I (Jayson) love the NKJV. When it comes to in-depth study, I prefer the NASB (I’m a dinosaur), but if I’m just going to sit and read Scripture, I’ll often reach for a New King James Bible. I find that it really walks the tightrope between the readability of the NIV while retaining the poetry of the KJV. So, having a NKJV with study notes in it is a plus. Impacting more than 20 million lives over 30 years, the Life Application® Study Bible is the #1–selling study Bible of our generation. Now, it has been thoroughly updated and expanded to be even more helpful and relevant for your life and today’s world. NIV Study Bible. In many ways, this is the general study Bible. The team of evangelical scholars who wrote and edited the study notes also served on the translation team for the NIV itself. Interpreting Scripture book by book (or corpus by corpus) in context of the individual authors’ intents and contexts.

Published: This gives the year the Bible was published. Some Bibles have had multiple revisions and the date reflects the last public revision. Some (like the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible) have not been revised as much as amended. In this case, we went with the original publishing dates. Issue: The NIV Celebrate Recovery Study Bible. Study helps based on principles of addiction recovery. Method: New Inductive Study Bible (available in NASB and ESV). Based on the inductive method (observe, interpret, apply) as popularized by Dr. Kay Arthur.

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The Bible was originally written in the languages of Hebrew and Greek (with a dash of Aramaic). Over the millennia, these old documents were translated into the dominant languages of the time and place, and then re-translated, and so on. This study Bible isunique: rather than give you a theology lesson with every footnote, it gives you context for whatthe original readers of a passage would have been privy to. These issues aside, The Narrative Bible is still a strong tool for getting a big-picture view of God’s story. Translating ancient texts for modern readers is a tough and involved process. There are many ways it can be (and has been) done—but most English translations of the Bible fall on a spectrum from formal equivalence to functional equivalence. Formal Equivalence (Word-for-Word)

These really help provide context and understanding for orthodox Christianity, and also highlight many scriptural passages which should be considered creeds in their own right: Deut 6:4, Phil 2:11, 1 Tim. 3:16, 1 Cor. 15:3-7, etc. For those who want to keep a steady Bible reading discipline, The Narrated Bible is broken into daily readings. Texts are broken up with a little sun icon to let you know when you’re done reading for the day. It’s a nice feature that isn’t too intrusive for people who want to read larger chunks of Scripture. The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible (available in NIV, NKJV, NASB, and KJV)—Charles Stanley There aren’t many Reformed scholars more accessible, respected, or prolific than R. C. Sproul. He’s authored hundreds of books that run the theological gamut. As the general editor of the Reformed Study Bible, Sproul brings a level of expertise to both Bible study and reformed theology. Your Bible translation determines which philosophies are represented in the text of Scripture. But perhaps more important is the philosophies represented in the rest of the text. All the notes, articles, and book introductions come from editors who have particular perspectives. It’s wise to choose a study Bible with an editorial team you’re comfortable learning from. This way the study aids will actually aid in your study.

The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible isn’t what comes to mind when people think about a “study Bible”—and that’s its strength. It isn’t full of commentary or opinion; it simply gives people the tools to let Scripture interpret Scripture. It’s the simplicity of this format that has helped it sell over four million. There are definitely challenges in breaking the Bible into a narrative format. For instance, did Jesus clear the temple once or twice? Did John or Matthew put this even in the narrative where it made most sense to them, or did Jesus cleanse the temple at the beginning or the end of his ministry? No matter how questions like this are dealt with, someone’s going to be frustrated. This can be the difference between finding a study Bible you treasure for decades and finding a study Bible that you move on from within a few months.

Once you have this in mind, you’re ready to start thinking about the more technical criteria you need a study Bible to meet. 4. Five Factors to Consider When Choosing a Study Bible While there is something in the ESV Study Bible for everyone, a lot of the content is going to be overwhelming to a new Christian. However, if you’re looking for an in-depth study experience from a distinctly evangelical perspective, this is an ideal choice.

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You have many options when it comes to Bible translations—and while most people have their favorites, each one plays its part when it comes to better understanding the Bible. The work was originally published in 1908 by Methodist Book Concern in Dobbs Ferry, NY. The interest was immediate and it developed a reputation as a fantastically helpful resource for clergy and laypeople alike. In 1913, Dr. Thompson and B. B. Kirkbride formed the Kirkbride Bible Company to make The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible more widely available. This is the true basis for finding a study Bible that will work for you. If you want to be told how to apply Scripture to become a better leader, you’ll love the Maxwell Leadership Bible (authority & application). If you want plenty of space to explore what the Bible means for yourself, The New Inductive Study Bible was made for you (autonomy & interpretation). This brings us full-circle. A study Bible is Scripture outfitted with tools to help you better study, understand, and apply it to your life. And while translation, editorial team, focus, and academic level are important, you want a study Bible to include the actual tools you’ll use in study.