Book Reviews and More: ESV-CE Catholic Bible English Standard Version in Navy Blue Flexiback Binding Pocket Sized

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

ESV-CE Catholic Bible English Standard Version in Navy Blue Flexiback Binding Pocket Sized - SPCK Publishing

ESV-CE Catholic Bible

Anglicized English Standard Version Catholic Edition

Teal Soft-tone Flexiback Binding

SPCK Publishing

ISBN 9780281090730

In the summer of 2024 I found out that the church in England, Scotland, and Wales was getting a new lectionary. One based on the English Standard Version Catholic Edition. I started looking for an Anglicised edition, one that used British or in my case Canadian Spelling rather than the American. I could not find one available in Canada so I picked up the Holy Bible - English Standard Version Catholic Edition from the Augustine Institute. I did enjoy that translation but greatly prefer the Anglicized editions. Once this edition was available I picked it up for my son as well as two variations for my youngest daughter and myself.

The three editions of this bible I picked up from SPCK are:

ESV-CE Catholic Bible, Anglicized Standard Hardback

ESV-CE Catholic Bible, Anglicized English Standard Version Catholic Edition in Soft-tone Flexiback Binding Teal

ESV-CE Catholic Bible. English Standard Version in Navy Blue Flexiback Binding Pocket Sized

The description of this edition of the bible states:

“The Official Catholic Liturgical Bible for England, Wales and Scotland from Advent 24

Beloved by millions around the world, the English Standard Version is ideal for anyone looking for a contemporary and readable Bible that is also accurate and consistent in its rendering of key words and phrases.

Created by a team of over 100 leading scholars, this Catholic edition of the ESV is fully Anglicized and features the deuterocanonical books in the Catholic Bible, such as a Tobit, Judith and the Wisdom of Solomon.

Presented in a double-column format, with explanatory footnotes providing alternative renderings of particular words and phrases, the ESV-CE Bible offers a clear, easy-to-read text that is perfect for everyday use.

An excellent version for detailed Bible study, the ESV-CE Bible also possesses a beauty, clarity and dignity of style that makes it superbly suitable for private devotion or for reading aloud during public worship.

This handy pocket edition has a strong flexiback binding and is available in navy blue.”

It highlights the following features:

6.1-point font size

British text

An award-winning typeface

Inline chapter headings

Inline chapter numbers

12 pages of maps

White paper from sustainable sources

Trim page size: 150 x 100 mm

Yellow endpapers featuring 'This book belongs to:'

Lovely navy blue soft-tone cover material with silver foiled design

Yellow ribbon marker

Yellow head and tail bands

Removable white bellyband

We are informed that the ESV-Catholic Edition emphasizes “word-for-word” accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning.

I picked up this edition for my son as a gift at the beginning of Lent. My son loved this bible. It is the one he carries for youth group now and uses as his reading edition. He loved the look and feel of the leather, and the navy colour, he also licked the smaller size compared to mine or my daughters editions. My youngest two children loved this translation.

I enjoyed reading through this translation this second time through an ESV-CE version. It is not my favourite reading edition, which would be The Jerusalem Bible or the New Jerusalem, or Revised New Jerusalem. But this one is very close. It is also a great edition for personal study. When I was in university doing my religious studies degree with a focus on Roman Catholic Thought, I often compared numerous translations and editions, when working on essays and other papers. This would have been a great edition for that detailed work.

I was hesitant but also excited to give the first version of this new translation a try. My second time through with the Anglicized edition I enjoyed it even more. The ESV-CE has been available since about 2017. And the SPCK Publishing has had editions since 2021. But with the change in the lectionary to this edition it has been hard to get a copy, especially across the pond. I believe late in 2025 the Catholic Truth Society will have a UK edition available, which I will pick up as well. Reading Hearing Christ’s Voice A New Lectionary for the Church by Bishop Hugh Gilbert, OSB on why a new Lectionary and why this translation for that new lectionary helped me to eagerly approach this translation. I am thankful I gave it a read. I am thankful I was able to pick this edition up and give it a read. As mentioned I believe this is a good edition for just reading and for study, as such I can recommend it. SPCK Publishing has several editions and styles available. I like edition with minimal footnotes to use as a reading bible. I just really wish there was a Kindle edition available already, I have a dual form of dyslexia and with eBooks I can change the font, and the colour of the page and font to make reading easier. I have found several different eBooks of the ESV translation but none of the ESV-CE. A great reading copy of the bible, if you have not read the ESV version this would be a great place to start! My kids and I love this translation and edition.