Customer Reviews

Life Application Study Bible, Indexed, NASB

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have always considered the Life Application Study Bible to be the best study bible ever made. Unlike most other study bible I own which offer a more doctrinal and expositional approach, this bible approaches God's Word in a very practical and timely method thereby making an impact in our day to day living. The recent addition of the NASB version further made the best even better for it is an accepted fact that NASB is the most literal translation of the bible in English today. The genuine leather is of a high quality and the printing excellent, which is expected from Zondervan. If you need a study bible which will make you connect to God's Word in your daily life, this is it!

If you're really serious about owning and studying from a true translation of the original Greek and Hebrew language, the Life Application NASB is for you! Because it is an Life Application version, its 10,000 study notes, 100+ profiles, maps, charts and diagrams, concordance and much more makes it even better.

The only downside to the NASB is with its readability because it is the most literal word-for-word translation. However, the new updated NASB has made it easier to read without sacrificing accuracy as does the other translations such as the NIV, NKJV, or the NLT.

As a bible instructor I use this version exclusively, as well in all my writings and publications. Again, if you're a serious student of the Bible, the NASB Life Application Bible is the best. If you're just a causal reader you might want to consider another translation because the NASB is written at the college level, whereas the NIV and the NLT is written for 8th and 6th grade levels respectively.

If you can only afford one Bible, this is the one. It's like having a commentary built into your Bible and the maps and amenities are fabulous. Zondervan BTW is an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of customer service. I had a small defect in my Bible and with one e-mail, Zondervan replaced the Bible with no questions asked.....and they didn't even request that I return the defective Bible. WOW!

There are three big decisions involved in getting a Bible, not counting expense.

The first is the translation. If you want something to give you an easy, casual reading, and you don't care about accuracy, then the NASB is not for you. If you want something that is fairly accurate, but don't really care if it is precise or not, then the NASB may or may not be the best choice for you.

If, however, you believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and you want it translated into readable modern English as precisely as possible, because you want to apply the Word of God to your own life, then there is NO other translation that will do. From my perspective in comparing both the Hebrew and the Greek, there is no other translation that even comes close to the NASB for accuracy, with the possible exception of the NKJV, which to me ranks a fairly distant second.

The NASB is written in clear, readable 12th-grade-level English. That makes it a bit difficult to read for some. If you are willing to put forth the effort to let your life be stretched by the Word, however, is it not also worth the effort to let your English be stretched by the most accurate translation?

One of the commentators on here mentioned that he preferred the NRSV over the NASB for accuracy. I'm afraid that is simply not correct. The NRSV is loaded with inaccuracies in translation, which appear to me to have been deliberately inserted to skew the translation in favor of a particular theological viewpoint, making it one of the LEAST accurate translations available.

The second big decision is what kind of study helps to get. I find the Life Application editions well organized, easy to use, and Biblically sound, but to each their own. I suggest looking at some friends' copies to decide for yourself.

The third is what kind of cover. The top-grain leather is the only one that will last a lifetime. (I know, I've worn out two split-grain editions and a couple of vinyl editions.)

Don't think of it as a book. Think of it as a lifetime companion on the road to glory.

This bible is a literal fresh perspective of the word of GOD. I think there are areas of the scripture that leave you confused if you are a NIV, KJ,...reader. The largest reason for this was a lack of literal translation prior to the NASB. When in doubt the dictionary in the back will help solve that problem prior to reading the scripture notes at the bottom of each page.

The scripture notes really allow one to understand how the scripture relates to and about life. The features in this bible are top notch. This bible can give you light and understanding you have never known.

If you do your research, you will see that this is the best quality bible for a thumb indexed NASB Life Application Bible. If you want your bible to last as long as your notes in the bible, then this is the bible for you. Top grain cowhide rather than bonded leather is the way to go. Spend the money up front and get this bible. You won't be sorry.

I bought this Bible to replace a bible that was bound with the "Bonded Leather" method. Other Bibles on Amazon.com listed "Bonded Leather" as the method, and this one was listed as "Leather Bound" in contrast.

So I thought I was getting a Genuine Leather Bound Bible. I was wrong. I returned this Bible to Amazon and ordered one that was clearly described as Genuine Leather Bound.

Bonded Leather is less durable than Genuine Leather. My current Bible is losing flakes of the "bonded leather at the edges and it is spreading across the covers.

I have no comments on the actual contents of this Bible as I never removed the shrink wrap once I saw that the cover said "Bonded Leather".

It is probably a great Bible, but Amazon is doing a disservice with its description of the "bound" style.

I bought this for my husband. We both like the accuracy of the NASB, but it is hard to find a "Life Application" in this version, in the Christain bookstores. Also, the version itself when leather bound is usually high. The list price is absolutely accurate at over $80. I was lucky to get this at a sale price. The leather was black and had gold edging. Very nice.

Nice Bible as expected from Zondervan, was expecting a genuine leather cover though instead of Bonded as received.

It is a vast academic reference--containing maps and a multitude of assisting tools throughout for Berean scrutiny. I, without hesitation, rate this Bible holding all 5 stars!

I personally would not have thought of adding such an abundance of accommodating references. The intro info and footnotes wax wisely for brain storage, but I would have added and subtracted concerning some and I do so in the margin areas. I must tell you, however, for your comfort, that I would never add or subtract from the inerrant Word of God.

The concordance isn't perfect. But of course, a Bible should not weigh a ton so I understand and have not minded adding my own desired references in the margins. I thoroughly enjoy the definitions set beside most words and the "Index to Notes" is an added plus for locating scriptures. However, I would have added this to the "Dictionary-Concordance-Thesaurus" section so one isn't continually bouncing back and forth.

The "Harmony of the Gospels" falls after the book of John and I would have set it before the Gospels. You don't notice it unless you happenstance upon it. Added to the Gospel harmony are sectioned verse references on the death and resurrection of Christ, His parables and miracles. Nice and very concise!

My Bible is severely worn which speaks volumes concerning my use of it and how I thoroughly enjoy it.

Those seeking to be true Bible scholars should also own a "Cruden's Compact Concordance" as it is small and easy to grab for quick verse hunting. A vast reference concordance such as Strong's comes in handy for deeper intrusive study but it is encombersome. I also find a Bible Dictionary, such as Unger's, a delving must. Amazon carries reasonable priced new and used copies of all.