Book Review: ESV Study Bible

ESV Study Bible

From Jack Zavada

ESV Study Bible

Publisher's Site

While the English Standard Version (ESV) translation of the Bible has been around for years and new study Bibles are being published all the time, the ESV Study Bible is really something special.

Released in October 2008, the ESV Study Bible won the Christian Book of the Year Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) for 2009, the first time a Bible has ever taken that honor. It also won its category for best Bible.

Consider this statement from the ESV Study Bible’s Introduction: "…the goal and vision of the ESV Study Bible is, first and foremost, to honor the Lord and his Word: 1) in terms of the excellence, beauty, and accuracy of its content and design, and 2) in terms of helping people come to a deeper understanding of the Bible, of the gospel, and of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior."

This is a Bible created by believers for believers, but any sincere seeker will find life-changing truths within its pages as well. Never condescending but thoroughly user-friendly, the ESV Study Bible will be appreciated by all who want to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pros

• Footnotes expand your understanding of the text.
• Supplementary articles apply to real life.
• Charts simplify major and minor themes.
• Literal, “word-for-word” translation.
• Fascinating full-color illustrations throughout.
• Innovative online version free to purchasers of the book. (Keith: I love this part!)

Cons

• Could use more illustrations.
• At 2,752 pages, may be a bit heavy for pew use.

To read the rest, please click here: ESV Study Bible Review

Keith’s thoughts:

Do you remember hearing about people who would wait in the cold all night to buy the newest Harry Potter book? That’s how I was when I heard the ESV was coming out with a study Bible. I wanted it, I needed it, I had to have one, even if I had to sell my mother into slavery to buy one (just kidding, mostly).

Then the blessed day came. I opened the box and smelled the leather. (I never had a leather Bible before, I am content to get a hardcover or paperback Bible, but this was I knew the one!) As I flipped through its pages, I was impressed. Every page was loaded with study notes, comments, cross references, I guess not that different from other study Bibles, but what impressed me was the magnitude of notes available. More impressive than the notes were the charts, maps and doctrinal sections. One of my favorite sections is the exploration of the History of Salvation in the Old Testament.

I have rarely owned a book that was coveted (no one lines up to read my Beginner’s Guide to Old Norse) but, when people at church were coming up to me and asking me if I brought my ESV with me, I knew I found a Bible that not only resonated with me, but with others. I don’t usually recommend books, most of the Christian books I read are 300+ years old and most people are attracted it seems to new releases and top-40’s, but this is one book that I can not only recommend, but beg of you, get it, Get it, GET IT!