Double Column vs Single Column -A Quick Look at Referencing Systems 

When I learned to speed read they taught me that double column is easier to speed read. I definitely found that to be true and personally I find DC easier to follow information.

Double column, center reference is my favorite! Or even outside reference is good! Love the NASB and I said that I’d never get a Bible without references… but, I recently got the NASB Preachers Bible that doesn’t have references… wow! Soo much space! A great Bible indeed

You're burning,Tim. Lots of great content!!!🌹⭐🌹

Single column when formatted correctly is ideal for long reading sessions. It has the benefit of making the poetic setting very distinct on the page. It immerses me as though I’m reading a novel. I have however seen some unreadable single column layouts when the line length has too many words or if the line spacing is too tight. The 10pt CSB single column layout in the saddle leather hit the nail on the head. I’m looking forward to receiving that layout in their Handcrafted collection in March.

I was a dual column VbV guy. Then I got my hands on an LSB handy size. Total game changer. Such a wonderful layout.

Thanks Tim, for this video. I actually love the single column, vbv w/ end of verse reference with the notes at the bottom, like the Thomas Nelson 2022 release, personal size large print.. The only change I would make on this option would be to put the end of verse ref. in a different color, so they are easily identifiable, when reading and can be ignored if one chooses to do so. Thomas Nelson did a fantastic job with this Bible. I have rhe red goat in this Bible and LOVE it.

Thanks for the detailed video Tim.. my favorite layout is double column verse by verse with footnotes and references separated..with red accents for verse numbers, headings etc..God bless you Tim..

My favourite Bible is the Crossway ESV Large Print Wide Margin Bible. Absolutely love that layout with the large font, full set of ESV translation notes, no cross references, all black letter text in double column (I wish Thomas Nelson would make an NKJV like this).

Thank you Pastor Tim. 😊 Great video. My favourites are 1. the single column reference (or side column reference) Bibles. For example, the recent offering from Lockman in the NASB 95 SCR is outstanding with references on the outside, and 2 the inside column reference. I’ve got this one from Allan Bibles and it is outstanding. 😊

I prefer the two column format. Fewer words in each column I find easier to read. I love my Cross references in the center column. I’ve been loving the Cambridge wide margin.

Excellent! Thank you, Tim. I think inside column reference wins it for me, because it pushes the biblical text (which is the most important text on the page) out onto the flat of the page and away from the gutter.

For pure reading I use single column (CSB Reader this year). For study, I prefer double column with cross references in the center and notes at the bottom.

I prefer a double column page layout. In my everyday reading, I prefer paragraph format, but I also enjoy the ease of finding a verse in a verse-by-verse. I like both. With that, I am not a fan of single column Bibles. Great Bible content. Keep it up! May our good Lord and God bless and keep you.

Double column vbv and that last one the single column vbv rebind was beautiful!

Yo Tim!!! Nice detailed comparison Brother. I tend to prefer a double column paragraph format with the refs in the inside or outside margin and the notes along the bottom. Since I have to read a giant print Bible, I went with the LSB Giant Print Reference. It’s got the refs along the bottom with the notes but I can live with that since it’s a 13 pt font in a large but manageable size block. Thanks Brother!!

It was Double Column Center Reference( I wouldn't even consider Single Column)..... then I got a Humble Lamb Shepherd. I absolutely love the layout. It is my "The One".

Thank you for this comparison video. My preference is for single column paragraph format. My current favorite is the Treveris. I don’t often use references much but occasionally the notes on the bottom of the page. For more information on what I’m reading I prefer a study bible.

Great review. 👏 I love the classic layout on Thomas Nelson Reference Bibles.

Thanks for your review of all those options. I prefer a center column reference Bible, verse by verse format, as my "general purpose" Bible for both public reading and study, due to the fact that I was raised as a child on verse-by-verse double-column KJV's. My absolute favorites are the NKJV Classic Verse-by-Verse Center-Column Reference Bible, and the KJV Sovereign edition. Believe it or not, my third most used Bible is a mammoth-sized black and white facsimile of the 1769 Blayney KJV, which I like for the chapter introductions and marginal notes. Thanks again for this channel!😊📖🙏

Double column, end of verse references, definitely my choice, easy to see rather than very small type all bunched up at the bottom and having to read them to find one.

I had never used anything but two column. It never entered my mind that single column bibles existed, until I began watching review channels. Then I recently bought the ESV Chronological Bible. When I opened it I realized it was single column. I LOVE IT! I didn't know I loved it because I'd never tried it before! It's also black letter. Same thing. Never had though about it one way or the other. Now that I've tried, I love it. It's actually (somehow) easier on my eyes. If I could find an ESV single column (but NOT verse by verse), black letter, 9 point (or over), with book introductions (doesn't anyone do that anymore?), that would be perfect.

Excellent video! I like hearing opinions like this. It is also good to see the responses. If I were to do casual reading I would like to use a cheap slimline single column large print bible with no study notes or commentary. Large print is a must nowadays.

I'm in the market for a new Bible and i may have to get a single and a double column, very helpful video showing not only the layout but some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

I like the Thompson Chain Reference double column Bible.

Personally speaking, maybe this is just me, but I prefer to distinguish between my reading Bibles and my studying Bibles. For reading, I like single column, and ideally without any cross references, not even footnotes, nor chapter and verse numbers. I want it to look as much like a novel or something similar so I can have an aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable reading experience. Just pure reading. A reader's Bible helps me see the forest rather than the trees. For studying, I like both single column and double column. It depends more on other factors like layout. I want as much as possible in a study Bible - cross references, footnotes, commentary, maps, photos, everything. The ESV Study Bible is an awesome example of what I would want, though there are many other great study Bibles available inany different translations. A study Bible helps me see the trees rather than the forest. Just my two cents' worth, which is probably all it's worth! Blessings to you and thanks for another great video. 😊

I prefer something like the Clarion: single-column with all notes and references in the outer margins. If I'm going to have notes at the bottom, I would prefer them to be full annotations. (Think of the Nestle-Aland layout.)

What made me a single column fan was the first edition Life application study NLT. There aren’t as many cross references as a reference Bible but there are ample cross references and they are on the inside margin. I use mostly the Single column delux reference NIV with Topical links. The cross references are in the outside margin but Zondervan has included a generous gutter so the text doesn’t get lost. The references are all in the upper part of the margin so on most pages there is lots of space, making it very close to a wide margin. The topical links are on the bottom and this is very close to a Thompson Chain. The text notes are on the outside lower corner of the text. This is available in a premium edition as well as a LeatherSoft.

Great video! I'm like you, I prefer a double column paragraph format. I hope that the LSB will make more of this format especially for an everyday carry Bible; the Giant Print Reference Bible is too big to haul around. I've been using the two column v-b-v for most of my reading and taking everywhere. I don't mind where the references go; however, the ESV has the worst placement of them; they're so small :(

Interesting video, thanks. I think I'd prefer a double column with references in the gutter and notes at the bottom. I've tried single column but have trouble keeping my place with long lines of text, which I think is due to dyslexia. But short lines of text are easier for me. My usual version is KJV, sometimes NKJV, ESV or MEV. I've tried most versions but keep going back to the KJV, likely because it's just familiar to me.

Double column, verse by verse, large print for this old lady!

I agree with you. I absolutely love the layout of the Maclaren. I am also in-love with my LSB ICR.

I have tried to be a single column guy… I can commit to it 😅 Double column paragraph for me!

Sorry Pastor Tim - one more comment if I may. I’ve also got a Trinitarian KJV double column with references on the inner AND outer columns. This would have to be my fav layout. It’s in green goatskin and is magnificent. Only trouble is it’s KJV and I don’t find that as smooth a read but beautiful layout and Bible. 😊

That Treveris looks like it would be great for just a reading Bible with the verse numbers in the margins instead of in the text. I wish they had that layout in non- Premium Bibles, and in different translations.

Personally, I prefer the double column/ center reference if it's available. I don't really have a reason why, maybe because it's more old school or something, not sure.

Thanks for the reference layout comparisons Tim! My favorite format is a double column paragraph layout with center column references and textual and translation notes placed separately on the bottom of the page, like the second bible shown (what is the name and translation of this bible? I can't identify it from the brief spine flash). My least favorite is end of verse or end of paragraph references - find these too distracting and irritating to use as reading or reference bibles. In single column format, I like the last bible with inner margin references shown. My only quibble with that as I find the vertical centering of cross references on the page too distracting. It would be much better if the cross references were top margin justified, and then spaced to align with the verses they reference as closely as possible.

Double for sure

When it comes to just reading a Bible , the paragraph format is okay. Also single column works here. When it comes to studying the Bible, I far prefer verse by verse format, in double column format, and center column. That is what I grew up with it's 'what I am comfortable with. Maybe it comes down to is that you can't teach an old dog, new tricks!

I like double column verse by verse with ref in center. I ok with ref on bottom but perfer in center.

Double column, usually. I find single column difficult to read.

You should add a survey here to see the totals of responses to your ending questions in this video. I prefer single column, either verse by verse or paragraph.

Interesting how people think differently on this subject. I'm a verse by verse guy, with references. I don't mind if it is single or double column. My favourite layout is the Westminster reference Bible put out by the Trinitarian Bible Society. My least used bibles are in paragraph format, I just can't get into them.

Classic center column reference verse by verse…nasb or NKJV ..I find that verses are easier to find..has to be red letter- although I wish they would also put God word in the OT in red letter also- like they did with kjv easy read

What was the last Bible? That’s a great format

The only thing I don't like about my NKJV MacArthur Study Bible is the cross references and the textual footnotes are lumped together, so if I want to look up a textual footnote on a verse I have to scan through all the cross references to find it. Which is not easy when the cross references are at a -2 point font. I love the KJV Lion layout by Humble Lamb with the chapter headings on top and the cross references in a vertical column underneath and the textual footnotes below the cross references. It I ever win the lottery I think I'm going to order a Humble Lamb KJV Lion. Okay, maybe they're not THAT expensive. I'd likely get the cheaper paste down liner with the art gild in black. I don't care about the bright colors.

Hi Tim I have a question for you. If you have covered it, could you respond with a link to the video. My question is on Text only vs Reference Bibles. Which is better, and why? I love my text only Bible but sometimes while reading I wish I had a reference suite. Then when I get into a reference Bible I tend to rarely use it. I don't know why that is, or if you have similarly felt that experience. Perhaps some benefits and drawbacks of each would be nice to hear. Thanks! And great video here.

“Double-column paragraph” for life! And with references at the bottom. In this regard, the LSB Giant Print Double-Column Reference Bible is perfect for me. I honestly cannot stand the single-column format. It looks and feels so “off” to me. But again, just my personal nit-pick.

Single column, all day, and everyday! 😂

I’ve always been partial to the single column format.

I have mixed feelings about which I like better single or double

Have you done a review of the New Cambridge Paragraph Bible? Love to get your thoughts on that.

Double column verse by verse is my favorite. It is easy to find each verse. I’m not a fan of single column with a wide margin. Too much empty space that could be used to decrease page number amount.

We have similar taste 😉

Wish they would make an ICR in the kjv

Hey Tim, you have any book recommendations for someone wanting to learn about church history ?

I like single column

Single Column VBV references and notes on the bottom

What ESV book was the last book you showed.

Single column ICR is the way. If only Cambridge made the Clarion with the references in the gutter…

What Bible maker was the last Bible?

Standard classic double columns like the Evangelical KJV