New Journaling Bibles

Journaling Bibles have become the breakthrough hit of the Bible publishing world. For a while, wide-margin Bibles were seen as a nice-to-have feature. They offer more space for notes - a sheer delight for anyone whose tattered Bible had notes crammed into every gap and corner of the page. But when Adult Colouring Books rocketed up the charts, an idea was hit upon: what if there was a Bible that could be used for the same kind of creative colouring and expression as an adult colouring book?

Since then, Journaling Bibles have exploded across the scene. Almost every version of the Bible has a journaling edition and the different features available keeps on growing and expanding.

Here to help you find the best new Journaling Bibles for 2021, here are a few of our favourite picks. 

ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, Artist Series 

I love the design work of Crossway's Bibles. They are always presented so sleekly, but never in a way that detracts from the text itself. Every Bible published by Crossway is carefully crafted to bring about the best possible reading experience no matter what it is you look for in a Bible. With this new range of ESV Journaling Bibles, Crossway really steps up their game. 

"Introducing the Artist Series"

The artist series is a celebration of the Bible through the artistic talents of some the leading Christian artists working today. They feature specially commissioned cover art by Peter Voth, Ruth Chou Simons, Joshua Noom and more. Their designs focus on a particular passage from the Bible in a visual and reflective way. They display what happens when creativity is guided bu God's word.

But it's not just the cover that makes these Bibles special. As Crossway themselves describe the series:

"Each of these decorative hardcover Bibles retains the features of the original ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, such as cream-colored paper, a single-column page layout, and lines in the margin for note taking. These features coupled with captivating cover artwork make each Bible conducive to creative engagement with God’s Word."

I for one am very excited to be seeing one of these resplendent Bible sitting on my shelf soon, but as they aren't published until March, I'm just going to have to be patient.

Click on the links to see the different editions of the ESV Artists Series:

• Ruth Chou Simons
• Joshua Noom
• Lulie Wallace
• Peter Voth
• Jess Phoenix
• Jake Weidmann

ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal: Gospels Set

It's not just the Artists Series that Crossway is releasing this year. Continuing the range from last year, you can soon buy a Gospels edition of the Scripture Journals series.

For anyone new to it, the Illuminated Scripture Journal series is a more focused and elegant way of Bible journaling. Where most other editions feature a whole Bible with wider margins for notes, the Illuminated Scripture Journal series binds each book of the Bible separately into its own notebook. Without the pressure to fit a whole Bible and note space into a single binding, the Scripture Journal series gives you whole pages to make notes and reflect. This makes it perfect for long-form notes and writing. 

As I said before, Crossway create beautifully designed Bibles. The ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal is no exception. Every single book of the Bible gets its own gold-foil design cover. Each one is intricate and draws on the symbols and images of the book inside. By way of example, the Acts edition features an elegant dove rising out of flumes of flame. A visual expression of that first meeting of the early Church where tongues of fire fell upon their heads.

The new Gospels set if the perfect entry point into the series. If you want to deepen your reading of the life of Jesus, these Illuminated Scripture Journals offer you that space in a supremely designed way.

The ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal: Gospels Set is due for release in April 2021. Click here to find out more.

New Inspire Bibles for 2021

The INSPIRE Bibles are the big hits of the Journaling Bible world. 

Being one of the first Journaling Bibles on offer, the INSPIRE Bible featured a range of beautiful, Bible-inspired line drawings to colour in and decorate. The INSPIRE range helps Christians find new creative outlets. And now we are on to the third editions of the INSPIRE Bibles:

"The Inspire PRAYER Bible has wider margins with even more space to Bible journal or create; 400 beautiful full- and partial-page Scripture line-art illustrations to color; 32 colorful and gorgeously designed see-through vellum pages featuring prayers; and 142 Inspired Prayer journaling prompts to inspire personalized prayer. All features in this special edition of Inspire are aimed at helping the reader focus their heart on prayer and enhancing their coloring and creative-journaling journey through the Bible."

The new designs for 2021 include a modern Pink softcover edition and a colourful star edition with all new line art. 

 

Click here to discover even more new Journaling Bibles for 2021.