Introduction
Study Bibles are all the rage these days. It appears that whenever someone is discussing the purchase of a new Bible, they're looking at purchasing a study Bible. For many people, it becomes the means by which they feel that they can better understand the Bible without having to dish out hundreds of dollars for commentary sets or attend Bible college & seminary.
There is a problem, though, when it comes to study Bibles. Which one do you buy?! Today, the market is flooded with a wide variety of study Bibles, from just about every publisher on the market, many offering several different ones. Plus, study Bibles these days can range from being very general to specializing in a particular area of study (i.e. prophecy). So, really, how do you decide which study Bible you're going to purchase?
That's what we intend to help you with in this article; we want to offer you tips and suggestions so that you can choose the right study Bible for you. Over the years, I have purchased nearly a dozen study Bibles, so I am going to share my experience so that you can pick a study Bible that will serve you well for years to come.
The goal here isn't to tell you which study Bible to buy. Everyone has different needs, so it would be wrong to try to tell everyone that they need one study Bible in particular. With that in mind, I want to equip you with the necessary tools so that you can walk into your local Christian bookstore with confidence, knowing that you're going to pick the Bible that's just right for you.
What is a Study Bible?
Before we even get started with this, I think it's important that we define what a study Bible is. In its simplest terms, a study Bible is an edition of the Bible that is prepared with the Bible student in mind, typically containing features such as: cross references, annotations, a concordance, maps & illustrations, timelines of Bible history, and outlines, just to name a few. The general purpose of a study Bible is to help the reader better understand the Bible so that it's no longer a daunting task to read the Bible and to make them understand that they don't need to rely solely on a Bible teacher to explain the Scriptures to them. The goal is to get people reading their Bibles and to understand what they've read.
The most interesting thing is that with the explosion of study Bibles on the market, you would be inclined to think that this is a recent occurrence; but, it isn't. Study Bibles have been around for a very long time, as early as the Sixteenth Century with the Geneva Bible, at least in terms of English translations. This particular Bible contained commentary notes explaining the Bible text, extensive cross references, synopses, and teaching on various doctrinal points. It was this Bible that led the Church of England to create the familiar King James Version.
Another notable Bible is the Scofield Reference Bible, first published in 1909, by C.I. Scofield. The Scofield Reference Bible became widely popular in the United States, and has since undergone several revisions and updates in its hundred year history. This is really the modern study Bible of which many of today's are patterned after.
Since the printing of the Scofield Reference Bible, many publishers have published their own study Bibles. They have become staples in Christian bookstores across the world, even being published in several languages so that people can read them in their native language. Some of the more popular titles today would include: the MacArthur Study Bible, the ESV Study Bible, and the Spirit-Filled Life Bible, just to name a few.
Where to Start: Translations
Now that we have a bit of a history concerning study Bibles, let's start looking at things to consider when deciding on which one you should purchase.
The first thing that you want to keep in mind in the Bible translation. Even above the contents of the study Bible itself, the translation is the most important thing that you need to keep in mind. If you're going to spend money and have a study Bible be your primary resource for understanding the Scriptures, it should be in a translation that you're comfortable reading from.
This starts by deciding on which type of translation you prefer. Do you want a formal equivalence translation, which is more word for word in its translation of the original Greek & Hebrew (i.e. NASB, KJV, NKJV, ESV)? How about something that is more of a dynamic equivalence, or a translation that may not stick as closely to the original text in its translation and may simply be a paraphrase (i.e. NLT, Living Bible, the Message)? Or, maybe you prefer something that offers a balance between the two (i.e. HCSB, NIV, NET Bible)?
If you're serious about your study of the Bible, you'll likely want to stick with a translation that has a formal equivalence, or at the very least one that is balanced between the two. Each translation has its own flavor, so it'll be up to you decide. More often than not, most people will end up using the translation that their church uses, especially if their Bible is one that they're going to use at church. If that isn't the case for you, then I would suggest finding an online Bible (bible.logos.com) and reading each translation until you find one that you like.
Once you have picked your preferred translation, you'll want to use this as your baseline in choosing a study Bible. In other words, you'll want to make sure that the Bible is using your preferred translation, or at least a second favorite. It doesn't make much sense to buy a study Bible that's in a translation that you won't use because that will defeat the purpose of having a study Bible.
Know Your Theological & Denominational Background
After deciding on which Bible translation you want to use, you have to tackle the second most important issue, which is recognizing what your theological and denominational backgrounds are. Why is this so important? Simply put, if you're of an Arminian or Wesleyan background, you wouldn't want to waste your money purchasing a study Bible that is going to contradict and condemn your beliefs. Instead, you want to purchase a study Bible that is going to help you to better understand the Bible and affirm the doctrinal beliefs that you hold to. That means that if you're of a Reformed/Calvinist background, then you're going to want a study Bible that supports those views. These days, with the number of study Bibles on the market, you shouldn't have a problem finding one that aligns with your doctrinal beliefs.
If you're unsure of what your doctrinal beliefs are, you may be better off choosing a Bible study that is more middle of the road in its teachings. There are several of these on the market as well. These study Bibles in particular try not to hold to any denominational slant; but, instead try to interpret the text in a manner that is consistent with mainstream evangelicalism, which just about any Christian should be content with.
How can you know which one is which? There are a couple of ways. The first thing you could do is ask your pastor or spiritual leader which study Bibles they would recommend purchasing. If you don't want to go that route, is to go to the Christian bookstore with a handful of Bible passages handy that you have a confident understanding in. Flip through different study Bibles and see how they handle these passages, and that will give you a good idea for that study Bible's flavor.
Since a study Bible is going to be an invaluable resource to you, you have to make sure that you're choosing a Bible that isn't going to take you in a direction that you clearly disagree with. Now, you're not going to agree with 100% of the points, I don't think anyone will, but if you can agree with the majority then it's going to be a good fit.
As a final word of thought on this section, I will note that it can sometimes be a fruitful exercise to purchase a study Bible that is outside of your theological/denominational sphere, as a means of critical thinking and being able to observe what others believe & teach. This is more recommended for secondary & tertiary study Bibles, as opposed to a primary one; your primary study Bible should be one that aligns with your beliefs.
Features to Look For
The first two steps should have really narrowed down your search for the right study Bible. By now, you should only be looking at study Bibles that are printed in your translation of choice and with the particular background that you're looking for. Everything else should have been eliminated from consideration. Now that you're down to a handful of Bibles, it's time to start looking at the features that set each study Bible apart. Below we're going to look at some of the different features that you should look for when selecting a study Bible. Of course, the priority that these take will be up to the individual, but these should all be considered, regardless of their priority.
Introductions
Introductory matter is invaluable to a study Bible. In these sections you will find background information on the book, its author, the date it was written, as well as any key themes that you need to be aware of as the reader. If you're getting ready to undertake a study of a new book, this section should provide you with adequate information. Also, any good study Bible will also contain introductions for the Old & New Testaments, as well as introductions for the different sections of Scripture (i.e. an introduction to the Prophets or the Gospels).
If this section is light, then you'll likely want to skip it, unless the study notes are thorough & more elaborate.
Outlines
Outlines are typically contained in the introduction, but are worth mentioning separately. The Bible that you pick should have outlines for each book of the Bible, breaking down the different themes and topics that you will encounter as you read. This serves to give you an idea of what the book is about at a glance. These are pretty standard and some are more extensive than others; but, if a study Bible doesn't have them, you probably don't want it.
Study Notes
This is the most important piece to any study Bible. I'd dare say that it's not a study Bible unless it contains study notes. Depending upon the study Bible you purchase, these will either be: 1) very heavy and extensive with its notes covering nearly every verse of Scripture, 2) very light, with notes only for key passages, or 3) somewhere in-between, offering commentary for most Bible verses. Picking a Bible based on its study notes and the amount of notes is entirely up to the individual. Some people prefer more notes, others prefer less. Whichever your preference, make sure your study Bible fits your needs. At the very least, make sure that the study notes cover the whole Bible, especially those sections that you are the least familiar with and will likely need help to understand.
Cross References
These are pretty standard these days, even in Bibles that aren't study Bibles. Yet, there are some Bibles that do not come with cross references, and this can be a problem, depending on the person. For most people, cross references are an extremely valuable tool because they help point you to related passages of Scripture that you may not have thought of or known about. This is important when you're studying a particular topic and you're trying to find all of the Scriptures that relate to that topic; this is where cross references come in handy. I'd recommend that the study Bible you purchase come with cross references.
Concordance & Dictionary
Much like cross references, these have become pretty standard in most Bibles. These are two invaluable resources, especially for those people (like myself) who cannot remember where a particular passage of Scripture is located. If you're looking for a certain topic or word, a concordance and/or index can help you find the Bible passages that you need. In much the same way, having a Bible dictionary will help you in defining Bible terms that you may not know or quite understand. The importance of these really depends on the reader, but for the average Bible reader, these are useful and necessary.
Maps
Just about every Bible has maps in the back, yet another standard. But, a good study Bible should have in-text maps, that are more detailed or specific than the generic maps that get stuck in the back of a Bible. For example, if you're reading through Acts, you should expect to see a map outlining Paul's missionary journeys. While not necessary, these can help in setting the context and aide the reader in visualizing where certain things have taken place, particularly if that person is a visual learner. In my opinion, you can never have enough good maps to help you understand how & where things are going on.
Charts & Illustrations
There are plenty of things in the Bible that most people, myself included, just cannot figure out in the Bible without having some kind of visual to help make things clear. This is where charts come into play; they gather and display Biblical and historical data in a more visual form. These should be both in the back of a study Bible, as well as in-text like maps.
Harmony of the Gospels
Any study Bible worth its weight should have a solid harmony of the gospels. This is a chart showing how the four gospels correlate to one another so that you can read them in a chronological fashion to get a better understanding of the life of Christ and His earthly ministry. Without a harmony of the gospels, it's difficult to piece them together and have a proper chronology of events.
Additional Materials
Any other additional features that a study Bible may offer are a plus. Some offer things such as teaching on different doctrines throughout the text, theological articles in the front & back, a Bible reading plan, and so on. This is where most study Bibles will vary and generate its own uniqueness. This is an area where you have to decide what you think is important to have and what isn't, and it will vary from person to person.
Quality
Once you've decided on the study Bible that you want, the last thing you have to do is determine the quality of the Bible. Do you want hardback, imitation leather, genuine leather, or some kind of premium leather? The choices you have depends solely on the Bible publisher, and which one you choose is up to you. The factors that determine the quality should include: 1) what the publisher offers, 2) your budget, and 3) your personal preference. We've already discussed the publisher; they decide what format their Bibles come in. From there, it's up to you to decide what your budget is and how much you're willing to spend on a Bible. Generally, you should buy the best that you can afford, knowing that better quality lends to better handling and longevity. Finally, you have to decide on your preference in terms of the quality and binding you want. All three of those factors will lead you to buying a Bible that is of the right quality for you.
The Right Study Bible
After you've gone through all of these steps, you should be to a point where you have chosen the right study Bible for you, or at least narrowed it down to a couple that will fit your needs. If you've taken all of the above into consideration, you can be confident that you're spending your money on a study Bible that's going to be with you for years to come and serve you well in your personal Bible study.
Again, in closing, the objective here isn't to tell you which study Bible to buy, but simply to equip you with the tools you need to make your own wise decision regarding what Bible to buy. I'm 100% confident that you'll have the right Bible for you if you follow these steps.
Recommended Bibles
Now, people always ask me what study Bibles Trailblazin Ministries recommends. We have a few listed on our recommended resources page, but I will list them here for your convenience. These are ones that we personally recommend and present a solid understanding of the Bible.
- Scofield III Study Bible
- MacArthur Study Bible
- Ryrie Study Bible
- Apologetics Study Bible
God bless!
