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415 of 426 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Superior Study Bible, October 13, 2008
The ESV Study Bible has launched with eight editions: Hardcover, TruTone Nat Brown, TruTone Classic Black, Black Bonded Leather, Burgundy Bonded Leather, Black Genuine Leather, Burgundy Genuine Leather and Premium Calfskin Leather.
In any edition the ESV Study Bible looks great. It is contemporary in its coloring (white is dominant with orange accents in the hardcover) and in the rectangle which shows up throughout (on the cover, to mark headings, and even as a bullet for lists of information). The rectangle has no deeper significance than a simple design element. In an interesting but effective design decision, the TruTone editions have this triangle stitched to the cover. The leather editions have "ESV" in large gold letters on the spine with "Study Bible," "English Standard Version" and "Crossway" in smaller gold type. The TruTone has the same text but with the "ESV" embossed. The hardcover features black and orange backgrounds on the spine with the text printed over top. The standard ESV guarantee applies to these Bibles, meaning that a customer who discovers manufacturing defects during normal use can return the Bible to have it replaced with one of equal or greater value.
The Bible is made to be durable. It is smyth sewn which is the binding process considered by many to be the best and longest-lasting method. It allows the Bible to lie flat even on page one and on page 2,752 (at least in the TruTone). It is printed on "high-opacity, high-quality French Bible paper" and in a single-column format with the cross-references in the inside margin. The paper is thin and light but still sturdy. My two year-old put the Bible to the test when she inadvertently stepped on it while it was lying open. The page wrinkled under her heel but did not tear. I also learned from her that chewing gum can be removed from the cover of the TruTone while permanent marker cannot. The fonts are very dark and easy to read with a heavy black serif font for the biblical text and a thin black sans-serif for the notes and cross-references. The page headings are in a bold gray with page numbers in a thin gray. Chapter numbers are a large gray serif font while headings are italicized black sans-serif. The pages display a fair bit of bleed-through where, when you look at a page, you can see the ink showing through from the previous page or two. Most of us are accustomed to this bleed-through in our Bibles. Where it is a bit more apparent and distracting is where it shows through on the maps and illustrations.
One feature that has received much attention in the ESV Study Bible is its use of color. Most study Bibles offer maps and illustrations only in grayscale. The ESV Study Bible, though, offers full-color illustrations and maps. This is quite a nice feature. The splashes of color throughout, including colored highlighting and shading, are unexpected to my eye but very effective. Though the standard glossy maps in the back of the Bible are superior in quality to the ones scattered throughout, even the smaller maps are nicely done and provide important geographical context without having to slip to the Bible's final pages. The illustrations, commissioned specifically for this project, are very well done and nicely supplement the notes.
ESV Study Bible Online
The ESV Study Bible is one of only a couple of study Bibles to offer an extensive online component to accompany the Bible. Included with each Bible is a registration code that will allow the customer to access the ESV Online Study Bible. There they will find the complete text of the Bible along with all of the study notes, articles, maps, and all the other features of the Bible. Unique online features include the ability to create and save personalized online notes; to search and follow interactive links between notes, maps, articles, charts, timelines, illustrations, and cross-references; and to listen to audio recordings of the ESV. It adds interactive features that are only possible in a computer-based environment. While the online component is a useful addition to the Bible (and a free one!), at this time it seems under-developed and I suspect many readers will find that they do not refer to it very often.
Format
Each book of the Bible begins with an extensive introduction. This may include sections dealing with Time, Date and Title; Author; Theme; Key Themes; Purpose, Occasion and Background; Literary Features; Outline; and so on. Particularly important is the History of Salvation Summary which sets each of the books within the context of the wider body of Scripture and hence within the history of salvation. Introductions may also include timelines, maps, and notes on literary features specific to that book. In every case, the reader will receive a thorough explanation as to the book's authorship, purpose and context in God's plan of salvation.
The text notes vary in density but typically comprise about half of each page in the New Testament and perhaps a third in the Old Testament. They focus primarily on explanation and rarely on application. In one handy feature, highlighted notes correspond to primary points in the outline while highlighted verses and headings within the notes correspond to secondary points in the outline.
Scholarship
The ESV Study Bible has been produced by as good a group of scholars as any study Bible. The General Editor is Wayne Grudem, the Theological Editor is J.I. Packer, the Old Testament Editor is C. John Collins and the New Testament Editor is Thomas Schreiner. The study note contributors represent a broad cross-section of reputable Evangelical scholars. The articles included within the Bible have been contributed by some well-known pastors and scholars, including John Piper, David Powlison, Darrell Bock, Leland Ryken, R. Kent Hughes, Daniel Wallace, and many more.
Controversial Theology
One concern people are likely to have when considering a new study Bible concerns the theological perspective offered in the notes. Does this particular study Bible take a Reformed or Arminian position on salvation? A complementarian or egalitarian perspective on gender roles? An amillennial or premillennial position on the end times? I looked through many of the notes seeking what this Bible says on some of the more common controversies: end times, spiritual gifts and soteriology. I found this an interesting comparison with the Reformation Study Bible. It seems to me that the Reformation Study Bible came from a much more narrowly-defined theological position; it was Reformed, it was cessationist, it was amillennial. The ESV Study Bible, on the other hand, offers a wider or less-defined perspective. Where the doctrine is clear and undisputed among Evangelicals, so too are the notes. But where doctrines are controversial and within the area of Christian freedom or disputable matters, the notes tend not to take a firm position, even when the author or editor is firmly in one camp or the other. Whether this is positive or negative may well depend on the individual reader.
To satisfy my curiosity, I opened my NIV Study Bible, Reformation Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible and ESV Study Bible and compared their notes on several areas of controversial theology--spiritual gifts, predestination and spiritual gifts. None of these Bibles offered notes that were unbiblical so I was left looking for the differences in perspective. In general I found that the MacArthur Study Bible offered the most defined position. This makes good sense as it represents the position of a single individual. This was followed by the Reformation Study Bible which offers the position of many individuals but each of them drawn from a very consistent theological position. The ESV Study Bible came next, offering a charitable but open view on most of these issues. The NIV Study Bible seemed almost to shy away from some of the issues. So while it is clear that the ESV Study Bible is not distinctly Reformed in its position, neither is it Arminian. It is not cessationist or continuationist and is neither amillennial nor postmillennial. In fact, it seems as if it emulates the parent who tells one of his children to cut the last piece of cake in half and the other to choose the first piece. In many cases a person from one perspective wrote the notes while a person from the other perspective screened them. This ensures the notes maintain both charity and some degree of objectivity in those areas of dispute.
Having looked at the areas of dispute, I would not hesitate to recommend the ESV Study Bible to either new or mature Christians. The matters at the heart of the faith are described and defended while the matters of lesser importance are presented charitably and non-dogmatically.
Conclusion
I suspect that many of the people reading this review will already be owners of at least one study Bible. I feel it is important to affirm that there is nothing innately wrong with the Reformation Study Bible, The New Geneva Study Bible, the MacArthur Study Bible and many of the other similar products. If you are currently using one of these Bibles and are happy with it, there may be few compelling reason to rush out and purchase the ESV Study Bible. I have used the Reformation Study Bible and its predecessor for many years with great benefit. I have no doubt that I will continue to refer to it.
With that said, I think the ESV Study Bible is an incredible resource. A long list of endorsers have expressed their excitement for its theological faithfulness, its accessibility, its insight, its scholarship, its practicality and its sheer excellence. I would simply append my name to this list. I agree wholeheartedly with C.J. Mahaney who writes, "I can't imagine a greater gift to the body of Christ than the ESV Study Bible. It is a potent...
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75 of 77 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Most Comprehensive Study Bible so far, October 15, 2008
Since I believe that the ESV is the most reliable translation available today, I have eagerly anticipated the release of the ESV Study Bible(abbr, ESV/SB) with its copious notes and helps. The ESV Study Bible has its own website at www.esvstudybible.org/ which offers many details about its features as well as videos and recommendations. This review is in two parts. Part 1 is my general and personal observations; Part 2 is the theological observations.
PART 1- GENERAL AND PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS(for a general reader)
1. The general look and layout of the notes is most similar to the NIV Study Bible--- This pertains to the size and color of the type and the bolding of keys words from the text. The ESV/SB has some color backgrounds in the notes that the NIV/SB does not have.
The detail of comment is much more extensive than the NIV/SB. The notes of the NIV/SB are quite abbreviated in short phrase style while the ESV/SB speaks on fuller sentences and offers the potential for considerable more understanding. The language represents a balance between scholarship and readability for the lay person.
2. The notes of the ESV/SB represent the Majority of Evangelical Views--When there is consensus of opinion, the notes present what most all Evangelicals affirm. Where there is more than one opinion the general approach is: "some say...". "others say...." "All views have this in common..." Therefore the reader can learn about diversity of views within the church as well as the essentials of the Christian faith that all affirm . It is important to state that the ESV/SB NOTES AND ARTICLES DO NOT CRITICIZE OR HARSHLY CRITIQUE A CERTAIN VIEW WITHIN EVANGELICALISM. The various views are stated accurately and with a charitable attitude towards various views. I have seen up to 4 views presented in certain passages which is basically unprecedented.
3. A unique addition is the Online Version. Of course it can be updated in the future, but for now I find it useful in quick cross-referencing. When you place your mouse on a scripture in the notes, the first 3-lines of text appear in a pop-up box. If you click the mouse, the whole passage appears. The maps zoom in and out with a click of the mouse.
4. The ESV/SB is physically thicker and weightier than previous study bibles . With nearly 2700 pages, it may be too heavy to carry to a church worship service or to a college classroom. Since it is considerably more comprehensive than previous study bibles, it excels in the personal study. But it can also have great value in a small group study. Since a diversity of views is clearly explained, church members from various backgrounds can see other views that may be represented in their group.
The extensive articles in the ESV/SB equate to a concise systematic theology and a concise theological dictionary built into the back section. The articles on ethics are not commonly found in study bibles yet they speak with contemporary relevance.
This completes the practical portion of the review. For some, this review is ready for evaluation.
In Part 2 below, I will make some theological observations. This is designed for those who have further questions and those who are familiar with the theological terms.
Part 2 THEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS
Calvinism vs. Arminianism--After doing an electronic word search in the article on Doctrine, I did not find the words Calvinism, Arminianism, Reformed or Wesleyan. The article on the atonement did not include the extent of the atonement whether definite or universal. Therefore an analysis needs to be made from the notes.
The notes affirm Total Depravity and Effectual Call in John 6:44. Unconditional election of individuals is affirmed in Romans 9:11, while corporate election is not affirmed. John 6:40 affirms Eternal Security and Phil 2:12-13 affirms God's enabling power in the believer's perseverance. In Heb 6:4-8, a controversial passage concerning falling away from the faith, four views are presented but eternal security is favored.
Conclusion: since JI Packer is the General Theological Editor, it is not surprising that the notes favor Calvinism.
2. Dispensational vs. Non-Dispensational. The notes generally favor continuity over discontinuity. Rather than making distinctions between Israel and the church, the ESV/SB uses terms such as "God's people" in both Old and New Testament. Yet throughout the notes, the Dispensational view is presented and named as such. In the interpretation of Revelation, the recapitulation approach works well for amillennial eschatology. Yet, the Dispensational view is mentioned several times in the notes which allows the reader to compare the newer view of recapitulation with the more popular Dispensational view. In the "70 weeks" of Daniel 9, the ESV/SB amazingly explains 3 Non-Dispensational views along with Dispensationalism. There is some mention of discontinuity though. The notes on Rom 11 allow for the possibility of identifying Jews ethnically or biologically near or at the return of Christ. The usage of the word "temple" in Ezek 40-48, 2 Thess 2, and Rev 11 all include the Dispensational interpretation of a future, physical temple as a possible view.
3. Minority Views--I mentioned in Part 1 that majority views within Evangelicalism are included. A minority view that is becoming more popular is Orthodox Preterism. The Preterist or AD70 version of the Olivet Discourse is not offered in the ESV/SB even though the ESV translation allows for it. For instance in Matt 24:30 the NIV imposes a bias against the AD70 view by stating that the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the SKY. The ESV states that the sign of the Son of Man will appear in HEAVEN(where Christ is presently ruling). The ESV also states that the TRIBES of the earth will mourn which allows for AD70 interpretation as well. The Preterist view is not offered in Revelation but a brief summary appears in the introduction.
I predict that the ESV/SB will enjoy wide acceptance among Evangelicals. My recommendation is to buy it and then email the website link shown above to all your family and friends!
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55 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Bible I've Always Wanted, October 15, 2008
I just recieved my pre-order copies yesterday and am already devouring it. The detail and richness of notes is exceptional. Unlike other Study Bibles its depth is incredible, including whole articles regarding ethics, theology, and on and on.
What I enjoy most of all is the non-dogmatic nature of the notes. This is the most non-denominational study bible I've ever seen. It presents the reader with multiple points of view and allows you to decide for yourself based on the Word, rather than simply stating matter-of-factly "this is what it means". The end result is that you spend more time in engaged thinking and less time in confused questioning. A good example is Revelations, if you have a Scofield Study Bible you get the dispensational point of view... I grew up not knowing there were other points of view.
The ESV is a wonderful translation and the Study Bible combines a whole research library into a single (massive) volume.
I have both the hardbound and leatherbound edition, both are beautiful with high grade paper. I expected the hardbound edition to have inferior paper quality, but was surprised that it does not.
This is an excellent tool, and given the quantity and quality of the content, its an exceptional value. The best buy might be to buy the hardbound copy with a bible cover that has handles... this thing is heavy!
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