How To Choose A Good Study Bible

Well, assuming you know what your preferred Bible translation is, what resource should you secure first for your budding Bible Study library? Why, a good Study Bible, of course!

What is a study Bible? Simply put, it is a special printed edition of the Bible that has additional helps as an aid to your study of the Scripture. Don't be misled: some study Bibles have the words "Study Bible" in their title, but others do not. It is the contents - not the title on the cover - that is important.

Most Bible students have heard of some type of study Bible; in case you haven't, let me list some of the most common features of a good study Bible:

--Introductions to Various Books of the Bible --Concordance --Comments/Explanations on Specific Passages --Articles/Essays on Various Subjects --Doctrinal/Theological Summaries --Timelines --Maps --Charts --Topical Scripture Index

As you can see, one of the advantages of a good study Bible is that it brings together so many different types of helps under one cover. You can't take your entire library with you when you are on the move, but you can take a piece of it - when you use a study Bible.

Of course in order to get the most out of your study Bible you must use it constantly - explore all of its features in a systematic way and learn to use them properly. I am simply amazed when I see folk carrying a study Bible around but who are really in the dark about all of its features. It's like owning a car but not knowing what all the buttons and gauges on the dashboard are for!

You may be using your study Bible for a long, long time, and after awhile its notes will become almost a part of you - it may impact your understanding of the Bible in very profound ways - so be sure to pick a good one.

What makes up a good study Bible?

While many things could be mentioned, I think the primary criteria are:

1st. Depth of commentary/interpretation - How detailed are the notes and comments? How much of the page do they take up? A study Bible that only has a line or two of information for a whole chapter is less useful than one that has 3 pages! Study Bibles cost a lot, and if the notes are meager you will quickly outgrow it before you get your "money's worth."

2nd. Reliability of the materials - Who compiled the information? What are their theological perspectives? Are you in agreement with them? Do the writers/editors/compilers have good credentials and a good reputation? Is the publisher reputable? Investigate before you buy! If there is one over-arching rule for choosing Bible study tools it is this: investigate…Investigate…INVESTIGATE!

3rd. Layout and format - how are the pages laid out? Is the type size comfortable - or will it be a strain to read it? If you want to take notes in the margin are they wide enough - and is the paper strong enough for handwritten notes?

Here are just 4 of the many popular study Bibles - I have included their ISBN numbers (International Standard Book Number) for the hardback editions - you can check around for the best prices…

*The NIV Study Bible (ISBN: 0310929555 ): This is one of the most popular study Bibles for Evangelicals. It's notes are fairly well-balanced, and generally reflect a conservative theology.

*The Catholic Study Bible (ISBN: 0195282809): This is a modern Catholic study Bible, using the NAB text. It's notes reflect Catholic understandings of the Scripture, but also reflect modern (some would say "liberal") Bible scholarship.

*Life in the Spirit Study Bible (ISBN: 0310927579): This is a study Bible supplied with notes that present Pentecostal/Charismatic teaching. It uses both the KJV & NIV text.;

*The NRSV New Oxford Annotated Bible (ISBN: 019528478X): This is a standard "mainline" study Bible. Its notes are certainly not conservative, and it is based on the New RSV text. It is widely used in mainline denominational seminaries as well as in secular College/University classrooms.

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