Study Bibles, The Mosaic Bible, Oswald Chambers Devotional Bible, The Transformation Study Bible, The NIV Stewardship Bible, The NRSV Life With God (and, yes, the very cool Waterproof Bible)

You may have heard it said–and if you shop for Bibles here at the bookstore, you have heard it saidlife app.jpg here–that a good study edition of the Bible is an incredible asset, a fabulous tool, and a great gift (to get or give.)  We think that the Life Application Study Bible is really, really useful. We are glad that it comes in a variety of bindings and sizes and translations such as the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), The New Living Translation (NLT), The New International Version (NIV), the New American Standard (NAS), the KJV and the NKJV.  Most days I say it is my favorite study edition.  The notes are helpful, the introductions to each book of the Bible excellent and truly interesting, the time-lines the clearest of any study Bible.  Character studies and explanations of the ordinary daily application of Biblical themes are user-friendly and inspiring, almost always keeping a fabulous balanced between factual information and inspiring suggestions on what it all means and what to do about it. It always reminds you why it matters–hence, the “life application” title.  (I jokingly call it the “So What?” study Bible. Great stuff, especially for those not used to digging in, looking things up, or who for those who may wonder what in the world that could possibly mean.

Somewhat more academic and even more thorough is the nearly classic NIV Study Bible
NIV Study.jpg published by Zondervan; evangelical, interesting, often showing arguments for several interpretations and explaining various options of meaning, it has often been called the best study Bible available and it seems to be the best selling of any serious study edition. I know some of our mainline friends are skeptical of its conservative bias, but we really do recommend it. You may not love the NIV, but the notes are very, very helpful, the concordance and maps superb, the various notes outstanding.  It comes in small, medium, large, and really large, and an array of colors, duo-tones, with all kinds of fashionable designs and clever features.  Gone are the days of white vinyl and silly little zippers.  The array of options is mind-boggling; I am so grateful that such a serious, thoughtful, solid bit of Bible scholarship has been made commercially viable and popularly interesting.  You can give one to nearly anybody and it feels right.

ESV.jpgFor those that like the very conservative rendering of the recent and quite elegant English Standard Version (which rather reminds me of the old RSV) their new study bible, done by Crossway, of course, is called The ESV Study Bible, is second to none.  As we described it when it first came out, t is loaded with tons of very excellent notes, solid information, and is the most finely-made, sturdy and enduring hand-crafted Bible for ordinary use on the market. Even those that don’t like the mildly Reformed bias will be impressed with the diligence, care, and insight with which it has been produced. Magisterial, thick, and truly an amazing study Bible.

In the NRSV there is the slightly left-of-center, but well done HarperCollins Study Bible published under some affiliation the Society of Biblical Literature. It may be the best for study from a critical perspective, scholarly and studious, although the maps aren’t the best, and the type is rather smallish. Still, it is important.

 For our United Methodist friends, at least, there is a really handsome duo tone study edition called The Wesley Study wesley study bible duo tone.jpgBible published naturally by Abingdon. Wonderful scholars who truly love the church served as senior editors—Joel Green (now of Fuller) and Bishop William Willimon, so it has a widely accepted, centrist,and very useful approach. You can imagine the sweet blend of rigorous scholarship and piety and the routine call to action and service.

 I am especially appreciative of The New Interpreter’s Study Bible that is done
New Interpreter's.jpg somewhat in relationship to the remarkable multi-volumed, hefty Interpreters Commentary set. (That is the one that has the entire NIV and NRSV text.  N.T. Wright, for instance, does Romans.)  I wish there were more editions and bindings and spiffy covers and better marketing (like the evangelical publishing houses like Zondervan and Crossway.)  It deserves to be better known.  Of course it is very scholarly and spends much time in what some might find to be a bit arcane detail.

Westminister/John Knox did the Discipleship Study Bible (with Apocrypha) which is also very, very well done for those in mainline or ecumenical settings, thoughtfully done with not too much emphasis on literary and historical background, from a moderately critical framework. Yet,. despite the rigor and detail, it hopes to be practical for daily discipleship and seems to appeal to serious Christians in mainline circles, wanting a mainline approach without the arcane, abstract critical detail. This is one of the most recent, critical study editions in the NRSV and the team who worked on it is impressive, mainline denominational folks.  Bruce Birch, Gail O’Day, Brian Blount, Thomas Long.  Thin paper makes this one not too heavy to carry…

Given these new, liberally-oriented, mainline NRSV study editions, why anyone would want to use the meager and eccentric New Oxford Annotated is beyond me.  For years it was the only study edition in the NRSV but it is now so surpassed by these others that it’s puny and biased scholastic notes can happily be ignored.  I hate to pick a fight with my ecumenical pals, but I’ve seen it erode Biblical authority in some who have used it and I am annoyed by how few serious notes it has on urgent questions or complicated passages.  And when it says “scholars agree” hold your nose because you know your about to get what should rather be said “some scholars believe…”  Oh yeah, don’t get me started.

Life With God Bible.jpgFor a more devotional approach in the NRSV what used to be called the Renovare Spiritual Formation Study Bible has been re-issued by HarperOne in a handsome typeface and good, solid cover, slightly more compact than it was previously, re-named The Life With God Bible. It comes also in a Catholic edition, in paperback or leather. Its
notes were done mostly by Richard Foster,  Eugene Peterson, Dallas Willard, and Walter Brueggemann.  I know there are websites out there that say that these fellows are unfaithful and weird.  Let me just say that is hogwash.  This is a very useful resource, a fine devotional guide, powerful and spiritually attentive.  If you don’t have a NRSV and don’t need a detailed study Bible, this is a very nice option.

Here are a few we wanted to highlight as great, but lesser known, new editions.  They’d make a great gift for the Bible lover who “has everything.”  Bet they don’t have the Water Proof Bible, now do they?  Read on!

mosaic-bible poster.jpgThe Mosaic Bible  New Living Translation  (Tyndale) $29.99 (hardcover) $49.99 (antique brown imitation leather)  I am drawn to the look and feel of a book, and holding this Bible with it’s rich orange hints over dark brown, I’m immediately drawn to it. Both the hardback and the smooth faux leather feel great. It has pages and pages of lovely celtic cross graphics, in fine ink, highlighted with red (like a prayer book would, but even nicer than most.) This is classy to see, and the first third is a daily devotional, with prayers, poems, short readings, quotes from folks as diverse as medieval mystics to Wendell Berry to Martin Luther.  Perhaps the best feature is the full color contemporary art that accompanies this–nicely produced on glossy paper.  The artists are from all over the world and while it is usually quite evident how the art piece illumines the devotional reading and Bible portion, they usually are fairly modern.  There are a few classics, and a couple of standard icons. 

Let me be honest: the New Living Translation is a great modern language, dynamic-equivalent
mosaic two covers.jpg rendering (a few very reliable scholars whom I know worked on it, like Al Wolters who worked on Job, just for instance) and it uses inclusive language where it should.  The modern art is hip, global, and allusive while the iconography and Celtic prayer book design is classic— perfect for more mainline parishes or liturgical churches.  Yet this odd admixture of evangelical publisher, NLT, and liturgical appeal makes The Mosaic Bible a hard sell. It really hasn’t gotten the acclaim it deserves.  I think there are BookNotes readers who are going to love it.  (Go to www.HolyBibleMosaic.com and click on “try mosaic online” and you will have a jaw-dropping experience of literally turning the pages and seeing the art, devotions and expert page design. Browse around and what others have said about it. If you want one, do let us know.)

The Oswald Chambers Devotional Bible
  English Standard Version (Crossway) $34.99 (hardcover) $54.99 (Navy/Tan imitation leather)  This ESV edition has 365 readings from the extraordinary young Christian writer whose books were all done posthumously by his beloved wife.  This is in double-column paragraph format, has a 12,000 entry concordance, and is (like all the Crossway ESV Bibles) is smyth-sewn and very durable.  Visit the ESV website at www.esn.org/freesoftware to check out the translation and some free o-linestuff.  This is a fabulous way to become familiar with this serious, very accurate, and highly literate rendering of sacred Scripture and a usable way to dip into the best of this great early 20th century preacher.

transformation study bible.jpgThe Transformation Study Bible  New Living Translation (Tyndale) $39.99 (hardcover) $69.99 (dark brown Milano) I generally dissuade customers from getting study editions done by one guy.  I don’t care who it is, nobody can tell you everything about everything, so we generally don’t promote Dakes or Scofield or any other Bible with a single person’s name on it.  Yet, we will make an exception (with the reminder that the notes are just one person’s interpretation, and an inter-denominational, team-based approach like the ones listed above are better for deeper study.)  I make an exception here because I have found many folks, especially those that are not really well-schooled, have come alive to reading commentaries by using the 50-volume, paperback Be series of evangelical Bible preacher and pastor, the solid and delightful Dr. Warren Wiersbe. Here, we have Dr. Ws reflections on every page of the Bible, drawn from his beloved, clear-headed commentaries.  He has here notes to motivate you to experience real-life transformation by highlighting key character issues in Scripture. There are overviews and introductions in conversational style.  Wiersbe’s study notes clarify key passages by explaining what they mean in down to earth plain-spoken language. He is a teacher’s teacher and I’m happy to commend this genius idea of putting his stuff alongside the Biblical text as a study edition of the Bible.  Nice, especially for beginners.

stewardship study bible.jpgThe Stewardship Study Bible  New International Version (Zondervan) $39.99 (hardback) $69.99 (black/caramel imitation leather)  I’ll tell a true little story.  My sales rep for this fine company was surprised when I turned up by nose at this as he presented to us for our consideration. (Well, he’s usually thrown a curve ball or two when he visits here, with us taking what nobody else approves of we complain about some of their cheesy big projects.) I told him I was tired of these niche marketed themed devotional Bibles, with Bibles for mothers and leaders and business people and environmentalists (okay, I liked that), ones about prayer and for seekers and maybe left-handed mechanics…boy, was I ever wrong.

This truly holds up the very Biblical notion of whole-life stewardship and has sidebars and extra notes and some lovely colored pages and explanatory features listing anything that might be helpful as readers discern their calling, struggle to think about economics, honor their duties to manage their time and resources.  There is a helpful customized stewardship concordance, helping readers study this vital theme. The Stewardship Study Bible has contributors that I admire greatly, and it is thrilling to think of pondering their advise alongside the Word of God—-writers such as Ron Sider, Dietrich Bonhoeffer,  Os Guinness, Marva Dawn,  Lee Camp, Calvin DeWitt, Denis Haack, John Douglas Hall, Gloria Kinsler, Abraham Kuyper, Karen Mains, Bill McKibben, Esther Meek,  Miroslav Volf, Jorgen Moltmann, Richard Middleton, John Paul II, Robert Fara Capon, Walter Brueggemann and so many more.  How many study editions have Hildegard of Bingen next to Larry Burkett, next to C.S. Lewis, next to Henri Nouwen?  What book to you ever find M
ichael Novak and Jim Wallis, John Calvin and William Penn?  Truly, this is an amazing resource, designed  together by the Stewardship Council and the Acton Institute.  (There is even a very classy, five part DVD [$19.95 book; $7.99 study guide] that has been made, teaching whole-life stewardship principles, produced by Acton, explaining our duties to manage well our resources and live into the great adventure of serving God by taking care of the creation, neighbor, and using our talents, time and treasures for others.)  In these hard economic times, folks not only need the solace and vision of God’s grace as found in Holy Scripture, but we need assistance and guides for living it out, working out the implications of doctrines like stewardship.  I think reading the Bible with these helpers offering tid-bits along the way could be life-changing.  Sorry, sales rep Mike, that I doubted you.  This is a great, great product.  (By the way, like many faithful publishers these days, this is manufactored  as “Certified Carbon Neutral” and printed on FSC Certified paper with 10% post consumer waste.  How’s that for trying to get it right.  Kudos and thanks!

waterproof blue.jpgwaterproof camo.jpgNIV Waterproof Bible  (Bardin & Marcee) $39.95 (blue, pink or sportsman’s camo)  Here is another backstory.  A few years ago we met up with some cool guys that did outdoorsy stuff, worked in Christian camping, did wilderness trips, were involved in experiential education kind of adventure trips.  They got the rights to a Bible translation that wasn’t particularly popular and printed up several individual books of the Bible on honest-to-goodness waterproof pink.jpgtopographic map paper. (They had the world’s leading topo map company do it, actually.)  The plan was to fold up these indestructible map-like gospels and head to the woods.  They really wouldn’t tear and they were thoroughly waterproof. We thought we were pretty cool to stock ’em. Thing is, who really wanted a rather pricey topo-map Mark in the NAS?

These enterprising wilderness dudes apparently learned something in the outback and with grit and teamwork, just wouldn’t give up.  I imagine them dangling in the rain from some rappel somewhere, or toasting around an ice-field campfire and getting the idea.  They got the rights to the whole NIV, put it out in a more traditional-looking thick paperback, and yet–yep–it is still indestructible, waterproof as all get out, and perfect for water sports, mission trips, camps, beach or pool, and–I’m not kidding, really, I’m not–reading in the bathtub.  (Gotta love that pink one!) Or hot-tub, if you’ve got one.  You can literally slip these into the water and let ’em soak. If you are a swimmer or boater or bubble-bather, these long-lasting, environmental, fully waterproof Bibles are just the ticket. Tired of the waves splashing up on your pages (if you do your devotions at the shore?) Do you pray “when the dew is still on the roses” as the old song goes?  As a reviewer in National Geographic wrote (after sliding the mud off and seeing that it dried out completely) “I give it a big hosanna!”

glo.jpgLastly–from one unusual extreme to another—I hope you recall how we raved about the new, high-powered electonic Bible, Glo. (Zondervan; $79.99)  It’s the full NIV Study Bible with thousands of photos, holy land video footage, top-of-the-line computer generated graphics, amazing Bible handbook stuff—pictures of ancient artifacts, lots of excellent maps, movable journal spaces, lots of historic art pieces, tons of commentary, literal lectures and such.  It’s truly amazing, but (as we said in our initial announcement) it takes some serious computer power, and it is only for PC (not Mac, yet.)  Digital cheers to Zondervan for producing this state-of-the-art computer software, softward more exciting than any Bible stuff you’ve seen before.

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5 thoughts on “Study Bibles, The Mosaic Bible, Oswald Chambers Devotional Bible, The Transformation Study Bible, The NIV Stewardship Bible, The NRSV Life With God (and, yes, the very cool Waterproof Bible)

  1. Byron,
    A great post. The Life App NLT tends to be one of my favorites and was the first bible I read the whole way through. Its still one of my faves.
    The ESV Study bible, is the one I tried to read through this year. I only made it about halfway (all NT, less than half of the OT). While the overviews are good, I found its footnote commentary to be extraordinarily redundant. The verse would be “Jesus went to Jerusalem.” and the commentary would be like “This is the part where Jesus left his town and went to Jerusalem.” I found myself disregarding the commentary altogether.
    I think I’d like to check out the Mosaic Bible and the Glo sometime…
    They’re both really interesting.

  2. Our family wishes we could have Advent devotions in the snow with the “NIV Waterproof Bible” … my four girls are looking at the pink one 😉
    As for Theresa and myself, Grove City College used the NIV Study Bible for Old Testament and New Testament classes. As such we referred to the NIV Study Bible for several years. Personally, I’ve enjoyed referring to the Word in Life Study Bible, but have not made it regular practice. As time permits, I refer to the New Bible Commentary, but have not gotten into the practice of taking it beyond the office. Maybe I should purchase a hand held device and download these resources.
    When our twins turned 7 we gave them NIrV Kids’ Devotional Bibles. They enjoy referring to them during Sunday morning worship, but they are not regular practice. With the range of ages among our kids (twins who are 9, 4 year old, 1.5 year old), family devotions have been based around “My First Message,” “the Jesus Storybook Bible,” “Bible World” (on break during Advent), and “The Jesse Tree” (this year’s Advent).

  3. Byron,
    Good post. I like the 2nd edition of the NOAB. I found the 3rd to lack Metzger’s good editorial eye.
    There is a 4th edition coming out in 2010. But I don’t use the 3rd & might not buy the 4th.
    I have a slew of study bibles, but the one I use most is the NIV Study Bible. Actually, I use the most recent one that has a few more notes in it. In addition to the NOAB I also check out the New Interpreter’s, Wesley, & NLT Study Bible.
    I think the NLT is great for reading. It is also good as a translation to check when studying.

  4. Philip Schiavoni December 19 at 4:41pm
    Byron,
    My lovely wife for my birthday got me the ESV study bible and i have loved it ever since. The online version you are permitted to have as a result of purchasing the hard copy is incredible as well! Everything that is in the Bible is available for view by signing up with the password you are given when you purchase the Bible. It’s very handy when you have extra time or you are at a computer and someone asks you a Bible question (welcome to the life of a campus minister, right?). And you can click on “Listen” and hear the word spoken as well online. Very impressive.

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