The Apologetics Study Bible: Understand Why You Believe [Hardcover]

Ted Cabal (Editor), Chuck Colson (Contributor), Norm Geisler (Contributor), Hank Hanegraaff (Contributor), Josh McDowell (Contributor), Albert Mohler (Contributor), Ravi Zacharias (Contributor), J.P. Moreland (Contributor), Phil Johnson (Contributor), Paul H Copan (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

     The Apologetics Study Bible will help today's Christian better understand, defend and proclaim their beliefs in this age of increasing moral and spiritual relativism. More than one-hundred key questions and articles placed throughout the volume about faith and science prompt a rewarding study experience at every reading.

     Highlights of this new thinking person’s edition of God’s Word include the full text of the popular Holman CSB® translation, an introduction to each Bible book focusing on its inherent elements of apologetics, and profiles of historic Christian apologists from Justin Martyr to C.S. Lewis. Also featured are valuable contributions from a who’s-who of modern apologists such as Chuck Colson, Norm Geisler, Hank Hanegraaff, Josh McDowell, Albert Mohler, Ravi Zacharias, and many more.

• The best apologetics thinkers of our day in one resource

• The study Bible for customers asking the really hard questions about their faith

• No other study Bible has the depth of resources that address the hard questions of faith and life

• Serious help for Christians of all types

• Tears down the obstacles to belief

• Shows why the Bible is trustworthy

• Allows Christians to dig into false teachings to see why they’re false

• Will strengthen the church and give confidence to those who share their faith

• Will better equip church leaders

 

THE BEST APOLOGETICS THINKERS OF OUR DAY IN ONE RESOURCE (100+ CHRISTIAN APOLOGISTS):

- Ted Cabal

- Lee Strobel
- Chuck Colson

- Paul Copan

- Norm Geisler

- Hank Hanegraaff

- Josh McDowell

- Albert Mohler

- J.P. Moreland

- Ravi Zacharias

- and many more

 

Features MORE THAN 100 FEATURED ARTICLES IN CATEGORIES SUCH AS

• Ethics

• Interpreting the Bible in Light of Science

• The Impact of Archaeology and History on Our Understanding the Bible

• The Bible in Light of Theology

• Christian Faith and Non-Christian Belief Systems

• Christian Faith and Philosophy

• Featured study notes that explain alleged “problem” passages in the Bible

• 50 sidebars (Twisted Scripture) focusing on Bible passages misused by cults

• Index of special articles for quick and easy access

• Book introductions with special emphasis on anything of an apologetics nature

• Profiles of key Christian apologists

  - Anselm

  - Athanasius

  - Augustine

  - Joseph Butler

  - C.S. Lewis

  - Irenaeus

  - Justin Martyr

  - Origen

  - William Paley

  - Blaise Pascal

• End of verse Scripture references

• Presentation page

• Plan of Salvation

• Two-column Bible text setting

• Topical subheads

• Translation footnotes

• Holman CSB® bullet notes

• Introduction to the Holman CSB®

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

     The Apologetics Study Bible will help today’s Christian better understand, defend and proclaim their beliefs in this age of increasing moral and spiritual relativism. 

     More than one-hundred key questions and articles placed throughout the volume about faith and science prompt a rewarding study experience at every reading.  Highlights of this new thinking person’s edition of God’s Word include the full text of the popular Holman CSB® translation, an introduction to each Bible book focusing on its inherent elements of apologetics, and profiles of historic Christian apologists from Justin Martyr to C.S. Lewis.

     Also featured are valuable contributions from a who’s-who of modern apologists such as Chuck Colson, Norm Geisler, Hank Hanegraaff, Josh McDowell, Albert Mohler, Ravi Zacharias, and 90+ more contributors.  Plus a special lead article from best-selling author Lee Strobel (The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for a Creator, and many more) on how “How Apologetics changed my life.”

About the Author

Josh McDowell, internationally known for his books on apologetics (Evidence That Demands a Verdict) and youth culture (Right from Wrong) as well as his innovative mission outreaches into the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, would tell you in a minute what his first ministry is--his family. He and Dottie, his wife of more than thirty years, still keep tabs on their four children from their home.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 2048 pages
• Publisher: Holman Bible Publishers (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158640024X
• ISBN-13: 978-1586400248
• Product Dimensions: 1.6 x 7 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (156 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,364 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

244 of 259 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting contributors, fine articles, good binding; some criticisms, though October 1, 2007

By Jacob

Format:Hardcover

I must admit my biases up front. I lean towards a presuppositional apologetic. Seemingly, I would take issue with many of the articles, but I really don't. The editors sought those who are recognized in the evangelical world for the skill in both philosophical theology and applying the bible to tough questions. They did not let us down.

Pros of the Study Bible:
1. Some of the articles are simply outstanding. I can't say more. The ones by Frame, Russell Moore, Copan, and Walt Kaiser are quite good.

2. The study notes are decent, if one understands the context. It is not aiming to give an exposition of each passage, but to focus on the apologetical application of passages. Still, it gives interesting historical, archeological, and contra-cultist insights. Interestingly as a side-note, the Study Bible takes a premillennial approach to Revelation 20.

3. Wide margins. I applaud the formatters on this one. This bible has wider-margins than most. This was a huge plus in my opinion. One can legibly write thorough notes in the margin.

Cons:
1. Some of the study notes take an almost facile approach to some really hard questions. For example, Norman Geisler's attempt to demonstrate how the Apocrypha shouldn't be in Scripture. The verses he quotes against it not only do not disprove the Apocrypha, but if accepted would also disprove the book of Judges and 1 Samuel! Further, Geisler ignored essentially every good argument against the Apocrypha. This kind of shallow reasoning makes one skeptical of the overall apologetic quality. (And poor Geisler's criticism of the Apocrypha almost convinced me the Apocrypha should be in the Bible!)

2. The editors suffer from a severe myopia. For them (at least in this writing) the only challenges to the faith are a form of relativistic postmodernism (with a very simplistic discussion), evolution, and strict materialistic atheism. But as any apologist of any stripe knows, few people actually fit these above challenges. This was so fifteen years ago.

2a. The choice of apologists listed leaves one to believe that serious defending the faith only began in the last 150 years. Of course, the printing press et al did make a difference in literary output, but most of the choices represent a narrow subsection within American evangelicalism. Of course, they tip their hats to Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas, but ne'ery a word is said about the Eastern tradition (Christological controversies, Gregory Palamas, and David Bentley Hart). This is where the real ammo is. In fact, have they even heard of these people? In fact, if you do not understand the 6th Ecumenical Council, and the two energies of Christ, then your "defense" of Christ is naught.

On the other hand, though, Craig rejects Absolute Divine Simplicity, so it's something to think about.

Neutral:
The translation is the Holman Christian Standard Bible. This should be evaluated independently of the Study Bible.

The notes of the study bible take a mildly Calvinistic slant. It is not as Calvinistic as R.C. Sproul but is more Calvinistic than Geisler, Moreland, and Lane Craig (even though the last three are contributors).

I have the hardback quality. The binding is very good and quite durable.

101 of 105 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed study Bible for our modern day! October 11, 2007

By Jeremiah Courter

Format:Bonded Leather

I do not believe it is necessary to continually repeat what has already been said. Stephen Donahue and J. Bradford's comments below mine do more than enough justice to this Bible. HOWEVER, they left one thing out that I believe is an incredible attribute to this study Bible:

THROUGHOUT the Bible, there are gray-inserted boxes in the text that are titled "Twisted Scriptures". The verse is named and then the authors will tell how other religions (Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.) have distorted these certain passages due to a misunderstanding of the text. They do the same thing for certain Christian movements and some denominations. I believe this is a truly fabulous addition because one can see where so many people have gone wrong with the exact text in front of them and a possible solution/rebuttal towards those who use it as such. This becomes a great help in regards to trying to remain orthodox, without being thrown off by some passages that have (due to lack of education, ignorance, harmful bias, etc.,) made others stray from correct teachings. And regardless if some may disagree with the author's comment, it still delivers an edifying note and makes one aware of a "problem" that they never would have known before. Now I must emphasize that the "Twisted Scriptures" passages are not "in-depth". They are not extensive by any means, but as I just said, they bring to light potential problems in interpretations that the reader may never have been aware of. This alone, I believe, is worth its weight in gold.

An essential study Bible for laymen and even Pastor's and students. I don't usually get excited or impressed by new "study" Bibles, but this one does deliver a package that no other Bible has yet to do!

113 of 129 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very, Very Well Done September 25, 2007

By S Donahue

Format:Leather Bound

I have eagerly awaited the Apologetics Study Bible, and so it arrived in many bookstores last week. It is available in hardback, black bonded, brown bonded, black genuine and brown genuine leather. I initally wanted the brown genuine leather, but the artwork inside the bible appears to be black and silver, which did not go as well with the very dark brown leather; so, I chose the black. The black has silver page edges and a good-lengthed black and a silver ribbon marker. The binding is sewn; not glued. The print is very good, my guess is 10 or 10.5. It is a black letter edition( YES!!!!!!), so words in the New Testament are NOT in red. The Bible contains annotations, which are very helpful, doctrinal articles, in-text maps, and wonderful charts (in colour) in the back with compares traditional Christian doctrine with world religions, and also with cults. This is an excellent Bible to have as it necessarily builds up one's faith along with traditional orthodoxy. The Holman Christian Standard Bible uses what is termed, 'optimal equivalence.' It is much more literal than the NIV, but more readable than the ESV. I have only heard/read good things about the HCSB. This is a definite to-have Bible.(Note: The HCSB is under revision, completing in 2009. Look for discounts soon on all first-edition HCSBs)