Customer Reviews

Bullinger's Companion Bible, Indexed

5 star:		(129)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

It is unfortunate that many reviewers of the Companion Bible talk more of one man's ministry than of this most excellent bible. This bible is used by many ministries and a discussion of their merits and mistakes simply does not belong here. Let's stick to the subject matter, the book itself, shall we?

This bible is a King James Version and as such should be familiar to anyone. Each page is split in two, one side containing the KJV text and the other side containing E.W. Bullinger's notes. There is also an impressive set of appendices that cover almost any topic you could ask about.

As you read the KJV text, there are notations that tell you when Bullinger has something to say about the verse or word noted. These comments are in the side bar next to the KJV text. Here's a warning: to save space, Bullinger sometimes will reference a previous verse where he has already explained the word in question. Backtracking these quickly becomes a chore, so I use a Strong's Concordance to find the word faster. These 'notes' also help you to break the bible down into an organized outline, often revealing a deeper meaning in the texts.

The appendices included are small essays and charts explaining everything from Greek grammar, to Hebrew customs and figures of speech. You simply cannot understand any bible unless you fully read and understand Bullinger's appendices. Be warned that some appendices contain information that is controversial. Rest assured, however, that Bullinger offers biblical and historical proof for each of his statements. Judge for yourself if these have any merit.

E.W. Bullinger never really wanted his name associated with this bible so as to let his work, not his name, speak for itself. His comments in the Companion Bible reflect the time period in which he lived (late 1800's) and offer insight into many Christian theories that were new in his time, but to us now seem old. The rapture theory and the gap theory being two of these.

Buy this bible. Read this bible. Though you may disagree with some of Bullinger's comments, you will never regret your purchase.

There is no doubt in my mind that The Companion Bible is the best Study Bible available to date. No other Bible has the kind of exhaustive information found in this Bible. EVERY (absolutely EVERY) single page of verse has study notes. Many pages have more than half their space filled with study notes, both technical notes for hardcore readers, and helpful clarifications for the layman. And then there are the dates in the margin, the extensive structure outlines, and 198 comprehensive appendices in the back about everything from the Greek classification of figures of speech as used in the Bible, to weights and measures, to the day of Jesus' burial. I am appalled that this Bible is priced the same as other study Bibles, considering that its value far surpasses that of every other study Bible I have ever seen. Unfortunately, very few people know about The Companion Bible, or about E.W. Bullinger himself, who was truly a genius of his time. I have reviewed many Bibles, probaly 20 to 30 of the most popular on the market over the years, but I would recommend no other Bible before the Companion Bible. If you are serious about making the Word of God a part of your life, you have no excuse for not obtaining this Bible; The Companion Bible is a work of art and a definite must-have!

The fact is, that in order to understand the Fathers word we need to go back to the original languages. (You have read this from most of the other reviews, bar a few)

Also, we need to understand that the Scripture (s) when translated to English from the original tongues (in most cases) does not portray the true meaning of what the Father wrote. Make no mistake, this is done with a purpose! There are many scriptures that state that many of His children will not understand His word? Why? Because we do not take the time, knowledge brings wisdom and wisdom allows you to apply His word in your life. The more you apply His word the more He reveals to you.

What I will comment on is the legitimacy of the Companion Bible. The Companion is the KJV but it also gives you the option (along with other needed study tools) of reading and absorbing the meaning of the phrase, word, parable, etc, from the original language. Don't get me wrong many other Bibles also do this but they choose to do the research for you and then change the translation for you! Will you really allow a stranger make a life altering decision for you?

The Companion also leaves out mans traditional religious thinking. A reviewer wrote that Bullinger leaves out some of these traditions and that the Companion is based in part, on little or no true information. The Companions author had the wisdom to understand that no one flesh being completely understands all of the Fathers word. Bullinger gives you the options to form your own understanding. Bullinger comes clean and states that the answer is not clear or you can tell when something is supposition.

God states that His word is of no private interpretation. To gain Knowledge and wisdom which equates to the Fathers Blessings in your life, one must do their own study. This is what makes the Companion Bible so important for Gods children. If you are truly sincere in finding what God said in His letters to us, the Companion Bible is one of the reference tools you need. For the serious student it is a must. For the curious that have studied for themselves but have hit a dead end, it will inspire thoughts and questions. The Companion will allow you to start to understand Gods word for yourself. In a way that will answer many questions about the past, present and future periods of the time. Our role in the Fathers eternal plan depends on understanding scripture as correct as fleshly possible. The Companion allows you to rid yourself of the fantasy, mysticism, mystery and mans traditional thinking that has been wrongly injected into the Fathers Words.

With His Blessings.

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 Bible Companion by E.W. Bullinger is simply a King James Version Bible, with a great amount of helpful information in it's 198 appendixes'. It's marginal notes are often more helpful than some full concordances to the Greek and Hebrew translations. Bullinger clearly proves his appendixes with a full understanding of the word of God. This is not an opinion Bible, as most study Bibles. Rather a keen reference tool and KJV in one. God Bless you.

My first reaction to Bullinger's "companion" to God's Word was "are you kidding?! There's 3 times more notes than Bible text!"

A closer look reveals it's NOT mostly commentary like Scofield: but there are also so many word studies, grammatical helps, and historical side notes. I have a hard time using it as a devotional Bible, because the notes distract at first from the Bible text, yet give you a richer understanding of the original languages, figures of speech and double-entendres. For instance, some words have two or more alternate translations. Are they contradictions? The notes show which of these are actually a "play on words" because vowel-less Hebrew spells the different words the same,
This adds so much understanding that would have been lost to this Goyische mensch illiterate in Hebrew. Still, you really need a separate, simpler Bible for prayer and meditation. But the rich insights in this Study Bible will invigorate your quiet time with a Bible without notes and commentary.

Bullinger prefaces each of the 66 books with an outline showing various patterns of symmetry of each book. This proves to me that The Book is not random ramblings by a man. This structure also exposes the fallacy of other religious books ostensibly from a Midwest Angel in the US, or a prophet who abandoned conversion by heartfelt reason and instead chose fear of death by scimitar. Bullinger also cross references English and the original... gently exposing "King James-isms" without disrespect.

Examples: ° marks English words that have a side note that amplifies the meaning with a literal rendering or word study. For instance many Hebrew "plays on words" and figures of speech are lost to the English reader, until explained with the original language.

Is Esther a valid book in the "Canon"? It has been criticized that it never mentions God once. Bullinger shows the hidden repetition of God's Name, where God hid it from the hurried scholar. Similar Acrostics are commonly known in Psalm 119 but this book shows even more. With the Psalms, and other books he shows structural patterns and symmetry to the non-Hebrew reader. This gives me a new appreciation of the depth and beauty of God's Word, and increases my faith in the "now" of God.

The popular criticism that Isaiah was the work of 2-3 authors is clearly debunked by Bullinger's easy to understand analysis of the structure of the book.

Psalm 19 is one of 150 Psalms in the Protestant Bible, but 19 and 20 of 151 Psalms in the Douay. You can clearly see by the outline structure that this is one Psalm by One Author, proving that "the Word of God can shed a lot of light on commentaries."

In areas that may not seem to fully match modern interpretation, Bullinger's reverence and respect for the Word encourage you to seek your own personal touch from the Original Author. This work predates Israel's birth in 1948 by 50 years, which opened so much more the Bible to us. So some may quibble on a few points with the benefit of a century of hindsight. But a few chips against this lifetime work pale to insignificance against the new sense of beauty and awe you will feel toward the Author that Bullinger served.

If you get this book you will benefit from Bullinger's knowledge of Hebrew and Greek and proven devotion to God.
You will be enriched.

I've had several study bibles over the years and I was never really satisfied with any of them. Most study bibles now days are edited and written by theologically liberal would-be, so-called "scholars" (most of whom aren't even christians!), which always turned me off. (Zondervan Publishing is a particularly notorious offender in this regard).
I finially had to step back to a study bible written almost 100 years ago from a generation who took their bibles and faith VERY seriously. I have at long last settled on this jewel of a study bible as my number one "go to" study bible.
Dr. Bullinger was a fantastic Hebrew and Greek scholar as well as a good conservative Christian with an extremely high view of the scriptures. The Companion bible gets its name from the "companion" column of notes next to the main bible text. Having spent many many years working on this bible, Dr. Bullingers notes usually dwarf the bible text on most (though not all) pages.
Dr. Bullinger was an Ultra-dispensationalist. Ultra-dispensationalism is a misnomer by definition. Dispensation is the translation from the Greek word "oikonomia", a conjunction of the word "oiko" which means household and "nomos" which means law. The word is similar to our English word "economy" and is sometimes rendered "administration", which is a close equivalent. Therefore, to be "hyper" or "ultra" may be more of a compliment than an insult, for it would mean a very well run household in translation. This means he reveals the divided structure of the bible into seperate and distinct, extremely well organized sections or "dispensations" of administration according to Gods overall plan on dealing with man.
The Bible itself refers to dispensations in Eph. 1:10. "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." Again, here is the Greek word oikonomia (oy-kon-om-ee'-ah), which Strong's concordance defines as "administration (of a household or estate); specially, a (religious) `economy.''' This Greek word is also translated "stewardship" (Lk. 16:2-4). Thus, it is a period of time during which God is doing some particular work.
My only complaint about this study bible is that its age is really starting to show, and Kreger (the publisher) desperatley needs to update its formatting to current, modern-day standards. However the content is timeless (and priceless) and should not be tampered with. It is like having a scholar who spent his entire life studying the bible sitting right there next to you explaining the contexts of the Hebrew and Greek languages as well as outlining the "they's" and "them's" and what is being talked about.
This bible also has an exhaustive and very well researched appendix in the back to help in further studies on 198 different topics. This study bible is just amazing in every way and makes every modern day study bible look like the sad jokes they are by comparison.
I am so glad it is still availible after almost 100 years! Very highly recommended!

I have read many of the reviews submitted by readers, all of which are true, other than one person who said to 'save your money'. I have read this bible for over two years. I do a daily bible study using The Companion Bible. Please, purchase this bible -- it will be the greatest investment you make because it is the most true word found, other than KJV 1611.

Folks, if ever you intend to grow in truth of the word, than this is a must have. Bullinger is rare due to the fact that he brings this Bible to us as one of FEW who translated from the original Masorah. That is a huge fact, folks! Who do we have nowadays who have actually read from the Masorah? Do you not wonder how there can be so many versions of The Bible, yet none of these individuals have the following that Bullinger does? The Companion Bible is chock full of more truth than you will ever find in any other bible.

In reading this bible, it is important that you use the study tools with it. A Strong's Concordance is necessay, as well as The Smith's Bible Dictionary. When you apply yourself and truly study the words from this bible, it will amaze you what you thought you knew, to find out you do not!

I submit this review only because I care that folks receive truth. While we may never understand the whole truth where the bible is concerned, we must make wise choices based upon fact. Bullinger had/has more fact than anyone. If you are wise, you will review who Bullinger is which will explain my confidence in his work, The Companion Bible.

This would have 5 stars if not for the cheap printing.
I have already written a review but since owning this bible, I am even more disappointed than I was when I first took it out of the box. I have spent the last few days reading my Companion Bible and doing some bible marking. First, I went to highlight a verse and the ink in the verse smudged across the rest of the text. Finally, I took a break and went to the restroom, there was ink ALL over my face from the cheap printing. Someone in their comments wrote that this bible was made with nice smudge proof ink. What, were they joking? Was this an employee of Kregel Publishing?
For such an incredibly written bible, I cannot believe Kregel would not put a little extra effort in the making of this book.
I've finally found the right bible, one with exceptional notes and helps and they have to go and make it as cheaply as they can.
I can't express my disappointment enough.

I have owned a Companion Bible for close to 5 years. I have forgotten how many different Bibles I have. This one is the best & it is better than any other I have, including Schofield's.

The companion column notes & outline structures can get overwhelming & distracting. I have found this method works well: 1) decide upon a passage to read, 2) read the outline structure for the passage, 3) read the selected passage through disregarding the companion column notes; which are definitely plentiful, 4) reread your selected passage & read the notes as you go through it this time.

Otherwise, beginners & those not well acquainted with the Bible could easily become inundated with information. Hang in there & you will find that the Companion Bible will become your favorite Bible.

Also, be sure to read the Introduction before reading your first verse. It is IMPORTANT!! I did not & later had to.

I do not believe exactly as Bullinger, but he is better than Scholfield, in my opinion. Remember: all men make mistakes & Bullinger was only a man.

Also remember: there is not a "perfect" Bible on the planet that is completely error-free in translation nor has completely error-free notes, both of which are done by men. Otherwise there would not be such a variety of "versions/translations" on the market. Believe me when I say that there are alot worse out there. Some are just down right trash.

Stay in the Word & follow the Holy Spirit's guidance. You will learn alot & pick out Bullinger's errors. A Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Green's Interlinear, & Smith's Bible Dictionary are also valuable tools to acquire to help you with your Bible study.