October 15th was a big day for me. I couldn’t get much sleep the night before and once the dawn finally broke my eyes were peeled for the dude who drives the big brown truck. I’d pre-ordered my copy months in advance and the day of delivery had finally arrived. Some guys get psyched about video games. Others go crazy over sports. For me it’s all about the Bibles. Being a pastor I’m contractually obligated to like Bibles - it’s part of the deal.
Last week Crossway Publishers released the long awaited ESV Study Bible. It’s the first study Bible to incorporate the English Standard Version translation which, since its completion in 2001, has become the standard for excellence and accuracy in scholarly, orthodox Christian circles. (A quick post on the differences in translations and why you should care is upcoming.)
The study Bible takes this wonderful translation of the scriptures and combines it with textual notes, beautiful maps, thorough and scholarly introductions to each book, as well as dozens of articles on things like, “The Authority and Truthfulness of the Bible” and “An Overview of Biblical Theology.” All of which has been compiled by leaders in the field of orthodox, scholarly, Biblical studies.
My only complaint is that so far some of the notes tend to skew a bit to the John Piper-quasi-Calvinistic side of things. Frank will understand what that means. Overall however, it’s solid.
So if you’re looking for a Bible with great translation, helpful notes, and a bunch of extras that will deepen your understanding of the Scriptures, this is the one. Just don’t steal mine. Okay, the commercial is over.
October 20th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Can you explain more about John Piper? I have heard of him but don’t know a whole lot - how does his view points differ from yours?
October 21st, 2008 at 8:27 am
Matt, thanks for the heads up. I didn’t know Crossways’ study Bible was already complete. Here’s Paul McCain’s case for Concordia’s, ahem, official “Lutheran Study Bible” due next Oct.
http://cyberbrethren.typepad.com/cyberbrethren/2008/10/the-esv-study-bible-a-confessional-lutheran-response.html
While it seems like a fair critique, it’s more of a case against the of non-Lutheran notes. Lots could be said, and I’m biting my tongue about a number of things here, but I will say that once again our tribe proves its fear of anything that doesn’t pass our own doctrinal review. I doubt that anyone would read the Crossways edition and lose their faith.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:44 pm
That’s very interesting……..*nods*
October 21st, 2008 at 7:35 pm
If that’s a complaint I’d hate to see a complement.
[Bible envy is still a sin]
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
Again, I will have to look to my husband “a self proclaimmed nerd” and “funny bible scholar” to enlighten me. (The shame of it, is bruttal) But that’s ok.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Thanks for the link Nate. Paul does a great job of outlining the definite differences. (check it out Kevin) And he’s right on. And yes, the LSB will be incredible. However where he gets it wrong is insisting that the Crossway version is useless. It’s still a really good bible - and I’ll take quasi-calvinist over liberal redactic garbage or pre-millienial Schoffield weirdness any day of the week.
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:39 am
Sure, just when I think I’ve figured out where Lutheran differs from quasi-Calvinist (it’s that fifth petal, right?) you throw out redactic and Schoffield, what you think we should do our own research? :). Glad you’re enjoying it, I’m saving my pennies for the LSB.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Yeah, I’m with you. I think it was the great Joel D. Biermann who, upon being asked which Bible translation to recommend to someone, answered, “Any of them. they’re all the inspired Word of God.” If only our publishing house was comfortable working with the same amount of theological freedom.
But your post isn’t about CPH or our Synod, it’s about Scripture.
Thanks for helping me appreciate that God uses our own language, or own English words and grammar and images to communicate directly to us. Somewhere between a sermon of yours I listened to once or the new member lessons I’ve reviewed I picked up that accent from you.
Word.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:35 am
This all sounds interesting. I will have to start investigating on my own to figure out what you are all talking about. Right now I will reread all your posts again to see if I can get a clue to understand what the conversation is addressing.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Thanks for your comment on my blog, friend.
Also, you have inspired me to check out the new study Bible . . . hope you’re satisfied. 
October 24th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Ooooh . . . those smileys are pure cheese . . .
October 25th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I guess I need to go figure out how to incorporate smiley faces now…I’ll be back later with a “cheesy face”
October 25th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I’m going to still wait on the ESV Study Bible. I have my old Concordia NIV Study Bible that I still use. My wife has said that I have too many Bibles and must either use it until its destroyed or give it to someone else. Now as a pastor I have narrowed it down to only 1 of each translation. My last bible purchase for a long time was the ESV Note taking bible. I love it. It took me a long time to find an ESV bible that has room for note-taking.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
It’s just another translation. No one here has to like it or agree with it. You can buy it or don’t. I happen to like the fact that good pastors study various translations of the Bible and use them to deliver sermons in different ways. I don’t have an example or quote at this very moment to illustrate my point but it’s in there somewhere.
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:44 am
Steve and I have a small ESV. However, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles. (just the books of the bible). When I get around to it I will compare it with the NIV’s language and see what I think.
Thanks
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 am
There should be a company whose services you could hire when you purchase a new Bible to go through your old one and transcribe all your handwritten notes and technicolor highlights. Seriously.
November 12th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
ni29mhydah2vjeh1
November 15th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Hello Tanya
I’m curious. What is ni29mhydah2vjeh1?