The ESV Reader’s Gospels invites the reader to approach each Gospel—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—as its own unified, cohesive story. The text is presented in a beautifully designed single-column format and is printed on cream, opaque book paper. All verse numbers, chapter numbers, footnotes, and cross-references have been removed, resulting in a text that reads like a novel. Occasional section headings alert the reader to thematic shifts in the narrative, and these headings are also located at the top of the page to assist in navigation.

The Reader's Gospels helps readers immerse themselves in God’s Word so that they can see afresh the beauty and glory of Jesus Christ and the power of the gospel.