someone new to chain reference study they can start with the traditional concordance and work their way into the Thompson system. Also included are excellent maps, revised from the earlier versions, and a historical dictionary with photos of significant Biblical locations, with explanations. I agree with another reviewer that Nelson Bibles are, in general, not made for people with serious intentions on daily Bible use. They are constructed down to a price, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as these can provide a very inexpensive introduction to the Bible. However, when one is ready to use a Bible in a serious, daily way, a better Bible will easily pay for its higher price. Though this Bible is well-made, it is NOT as well made as my older, large print KJV. My older Bible has whipstitching clearly seen in front and back, with pages secured as well today as when I bought it. This newer Bible appears to have pages that are glued in like cheaper ones. Additionally, the paper is comletely different than my older edition, and thinner. The older paper had almost an eggshell texture, whereas the newer paper is much slicker and thinner. In first use it's really quite difficult to get the pages apart. However, it's still a very well-made Bible, just not up to the standard of the older ones. That should in no way deter someone from buying it, though. As a one-volume Biblical library, I haven't seen anything to beat the Thompson's. As another reviewer noted, it's also refreshingly free of editorial bias, which certainly can't be said of all its competitors. Most of all, each of us needs to find a Bible they can live with daily, and any Bible available is better than none at all! Thompson Bibles aren't inexpensive but they will last twice as long as cheaper Bibles, particularly if kept in a cover. Also, the supplemental atlases and historical additions might well save purchase of other books to accompany Biblical study

This Bible makes it easy to follow topics throughout the Bible to see what the Bible has to say about all of the issues that we deal with daily. It makes it easy to find what you need in the Bible. My wife and I have had this Bible for years and it has been a powerful blessing daily. I teach Bible Study and find the chain reference system to be a great tool for quickly finding facts in the Bible on any given topic. This Bible is also a powerful tool for preparing sermons or any Christian talk that you may need to give. This Bible is available in several translations.

For many years, I searched for the "ultimate" Bible. Being an avid New King James Version reader, we don't always have as many resources available as the King James or NIV people. My most useful Bible study tool is many, many cross-references, which I always looked for in NKJV Bibles that had the most. The Thompson Chain has much more than the standard cross-references. The chain references are just that: you go to the alphabetical index to find your subject, (which there are listed around 4,400 different topics) and you go to the first reference, and simply chain through the scripture references. In other words, they are cross-referenced in sequence order! The topics are as detailed as "blue" and as extensive as "God"; these more extensive subjects are then broken down into various sub- topics. Also, in the back of the Bible, the subjects are listed by title, then all the references are given, and the more main ones are chained throughout the scriptures, and some topics' scriptures are written out in the back also! There are also absolutely no commentaries, nor any conclusions drawn in this Bible! I would 100% recommend this Bible (in any version you use) for those of us who love many, many cross references, and believe first and foremost to compare scripture with scripture (1Cor. 2:13) in Bible studies. For those who like this, this Bible has everything!