Book Review: The C.S. Lewis Bible

Book Review: The C.S. Lewis Bible March 27, 2014

C. S. Lewis Bible: New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) (Bible Nrsv)C. S. Lewis Bible: New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve never understood the enthusiasm for study Bibles on a single theme or with a single person’s commentary. Obviously, they are popular because you can see them everywhere. When this Bible came to my attention, I blanched.

However, it seems as if 2014 is fast becoming my “year of C.S. Lewis” as I work my way through his books in audio format. So I took a closer look on Amazon where I found Brandon Vogt’s review, which I encourage you to read. I trust Brandon’s judgment a lot from having read his blog. His thoughtful comments also showed that he, too, was leery of this sort of study bible. He pointed out that, with care, one can view such a work as having midrash available on scripture and that opened up another way to consider it.

I’m not crazy about the NRSV translation but that is a matter of personal taste admittedly. Catholics will note that this is a Protestant Bible and so has fewer books than a Catholic Bible would. The committee who put this together has done an impressive job of carefully matching Lewis’s comments to the appropriate spot without overdoing it. It is definitely a Bible first and foremost, with occasional C.S. Lewis comments from a wide variety of sources. It has quickly become a favorite morning read.

I do want to mention that except for the cover, this book is a work of beauty. The typesetting, format, and overall look are gorgeous. The cover … well, you can see that for yourself. Nothing can make it anything except ugly. But once the cover is opened, the interior is beautiful. This is the book that proves the old adage. Don’t judge this book by its cover.


Browse Our Archives