Study Bibles are great aids to help us understand God’s Word better. Larger volume commentaries on the Bible, or single volumes on individual books of the Bible have their proper place. To be sure, any sort of in-depth study of Scripture will include these more detailed rich commentaries. But the benefit of a study Bible is at least threefold.
Convenience. First, a study Bible is a convenience because it keeps you in the same source. In other words, the text of God’s Word is in front of you and just below that are comments that briefly explain the verses you are reading. Study Bibles require no desk, no book holders, and no library. Literally, you have all you need right in front of your eyes.
Big Picture. Second, a study Bible gives you a big picture view of Scripture. It gets to the point quickly. A well-written study Bible will be thorough, yet not wordy. It will be accurate, but not overly detailed. There is certainly an advantage to this. Consider the view you have from an airplane approaching an airport in a large city. Such a view from several thousand feet up helps you see the terrain, the buildings, and any other big picture idea of what the city is like. The details of that city come later, like when the plane lands and you get a rental car and head out of the airport. You begin to see what the city is like in the details once you’re on the ground.
Such is the benefit of a study Bible. It grounds you in the basic terrain of Scripture. It’s not that the details are unimportant - far from it. But a study Bible helps you get your bearings before heading into a detailed study of a particular book or passage.
Extra Aids. Third, a study Bible provides extra aids that other Bibles don’t have. Virtually all Bibles have maps, but not all have articles on important theological concepts, geographic and cultural details to open the text up, and helpful outlines assisting your grasp on the overall structure of a particular book. But study Bibles have all of these features, and more.
I would like to divide my brief review of study Bibles into two categories: the best followed by the rest. There will be several in the best category and I will devote more attention to these. At the end of this series of articles I will list those in the rest category. Though recommended for Christians to purchase, my remarks on these study Bibles will be brief.
Today, I simply want to review my two favorite study Bibles. It goes without saying that these two fit within the best category.
The MacArthur Study Bible
This Bible is the most comprehensive of all study Bibles that I have read. This is its greatest benefit. The study notes are written by one man, Dr. John MacArthur. Amazingly, MacArthur is able to address and explain most major controversial matters of interpretation, technical issues, and theological conundrums. Aside from its extensive notes, another hallmark of The MacArthur Study Bible is its straightforward, easy to understand explanations. No other study Bible that I have read is able to so succinctly, yet so richly, provide commentary on every passage of the Bible. The New Testament notes are more abundant than its Old Testament counterpart. But the study notes of both testaments are chalked full of practical wisdom and theological clarity.
MacArthur’s introductions to each book are divided into five sections covering the reasoning behind the title of each book, its author and date, background and setting, historical and theological themes, and interpretive challenges. This is followed by a briefly stated Roman numeral outline.
A short overview of theology is found in the back, as well as an Index to Key Bible Doctrines. The index is worth its weight in gold alone. Look up any topic and it directs you to several subcategories of said topic with references from both the Old and New Testament listed. The concordance in the back is very thorough as well. Various charts and maps are found throughout. In the front of the Bible these charts and maps are listed in a handy index organized under each book in case you were looking for something particular.
Unique to this Bible is an appendage entitled The Character of Genuine Saving Faith. Anybody who reads MacArthur knows that he has written more on this subject than any in modern day history. This appendage is a simple outline including evidences that either prove or disprove one’s faith. Listed under this heading are things like visible morality, intellectual knowledge, religious involvement, time of decision, and active ministry. The second heading deals with the fruit/proofs of authentic/true Christianity. It lists things like love for God, repentance from sin, humility, devotion to God’s glory, spiritual growth, obedient living, and hunger for God’s Word. And finally, before the final heading the appendage says, “If list I is true of a person and list II is false, there is cause to question the validity of one’s profession of faith. Yet if List II is true, then the top list will be also.” This is vintage MacArthur. Perhaps MacArthur’s greatest legacy to the church has been clarifying what true saving faith looks like. Although, such an assertion is hard to confirm, its nevertheless true that Dr. MacArthur has spent his life crystalizing the gospel and helping people determine whether they are truly part of the body of Christ based upon their orthodox understanding of the gospel, faith in Christ, and the evidence of corresponding fruit in their lives.
For literally decades, people have listened to Dr. MacArthur’s sermons on the Grace to You broadcast. His study Bible is an overflow of his pulpit ministry. MacArthur writes (for the most part) what he first preaches. Many of these sermons have been broadcast on Grace to You radio. One cannot go wrong with the MacArthur Study Bible. It is the most comprehensively accurate commentary on the market today.
The Reformation Study Bible
This study Bible was edited by Dr. R.C. Sproul. First called The New Geneva Study Bible only later to go thru a name change, this study Bible ranks right up there with The MacArthur Study Bible. Though the notes on particular verses are not quite as comprehensive as MacArthur’s, this study Bible is probably the closest to what the original Geneva Bible was like. I say this for two reasons. First, similar to the Geneva Bible, its notes are fewer than many study Bibles. But second, though Sproul was the General Editor, a number of both Old and New Testament scholars helped draft its notes. This list of scholars is listed in the front of the Bible and is quite impressive.The Geneva Bible was also drafted by a committee of scholars under the direction of giants of the faith. Led by men like William Whittingham (Calvin’s brother-in-law), Miles Coverdale, and John Knox, the notes were destined to be orthodox.
The Reformation Study Bible includes a nice introduction to each book followed by an outline of the book. But the major strength of this study Bible is found in the Theological Notes interspersed throughout. At the beginning is a table of contents listing each theological notation neatly arranged under each book of the Bible where it is found, including its corresponding page number.
The study notes themselves are also solid, providing helpful cross-references. Dr. Sproul was able to place around him a team of men who, like himself, have a knack for explaining deep theological truth in simple language. Furthermore, the great advantage of this Bible is its ability to help the reader see the continuity of redemptive history (see how God’s plan of salvtion is progressively revealed throughout both the Old and New Testaments). The notes are centered on Christ and His redemptive work, showcasing how each writer of Scripture was pointing to Him.
Dr. Sproul departed this earth to be with the Lord just over a year ago. But his legacy of orthodoxy lives on in his study Bible. One cannot go wrong with The Reformation Study Bible.
Conclusion
Both The MacArthur Study Bible and The Reformation Study Bible should mark the shelves of every church library and home. These two resources provide a wealth of Biblical truth that is hard to come by in a world increasingly given over to warm devotional thoughts instead of God’s fire hot truth. Tolle lege (take up and read)!
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