Cambridge Bibles has released its 2025 product catalog, and it includes a list of new Diadem reference editions of the NRSVue with Apocrypha which are expected in late 2025. Timothy reviewed the Diadem edition of the ESV with Apocrypha here on the blog in 2022. The Diadem is a portable edition that is significantly less bulky than the full-size Schuyler Quentel and most Zondervan Premier bibles. The upcoming Diadem NRSVue with Apocrypha will be available in three bindings:
- Hardcover MSRP: $60
- Calf split leather (similar in feel to French Morocco leather) MSRP: $230
- Calfskin leather (both red and brown colors will be available) MSRP: $355
In my experience, Cambridge bibles usually can be purchased for less than MSRP after they are on the market, but still, I’m dismayed to see these prices so high. It would be hard for me to justify a price north of $230 for a calf split leather edition, let alone $355 for the calfskin.
Oof, you could custom rebind an NRSVue for that calfskin price.
That’s a lot, for sure. I assume it will be less expensive on evangelicalbible.com. But still…
8.1 point font size. The market for this looks to target young people with good eyes and generous disposable income. I don’t happen to qualify for any of those categories. Beautiful bibles !
It will be really good to see a quality NRSVue with apocrypha and cross-references… I think this one will be a first in that regard. However, I hope they’ll follow it up with a “comfort print” edition. I also hope that the references will refer readers to the apocrypha, not just from it.
Unlikely. The sole reason these “with Apocrypha” reference Bibles never cite TO the Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical section, but only FROM it, is so they don’t have to reformat the “without Apocrypha” Bibles. If they included the additional references, they would throw off the page numbers since biblical text would have to be pushed to different pages than in the “without Apocrypha” version due to new material on the page. By only citing FROM, they can use the same OT/NT layout for all editions of the Bible and just omit the sewn signatures containing the Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical section from the Protestant printings. After all, who cares if you shortchange the Catholics…
It seems pretty clear that Bibles labeled “With Apocrypha” are. not intended for Catholics
This is the same problem with Catholic editions of Protestant/Ecumenical Bible Translations such as the RSV-CE. Really wish there would be cross references for the deuterocanonicals in the rest of the Bible, but I guess that is what I have handwritten notes and an Ignatius Study Bible for. They still feel like a treasure left untapped for me.
To my knowledge, the Jerusalem Bible and New Jerusalem Bible remain undefeated in their cross-references for the whole Bible. To me, the Revised New Jerusalem Bible nerfing the cross-references was worse than nerfing the notes. But yes, the RSV-CE/2CE lacking a full set of Catholic cross-references has always been annoying.
I think the NAB does a decent job of cross-referencing the Deutrocanon, it was by looking at the NAB cross-references that I first noticed the similarity between the epistle to the Romans and Sirach, that the Sadducees who give Jesus the question about the resurrection involving the woman who marries 7 brothers was an apparent reference to the book of Tobit and that the epistle to the Hebrews makes an apparent reference to 2 Maccabees.
BC,
Yeah, I meant to include the NABRE as the possible exception to the JB and NJB’s cross-reference dominance, but I forgot. I think I learned those three connections from the Apocrypha Apocalypse guys, but you’re right that finding those sorts of connections is what makes a truly great set of references.
Thanks, James. A good point from a production point of view. However, it can be done – the NRSV Anglicized CR edition of 2003 (OUP, Ed. Martin Manser) has a full apparatus of references to and from the apocrypha. I saw a second-hand one of these on the internet the other day for $US1,200!
“It seems pretty clear that Bibles labeled “With Apocrypha” are. not intended for Catholics” (BC)
True, perhaps, but it isn’t just Catholics… Anglicans need good editions of the Scriptures for study and sermon preparation, too.