The Gospels Set from Alabaster
A beautiful set that pairs the Gospels with artistic imagery.
I have no formal training in art, design, or architecture, but they’ve always been fascinating to me. My wife, on the other hand, is a highly trained artist and graphic designer… so I often live vicariously through the creative projects she is working on. I’m not sure why I have such an interest in design, but I think part of the reason is that we live in a day and age where good design is more important than ever. We are a visual society, and as my friend Whit says, “Good design is effective contextualization for millennials.”
I’m pretty sure that the first time I came across Alabaster Co was on Instagram (naturally). Their great photos drew me in, and I loved the unique way in which they were combining the text of the Bible with visual imagery. When I decided to spend this entire year studying the four Gospels, I ordered this set from Alabaster to see how they might work into my process, and I am very impressed with the overall quality of these editions.
Alabaster Gospels Set – Overview
From the outside, the Alabaster Gospels are unlike any Bible I’ve ever seen. They are clean and modern, with a shape that reminds me of a magazine. The thickness changes depending on the length of the book (Matthew and Luke are 120 pages, Mark and John are 90 pages), but each one has a 7.5'“ x 9.5” trim size. They are comfortable to hold, but perhaps best suited for reading at a table or desk. Each one is perfect bound (the cover and pages are glued together and then trimmed), which gives them their lovely straight edges. To my eye, the shape and exterior design is very appealing.
FEATURES
• Softcover
• Perfect Bound
• Full Color
• 80# uncoated paper
• Printed in Canada by called Hemlock
• 120 pages (Matthew & Luke)
• 96 pages (Mark & John)
• NLT Translation
• 7.5” x 9.5” trim size
• Less than 0.5” thick
A Visual Bible
Inside, the text of each Gospel is joined by dozens of full-color images. It’s obvious why some of the images were chosen – water appears when we read about Jesus walking on water – but in other places the choice of imagery is much more subtle and abstract. “We're interested in how imagery changes the way you experience the text,” says Alabaster. “Art allows us to ask questions and reflect in ways we wouldn't on our own.”
When I worked in youth ministry, I read a lot of research about how to engage visual learners when teaching or preaching. The reality is that some people soak in way more when watching videos or looking at images than they do when they are just listening to someone speak (sorry, pastors!). I notice when I use the Alabaster Gospels that they seem to help me tap into a different part of my brain than when I’m reading from a traditional Bible or a commentary that only have text.
It’s also worth noting that the modern, thought-for-thought language of the New Living Translation (NLT) works really well in this format. Some of these images might seem laughable with a more formal translation, but with the NLT it makes sense.
The Bible Beautiful
I’ve loved using the Alabaster Gospels as part of my Bible study. They’re not my main text, but they are a great supplement to the other resources that I am using to study the Gospels. They are beautiful, well designed, and a joy to read.
And they look fantastic on my coffee table!
BUYING THIS BIBLE*
• The Alabaster Gospels Set is available directly from Alabaster for $100.00 by visiting www.alabasterco.com.
• You can also order the Alabaster Gospels Set from Amazon.
*Pricing and Availability subject to change.
