SEVEN: My favorite study Bibles

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Below are my favorite study Bibles and Study Aids

 

    

    The Companion Bible, by E.W. Bullinger: Thumb Indexed, Black Bonded Leather.

 This beautiful reference work is excellent ., April 10, 1999 Review: In this generation where technology abounds and biblical works are polluted with man's traditions, I am glad to see that a great work such as the Companion Bible by E.W. Bullinger remains unchanged. Of course, there may be very small flaws in this work but we must remember that the author was not privy to the prophecy that has taken place since its' writing. To the beginning Christian, this work offers a great amount of knowledge in providing you a plan on how to study our Fathers word as well as providing a excellent study on the meaning of Hebrew, Chaldea, and Greek words that have different meanings than what the English rendition would have you to believe.

To the in depth student or scholar it provides a excellent source for studying the languages and meanings since it brings in to play text from the MASSORAH and figures of speech that are sometimes misunderstood. It also provides a section of appendixes which are rich in research and information from the only CHRISTIAN SCHOLAR that GINSBERG allowed to proof read the MASSORAH. Take it from a student and a follower of our Fathers word when I tell you that this work along with a good Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible is invaluable. It is like having a set of the original manuscripts that our Fathers word was translated from. God Bless you all.

 

       The Geneva Study BIBLE: Black Leather, Indexed.

 
 

    

The first Geneva Bible opened the pages of Scripture to readers in the vernacular of the day and provided helpful notes to assist the laity in understanding its message. The New Geneva Study Bible, under the editorial leadership of reformed scholars such as R.C. Sproul and J.I. Packer, offers a modern restatement of Reformation truth. The NGSB was a great addition to my personal library. Not only is the NKJV incredibly easy to read and less watered down than most popular Bibles it is closer to the original than most. I would recommend the NGSB not only for the version it is written in but also because it contains excellent reference notes and scripture explanations.

For any reformed Christian who desires to get more in-depth in their personal walk with our Living Savior I would challenge them to view or purchase the NGSB and see for themselves. Taste and see how sweet the Word of God is through this well prayed for text. R.C. Sproul is an incredible teacher of the scripture and it is all laid out for the reader in the NGSB...I've been using study bibles for two decades and I've *never* found a better one. Finally, we have a fully theologically-sound, Grace-centered study bible, with notes and essays from the best scholars (Packer, Sproul, Boice, etc.). Everyone in my church either has one or is getting one. NOTE: If you have any trouble getting the Geneva Study Bible listed above - use this link for a newer, revised version, which I highly recommend! The link is below, from Amazon.com, naturally.

      NIV Study Bible, Black Top Grain Leather Indexed
by Kenneth L. Barker, (Editor)
 

    

This limited edition is part of the Fall '99 NIV Bible Sale. We are only printing 25,000 units.

Feature for feature, The NIV Study Bible is far and away the finest study Bible available. It is like getting a Bible and a reference library (concordance, atlas, chart book, Bible survey book, topical reference, and a verse-by-verse commentary) in one easy-to-use volume. The NIV Study Bible, which has sold over 4 Million copies, combines the world's best-selling Bible translation--the New International Version--with an astonishing wealth of information. Its 20,000 notes, in-text charts and maps, and comprehensive book introductions have made it a favorite, keeping it on the Bible best-sellers list since its release over 11 years ago. This limited edition will meet the needs of customers who want the full-featured NIV Study Bible in a durable, affordable binding. Since it makes a perfect Christmas gift, it will be a main feature of the NIV Christmas Sale this Fall. This edition is available only as a one-time print run of 25,000 units.

* 20,000 in-text study notes * 100,000 center-column cross references * 80 in-text charts and maps * 62-page subject and note index * 23 pages of full color maps and timelines * A 145-page concordance * Comprehensive book introductions and outlines * Archaeological and historical backgrounds * Study icons * The words of Christ in red * The world's best-selling Bible translation: the NIV

 

The Bible As It Was
by James L. Kugel

    

     
The New York Times Book Review, Phyllis Trible  - Interpretation is as old as Scripture itself.... Kugel, the Star Professor of Hebrew Literature at Harvard University, shows that what Scripture began, its readers continued. His main purpose is to provide a detailed look at how the Torah, the first five books, was interpreted in antiquity, most particularly from the third century B.C. through the first century A.D.
James Kugel's The Bible As It Was is an eye-opening study of early scriptural interpretation. Kugel focuses on readings of the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) from 100-300 A.D., particularly the Jewish tradition of midrash--a practice of filling in the narrative gaps where biblical stories are ambiguous or unclear.

Kugel's interest in midrash is more than academic, however. He wants readers to consider the ways these early readings of the Bible affect today's popular understandings of scriptural texts (such as the sacrifice of Isaac or the creation in Genesis); and he provides a convincing description of the richness and complexity that informs what seem to many like simple, commonsense readings of scripture. "The Bible as it was" is a wonderful and exhaustive work regarding scriptural interpretation and the first five books of the Bible. Early Jewish tradition was to fill in interpretive information when necessary to resolve items that were ambiguous or unclear. In addition, notes and commentary were often passed along with the texts and over time tended to become a part of the text. As a result, the Bible of today includes a lot of commentary as well as the original texts.

Kugel's purpose is to try to reconstruct the Bible as it was in its original form as closely as possible. While we all know that no copies of the original Bible exist today, the King James version was based on the Textus Receptus which was a Greek translation of the Bible and considered the oldest reliable source at the time. Since then there have been many archaeological finds of manuscripts from earlier points in time and in the original Hebrew language. Many of these passages differ somewhat from current translations. In theory, the older versions should be closer to the original version. Working from the oldest texts he examines some of the differences in the way passages were interpreted and what that could mean. This gets us closer to an original version without all the intervening thoughts and interpretations that earlier writers had added in an attempt to make it more understandable and applicable to the people of their time. Dr. Kugel thoroughly documents his work complete with quotes, sources and annotations as appropriate. A fascinating book that sheds new light onto many passages it should be read by anyone attempting a serious and scholarly study of the Bible.