How to choose a study Bible
by Pastor Mike Stine
What is a study Bible and what are the
reasons to purchasing one? A study Bible is a Bible that has
various footnotes and other study helps to explain verses of
scripture or shed more light on a certain word that is used.
Study bibles do not explain an entire passage or book, that is
reserved for Bible commentaries, but do help when reading
through the Bible and a simple question comes to mind.
Perhaps you’ve been reading through the
Bible and saw that something measured ten cubits. You wondered
what a cubit was but didn’t know where to look it up or you
didn’t have the time. If you are reading from your study Bible,
you can look beneath the passage at the footnote and find that a
cubit is approximately 18 inches. Suddenly you have a greater
understanding of the passage because you can picture the size of an
object when before you had no clue.
There are a number of things that should
be factored when selecting a study Bible. Probably the first
decision that needs to be made is for what Bible version are you
looking. There are numerous different translations of the
Bible available and each one has their own strengths and
weaknesses. You can read more about selecting a Bible version
at “How to Select a Bible Version.”
After you select which version you are
looking for, you should decide how you will use your study
Bible. Most people want just a general study Bible such as the
Life Application Study Bible or
Zondervan’s NIV Study Bible.
However your options go far beyond general studies if you
desire. There are now study Bibles for children, teens, men,
and women. Each study Bible has notes that are meant to
specifically help the group it is focused on.
Or you may prefer study notes by a
particular person. There are numerous study Bibles with notes
written all by one person. Some of the popular versions include
the
MacArthur study Bible, the
Ryrie study Bible, and the
Scofield study Bible.
Finally you must choose whether you want a
hardback Bible or a leather bound Bible. See here to find out
about the differences in
leather covers. Your cover options
may be more limited with a study Bible as these Bibles tend to
be bigger than ones without the notes. Many general study
Bibles also are available in large print and some are offering a
smaller personal size but you should look out for tiny print in
these. Depending on the publisher and the overall
popularity of the Bible, some study Bibles may only be available
in hardcover. A limited number of study Bibles are
available in paperback as well.
After you have an idea of what you are
looking for start shopping for the best study Bible prices.
With a bit of searching you will find a study Bible that not
only meets your needs but also your budget.
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