I'm wanting to purchase a new study bible, and I'm overwhelmed at the choices. Can anyone personally recommend one? I'm looking for one with good study content in a widely used translation such as KJV, NKJV, NIV, etc. Thanks for your help!
Can anyone recommend a good Christian Study Bible?
gablue430 has listed some of the very best choices. My list would be similar, with one addition:
NIV Study Bible
NIV Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible
ESV Reformation Study Bible
NIV Quest Study Bible
But I'd like rather to suggest a METHOD for you to make a good choice for YOU.
Things to consider:
1) Which TRANSLATION(s) are you comfortable with? If you have a fairly strong preference for one you should take that seriously. Of course, if you're mainly using this book at your desk and happy to keep a copy of your favorite translation at the ready, this may be less important for you --you can focus on Point #2.
(NIV and ESV seem to be the dominant versions in evangelical circles these days [ESV is esp. claiming the old NASB crowd and many NKJV users]. I use both [with others] for study %26amp; teaching, but just for reading --silently or aloud-- I think the NIV is superior. Comparing their Study Bibles, the NIV Spirit of the Reformation vs. ESV Reformation Study Bible are very close in quality -- you translation preference might well be the tie-breaker.)
2) Are there specific study aids within the TEXT that you think would find especially helpful? and do you know what you want them to do?
a) is it cross references that give you a lot of related passages to check out on your own? -all of those listed ar pretty solid in this area (I have a slight preference for the NIV Study Bible on that; they did an excellent, thorough process of assmebling USEFUL parallels)
b) book introductions, overviews:
All of those listed include some helpful book introductions (The book outlines are just OK -- haven't yet found one that is consistently helpful at this point. At some point they tend to break down into a mere list of contents, without any analysis of WHY they are organized the way they are. But it's a reasonable start.)
c) text notes: are you looking for 'topical notes' that answer common theological questions, esp practical ones? (try Quest); do you want some good, reliable discussions of what the Bible teaches on many key doctrines? (try the two "Reformation" Bibles); do you mainly want note that focus on special features of the specific text you are looking at, the structure of this psalm, etc? (NIV Study Bible probably beats everyone on this point -- this is my own preference and why I've always preferrd this one over the rest for MY use)
3) What about the EXTRA resources in the back? ( I don't think these are generally as imporant as those under #2 --which tend to be the *main* reason people get a study bible, but do give them some thought, esp. if things are coming out pretty even to this point!)
a) MAPS - how many? how readable are they for YOU? (some Bible map sections are great... some are awful!)
b) INDEXES: esp. 'topical guides' %26amp; Concordance -- are these enough for your own needs? will they help you find things you are looking for? (I mostly use a separate complete concordance, but for some folks having more IN their Bibles is important to them)
3) "PHYSICAL" matters, layout, etc. (some of this may come into play more AFTER you've decided which version you want, when you're looking at size, shape, etc)
a) Readability of print: All of these probably have pretty decent, readable print, etc. but that is not ALWAYS the case. But you might find you prefer reading a single column ['like other books'] or that two-columns works well for you [tends to decrease the page count, so may lead to a smaller book to carry, or to thicker paper]
b) Some have better quality paper than others as well (oddly I've found some hardcover editions have better, thicker paper than the leatherbound).
c) binding: You might have a preference on binding, and that may depend on how and how much you use the Bible, as well as the size. (I have found that I like a smaller leatherbound cross-reference Bible to carry most places, but for sitting down at my desk to study a HARDCOVER study bible is more workable... and saves $$ !) If you want leather, I generally recommend go for their best -- it will last much better.
d) attached bookmarks? tends to be a very minor consideration and seldom are there choices, but if you CAN choose, try for one with MORE bookmarks! a bunch of cards when you're flipping around is not the same!
Your answers to these questions might give you the choice you want, or significantly narrow the choices. At that point I would recommend (even if you're pretty sure of the ONE you want) that you find a way to sit down with each of your 'finalists' and spend some time looking at two or three books in the Bible. Use the same one for each Bible and compare them. Remember to compare the same maps and (if you use them) listings in topical indexes as well.
You don't need to take my specific points, but do jot down a brief list for yourself of the things you esp. want to check out to make sure you do it for all of them.
(You may be able to do this at least briefly in a bookstore, but if you can borrow from a friend that might help. You might also get some idea aby looking up the Bibles you're considering at Amazon -- some of them have a "Search inside".)
Good hunting!
Reply:Great answer! Remember like bruha said the two he named are popular among evangelical circles. I like to keep at least one copy made in the older traditions that includes the books that were edited out during the Reformation. Report Abuse
Reply:In my divinity school we use the New Oxford Annotated Reference Bible, which is the NRSV translation and is published by Oxford University Press. It has great text notes, translation notes, and is definitely my favorite Bible. It can be a little bit difficult to find, but you can easily find it online. My second favorite is the NIV Study Bible, and you can find that one anywhere.
Reply:You may want to contact Jehovah's Witnesses, as they offer free home bible studies to those who desire a true understanding of the scriptures. While they primarily use the New World Translation, they are also very happy to show you from your own translation the truth regarding God, the purpose of life, and the kind of future you can look forward to having.
Reply:Grace unto you, and peace,
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I've been studying 'the Bible' 100,000 hrs;
Perhaps more than all peers on the planet.
I spent 7 yrs on 15 pages of Revelation.
So long now I tend to speak allegoric KJV.
I've wore out many versions %26amp; perversions.
I've found KJV (Holy Bible) best for study,
as it uses same allegoric terms throughout,
also best to use with Strong's Concordance,
and also with a good old Webster Dictionary,
making it easier to do Bible word searches,
to learn what the allegory-ic definition is
for allegory-ic things mentioned later on.
It's "allegory" in both "covenants": Gal 4.
And has to compute from Gen 1:1 to Rev 22:21,
else it's just another twist in the "mystery".
For the good(God) mystery has lots of twists.
The Holy Bible(KJV) is "the seventh",
http://www.godshew.org/Sevens5.htm
notably made from six previous Bibles,
as if a good one (all six) made better,
purposed to make God's holy truth more known
http://www.godshew.org/BibleTranslators....
If serious about Bible study,
purchase a leather bound KJV,
which will cost about $100.
As for Bible searches, and
a Strong's Concordance, etc,
such are now all on line here:
http://www.godshew.org/Bibles.htm
Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
of disapproved(law) vs approved(grace).
Then help those who oppose them-selves,
to recover from such back-ward Law Law.
And do the end "run" along "with patience",
which notably involves a "weight" loss,
http://www.godshew.org/Hebrews13.htm
to make it to the end alive unto God.
The "grace" of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.
Reply:The "NIV (New International Version) Study Bible" is perhaps one of the best available but still falls short of my expectations.
The only thing wrong with it is it pushes Roman Catholic Dogma (Trinity) which wasn't even taught by the Early New Testament Church. One, Tertullian (200 AD) developed the Trinity formulation and sold the concept to the Roman Catholic Church. Even many of the churches that split off from the RCC held onto the trinity philosophy.
But odds are you may be trinitarian as well - and if thats the case, the NIV Study Bible will not bother you. I just think people need to know the facts so they have a better picture of Bible and make a sound decision.
I have yet to find a Study Bible that does not push the Trinity or Oneness concepts. I would like a straight foreword Study Bible that sticks with the historical facts, give accounts of Jewish traditions and things like that. The Gospel has been polluted enough without the corruption especially of that by the Roman Catholic Church heads
[NOTE: The Skeptics Annotated Bible online is a Godless secular analysis of the Bible with sections devoted to trying to discredit the bible with supposed blunders. They have no understanding of the scriptures and draw misguided conclusions. They think they are being fair - but are far from it.]
Reply:How about the NIV Study Bible or the New Inductive Study Bible (which is the American Standard Bible and really easy to follow). Both have good clear study helps.
Reply:I use the King James Version of the Full Life Study Bible which I find is excellent. It's an international study bible for spirit-filled Christians. My pastor David Wilkerson recommended it and he's been preaching and doing world wide pastor conferences with it for over 50 years, praise God! The Zondervan Publishing House prints it. It contains themefinders, study notes, articles and charts. It was created at a standard for which spirit filled Christians could study, teach and preach so I highly recommend it as a powerful tool for studying and teaching God's word.
Reply:Nelson's Study Bible is awesome; it's a NKJV with as many notes as text, plus maps and a never-ending concordance. BUT, I'd also recommend just about any MKJV, as you'll get a bit more literal translation, especially from the Greek. The NIV's are okay, but they seem to be more concerned with prose than accuracy. For general reading, they're great, but for study I think you'll want something more literal.
Reply:The NIV translation is the most widely used trans. on the market today. Zondervan has published the "NIV Study Bible." It has accurate and helpful notes with maps, a concordance, cross-reference notes, and more. The commentary notes are helpful while leaving the application of the principles to be determined between you and God.
Zondervan publishes this same Study Bible in the KJV and NASB as well. It's a good way to go.
(other good study bibles are: NIV Quest Study Bible, ESV Reformation Study Bible, and the KJV Nelson Study Bible)
Reply:The best study bible is the plane kjv bible. Read it daily and you will find yourself closer to God.
Reply:Yes!!!
The Inspirational Study Bible by Max Lucado.
It is written in two forms...traditional, and then next to the text you just read it is put in to terms more understandable, It has listing of scripture to reference to and how to apply what you read to your life.
I really enjoyed it, then went on to a KJV.
I have bought this Bible for my family and friends.
Max Lucado is a great inspirational writer, I think you will enjoy!
Reply:Nelson is good, but I use a parallel Bible with four different translations lined up beside each other (mine is KJV, NKJV, NIV, and NLT). I also use the Nelson Bible Commentary, which is a separate book. In being an entire book on its own, it offers far more insight than the limited space of a study Bible.
All of these are available at Books a Million. There are several different parallel Bibles. Some have two translations, and some have four, and there are different combinations of translations, too.
Reply:i have a king james [ with words of crist in red ] dictionary concordance......and a strong's exhaustive concordance of the bible......
you can download the strong's concordance online[ it tells you word translations in greak,hebrew,[ what the manule scrips were translated from]it tells you were you can go in the bible to find a statement,a book ect] between the two books you can get a good under standing as what the word is acording to the bible..but i recomend you buy the aboved mentioned also. the strongs helps you find lets say [ apple ]page 96 shows you all the places apple is mentioned in the bible.
Reply:Naves Topical Bible is neat, use the King James together with the Strongs Concordance, you will learn quickly.
Reply:The amplified or new century or the message
but i would use those along side the king james
also strong concordance is good a helper
Reply:The FAITH IN ACTION Study Bible...it will allow your faith to become 3D
Reply:Here's a good bible study:
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/
Everything there is quoted verbatim from the KJV.
NOTHING is "taken out of context" or "interpreted".
Reply:The Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible NKJV. It is worth every penny!
Reply:my husband likes the holy scriptures. i whould read the greek hebrew translations. personally the bible is a very long read and a very boring book. youre better off reading fantasy novels than a bible(oh yeah they are both fantasy)
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