ESV Study Bible

Ever have a hard time understanding things when you read your Bible? My new favorite Bible was just released last week and will eventually replace (if Santa brings me one) my John MacArthur NASB study Bible (also an excellent Bible that I have GREATLY benefitted from in the past 2.5 years).

The ESV Study Bible was released October 15th and I got to thumb through it and take a look at what it has to offer. Here are some of its benefits and features:

Section summaries are highlighted for easy location throughout the notes. Summaries provide an overview of each main section and correspond to the outline shown in the introduction for each book.

Over 200 full-color maps printed throughout make events and places in the Bible come to life.

20,000 notes focus especially on understanding the Bible text and providing answers to frequently raised issues. Words from the Bible text are printed in bold for easy reference.

Over 80,000 cross-references provide easy access to key words, passages, and themes throughout the Bible.

Numerous diagrams bring fresh understanding to key places and events in the Bible, based on the best, most recent historical and archaeological research.

Over 200 charts provide concise, “at a glance” summaries of important themes and teaching.

My favorite part? THE NOTES: For examples, check out this explanation on John 1:1, a passage that is mistranslated by Jehovah's Witnesses in order to justify their corrupt doctrines:

“From the Patristic period (Arius, c. A.D. 256-336) until the present day (Jehovah’s Witnesses), some have claimed that “the Word was God” merely identifies Jesus as a god rather than identifying Jesus as God, because the Greek word for God, theos, is not preceded by a definite article. However, in Greek grammar, Colwell’s Rule indicates that the translation “a god” is not required, for lack of an article does not necessarily indicate indefiniteness (“a god”) but rather specifies that a given term (“God”) is the predicate nominative of a definite subject (“the Word”)…” from sample online

Although there are in-depth notes, there are also many about basic culture, wording meaning, context, and relationships with other texts that are helpful for all ages.

They have 20 videos to introduce this Bible online, and list out the 95 contributors to this project. They also have 8 formats in order to accomodate personal preferences. You can preview many pages and features of the ESV Study Bible here.

Don't just take it from me...here are some worthwhile endorsements:

“The ESV is a dream come true for me. The rightful heir to a great line of historic translations, it provides the continuity and modern accuracy I longed for. Now the scope and theological faithfulness of the ESV Study Bible study notes is breathtaking. Oh how precious is the written Word of God.”

John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN

“Outstanding! The ESV Study Bible is a treasure—a beautiful volume, filled with a wealth of resources. It will be just as useful for the seminarian and long-time pastor as it will be accessible to the brand-new Christian.”

R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY

“I was privileged to act as General Editor of the English Standard Version, and now that I look back on what we did in producing that version, I find myself suspecting very strongly that this was the most important thing that I have ever done for the Kingdom, and that the product of our labors is perhaps the biggest milestone in Bible translation in certainly the last half century at least, and perhaps more. And now, as Theological Editor of the ESV Study Bible, I believe that the work we have done together on this project has set an altogether new standard in study Bibles.”

J. I. Packer, Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada

“The ESV Study Bible is an invaluable and inexhaustible resource—for those who already know and treasure God’s Word, as well as for the new generation of Bible students who have yet to discover the wonder and wealth of Scripture. I especially love the way the notes and articles highlight the great redemptive story and ‘connect the dots’ between the various portions and themes of Scripture. Full of rich insight, scholarly yet accessible—I am deeply grateful for this magnificent work.”

Nancy Leigh DeMoss, author, host of Revive Our Hearts Radio

“The ESV Study Bible is accessible, comprehensive, theologically sound, beautifully and helpfully formatted, chock full of maps, charts, well-chosen cross-references, and illustrations. I’m confident that it will be an instant and reliable help to growing Christians; high school, college, and seminary students; busy pastors; and Bible teachers. In short, the ESV Study Bible is an edifying, state-of-the-art resource that I highly recommend and will use with joy!”

Ligon Duncan, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS; President, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

“Wow! Concise, lucid, enlightening—the ESV Study Bible is an amazing resource. With its textual fidelity, doctrinal substance, and artistic beauty, the ESV Study Bible will be an immense help to all who hunger for God-breathed Scripture. I wholeheartedly recommend this exceptional resource.”

Randy Alcorn, bestselling author of Heaven and Money,Possessions, and Eternity