NKJV Bible Journals

Bible ReviewNKJVThomas NelsonBible Journal

Jan 4

Thomas Nelson’s take on the increasingly popular Bible journal is simple yet impressive.

“This is a great idea.”

That’s what I said in early 2018 when I saw Crossway’s announcement about the release of the ESV Scripture Journals. Sure enough, I started to see those things everywhere. It was only a matter of time before the other publishers got in the game, and these days you can find a set of Bible journals for almost every major translation of the Bible.

When the folks at Thomas Nelson reached out to me about reviewing the NKJV Bible Journals, I did a quick Google search and was immediately impressed by the look of them. I’m a fan of gray, and the complete set’s use of multiple shades of gray with gold and white accents was striking (almost like something Joanna Gaines would have come up with).

I’m happy to report that they look even better in person than they do online, and I love what’s on the inside even more than the outside.

NKJV Bible Journals – Overview

The NKJV Bible Journals from Thomas Nelson are available as individual volumes or in sets. There are three sets for the Old Testament (Law, Prophets, Writings) and two sets for the New Testament (Gospels & Acts, Epistles & Revelation). As I mentioned above, each of these five sets comes in a different shade of gray that moves from lighter to darker as you go from the beginning to the end of the Bible. It’s a sharp looking collection that will stand out on your bookshelf.

The concept is fairly simple. When open, you’ll find the text of scripture on the left page, while the right page contains light journaling lines for taking notes. Whether you’re studying on your own or in a small group, you’ve got ample space to jot down thoughts that occur as you engage with the text. All of this comes in a portable 5.75” x 8.25” that, in most cases, is less than half an inch thick.

FEATURES
• 12pt type size
• 5.75” x 8.25” trim size
• Flexible sewn binding
• Thick paper suited for journaling
• NKJV Comfort Print® typeface
• Brief book introductions
• Translator footnotes

A Lot to Like

I’ve already mentioned the lovely exterior aesthetic of the NKJV Bible Journals, but the inside is even more impressive.

First of all, the 12pt NKJV Comfort Print® typeface is huge. In my video review (keep scrolling) I do a side-by-side comparison with the 10.5pt type size of the NKJV Single Column Reference Bible, and it’s a significant difference. Not only is the font big, but it’s also spaced well and easy to read with bold section headings and verse numbers.

The second thing I love about this set is the paper. I could not find any info on Thomas Nelson’s website about it, but Randy at Bible Buying Guide says that it’s about 100 GSM (go check out Randy if you haven’t already!). That means that it’s extremely opaque and great for writing. Your notes will not interfere with your ability to read the text on the other side of the page.

These two features alone make the NKJV Bible Journals stand out, but I also love that they include introductions at the beginning of each Biblical book as well as translator footnotes at the bottom of the page. These are two study tools that will come in handy if you use this set regularly.

A Great Journaling Option

From start to finish, the NKJV Bible Journals are an impressive set. They look good on the outside, and they’re thoughtfully designed on the inside so that you actually use them as you study the Bible.

Bottom line:
Whether you’re studying on your own or in a group setting, the NKJV Bible Journals are a great set to add to your library.