Customer Reviews

The Old Scofieldï¿1/2 Study Bible, KJV, Wide Margin Edition: King James Version

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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I own and use the NIV, NASB, NKJV, RSV and NRSV study Bibles and three Life Amplification Bibles. While each of these Study Bibles have their individual strengths and weaknesses, all are indeed helpful in understanding the everlasting messages given to us from God. It is not my intention to critique each version in detail. My purpose for this review is to, hopefully, add some information a first time Study Bible buyer might find useful.

Of the Study and Life Amplification Bibles I own, Dr. Scofield's is my personal favorite for several reasons. I will briefly describe those reasons.

A] Some Study Bibles somewhat overwhelm the reader with information while others are far too abbreviated. Since the foregoing statement is a personal opinion, I will not name the too much and too little Study Bibles. I do not want to add more confusion to a selection so important to one's spiritual growth. Dr. Scofield's essays, commentaries and explanations are an excellent middle ground to the above listed pros and cons.

B] All study expositions are thoughtfully placed on the same page - bottom - of the passages they refer to. As way of example, Dr. Scofield lists the Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew words that can have more than one translation and tells the reader the possible meanings of the translations. However, Dr. Scofield does not restrict his commentary to semantics. He also explains difficult passages and gives details about customs and life in Biblical times. Other Study Bibles do this also but Dr. Scofield's approach is far more "down to earth" and in clear language.

C] The center column cross-references are exceptional. The first to last listing of a particular word or idea is cross-referenced so the reader can easily go back or forward to see each reference. This is very useful in understanding the growth of God's plan for us.

I own the NKJV and the KJV. The NKJV of Dr. Scofield' New Study Bible does not have his original notes and comments. I find the study notes in the NJKV scanty compared the original KJV.

Finally, a comment about the various Bible versions. The NIV, NASB, RSV, NSRV, et al are in today's English. Some people find these versions easier to read and some say the KJV is difficult to read. Others claim the KJV is inaccurate. True, we now have more documents than the translators in the 1600s BUT the message is still the same. I, personally, prefer the KJV to all others. I will read a couple chapters in the today's versions and stop. That is not the case with the old KJV. I will read an entire chapter at one sitting. The reason is the beauty of the English of the time King James commissioned the translation. Yes, there are words we no longer use like thee, thou, art, and verb endings like dost and commeth. To me, that is the sheer poetic beauty of the language. The Old English has a lyrical flow that is a pleasure to read. I could compare the Old English to reading Italian opposed to Russian.

The KJV Old Scofield Study Bible is an excellent choice for those beginning to study God's word and those who are more advanced. Oxford University Press does a superior job in printing and binding. My copy is genuine leather and indexed. I am very pleased with my purchase and would not hesitate to buy this Bible again.

It took twenty six years, but my first copy is literally worn out, and another is the only acceptable replacement. One of my requests on returning from military combat was a good study bible. I was presented with twelve different ones by members of my church. My elderly pastor was responsible for the Scofield. It quickly became both my everyday and study source, and still is. I truly believe it was inspired by God for my use.

Although I have several bible references available to me, I still find myself going back to the Scofield bible given to me at my confirmation when I really want to understand a given passage. I love the beauty of the King James language, and I appreciate the clear, detailed commentary and the clearly noted supporting passages.

For people who have been caught unaware, the "New Scofield Bible" is not a "Genuine" Old Scofield Bible. C.I. Scofield died in 1921. The New Scofield was put together in 1967 by an independant committee. They added numerous notes that certainly would not have agreed with Dr. Scofield. Example: Acts 8:12- They talk about baptism being not only done by immersion, but by sprinking and pouring. The KJB explains that true water baptism is by immersion only. They also mess with the KJV text by adding double meanings that are different from the Old Scofield Bible. For people wanting to buy a Scofield Bible because of the author's great umderstanding of the scriptures, should be advised to buy the "Real One". For people who don't care, anything on the market will do.

Just like his correspondence course administered by the Moody Bible Institute, Scofield, in this Bible, has proven to be a reliable source of bibilical interpretation and reference that is faithful to the fundamentals of Christianity. Because of the early writing date, he is refreshingly unhindered by today's liberal apostasy.

Great binding, soft (real not pressed) leather and the notes are helpful and handy. Someone else suggested The Companion Bible as a better study Bible. I have to disagree. Scofields notes are only to help guide you, the Companion Bible will bogg you down (and build your arms) with far too many notes to be helpful to the average reader. I have the same feelings for the Ryrie Study Bible. Scofield is the way to go and Oxford Press offers a high quality Bible at a good price. (note: avoid the so-called "New" Scofield, buy the "Old" Scofield Study Bible)

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 a 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.

C.I. Scofield's notes are written from a dispensational approach to theology. It is based on a belief in a historical/gramatical approach to the Bible. Many would say it is a system helps make sense out of Scripture. I agree. Understanding the difference between Israel and the Church and that God administered His faith/grace relationship with people differently throughout human history is clearly taught in these wonderful notes. Some of the material is obviously outdated because of new discoveries in archeology and science. However, the basic notes on the biblical covenants and prophesy are as rich today as the day they were written.

This is a wonderful Bible for people who are trying to make sense out of the Bible.

Thank you Dr. Scofield, Oxford Press and Philadelphia College of Bible.

Old Scofield has in the past and still sets the standard for all other study Bibles. His notes in this edition (Original Scofield as opposed to New Scofield) are reset with newer type, and easy to read. Nothing has been changed, with the exception of added notes that do not interfere (since nothing has been deleted). In today's religious culture with every study Bible imaginable, Scofield still speaks to the serious theological student wanting to rightly divide the word of God. Be aware it is Dispensational [God working in time periods through history in different ways with different expectations] in approach, but not offensively. The quality of this Bible cannot be overstated: the paper, print, quality of materials, durability, binding and overall presentation [Oxford University Press]. Well worth twice the price. Scofield shines in his prophetic and historic commentaries. Evangelical churches in America anyway seem to be fading theologically in favor of programming and worship, so get this information while it is still easily available!

The Scofield study bible has useful, and in some ways unique features, which enhance the King James or Authorised version of the bible. Scofield had a problem in that at the time of writing he knew that the KJV was not the best text available. New Hebrew and Greek biblical documents had been discovered since 1611, and textual criticism had advanced greatly. However, Scofield manages to preserve the universally recognised beauty of the Authorized whilst enhancing the textual accuracy at vital points with in-line glosses (word or phrase substitutions), with the original King James text moved to the margin. These glosses are indicated by a pair of vertical line | like this |. A good example of this is found in John chapter 1, verse 12: the phrase 'sons of God' is rendered as 'children of God'. This had the double virtue of being a more accurate translation of the Greek 'tekna theou', and is also gender-neutral - politically correct before his time! An Old Testament example would be Ex. 20 v.13, the well known 'Thou shalt not kill'. Here 'kill' is footnoted, and there is a one sentence explanation that, while there are several Hebrew words for 'kill', this instance means 'murder' as it has our modern legal sense of unlawful premeditated killing.

Other features include doctrinal summaries in the form of extended footnotes on the great themes of scripture, such as the section in John's gospel on grace. I think these are best described as conceptually rich and information dense. The coherence of the Old to New Testament sweep is such that several sermons or bible studies could be culled from any one of these summaries. Their usefulness in personal study is immense and sometimes saves the cost of a specialist reference book. The chain reference system enables one to follow a very extensive line of thought from the first bible occurrence of a word or concept through to the last. There are useful organised expositions of Judaistic culture, worldview, and thought habits. An excellent example of this would be the handling of the Hebraic habits of naming and word play (I don't call them 'puns'). One of the most potent of these is his analysis of the Names of God, from Elohim to 'Alpha and Omega'.

Having said all I have to say in a laudatory vein, I have to add that sometimes Scofield's conciseness is too clipped for his own good. He gives cut-and-dried answers to things which would be better handled as 'maybe this, or maybe that', and this is guaranteed to irritate the true scholar at times. He can also make comments which are so text-critically controversial that he would be better off passing over them in silence, an example of this would be the four line footnote on the 'woman taken in adultery' in John chapter 8. But buy it and not regret it is my only advice.