KJV First Scofield Study Bible [Leather Bound]

Thomas Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 1999

A classic reference Bibled edited by Rev. C.I. Scofield and full of study helps.

Product Details

• Leather Bound: 1650 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Indexed edition (April 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0529109549
• ISBN-13: 978-0529109545
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,564,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An individual but compelling interpretation, May 6, 2003

By 

Christopher J Bailey (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: KJV First Scofield Study Bible (Leather Bound)

Here's a great example of the kind of good old-fashioned Bible scholarship that nobody seems to be doing anymore. C. I. Scofield had a very particular and sometimes even quirky way of interpreting the Bible, and his edition of the Bible is devoted to presenting that particular interpretation. That's both its strength and its weakness.

You won't find a balanced assessment of different schools of thought here. Scofield just dismisses anyone who disagrees with him as "puerile." Instead, what you get is a detailed exposition of his theory of "dispensations"--different periods in which God tested man's obedience to some specific revelation of his will.

Scofield writes notes on only those parts of the Bible that interest him and support his interpretation. The New Testament is much more heavily annotated than the Old, and in the Old Testament the Prophets are much more heavily annotated than the historical books, where often more than fifteen pages can go by without a footnote. If something puzzles you in one of the passages that don't interest him, Scofield gives you no help.

Scofield also omits the original King James translators' marginal notes and alternative readings, some of which are helpful to the average reader. One example I just happened to notice: Deuteronomy 32:44, where to "Hoshea the son of Nun" the King James translators added a note, "Or, Joshua," reminding us that Hoshea and Joshua are the same person. This particular verse apparently didn't interest him, so Scofield provided no note.

In short, this is not really a reference or study Bible; it's the text of the King James Version used as an extended illustration of Scofield's own theology.

Scofield's interpretation is compelling, however, and even if you're one of those "puerile" readers who don't always agree with him, you really ought to make his acquaintance. This book puts you in touch with one of the truly great minds of Biblical scholarship, and in fact its greatest strength is in how clearly Scofield's mind shines forth, with all its quirks and peculiarities. Every note will make you think. And if you disagree with him, so much the better--you'll think harder.

This facsimile edition is on the whole well printed. Some pages in my copy showed enough broken type and faded spots to remind me that I was reading a facsimile, but never enough to interfere seriously with legibility. The modern publishers have added Scofield's essay "Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth," which gives us even more insight into Scofield's thinking but is not nearly as entertaining as his notes in the Bible text itself.

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OLD FAITHFUL, November 23, 2000

By 

Michael JR Jose (the UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: KJV First Scofield Study Bible (Leather Bound)

I must now replace my worn out KJV Scofield Reference Bible (1967 ed.) which I received as a gift in thirty years ago, and I find that there is still nothing quite like it on the market. Although text critical scholarship may have moved on, the basics of a book that has lasted millenia do not change in a mere century. As chief editor to the combined bible, commentary, and chain reference Scofield provides the basics - and more - very well indeed. I have found nothing quite so precise, so concise, and nothing displaying such moderation and common sense, all couched in a style with minimal jargon.

For the Old Testament there is a one-page introduction to the Pentateuch, the historical books, the poetic and wisdom books, and the prophetic books. For example, there is a description of the key technique of Hebrew poetry (parallelism of thought) in the introduction to the poetical and wisdom books. The basic variations on this technique are demonstrated with great clarity and economy. For the New Testament there is an introduction to the gospels, the epistles of Paul, and the general epistles.

One of my most loved features is the concise concordance at the back, which is compiled with an eclectic brilliance. Some of the footnotes are small masterpieces of exposition, some push concepts such as typology much too far. But I do not suppose Scofield would have declared this work to be perfect, or incapable of being usefully updated - and it would be hard to say that about any reference book.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OLD FAITHFUL, November 23, 2000

By 

Michael JR Jose (the UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: KJV First Scofield Study Bible (Leather Bound)

I must now replace my worn out KJV Scofield Reference Bible (1967 ed.) which I received as a gift in thirty years ago, and I find that there is still nothing quite like it on the market. Although text critical scholarship may have moved on, the basics of a book that has lasted millenia do not change in a mere century. As chief editor to the combined bible, commentary, and chain reference Scofield provides the basics - and more - very well indeed. I have found nothing quite so precise, so concise, and nothing displaying such moderation and common sense, all couched in a style with minimal jargon.

For the Old Testament there is a one-page introduction to the Pentateuch, the historical books, the poetic and wisdom books, and the prophetic books. For example, there is a description of the key technique of Hebrew poetry (parallelism of thought) in the introduction to the poetical and wisdom books. The basic variations on this technique are demonstrated with great clarity and economy. For the New Testament there is an introduction to the gospels, the epistles of Paul, and the general epistles.

One of my most loved features is the concise concordance at the back, which is compiled with an eclectic brilliance. Some of the footnotes are small masterpieces of exposition, some push concepts such as typology much too far. But I do not suppose Scofield would have declared this work to be perfect, or incapable of being usefully updated - and it would be hard to say that about any reference book.