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. Used by: If Jayson or Jeffrey personally use (or have used) this Bible, we will include that here. If we include our name here, you can assume this is a personal endorsement. Study the stories and teachings of the Bible with study notes, overviews, vital statistics, outlines, and timelines. Grasp difficult concepts using in-text maps, charts, and diagrams. Discover how you can apply the Bible to your life today. Formal equivalence” translations are sometimes called “word-for-word” versions of the Bible. While strict word-for-word translation is impossible outside of interlinear Bibles, versions on this end of the spectrum aim to choose words that directly mirror the words the original language uses as well as the structure of the original-language sentences. However, too academic is far better than not academic enough. Getting a Bible with articles and notes that are a little out of your depth can be frustrating at first, but eventually you can grow into it.

The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible (available in NASB, KJV, NKJV, and ESV). Reveals the underlying Greek and Hebrew meanings behind “key words” (important terms) in the English Bible. Would you rather have an expert tell you how to interpret and apply Scripture ( authority), or figure it out on your own ( autonomy)? Demographic: Woman’s Study Bible (available in NKJV and NIV). Insights designed to speak to godly womanhood. One of the first things you notice in the HarperCollins Study Bible (HCSB) is the inclusion of the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books. These books, sacred to both Orthodox and Catholic believers, are not considered canonized in Protestant Bibles. This is your first sign that this isn’t your typical study Bible.NIV Halley’s Study Bible. Includes notes and media developed from the classic Halley’s Bible Handbook. The idea for the best-selling, award-winning Life Application Study Bible began with the desire to answer the question, “What does God’s Word mean for my life today?” The nearly 10,000 application study notes provide fresh encouragement to help you apply the passage you’re reading to your daily life. 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. Life Application Study Bible(available in NLT, NIV, NASB, NKJV, and KJV). Study notes and articles are all focused on giving you ways to use what you learn in Scripture. 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 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. Issue: The Maxwell Leadership Bible (available in NKJV and NIV). Complements Scripture with leadership-development teachings and insights from John C. Maxwell.When coupled with the HCSB translation, the HCSB Study Bible materials create a suitable reference for new and seasoned Bible enthusiasts can get more out of their study. Demographic: The Adventure Bible (available in NIV, NIrV, and NKJV). Meant for 8 to 12-year-olds with hands-on activities, memory verses, and facts to keep kids engaged with the Bible. WHITESPACE: New Inductive Study Bible. Wide margins and plenty of space for writing your own chapter headings, paragraph headings, and book outlines. This Bible was made for anyone who reads their Bible and finds themselves saying, “So what?” The Life Application Study Bibleworksto bridge the gap between the text and your daily life. It seeks to givepractical challenges and next steps from your Bible reading, but it also teaches you to ask your own questions of the text. 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.

Fortunately, you don’t have to sift through all the study Bibles out there. By answering a few questions, you can zero in on just a few options and choose the study Bible that’s best for you.I (Jayson) am a pastor and 15-year Christian-retail guy with a lot of experience with helping people find their ideal study Bibles. Jeffrey is a self-proclaimed “homeschool Bible nerd.” The two of us have fairly middle-of-the-road theological perspectives. With a fresh two-color interior design and meaningfully updated study notes and features, this Bible will help you understand God’s Word better than ever. It answers the real-life questions that you may have and provides you practical yet powerful ways to apply the Bible to your life every day. Now more than 10,000 Life Application® notes and features that help explain God’s Word and challenge you to apply its truth to your life today