Q & A: Cambridge vs. R. L. Allan
Q. I am very fond of the NRSV and I see that you have reviewed both Allan's and the Cambridge NRSV. What is the difference with the leathers and which one would you prefer over the other? Q. I'm looking to get an ESV bible and didn't know which to get. What is the main differences, if any, between R.L. Allan and Cambridge?
A. I'm grouping these two questions together, because they're representative of a common inquiry I receive ... the age-old Cambridge vs. R. L. Allan debate. First things first: when it comes to editions I've reviewed, I'm often tempted to quote a not-so-enviable source and say, "What I have written, I have written." As a rule, what I have to say about an edition is contained in the review, and if there's anything worth adding I'll append a comment. So if you send me an e-mail saying something like "I read your review of Bible X and was wondering what you think about it?" don't expect a quick reply. What I think about it is what I wrote.
But these questions don't fall into that category. As far as the NRSV is concerned, if you read my review of the Cambridge and compare it to my review of the R. L. Allan's, you'll see that I much preferred the latter. The goatskin cover isn't as flexible as the natural highland skins used in the R. L. Allan ESV1, but it is far nicer than the stiff French Morocco. Cambridge, however, offers other editions of the NRSV that might be worth checking out. I haven't received copies (yet), but when I do, I'll write about them, knowing that the hunt for a quality NRSV is getting to be difficult these days.
On the larger Cambridge vs. Allan question, here's what you need to know. I prefer the R. L. Allan bindings, both in terms of style and quality, but Cambridge is still competitive -- especially when it comes to paper quality. Since R. L. Allan is rebinding text blocks sourced from publishers, paper varies. While I'm sure there are folks who would argue with me, I find Cambridge paper consistently good. (I'm not saying "the best its ever been," but quite good in comparison with what's out there.)
The deciding factor is actually format. For portability, the Pitt Minion is excellent, and if you're looking for a wide margin, then Cambridge has you covered. The best all-around ESV reference Bible right now is the R. L. Allan ESV1, and the upcoming Allan's edition of the ESV Personal Size Reference will give the Pitt Minion a run for its money. But both publishers offer high quality editions, and you're not going wrong with either. Choose the format that best suits your needs.
J. Mark Bertrand is a novelist and pastor whose writing on Bible design has helped spark a publishing revolution. Mark is the author of Rethinking Worldview: Learning to Think, Live, and Speak in This World (Crossway, 2007), as well as the novels Back on Murder, Pattern of Wounds, and Nothing to Hide—described as a “series worth getting attached to” (Christianity Today) by “a major crime fiction talent” (Weekly Standard) in the vein of Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin, and Henning Mankell.
Mark has a BA in English Literature from Union University, an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston, and an M.Div. from Heidelberg Theological Seminary. Through his influential Bible Design Blog, Mark has championed a new generation of readable Bibles. He is a founding member of the steering committee of the Society of Bible Craftsmanship, and chairs the Society’s Award Committee. His work was featured in the November 2021 issue of FaithLife’s Bible Study Magazine.
Mark also serves on the board of Worldview Academy, where he has been a member of the faculty of theology since 2003. Since 2017, he has been an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. He and his wife Laurie life in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.