Customer Reviews

Life Application Study Bible NIV

5 star:		(165)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I was recently asked by someone who had read some of my reviews which study Bible I recommended. Such a hard question, since there are many excellent ones available! My answer to him compared the NIV Life Application Bible and the NIV Study Bible. Here are my thoughts on these two, plus comments on the Quest Study Bible as well.

The Quest Study Bible doesn't go as deep. I think it's perfect for someone who is just beginning to study the Bible and has lots of questions like those that are answered in the Quest Study Bible. However, that's not to say that I already know all the answers to those questions! ;-o It just doesn't go much deeper than those questions.

I have in front of me the NIV Study Bible and the Life Application Bible NIV. They are both excellent - either one would go deeper into the Word than the Quest Study Bible.

The obvious differences to me are as follows:

Text The Life Application Bible (LAB) has the text straight across the page - the NIV Study Bible has the two-column layout. I think I prefer the two-columns. It is easier to get through some of those Old Testament books such as 1/2 Chronicles! ;-o However, this is very much a matter of personal preference.

Notes The notes, while excellent in both Bibles, are different in tone. The NIV Study Bible notes are very objective and purely informational. One of the downsides to the LAB, for me anyway, is that sometimes the notes in the LAB get rather preachy and sometimes go far afield of the text. I'm not saying asking personal applications is a bad thing, but if you're doing a lot of reading in that Bible, it might get to be a bit much. The tone of the notes is is the reason I gave this Bible 4 stars instead of 5! A note might ask "Do you believe that God can help you? Do you really want his help?" (note for Matt 9:27-30)

Other helps In the back of the LAB, there is an "Index to Notes" which includes the maps, charts, personality profiles, and the notes. It really isn't a concordance, but it is helpful.

The NIV Study Bible has an Index to Maps separately, an Index to Subjects, and a Concordance. The Concordance isn't exhaustive, of course, but it is much better than the one in the LAB.

The LAB wins the contest in the "Personality Profiles" category. They have quite a detailed description of all the key people you'll meet in the Bible - they often cover about 2/3 of a page!! In the NIV Study Bible, these personality notes are relegated to just a few lines in the Notes section! The LAB definitely is the winner in this category.

Both Bibles contain a Harmony of the Gospels, something I find really helpful. The LAB, however, numbers each event in the Gospels, and before the section in the text, it gives this number and then gives the passages in the other gospels that tell the same story. I found the number to be really helpful. The NIV Study Bible doesn't have such numbers.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea! Those are the main differences, I think!! Both Bibles are excellent. I haven't found any others that are better. I also have the NIV Living Insights Study Bible that has Chuck Swindolls notes, but the notes aren't as complete. Also, the "Word in Life Study Bible" is chockfull of different kinds of sidebars and articles and is just wonderful as well. I had purchased the Large-Print Edition of the NIV Study Bible because of some temporary vision problems. The Large-Print Edition of the NIV Study Bible doesn't have HUGE print - just a bit bigger than most Bibles. I still use that Bible a LOT and it's just comfortable reading. It is a bit bigger and heavier than my LAB, but not by a lot. I really like the larger type. You can get REALLY large print, but that's not what this.

I hope this is helpful! Please check out my other reviews of Bibles and other Christians books and contemporary Christian music!

I probably viewed plain English bibles in the same light a wine connoisseur would view wine-coolers at your local quick-stop. I found however, that the translations in this bible were not flipant and seemed to be carefully chosen. I greatly appreciate that passages are marked and noted in areas where the authors found slight divergences in one of the ancient Greek or Hebrew texts.

This bible is rich with maps so it is easy to see where the stories are located, how far journeys last and things like that. There are also summaries of the main characters and their roles in the stories -- a biblical "Cliff's notes" of sorts. Be careful though, as you might expect, your interpretation of a character's purpose in the story may be a bit different from that of the authors.

This is a great bible. Its ease of use has allowed me to increase my bible reading, without sacrificing accuracy or relevance to the original text. I can read more at one sitting without getting worn down pondering the meaning of Old English text.

One note of warning, however, an accurate, modern English translation of the 23rd Psalm (Ie. The Lord is my shepard, I shall not want. etc.,) falls absolutely flat. He doesn't "lay me down by still waters." He only "leads me by peaceful streams." Where the poet who wrote the King James bible would say "He restoreth my soul" this bible says He only "renews my strength." Yet, the care which is evident in other parts of the translation -- at least to a layman like me -- leads me to believe this is the more accurate translation, even if it is less poetic.

Enjoy this bible. It has become my friend.

There are so many good things about Tyndale's "Life Application Study Bible" (LASB) that I'm not sure where to start. The negatives are short and quick: (1) it contains too much typology, interpreting far too many events in the OT as announcing Christ, e.g., the burning bush was not Christ, but God himself; (2) it tends to get a little preachy in places; and (3) after a careful reading I found sixteen misspellings and intertext reference errors (which I submitted for correction in the next edition to the publisher).

But that's nothing compared with what you get: a set of concise book, event, and character outlines that are unmatched in current Bible publishing. The point of the LASB is to relate the Bible to our lives today, and not the way we lived 400 or even 2000 years ago; in other words, LASB's goal is to make the Bible directly relevant to its reader. It certainly succeeds.

Perhaps its least noticed but best feature is its one-column text format, giving the reader full verses. The poetry of the Psalms and within the prophetic books is retained and in metered format to distinguish it from prose and didactic sections. Loaded with footnotes explaining not only the what, where, who, but the why. The editors tell you WHO James is, and who his brother is, and give you hints to distinguish him from other Jameses. Each book is set up with an introduction, along with a "blueprint" model that gives the major themes of the book; a separate "megathemes" (meta is the proper word) section lays out the thematic significance of the book with explanation; and finally a "vital statistics" section that gives a quickview of the book's setting, key people, purpose, etc. The maps in the back are quite good, too.

So there's no reason you won't want this Bible, even as a supplement to more scholarly bibles like the New Revised Standard Version Oxford Annotated Edition. I highly recommend it.

I was in the market for a Bible that helped to shine light and understanding on God's word. Some (the Old testament) is hard to understand. But the writers of this Bible have put so much helpful information on every page. It helps me to meditate on the Scriptures, and to apply them to my daily life. This Bible brings to life the authors, the times in which they were written, and how they can benefit us today. It is truly "life's application bible".

How does one review the Good Book? With trepidation I suppose? Or not, for others... Here I am going to review it like any other book. You probably don't care about my feelings on the subject matter so I have limited myself to the book itself.

I've had this particular Bible since it was first released and have found it to be a fascinating read with enlightening footnotes and sidebars related to history. Introductions to each book provide the reader with info on the Author, time of writing, location of writing, circumstances under which the book was written, and to whom the book was written. Most 'study' Bibles include this sort of information. This one however, includes interesting footnotes and profiles of major characters including their strengths and weaknesses. There are also in-depth sections related to Bible prophecy, specifically those that were fulfilled by Christ, and the inter-relationships of the Gospel accounts, how they show different perspectives on the same events and how each tends to highlight different themes or events. Also included are a helpful index in the back and a well-written introduction about the origins of this particular study edition. Study maps in the back provide a good reference point for many of the accounts contained within.

I have had this Bible for years and I've enjoyed reading it. A more serious study of these texts might look to a Ryrie or Scofield study Bible or perhaps John MacArthur's revised New King James version which includes much info and disection of the original Greek and Hebrew texts. Hence the minus one star. Most people are not scholars of Hebrew or Greek so this rating can be taken with a grain of salt.

A good Bible for the starter or the mature believer. The Life Application Study Bible is easy to read and thought-provoking. Careful tho, these words may just change your life. You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Indeed.

First I would like to say that a Bible has been sent to the person from LATVIA above. (Just in case other Christians were wondering if someone has responded to the request....)

If you've ever had difficulty understanding the significance of certains passages in Scripture, the study notes in this Bible really make the Scriptures come alive! One feature I really like is the user-friendly page layout, with the reference column being on the side, rather than down the center of each page. This really opens up the page and invites you to read what's written on it. There are 16 pages of full color maps in the back, along with a generous 24 blank page notetaking section, in addition to the .75 inch margin throughout the text.

I would not hesitate recommending the Life Application Study Bible to anyone who wants to understand the Scriptures better. It would also be the perfect choice for any first-time Bible reader or someone new to the faith because of the explanatory notes and charts throughout the book. You won't find this Bible just sitting on your shelf and collecting dust....

I plan to purchase a copy for myself-I'm always reading my wife's copy! I found this version to be of great value for the wealth of resource information it provides, as well as the easier-to-read language (vs. KJV which I use in church services for it's accuracy). With the KJV, I've used footnotes and scriptural cross references to gain understanding but the Life Application Bible provides so much information throughout each chapter I'm reading. My study is much more efficient!

Let's face it, if you are considering this Bible you are most likely not searching for the ultimate end all version of a book which will change your life. You are more than likely an individual who has already made that all important personal decision in your life to follow Christ. And you are also most likely someone who picked up either your family bible or the one you have heard so much about (KJV) and tried to read it. While I will always maintain personally the KJV contains the most beautiful and poetic scripture (maybe most accurate based on original texts, I'm not a biblical scholar, just a Christian), there are times when I feel overwhelmed tackling chapter upon chapter of thous arts thines and ye's.

Many years ago I received a copy of the NIV and found it much easier to read and understand than my KJV, albeit less poetic. I remembered this after I had been born again and searched for understanding in my new life. As I stated earlier, if you are considering this particular Bible, you are most likely NOT interested in an evaluation of the NIV translation, nor the Bible itself. I'm writing under the assumption you already like the NIV translation of the Bible, and want to find a Bible which can help you bring the Word of God, as well as it's context and surroundings, closer to you, so you can apply them to your life, right now.

The life application bible has done this for me. Of the voluminous text, I have read and am rereading the New Testament, and am roughly 600 pages shy of reading, then rereading the Old Testament--including all footnotes--2235 pages in all. I have an understanding now of the Bible I would never have thought possible through self study. The character profiles have helped immensely to understand the people behind the scripture, and put into grasp the truth of the words I have read.

If you are looking for a Bible which will assist you in understanding the sometimes overwhelming text, this particular version can help a young (in faith) Christian solidify his or her beliefs, and more importantly, to understand the Word upon which his or her faith is based. Is there room for other translations than this? Of course. And as one grows in faith, more scholarly Bibles are available. The Life Application Bible fills the need it advertises in my opinion, and I am very grateful to have found it.

As a Sunday School teacher, it is pretty awesome to see students with their Life Application Bibles because they always seem to have the answers to the questions I put forth. I tell them they are "cheaters" for having a study Bible with all the teachers answers in it. This is an incredible tool I firmly believe any Bible student should have.

First things first, I am not giving 3 stars to the NIV portion of this Bible, but the study notes since that is what differentiates it from other NIV Bibles.

Regarding the notes within the Bible I will first list the things I like about it.

1. Numerous references to other verses that relate to the section being read.

2. Footnotes provide very helpful information when trying to understand exactly how much a shekel is worth and converting other "Biblical" units to something we can understand in today's terms.

3. Provides footnotes for those verses that have been removed from the KJV due to the verses not being present in older manuscripts therefore allowing the reader to still see the verses from the original KJV.

4. The comparision between the four gospels is awesome and really helps to bring them all together.

The problems I have with this version are the following:

1. Introduction to chapters doesn't provide enough background information or explanation regarding where they get some of the ideas.

2. The notes at the bottom are rarely there when I really need them and when they are I find a lot of times they gloss over big issues with Sunday School answers of "Love one another" or "Don't sin" when I expect more.

3. The 365 day reading plan given only covers key selections rather than every verse in the Bible.

This Bible ultimately provides a lot of useful information and would make a great addition to any Christian's library and would be good for daily reading. However, for those looking for a Bible which helps you really dig into what it all means, please keep in mind that this Bible focuses on the application not the study and may very well leave you disappointed as it did me.