Customer Reviews

Dake Annotated Reference Bible-KJV

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

. . . but I'm adding it anyway.

First off, I should say that I am *not* a Biblical scholar; my religious "training" is solely based on a churchgoing upbringing and liberal arts-oriented (but not religious) education. Even though I'm not a religious scholar by any stretch of the imagination, I do find that I can sort out fact from opinion. As long as you've got some sort of foundation in Christian religion (I specify "Christian" not to exclude other religious but only to make clear the needed background for reading this text), you will most likely be able to make your own judgements regarding Dake's opinions.

***Also, don't forget that opinions DO have their plus side! They make you think, mentally aruge, search for scriptures, and review your own beliefs.***

I find the tremendous amount of annotating to be fascinating. Because of it, I find myself reading each chapter, each verse more carefully and analytically than I have with any other study Bible. Dake's abundance of information as well as his opinionated stance force the reader to read carefully and thoughtfully.

The Greek translations are numerous; if the origins of words do not interest you, I would consider that a reason not to buy this text, simply because there are so many translations. I do like the abundant translations, as I find that they enrich the text. I was just reading in Luke, and it's fascinating (for example) to see how many words this physician uses that are medical in nature.

The cross-referencing is invaluable. The only thing I can think of that rivals it is computer software that allows you to search scripture. The cross-referencing has the advantage of not being merely a word-search but instead referencing similar themes and concepts.

Overall: I would certainly buy this again for myself. I would recommend it to people who are interested in nitpicking (in a good way!) scripture. It's not for the impatient reader or for the reader who would prefer just a statement of facts (as much as a statement of facts can exist, unclouded by opinion). It's not an easy read, and it's not a Bible I would recommend to someone who's beginning Biblical study (something like the HarperCollins NRSV might be better for the individual who's just setting out on Biblical analysis; the footnotes, for one thing, are far less daunting).

One final note, something others have commented on: BUY THE LARGE PRINT EDITION! Being 25, I assumed that the large print version was meant for the farsighted and older individuals. Luckily, I purchased this in a store, where I could compare the large and regular print. The regular print version is tiny, tiny, tiny, and the lines are very close together. You don't lose anything by switching type sizes; both Bibles contain exactly the same amount of information. The only thing you risk losing with the regular print is your sight.

This is a Bible that will present loads of information; some may feel overloaded. You also have to be ready to deal with commentary and interpretation that may not coincide with what you've been taught or have come to believe yourself. However, I repeat that this quality can be a plus, in that it forces you to be analytical about not only Deke's opinions but your own as well. I give this four instead of five stars because I deducted a star for its potential inaccessibility to some audiences and the fact that it could be downright confusing for those not prepared to deal with interpretive commentary.

I make it a goal of mines to read the whole Bible yearly. To make things interesting, I use different translations every year. I find that the Dake Annotated Reference Bible-KJV is pressed down, shaken together, and running over with information that no other Bible has. It is a manna fest! Often times I get so full of reading and studying the Dake as well as the Amplified Bible that it is my meditation all the day and night. You will find gold nuggets everywhere; words and sentences that you will take for granted; the Dake Bible will define and amplify it. I often find myself in shock! Your biblical knowledge will grow leaps and bounds if you properly read and study the Dake Annotated Reference Bible-KJV. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom, knowledge,and revelation of His WORD and to deposit every WORD into all of your facilties; your very being and He will store his sweet, aged wine inside of you.

I highly recommend the Dake's and consider it a must read to all Bible Students.

Ardree

I would not recommend this Bible to the novice. First get a good handle on solid Bible doctrine. Consult a good Bible Dictionary and other study Bibles and Bible aids and doctrinal books. Then you will notice how many of the notes in this Bible are wrong and heretical. I expected some of that (e.g. the millennialism and dispensationalism, which I disagree with). What I didn't expect were Dake's teaching that God has a physical body (Mormon's believe this!)--see notes on John 4:24 and Col 1:15. In other words, he takes what has been traditionally regarded as anthromorphisms literally! In the same vein he teaches that Satan could not have entered Judas because Satan has a spirit body--see note on Luke 22:13. He teaches that Jesus' sonship cannot refer to His diety and that Jesus was not the only begotten Son from eternity because "today" can only pertain to human time--see note on Acts 13:33. Dake says in the Preface that he rejects all personal theories, but then right from the start gives us what is known as the Gap Theory in the Genesis creation account. The Gap Theory has been soundly refuted (see "Old Earth Creationism On Trial" by Chaffey and Lisle, pp. 165ff., or "The New Answers Book" by Ken Ham, pp. 47ff., which specifically mentions Dake and Scofield). Since only God controls the forces of nature, like wind and waves (Psalm 104:4; 148:8), one would logically assume that Jesus' miracles were told to give historical evidence of His deity (Matthew 8:27; John 20:30-31; Col 2:9; 2 Peter 1:16). Not so, says Dake. Dake claims, contrary to John 10:17-18, that Jesus "claimed no power in Himself, but always attributed what He did to the Holy Spirit upon Him"--see note on Mark 7:48. Examples of faulty opinions like this abound. Dake's unorthodox ideas about God (tritheism) and salvation (not exactly a justification by grace through faith alone theology) causes me to downgrade my original rating from a three star to a one star. If you want to know the thinking that goes into formulating doctrines (including false doctrines or heresies) or if you like to be challenged to think and to defend beliefs about which you may have become complacent, then this Bible certainly gives you that.

On the plus side, amidst the error, there is a wealth of information and lists. Dake gives the reader much to think about. Unfortunately, I have trouble trusting his information because when someone I know is wrong in certain areas, it effects how willingly and without hesitation I can accept other things that person may say. The four column format and correlation of notes (arranged alphabetically and not by verse numbers) is cumbersome and takes some getting used to. The print is very tiny. This will definitely be a Bible that I will use to challenge my thinking.

I bought this for my pastor. He had specifically requested this Bible. Why? Because many of the research tools are right there in one place, or direct him to other resources. You can't really improve on the Bible, being God's Word, but you can improve on the way it is presented. Personally I dislike the way today's modern translations seem to stumble through the text and at times say things altogether different than the King James Version. I'm not saying the KJV is the perfect translation, but for me it works. These paraphrased works should be recognized as such and not treated as literal translations. That really bothers me, especially when people start building dogmas around the paraphrased version. If you are going to get deeper than the KJV then you need the Dake Annotated Reference Bible. That is unless you're like my son who studies the Greek and Hebrew text and then compares it with the English text. If you don't know the ancient languages it's a bit difficult to do that. Dake's is your next best thing.

Finis Dake was probably the most knowledgeable Bible commentator ever to live. This Bible, with commentary from Mr. Dake from a Pentecostal perspective, has an untold number of comments regarding nearly every scripture in God's word; it is the only source for Bible commentary you will ever need.

This is a wonderful study Bible. Finis Dake was said to have spent tens of thousands of hours studying the Scriptures, and the annotations in this Bible are the result of that. The thing I appreciate about Dake is his deep love and respect for the Word of God. If you read his books, you will be bombarded by reference after reference to the Scriptures. Whether or not you agree with his theology, you have to respect that he tried to base any and every teaching statement he made on the Bible. Personally, I agree with a lot of Dake's theology, but not everything. This does not dampen my appreciation for his annotated Bible in the least. If you are looking for a flawless book, I would recommend a Bible...without annotations! Anything added is going to be subject to human fallibility. But if you are looking for a really great tool to help you study the Bible, I would totally recommend Dake's Annotated Reference Bible. If you happen to be a Christian whose theological beliefs align with Dake's, you will find this invaluable. If not, there is still much to appreciate here, and I am certain that you will find it a useful study tool. My only personal complaint is that when I read it, I tend to get sidetracked by the annotations so I could end up studying something totally different from what I set out to!

Mr Dake was nothing short of amazing. This is an excellent Bible to have. The work is very extensive. However, it is not flawless. Therefore, everything in the notes is not to be taken as 'gospel'.

One example is the author indicates in note [i] on the Exodus page that Joseph died 144 years before Israel left Egypt or 64 years before Moses was born; Now this note cannot be right, given that only 70 persons went down to Egypt because of the famine. The math also will not work out when you consider the mass of people that the Lord delivered out of Egypt.

On the other hand the Works of Josephus indicates that the children of Israel were in Egypt a period of 400 years before deliverance came - this in my opinion is the correct time span.

I have found other errors in his end-time interpretations, but this post will be too long to really elaborate fully. This book is a wonderful study guide, but be aware, this is the work of one man, and he may not have been flawless in all of his work.

What a shame that a man's lifetime work for God is dismissed in such an offhanded manner. I've read the websites and the allegations, and I've also read the information that the Dake family has been so forthcoming with in an effort to clear up the confusion. Rev. Dake himself admitted to his wrong doing in violation of the Mann Act (in transporting a minor over state lines). But the truth of the matter is that this transport involved taking a minor across state lines in an effort to help her secure work. She was a runaway, and incorrigible, and Rev. Dake was attempting to help this girl turn her life around. The girl in question herself states that nothing inappropriate ever took place between her and Rev. Dake. His family and congregation stood by him the entire time of his arrest, and subsequent imprisonment for the violation of the Mann Act. Rev. Dake lived on a border town, between Illinois and Missouri I believe, and it was very common for citizens to drive back and forth between towns in the two states. Rev. Dake pleaded guilty to the offense of transportation of an underage person, and served 6 months voluntarily in an effort to spare his family a court trial. He resumed the care of his congregation, put the entire thing behind him, and his greatest work for God was begun during this time of personal trial and suffering while in prison. Please, read the facts. Also, if there theological items in this study bible you do not agree with, read with discernment, be blessed by what you do agree with, and let other folks be blessed also.

The print was so small that I actually had to use a magnifing glass to read it. After one page, I decided to send it back. When I say the print is small, I mean the print is really....really small.

I have used the Dake Annotated Reference Bible for over thirty years. This Bible is one of the best, if not THE best study aid around for Christian studies. It is filled with commentary, a great concordance, Hebrew and Greek words and on and on. You will find teachings in this Bible that many churches and ministers don't understand but Dake gives tons of scripture to back up each of his teachings. If I had to pick three study aids to help me study Christianity, this would be number 1 followed by a Strong's Concordance and probably a Thompson Chain Reference Bible. You definitely won't be disappointed with this book!