I am a Bible collector of sorts. I own lots different versions and translations. Each have their good and not so good features. I sometimes wish in this digital age a person could select among many features that one would like and have a custom Bible printed and bound. For me the resulting item would weigh around six pounds!
Most of the bibles that I own are listed below:
1. Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible (NIV)
Pratt is editor. Includes all the major Reformed confessions in appendices. Has 100 in-depth articles on various Reformed doctrines, numerous Reformed Confessions in the back, and thousands of study notes for verses, including links to Confessions. If this was available in an ESV or NKJV format it would become my favorite. The theological articles and notes are the best I have seen.
2. Nelson Study Bible (NKJV)
Excellent layout and scholarly commentaries that do not shy away from contentious topics. Good concordance and index (!) to in-depth topics posted throughout. Get the 2007 edition for the latest version of this popular study Bible.
3. Apologetics Study Bible (HCSB)
Numerous in-depth articles related to apologetic exposition. Verse commentaries are apologetic in nature. Love the fact that it treats open theism as a belief system that is non-biblical. Has one of the best translations of John 3:16 I have ever read. Note: an 2011 update to the HCSB translation and study Bible is in the works. Here is a sample: http://g.christianbook.com/netstorage/pdf/sample/404574.pdf
4. MacArthur Study Bible (NKJV, NASB, ESV)
A study Bible edited by a self-proclaimed “leaky” dispensational “Calvinist”—more accurately a Christian dispensational Zionist. Thousands of deep theological study notes with a Reformed flavor. Now available in the ESV translation.
5. Archaeological Study Bible (NIV)
Outstanding commentary on historical, social, and archeological aspects for verses. Hundreds of in-depth treatments for each book. A gem for this genre.
6. Thompson Chain-Reference (NKJV, NIV, KJV)
One of my favorites. The NKJV has all chains updated. Over a hundred thousand references and special topics. My only beef is that there are no center-column cross-references, so one must rely upon the chain-reference system. At times that becomes annoying. When I first purchased this Bible, I spent a few months colorizing all the plain, black and white drawings in it. Much more pleasing to the eyes! Remains one of my favorites. My son purchased the plush leather Centennial Edition of the KJV for me as a present.
7. Ryrie Study Bible (NIV)
Dispensational theologian. Commentary is scholarly. Includes nice theology summary of major doctrines.
8. Reformation Study Bible (ESV, NKJV)
Edited by Sproul. Includes 100 special topic treatments on various doctrinal subjects. ESV is one of the most literal translations and one of three of my preferred Bible translations (the other is the NJKV and KJV). My most marked up Bible (in the NKJV edition) and the one I carry around everywhere.
9. Zondervan Study Bible (NIV, KJV)
Many study notes (20,000), that tend towards middle of the road doctrinal treatments. The KJV includes updated study notes and uses the Scrivener paragraph translation.
10. New Oxford Annotated Bible w/Apocrypha (NRSV)
Study notes are scholarly and generally treat Bible as purely literature.
11. Harper Collins Study Bible (NRSV)
Scholarly commentary. Again, like the Oxford Annotated, treatment is more like the Bible as literature.
12. The Companion Bible (KJV)
The "Bullinger Bible". One of the most confusing in layout and most complex to navigate. Strong focus on Hebrew and Greek translation aspects in commentary. Very dispensational focus. Bullinger's emphasis on form patterns of chapters, verses, is sometimes strained. Nearly 200 appendices on wide array of topics, some very esoteric. Worth the price just for the content of the appendices. Bullinger's depth of idiomatic passages is another strong point (his book on the same topic is a popular item among academic theologians).
13. The Open Bible: Completely Revised (NKJV, NASB)
This is another one of my favorites. I have worn out two previous versions. Unfortunately, this version is no longer in print and hard to find unless you want to pay big bucks. Unlike past versions, the NKJV version includes 4,500 study notes. And unlike many study bibles with three times the number of notes, the notes in the Open Bible do not get in the way of God's word with unsupported editorial bias.
The Bible's 300 page cyclopedic index (8,000 subjects and 300 word studies) is worth the price alone. The introductions and outlines to each book of the Bible have not been equaled by any of the versions of Bibles that I own. Also includes numerous visual Bible study aids and in-depth topics. I only wish it was available in a genuine leather (not bonded leather) version.
14. Scofield Study Bible 2002 edition (NKJV, NIV, NKJV, HCSB)
The Bible for most classical dispensationalists. Numerous topical articles, charts, lists, etc. Published by Oxford University Press. Probably the best constructed Bible (binding, paper, print, etc.) in this list.
15. The Dake Annotated Reference Bible (KJV)
The Dake contains a collection of over 35,000 commentary, lists, dispensational allegories, 500,000 cross-references, etc., whose length and number exceeds the actual Bible verses. Some of these items are quite bizarre.
Many charismatics are fanatical in their devotion to The Dake. Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland have drawn upon The Dake for many of their strange doctrines. I never thought I would find a Bible version that exceeded The Companion Bible in complexity, but The Dake is over the top. Quite a few items in its content are heretical (Dake is tritheistic, holds to aberrant kenoticism). I do not recommend the book for anyone who is not well-trained and has a solid grasp of proper biblical doctrines. The immature or new believer can be led astray in The Dake.
16. The Master Study Bible (KJV)
Published by Cornerstone Bible Publishers and used to be my main Bible. Was originally issued in NASB version, which I recently obtained from eBay and had rebound with a new hardcover. The uncommented Bible text of both translations is two full columns per page with center-column cross-references. No sectional divisions with the usual man-made headings. Just the chapters and verses. The KJV Master Study Bible contains a 407-page topical concordance in the front, and 571-page Encyclopedia of Biblical Knowledge in the back. Also contains numerous other helps, and a 63-page regular Concordance. Like carrying a library in one volume. As far as I can tell, the KJV translation is the Blayney edition.
17. ESV Study Bible
Four pounds! 2700 pages! On line version available to owners of this Bible. One of my favorites. Very scholarly and a Bible that will keep you deep in study for years. Read more here
This is the very first study Bible ever published. Contains original cross references; original study notes by Reformers; genuine leather; modern spelling; and easy-to-read print. Download Romans to view how this Bible looks here: http://www.tollelegepress.com/downloads/1599_Romans.pdf
I have other bibles, including Lockman NASB and NLT versions (get the new 2007 NLT translation in the 2008 Study Bible), and some that are more specialized, such as interlinears, reverse interlinear, Greek, and Hebrew versions and concordances.
I also have the e-sword Bible software. _________________ "All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors."-John Calvin
So far, just a few but always on the lookout for a good study Bible.
After using many others, we have happily settled down with the Nelson Study Bible NKJV, large print!
8) Thank you. Added to the need to acquire list. _________________ "All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors."-John Calvin
1. NASB Study Bible - published by Zodervan most recent copyright 1999
This is currently my main study Bible. I selected it because at the time it was supposedly the best literal translation of the Bible from generally available.
Other bibles in my library for reference and study are:
2. New Revised Standard Version - published by Holman Bible Publishers most recent copyright 1990
3. NIV Study Bible -
5. Ryrie Study Bible -
6. NIV regular Bible -
7. I have a KJV somewhere, but it has been a long time since I've used it.
At some point in the future, with the Lord willing it of course, I hope to acquire a chronological Bible, an archaeological Bible, and a transliterated Bible.
Newly Edited Post as of 11/18/09:
Christmas came early for me this year. While looking through a Christian Thrift store, I came across all books 50% off and found two of my wish list bibles. I bought the Chronological Bible and my mother bought me the Archaeological Bible as a early Christmas present.
I now am the happy owner of the following additional bibles:
8. The Narrated Bible in Chronological Order (NIV) Hard Cover - From what I've seen so far it is a wonder Bible to have to get a better grasp on the context of the events in their time period. I've only read a few chapters but the narration is there to help the historical flow of the text, but it is more like someone's study notes added into the Bible as narration. Some nice features of this Bible are the book and verse numbers are in the margin so you can cross reference when more than one book is being integrated. Also a cross reference of Scripture is included in the back of the Bible so if you want to find where a particular biblical passage is located in the chronological Bible then you can quickly find it. Also included in the back is a chronological list of "significant" events in the Bible to show the general flow of major events. (NOTE: A disclaimer is included in the front of the Bible saying that the Chronological Bible is not intended to replace the actual Bible but as a supplement)
9. Archaeological Study Bible (NIV) Large Print, Hard Cover - I'm really excited to have some archaeological evidence included in the Bible. I'm a very big believer in truth corresponding to reality and that all of our knowledge about reality will affirm the reality/truth of the Bible. This Bible in my small library will be greatly appreciated by me. _________________ "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
Last edited by freshmao on Wed Nov 18, 2009 6:36 pm; edited 1 time in total
Men's Study Bible - Promise Keeper's Edition - NIV
German, Italian, and French translations
Jefferson Bible _________________ "... I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Arthur C Clarke
I recently picked up a small TNIV New Testament. It has a blank page on the right for every page with text on the left. Has some elastic bands that wrap around it to keep it closed.
I am warming up to it and starting to place lots of notes on its blank pages. With over 300 blank pages I can add quite a bit of doctrinal notes and have a small NT to carry just about anywhere and be prepared for teaching and witnessing.
I was in the local Berean bookstore a few days ago and a woman struck up a conversation with me while I was sitting at a table reading. "What church do you attend?" started things off and it was not long before I was explaining unconditional election to her--contra to her Arminian beliefs. I think she and some of the customers lingering about in earshot had a chance to hear the gospel as they had never heard it before.
While at the store I placed a bunch of small strips of paper that I have made up in several books around the store. The strips contain three lines which read:
www.ReformedTheologyInstitute.com A ministry for Reformed theology, worship,
education, training, and discussion. _________________
I have not commonly used a Bible version for quite a long time. I particularly avoid "Study Bibles" because of their "private interpretational biases" which tend to place another corrective lens between the reader and the text (as if the very translation from the Bblical languages were not, of itself, lens enough!). When, by circumstance, I am forced to use an English text I very much prefer the New American Standard Version, 1971 edition, to subsequent revisions, well knowing that often the more likely original text is reflected in the margins. Though perhaps overly wooden, due to its very literal translational intent, it nevertheless gives the reader who is not familiar with the original languages the best reflection of what lies behind what he reads.
For Old Testament I use Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, Seventh Edition (based on the ben Asher text) as primary and, as secondary, Alfred Rahlfs 1952 5th Edition for the Septagint as my Greek version. For New Testament I use United Bible Societies 4/Nestle-Aland 27 (they both now print identical text -- difference being that USB4 prints more extensive notation for the more important variants, while the Nestle-Aland notes more variants but with less extensive notation). I prefer reading the USB text, simply because the vastly superior typeface chosen is the very best, and easiest to read, Greek typeface I have ever seen.
I very much appreciate the commentary regarding the various versions listed in this thread, some of which were new to me and consequently of great interest.
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Interesting RTI Poll
Who is "the seed" of the woman mentioned in Genesis 3:15
