Customer Reviews

The Parallel Study Bible: NKJV - NCV - The Message - Comprehensive Study Notes

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have bought many parallel Bibles and New Testaments over the years. Parallel Bibles seem to be designed for people (like me) with no ability to read Greek or Hebrew but who really want to get at the underlying meaning of the text. We have the hope (naive perhaps) that if we lined up enough translations side by side and compared the subtle differences of the renderings into English the "true" underlying meaning would pop out at us, making all things clear. It's rather like going to the salad bar at Olive Garden--you are free to pick and choose ingredients to create the salad/rendering you want for that day. But looking back over the past 40 years, I have to admit that I rarely used any of the parallel Bibles I bought. The reasons vary. Sometimes its because I don't really like all the translations chosen. Often it is because there are very few "extras" like introductions or explanatory notes (the first things to be jettisoned when a publisher needs to squeeze four or more translations of the full Bible into a book that will still be no larger than a normal Bible). But mainly it is because the size of the type is extremely small.

Nelson claims to have created the first ever Parallel STUDY Bible. In other words, they answered my complaint #2. The PSB has introductions to every book of the Bible and one of its four columns of text is assigned to commentary from the NKJV Study Bible (and other Thomas Nelson resources). This material is theologically conservative (and in this regard, it seems to favor Baptist/Evangelical interpretaions over Pentecostal/Charismatic understandings). The commentary is keyed to the NKJV text, but given the parallel column format, it is not hard to figure out what phrases are being addressed if you are following the New Century Version (NCV) or Message texts. It does seem odd, though, that the commentary is not immediately adjacent to the NKJV text. This could have been easily done by putting the commentary in the extreme left-hand column and the NKJV, TCV, and Message texts in columns 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Also, where the translations have textual footnotes (NKJV and NCV mostly), these are included at the bottom of their respective columns; section headings for each translation are also retained. All in all, the page is well-designed and easy to figure out. A real plus in the commentary column are a fairly generous number of short discussions of interesting topics, such as, "Love Is a Conscious Choice," "Foggy Faith," and "Are Some Jobs More Important?"

The translations chosen, though not my personal favorites, are well chosen for Evangelical readers. Two, not surprisingly are owned by the publisher, the New King James Version and the New Century Version. The NKJV, being patterned on the historic KJV, is the most literal rendering in the trio of texts. It is also the text closest to the way most people will have likely memorized a Bible text (this is significant because the Concordance that comes with the PSB is keyed exclusively to the NKJV). The TCV, is identified as an easy-to-understand dynamic equivalent, or meaning-for-meaning translation. (This puts it on the par with the Good News Bible or the New International Version; easy-to-understand but also trustworthy.) The Message, the third translation offered, is copyrighted by NavPress, a conservative publisher idealogically compatible with Thomas Nelson. This text is a highly interpretive, free rendering of the text (what used to be called a "paraphrase.") It claims to "stab" the reader "awake to the beauty and hope that connects [them] with [their] real lives." This is likely to be the text youth groups will be most attracted to.

The print of the biblical text is really small (and the footnotes are even smaller); the commentary is a little larger. Texts run to different lengths due to varying degrees of wordiness, the use of poetic formats, etc.; but the editors always realign at new chapters. White space is rare and not distracting. The paper is thin and show-through is a problem in some places.

Besides a Concordance, this Bible also includes a Harmony of the Gospels, a plan to Read Your Bible Through in a Year, and color maps. As far as the reading plan goes, a typical day's reading consists of one chapter from the New Testament and three from the Old Testament. Read in three translations, that comes to twelve chapters a day (the equvalent of all of Daniel). That's a tall order. I wonder if anyone will really do it.

i love how this bible has the Message (today's speak) and the NKJV (faithful word-for-word translation) together, plus study notes. what a great combination to understand the Bible.

there's one "big" problem though, the font is really tiny. i think it's like 5 or 6 point. how am i supposed to read this?

This is the first non-KJV Bible I've ever owned. I chose this one because of the multiple translations and the study notes, and I am not disappointed. I'm at a point where I'm reading the Bible more on my own, and it's helpful to be able to read three different versions of the same passage. (You'll HAVE to read all three versions just to see what the subtle differences are!) Using repetition as a study aide in this way can only add to the usefulness of this Bible. The study notes are brief and informative. I've found that they encourage further study of the Word without being intimidating at all...

I will be buying copies of this Bible as a gift for some of the 20-somethings in my church. (A couple of younger brothers have already had their eyes on mine!) This Bible is great for people who may find other Bibles a little inaccessible... With the Parallel Study Bible you don't have to wait for the sermon to gain some understanding.

I was a little nervous when I ordered this Bible, due to some of the reviews and their references to the small type. However, I am happy to report that I love using this Bible! Yes, the type is very small, but it has been worth it to me to purchase a page magnifyer. I am still learning to use it to its full potential, but I must say my favorite feature has been the NKJV study notes. They contain just the right amount of information, plus an offering of little mini-studies every now and then. This study Bible has truly enriched my ability to understand and love more deeply the Word of God.

I like the overall selection of versions, with the balance of the more accurate NKJV to balance the readability of the NCV and the "pop" of the Message. Also has good study notes, if not extensive. However, in a parallel I don't necessarily expect in depth study notes - that is what commentaries are for. The only draw back is the small type, but to fit all that into one book with larger type would mean the book would be even larger than it already is, so I can live with the type size.

This is an interesting parallel study bible. I grew up with the KJV and have read Psalms from The Message by Eugene Peterson so found this an intriguing combination of the NKJV and The Message. There are times when the scripture viewed from Mr. Peterson's interpretation projects the idea succinctly i.e.

NKJ Psalms 130:1
1. Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;

The Message Psalms 130:1
1. Help, Yahweh - the bottom has fallen out of my life!

This is an excellent way to view the NKJV and the NKJV Commentary with the contrasting contemporary language of The Message.

This is a truly amazing edition for parallel study of the Bible. I purchased a copy of this for my pastor to introduce him to "The Message". He loves it. Highly recommended.

This is a great bible. Having the various translations side by side really helps. The message bible translation is numbered so it is easy to follow the verses with the other translations. The print is small for some but not for me.

I find this Study Bible to be very helpful to understanding the language and meaning of the Bible. I like being able to compare the three books simultaneously. Each book moves the reader closer to modern-day language, with The Message being the most relevent in meanng. My only problem is that the print is so small. I assume this is necessary because of the amount of material to be covered. I also appreciate the added commentary on each page. This book is an excellent study guide.

Three awesome translations with study notes that bring understanding to light! You will love this resource to help you make sense of your study time.