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Title: NIV Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible by Zondervan Publishing, Richard L., Jr. Pratt ISBN: 0-310-92360-3 Publisher: Zondervan Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $39.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.67 (12 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Bible notes vs. McBible Notes
Comment: The "Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible" is refreshing in today's market-driven Christian publishing world. The study notes are thought-provoking and grounded. In addition, I find the NIV text much easier to read than the New King James Version. Regardless of your current heroes/leaders in Reformation Theology, this will make an excellent companion to your daily studies of God's Word...
1 Corinthians 1:11-13 (NIV)
My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
(Insert the names of your reformed leaders in the passage above...it sounds silly, doesn't it?)
If you're looking for a new bible with good notes to help you along in your study, this bible is for you. It would also make a good gift for the bible student who hasn't given much thought to thinking critically about modern day views on prophecy, end-times and more.
Rating: 5
Summary: Second to None
Comment: When I first beheld this newest publication (yet another new bible!!), I immediately turned to the preface and discovered that instead of its precursor (the New Geneva Study Bible/Reformation Study Bible---NKJV, Nelson Publishers), R.C. Sproul is no longer the general editor, but Richard Pratt, a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. In turn he brought on board fellow RTS prof. and much respected theologian John Frame to be the theological editor (along with a guy named Packer!). So lest you think this recent edition is simply a minor revision, consider the following:
1. The text has shifted from the NKJV to the NIV. While I prefer to see the ESV in its place, the NIV is still a better overall translation than the NKJV.
2. Frame and Packer took all of the original study notes and fully revised them--no small task. Overall, they seem to be a bit more precise. The notes are not regurgitated from the previous editions. Also, the theological articles from the previous editions (written by Packer) are replaced by 66 new theological articles--one for each book of the bible. What? Dost thou lament the ommision of Packer's articles? Weep no more! Purchase his book Concise Theology, which is an outright essential gem for every Christian.
3. The text is still single column, but red letter editions are not available. This is a good thing indeed, lest you begin equating the "red letters" as the ones that really count!
4. The book introductions are at least twice as long as the other editions, with greater breadth, focus and clarity. One of the most laudible additions is a special feature of the OT introductions titled "Christ in ___________" (e.g. Isaiah, Genesis, Malachai, etc). Every OT book is considered in this light, i.e. where is Christ seen in this particular OT book? This is a noteworthy inclusion, for it helps the Christian realize that Christ is not relegated merely to the New Testament. Rather, everything in the OT serves as a pointer to Jesus.
5. At the book's end, between the concordance and maps, is something to behold--all five of the major Reformed confessions, i.e. Belgic, Canons of Dort, Heidelberg, Westminster (Larger and Shorter). Additionally, each of these confessions/catechisms are fully cross referenced with the text. Also, the study notes of the biblical texts cross reference these confessions, providing the reader with a more wholistic Reformed perspective as one studies God's word.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a study bible and are of Reformed/Calvinistic persuasion, this one is absolutely tops--bar none--even though it is NIV. Study with the ESV or NAS text if you must, but keep this bible at hand for its many fantastic unparalled features. Again, as a whole, the NIV is still great to read (although not the best from which to preach!).
Furthermore, if you are not of Reformed/Calvinist persuasion, give this bible a try! It is not merely heady or intellectual, but warm. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised! Go ahead--take and read!!
Michael L. Johnson
Rating: 5
Summary: A great resource for Reformed theology for the lay-person!
Comment: I have been using the "New Geneva Study Bible" for the past number of years and I loved the theological articles and notes that it contained, and this study Bible is a great revision of that Bible (which I found interesting because the NGSB was published by Thomas Nelson and this is by Zondervan.) From the comparison I have done, the notes and articles are very similar between the two study bibles. However there is one great difference that made me want to get the Bible as soon as I heard about it - and that is the inclusion of the Reformed Creeds and Confessions with reverse cross-references. I still can't explain how much I am enjoying that feature! With the use of creeds and confessions on the decline in our churchs, having the ability to read how a certain confession uses a passage of Scripture is great. It brings those great and historic documents into my personal devotions and study.
There are a couple of things that I don't like about the Bible and they are completely superficial and nothing to do with the actual "meat" of the Study Bible (I'll let the other, more intelligent reviewers do that!). 1) The margins are a little too narrow, so it makes it harder to read unless it is right in front of you and there isn't a lot of room to make notes (unless there aren't any cross references). 2) It would have been nice to include the ecumenical creeds (but these are probably different depending on what background you come from) so I just printed mine out (Apostle's, Nicene and Athanasian) and put them in the back. 3) It would have been very nice to include a subject index to items in the notes like the New Geneva Study Bible did. 4) Maybe my eyesight is going, but the type seems kind of small and harder to read while sitting on my lap in church.
I can understand in order to conserve space why some of these things were done and overall I am very, very happy with the Study Bible.
Soli Deo Gloria
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Title: The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions by Arthur Bennet, Arthur G. Bennett ISBN: 0851512283 Publisher: Banner of Truth Pub. Date: November, 1988 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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Title: The Reformation Study Bible: The Word That Changes Lives - The Faith That Changed the World (NKJV Black, Genuine Leather) by R. C. Sproul, J. I. Packer ISBN: 0785258582 Publisher: Nelson Bibles Pub. Date: 01 March, 2001 List Price(USD): $79.99 |
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