Comments on: ESV Study Bible Review

By: Review: ESV Study Bible (Hardcover) — Eds. Wayne Grudem and Lane T. Dennis « In Thy Light

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:08:07 +0000

[...] Stitt offers a thoughtful layman’s review, especially noting the balanced stance of the editors (i.e. it is not just a Calvinist or just an [...]

By: James L. Martin Jr.

James L. Martin Jr. — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:27:02 +0000

As a thirty year Bible Teacher, I have just about every Bible on the market. Recently, I purchased an ESV Study Bible just for the information found in the intro to Revelation which I have taught 5 times. Last night, I spent the full evening reading and comparing the attributes of the ESV with my other Bible sources.
As I read in great detail the Books of Matthew and Luke, I was surprised how close the new translation is to the original flavor of the earliest Greek and Hebrew texts… I also found the supposition of important symbolic Greek references found in the Olivet Discourse useful. To my surprise, the end notes and cross references in the selected chapters, related well to the study notes found in the MacArthur Study Bible and Ryrie. I was also impressed with the divisions of the Discourse as presented in Scofield.
The layout of the two chapters reminds me of a combination of the Life Application Bible and the new Archeological Bible – the ESV layout is better designed than either. I found I could use my yellow and green dry line markers without trouble. Only down side is the slight bleed-through ink from page to page. There is also very little space for personal note taking – which is very important for Bible Teachers that write notes in margins for their lessons presentations. I could not find an indexed version in the local bookstore.
In summary, the translation, design and pure scholarship in the new ESV Study Bible is a must have for Bible and Sunday School Teachers.

By: brianfulthorp

brianfulthorp — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:57:25 +0000

Thanks Nate – I hadn’t seen this until now for some reason. I am glad you found it to be more ecumenical than it first appeared. That’s encouraging to me.

By: Bitsy Griffin

Bitsy Griffin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:38:16 +0000

Nathan, My ESV study Bible (HB) was waiting for me when I got to the media center yesterday. I got one for the church and one for me. Haven’t had a chance to pop the cellophane yet on the personal one. Wake Forest men’s basketball was calling

Thanks again for the review!

By: One Year of Blogging « Discipulus Scripturae

One Year of Blogging « Discipulus Scripturae — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:12:05 +0000

[...] you are curious, my most popular page is the ESV Study Bible Review, with the most visits and the most hits from the search engines. I just checked Google and it is [...]

By: Nathan Stitt

Nathan Stitt — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:24:27 +0000

I am glad you found this review helpful. You will be well served by their calfskin edition as it is well made and very pleasant to use.

By: Pastor Perkins

Pastor Perkins — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:16:33 +0000

I really enjoyed the detailed review on the ESV Study Bible. From the standpoint of translation for the teens I would not let that be a deterant, that where prayer comes in. Keep up the good work. I will make the investment of the calfskin, awesome. Your Servant in the Lord, Pastor P.

By: Gary Zimmerli

Gary Zimmerli — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:36:58 +0000

Very good review, Nathan! I like the fact that you pointed out their even-handed handling of the Arminian/Calvinist debate, but I especially appreciate that you also mentioned my own pet peeve with the ESV Bibles, that being the translation itself.

Good job, bro!

By: Nathan Stitt

Nathan Stitt — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:53:16 +0000

Thank you for the comments everyone.

Bitsy, I’ve noticed you are starting to frequent some of the same circles I do and welcome you to the discussion(s).

Robert, I’m glad that you will start spending some time with your ESVSB. I have already learned quite a few things in preparation for teaching Esther, as well as in doing comparisons to the NLT and TNIV study Bibles. I’m really looking forward to reading the intro to Rev. as well as most of the articles.

By: Robert Jimenez

Robert Jimenez — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:13:12 +0000

Nathan, great review. I haven’t touched my ESVSB since I first got it. You motivated me to spend some time with it. I also agree that the ESV is a bit more difficult to comprehend as a teaching bible. Especially to teenagers.

This year I plan to slow down just a bit on my book purchases and read more of what I have.