Apply the Word Study Bible - A Review

Apply the Word

Study Bible

New King James Version

A Review

Though titled “Study Bible”, this compilation of notes, maps, and commentary is more closely entitled a “Devotional Bible”. As the title also suggests, most of the notes are practical and geared toward a reader’s understanding of how the scripture can be applied toward one’s life. A few notes (mostly book introductions) focus more on introducing the historical settings of the individual books and their authors, but the focus of the book as a whole is devotional - not academic.

Having said that, the notes are well done and interesting. They are applicable and helpful for the Christian Believer. As with many small form study Bibles, this volume lacks an index to the various notes. If you are studying a passage - the notes will be helpful, but if I want to gather material on a specific topic, it will be more difficult to discover helpful comments. An index would help in this regard. As I have suggested in other reviews, a Bible without an index could be improved if made available as a searchable e-book or an on-line searchable database.

The Bible does include a concordance and a set of Bible maps - nothing special, but like one might expect in a handy to use Bible.  

I would recommend this edition of the NKJV Bible for a new believer. It could also have a place on the shelf of a church library for use during worship service or during a midweek Bible Study. It might also be an appropriate for a high school graduation gift.  

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

NLT Illustrated Study Bible - A Review

NLT Illustrated
Study Bible

A Review

Over the last four years I have been privileged to receive  number of study Bibles for review. Many are good - and serve the audience for which they were designed, but do not stand out from the crowd. But occasionally an editor or publisher will bring together material that will serve a wide audience for many years. Such is the case with the NLT Illustrated Study Bible.

From the opening flyleaf which quotes Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful” to the closing flyleaf which quotes Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.” it is clear that the (un-credited) editors have a high regard for both the Scriptures and for those who will be using their book as a guide to those Scriptures. A single page list contributors to the Bible from a wide variety of backgrounds - but even there the list is of names and their contributions without any mention of their academic credentials or affiliations. But the names are known and respected by those familiar with Biblical scholarship - both popular and scholarly.  This list is separate from the individuals (also listed) who contributed to the NLT translation - though there is a great deal of overlap. This means that the very scholars who translated the NLT have contributed to the Study Bible coming with the translation’s name.

The Study Bible begins with a 10-page timeline bringing together both Biblical history and world history as it is generally understood. To give a sense of its conservative bent, it should be noted that Abraham’s birth is dated at 2166 BC, Moses’ birth is dated to 1526, the Exodus is dated at 1446, and David is anointed king, becomes king of Judah, and becomes King of Israel in 1025, 1010, and 1003 BC, respectively.

The Biblical notes are extensive - occupying ⅓ to ⅔ of each page, cross references (not heavy, but present) are included in the inside margin of each page. Brief notes describing key historical events, people, themes, and theological discussion are placed between the Bible text and the study notes at the bottom of the page. These brief notes occur on about ½ of the pages.

The text is of medium size - easily read in bright light, but more difficult to read in a more subdued setting. It would be nice to have the book available as an e-book to use along with the paper version. I expect one or more of the major software publishers (WordSearch, LOGOS, etc.) will license the material for use - at least I am hoping so. The Biblical text and the accompanying notes take up nearly 2400 pages.  (This does not include the aforementioned timeline or the material which follows the Biblical text).

The timeline is continued (on a smaller scale) on four additional pages introducing the reader to the first half-century of church history following the closing of the canon. The book concludes with a number of helps - “Hebrew and Greek Word Studies”, An index of the brief essays (“Features Index”) included in the text. A comprehensive “Notes Index“ gives access to the study notes which form the main content of this study Bible. The book concludes with a nice “Dictionary and Concordance” and the expected set of Biblical maps.   There is a brief index (I wish it was more comprehensive) to the maps - it does not allow the reader to find all locations shown on the maps, but to find maps focused on the major events or people found in the Scriptures.

The Bible certainly belongs on the desk of most lay people wanting to more deeply study the Bible. Pastors will find it helpful as they seek background material and comments as they prepare themselves and their messages each week. Students will also find this book as an easily accessible study aid as they complete Biblical coursework.  

Though I was lucky enough to receive a free review copy, the NLT Illustrated Study Bible will be kept close at hand as I seek to meet the needs of the people God has allows me to serve.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

NIV Zondervan Study Bible - A Review

NIV Zondervan
Study Bible

Edited By

D. A. Carson

A Review

Some 40 years ago I sat under the teaching of D. A. Carson for Greek Exegesis.  It was my third or fourth semester of seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Worse than that, it was Dr. Carson’s first seminary class at Trinity.  Though I had done okay in my first two semesters of Greek, I felt over my head under his tutelage.  

So  now, 40 years later, I have the opportunity to get revenge. But having spent a couple of weeks with his newly released Study Bible - I have no intention of doing so. The word that came to mind as I opened the package containing my review copy was, “Massive.”  And I have not been able to shake that initial feeling.  At nearly 4000 pages, this book is more than a Study Bible.  It is truly a single volume Bible Commentary, a set of theological essays, and a rather well-done, though compressed, concordance.  

Articles are written by a variety of scholars from the Reformed or Baptist heritage - with an obvious lack of representation from Wesleyan/Holiness  schools or churches. Not surprising given that Zondervan is the publisher, but disappointing, none-the-less, for a work of this size.  

This reader enjoyed the formatting of the book. Notes are clearly set aside from the Biblical text by giving them a light green background, while the Biblical text has a more standard white background.  The use of full-color pictures  throughout adds value to the work.  A number of tables summarize important topics - the tables also make use of tables to help important columns or rows stand out.  As with most Study Bibles, the appendix includes a good supply of Bible maps; unlike some, the body of the book also includes a large number of colored maps which supplement the notes. The hard copy also includes access to an electronic copy of the book.  

I have a few favorite Study Bibles - the NIV Zondervan Study Bible will/has become another of those favorites.  I will be consulting it often - I suspect others will as well.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

NIV Proclamation Bible - A Review

NIV Proclamation Bible

by

Lee Gatiss

in collaboration with

The Proclamation Trust

A Review

I like reviewing Study Bibles. Because of that I requested the opportunity to review NIV Proclamation Bible. Shortly after doing that, I found that the sponsoring organization came out of the Anglican Reformed movement – a world away from this Wesleyan pastor. I wondered what I had walked into.

My fears were unfounded. What the book offers to the Bible student are tools every Bible reader needs. What is omitted are the tools that would mark this Bible as being clearly “Reformed” in nature. The result is a well-designed book that will assist any Bible student in his or her search for truth.

WHAT IT HAS:

1. This edition begins with 10 essays that introduce the Bible and the tools that will help a student of the Bible in understanding, learning, and teaching the truth of God's word. Though written by reformed scholars, the essays themselves are sufficiently general in nature that they would help all, even the experienced Bible reader, dig deeper into the Scriptures.
2. Each book includes a one to two page introduction – including a helpful teaching outline that could be use by a preacher, Sunday School teacher, small group leader, in preparing a lesson or series of lessons on a specific book. Each introduction also includes a brief list of suggested commentaries for each book allowing for further study. In addition, each book introduction is signed by its author allowing the reader to know its source and to evaluate its content.
3. The Bible text contains single-column cross-references.
4. A nice concordance and 14 standard Bible maps are included at the rear of the book.

WHAT IT DOES NOT HAVE:

1. There are no study notes in the body of the text. With an ample opportunity to add a Reformed perspective to the volume, they have chosen not to do so.
2. Along with no study notes, there are no references for further study of the text.
3. The words of Christ are not in Red. For some, this would be an oversight. For others, myself included, this gives this edition of the Bible greater value.

Timothy Keller states, “There are many Study Bibles, but none better.” I would disagree – but not because of the book's content, but because it does not have the content which I might expect to find in a well-done study Bible. Having said this, the rich collection of cross-references and helpful Bible book introductions belongs on the desk of many a preacher, teacher, or student. I am glad to have it in my collection of Bible Study tools.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.