Bible

(Review) NIV Study Bible, Fully Revised Edition from Zondervan Publishers

/ Annette / Leave a comment

Publisher and Publication Date: Zondervan. September 15, 2020.
Genre: Bible. Study Bible.
Pages: 2512.
Source: I received a complimentary hard cover copy of the NIV Study Bible, Fully Revised edition from Zondervan. And, I am a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid. I was not required to write a positive review.
Audience: Christian readers.
Rating: Excellent. Bravo!

Kenneth L. Barker (Editor), Mark L. Strauss (Editor), Jeannine K. Brown (Editor), Craig L Blomberg (Editor), Michael Williams (Editor). Links are to the Goodreads author pages.

Link to Amazon.

Link to Bible Gateway Store.

Link to the store at Faith Gateway.

About Zondervan:
Zondervan (@Zondervan) is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources, and digital products. The company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

What’s New in the Fully Revised Edition?

Over the course of nearly four years, the editorial team met for seven one-week sessions poring over every note, every article, every chart, and every essay. Their aim was to evaluate and refine every aspect of this study Bible.

  • Thousands of new or updated notes based on historical discoveries, cultural findings, and thematic insights
  • Over 100 new articles
  • Fresh, modern design
  • NIV Comfort Print® typeface

About Comfort Print®
Zondervan Bibles teamed up with 2K/Denmark, the world’s foremost Bible typeface foundry, to create exclusive Comfort Print® Bible fonts. NIV Comfort Print Bibles are easy to read at any size because the typeface was designed to be both efficient and readable. Zondervan Bibles believes that the beauty of the message should be reflected in the physical form of the book. Choosing the right typeface is one significant element in creating beautiful Bibles. To learn more about Comfort Print® fonts, visit www.ComfortPrintBibles.com.

  • A complete text of the accurate, highly readable New International Version (NIV).
  • A 3 page full color section on the “Ancient Texts Relating To The Old Testament.”
  • An “Old Testament Chronology” timeline.
  • A “New Testament Chronology” timeline.
  • A 7 page “The Time Between the Testaments” section.
  • A 2 page section on “The Synoptic Gospels.”
  • Over 21,000 bottom-of-the-page study notes, with icons to make important information easy to spot.
  • The icons or symbols are used for some materials in the study notes. For example an orange symbol of a male/female face directs the eye to learning about that person or people group.
  • Over 125 topical articles and a 36 page subject note index.
  • The 147 page concordance was arranged and edited by John R. Kohlenberger III.
  • Sixty-six book introductions and outlines along with six section introductions provide valuable background information for each book of the Bible.
  • In-text maps, plus 14 full-color maps (located at the end), charts, diagrams, and color illustrations to visually clarify the stories in the Bible.
  • Different colors are assigned for the sections of the Bible. For example, the historical books of the Old Testament are assigned a medium blue color, and each Bible book in this section and the headings are in this color located at the top of the pages. However, the text of the Scripture is in bold black.
  • Double-column layout of the Scripture.
  • Words of Christ Jesus in red.
  • Bold black ink print.
  • Exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print typeface.
  • 9-point print size (standard size), 10.5-point print size (large print), 7.5-point print size (personal size).

My Thoughts:
I am impressed with this Bible for several reasons which I’ll list below!

The NIV is the choice of Bible text for BSF. I am a class member of BSF, and I’ve been a member for over 20 years. I have stepped out of leadership for this BSF year. I just completed 5 years of leadership working with children.
I’m happy to see Dr. Mark L. Strauss in the teaching videos BSF creates.
The study this BSF year is Genesis. I’ve included in this review a short teaching video by Dr. Mark L. Strauss.

What I love about the Fully Revised Edition of the NIV Study Bible:
~It is visually stimulating with the full-color maps, illustrations, text, and other supplemental material.
~The bold black print is in a type-font style, size, and boldness I can easily read. The Bible I reviewed is 7.5 print size but it’s easy to read in bold print.
~Since I’m studying Genesis now, I am enjoying the extra study helps about the “Meaning of the Divine Name Yahweh,” “Suitable Helper,” and the two articles about the flood.
~I love cross-reference verses and this is located in the center of each Bible page. The Bible is a double-column layout. The reference verses are located in the center of each column.
~I love the colors assigned to each section of the Bible. For those of you who as a kid in Sunday school took part in Bible drills, the color-coded sections certainly help.
~The pages are a matte finish and have a course texture making the pages easy to turn.

I’d love it if the NIV Fully Revised Study Bible had at least 1 ribbon marker. This is a small negative for me and not a draw-back for the Bible itself.
I’m not a fan of red-letter Bibles. I don’t dislike it, but I don’t need it.

How does this Study Bible compare with other Bibles I own:
Recently I bought the new ESV Women’s Study Bible. This Bible is published by Crossway. I love this Bible for its translation, female contributors for the supplemental material, beautiful gold calligraphy of certain Scriptures (located throughout), glossary, concordance, and a teal ribbon marker. However, the print is light. It’s pretty. But hard to read unless I’m in good light.
A 2nd Bible I bought recently is the CSB She Reads Truth Bible. I have the champagne leather like cover. I also love the CSB translation. I love the bold print type-font size and style. I love the single-column style. I love the access of a ribbon marker (same color as the Bible). I love having plenty of room on the Bible pages to write. The Bible is not a study Bible. This means there isn’t full notes or a concordance, and the maps are minimal.

I’m a Bible Gateway Partner. #BibleGatewayPartner

Advertisement

(Review) New Revised Standard Version, Simple Faith Bible with Reflections from Jimmy Carter

/ Annette / Leave a comment

Publisher and Publication Date: Zondervan/HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. 2020.
Genre: Bible. New Revised Standard Version translation.
Pages: 1568.
Source: I received a complimentary Simple Faith hardcover Bible from Zondervan, I am not required to write a positive review. I received this Bible for review because I am a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid.
Audience: Bible readers.
Rating: Very good.

Link @ Zondervan: Simple Faith Bible.
Link @ FaithGateway Store: Simple Faith Bible.
Link @ Amazon: Simple Faith Bible.
Link @ Christian Book: Simple Faith Bible.

Link of interest at Bible Gateway: Simple Faith Bible.

Summary:
~The New Revised Standard Version, Simple Faith Bible is a comfort print typeface Bible.
About Comfort Print®
Zondervan Bibles teamed up with 2K/Denmark, the world’s foremost Bible typeface foundry, to create exclusive Comfort Print® Bible fonts. NRSV Comfort Print Bibles are easy to read at any size because the typeface was designed to be both efficient and readable. Zondervan Bibles believes that the beauty of the message should be reflected in the physical form of the book. Choosing the right typeface is one significant element in creating beautiful Bibles
~Black bold letter text.
~9.5 print size.
~This is not a Christ Jesus’s words in red letter edition. All the printing is in black.
~In addition to the Bible, there are over 600 notes, articles, reflections, and prayers included.
~The foreword is by Jonathan Reckford, International CEO of Habitat for Humanity.

James Earl Carter “Jimmy Carter” was born in 1924.
He was the 39th President of the United States of America.
In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Jimmy Carter became involved with Habitat for Humanity in 1984.
For a full biography: Britannica.

About the Translation:
The New Revised Standard Version is meant to be a literally accurate version. This means it is not a paraphrase Bible. It is more in the word for word translation.
For further reading about the New Revised Standard Version: Bible Gateway.

My Thoughts:
I am not as familiar with this Bible translation as I am of others. However, I am a daily Bible reader.
~What I love about the Bible is the supplemental material. I love the quotes, teachings, and prayers that are dispersed through the Bible. This gives the Bible a personable feeling.
For example a quote on page 727.
“Our most meaningful source of strength is the reality of God’s presence. We need never feel alone or helpless.
~The teachings are not lengthy, but impactful.
~I believe this is an excellent Bible for a new Christian.
~It is an excellent Bible for everyday Bible reading.
~It can be used as a daily devotion. If a person begins in Genesis chapter 1, and begins reading the “Bible in Life” sections, this can be utilized as a devotional type daily reading.
~The “To The Reader” chapter by Bruce M. Metzger is informative about the previous translation of the Revised Standard Version, which later became the New Revised Standard Version. It explains the texts used to write this Bible. For example, the text for the Old Testament is the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (1977; ed. sec. emendata, 1983). The NIV translation uses the same text.

http://www.biblegateway.com

(Review) Bible Gateway New Website

/ Annette / Leave a comment


Bible Gateway is an online Bible source. This includes both reading and audio.
Study tools are available. For example, dictionaries and commentaries.
To have full access of the study tools a membership is required. The price is $3.99 a month or $39.99 a year. Taxes are an additional charge.
To read or listen to the Bible there is no charge.
There are 18 choices for Bible reading plans.
You can signup for devotionals, newsletters, and reminders about reading the Bible.
A Spanish language option is available.

What I like about the new changes is the easy access at the top left to look up a Bible book. Don’t enter anything in the empty box. Click on the Bible Book List (down arrow) and a pop-up of all the books of the Bible appears. When you click on a Bible book the contents are shown. For example in the book of Genesis, you will see the content listed: 1 The Beginning, 2 Adam and Eve, 3 The Fall, 4 Cain and Able, and 5 From Adam to Noah. The content choices go all the way through the Bible. I love this. Often when I am looking for something in the Bible I don’t know what chapter to look in, but I am looking for a particular story.
In this same spot, but on the right side is the menu of Bible translation choices. Spanish language Bible translation choices are available.

The main navigation area is a vertical rectangle shaped burgundy colored box on the far left side. If you click on the Study Tools section it takes you to a couple of choices: Scripture Engagement and More Resources. The Scripture Engagement has a lengthy list of choices to better understand Bible reading, memorization, journaling, visual arts, singing, and handwriting Scripture. More Resources holds the information about Reading Plans and additional Study Tools.

Bible Gateway has an app at both Google Play Store and the Apple Store.

This link is a post on how to navigate the new Bible Gateway site.
Tips for Navigating the New Bible Gateway.

(Review) (in)Courage Devotional Bible, Christian Standard Bible

/ Annette / Leave a comment

incourage devotional bible

Publisher and Publication Date: Holman Bibles. October 1, 2018.
Genre: Bible.
Pages: 1984.
Source: I received a complimentary gray hardcover copy from Lifeway Christian Resources. I was not required to leave a positive review.
Rating: Excellent.
Audience: A Bible for women, because the devotionals included in the Bible are written for women.

 

Amazon

Christian Book Distributors

 

Features of the Bible include:
•Christian Standard Bible version.
•Two “My Commitment” pages. Two different types of commitment.
•Essays in the front section: “How to Read the Bible,” “God’s Story of Redemption,” a feature and “devotional theme guide,”  “Introduction to the Christian Standard Bible.” The last feature is important if you want to understand the textual base used for the translation.
•The type font is Bible Serif.
•Every Bible book has an intro page that includes the devotions listed for that book.
•312 devotions.
•Additional content in the back of the Bible: “Beautiful Brokenness”-a Bible reading plan, “Better Together”-a reading plan, “Daily Grace”-a reading plan, “Everyday Leadership-a reading plan, and six additional reading plans. Each of the reading plans are organized by a particular topic. For example: reading about women in the Bible who had leadership.
•5 page topical index.
•8 page author index showing author introduction and the devotionals they wrote.
•Two column text.
•This is not a words of Christ in red print.
•The Bible is available in a light hard cover gray, light blue with flowering on the left cover side, green cloth over board, and navy blue leather.

Additional features I love:
•I now have 2 copies of this Bible: the light gray hardcover and the light blue cover. I prefer the light blue. It may not be, but it feels lighter weight. It is easier for me to pick up the Bible with one hand. Whereas, the light gray hardcover feels like picking up a dictionary. *Update. The light gray hardcover is 3.15 pounds. The light blue cover is 3.25 pounds. So the weight difference is all in my mind!
•2 sewn in book marks that compliment the colors of the Bibles.
•The subtopic headings and chapter numbers throughout the Bible are in aqua color.
•I love the type font and size. However, I cannot find through online research what is the size. The font is in black.
•The pages are a matte finish and easy to turn.
•About 1 1/2 inches are given at the bottom of the Bible pages for writing. The thin lines (minuscule dots) are in a light gray color. I love this feature of the Bible because I’m a BIG note taker.
•I’ve owned several Bibles through the years. Most of them have been study Bibles with many pages of study material to enjoy. However, I’ve grown to love the minimalist clean page look of the Christian Standard Bibles: She Reads Truth and (in)courage. I recommend both Bibles. I love them both!

There is an (in)courage website, Facebook page; and beginning soon, on February 1, a Facebook page for an online Bible study. If you visit the website at this link, you can sign-up and to get an email to join the Facebook page for the online Bible study.

I’m a member of the Dayspring Bible Journaling Facebook group. Some of the members have this Bible and are using it to journal: writing, drawing, stickers, stamping, various art pens, etc. Please note, the pages are not thick like the cream colored pages of the ESV Journaling Bible. But the (in)courage Bible will work for most types of Bible journaling.

Additional links:
Christian Standard Bible also known as CSB
She Reads Truth CSB

(Review) The Study Bible For Women, Christian Standard Bible, Published by Holman Bibles and B&H

/ Annette / Leave a comment

35290421

Publisher and Publication Date: Holman Bible Publishers/B&H Publishing. April 15, 2018.
Genre: Bible.
Pages: 2240.
Source: B&H/Lifeway Publishers. I received a complimentary hardcover copy from B&H Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review.
Rating: Excellent.

For further information about Bible from the publisher: B&H Publishing.

Amazon

Christian Book  

For a sample chapter: The Study Bible for Women CSB.

For a full bio of the General Editor of this Bible: Dorothy Kelley Patterson.

For a full bio of the Managing Editor of this Bible: Rhonda Harrington Kelley.

Features of the Bible include:
Smyth-sewn binding
Two-column text
8-point type
Two satin ribbons for book marks
Extensive commentary notes
Word studies
Answers to hard questions
Doctrinal notes
Biblical womanhood articles
Dual pages for a family tree
“The Ketubah,” a Jewish marriage contract
“My Spiritual Mother’s Page”
Character profiles
“How to Study the Bible” article by Dorothy Kelley Patterson
“Written on My Heart” applications
“The Christian Life” article by Rhonda Harrington Kelley
“Introduction to the Christian Standard Bible” (includes the textual base for the translation)
Outlines for each Bible book
Extensive book introductions
Presentation page
Ten color maps (at the back of the Bible)
In-text maps
Charts & timelines
A nine page “Index of Features”
A 101 page Concordance

My Thoughts:
This is the third Christian Standard Bible I’ve reviewed. My go to Bible, and the first Bible from this series I reviewed is the, She Reads Truth, Christian Standard Bible. The second Bible I reviewed is the, Study Bible, Christian Standard Bible. Both of these Bibles I purchased. A new Bible from this translation series is The Rainbow Study Bible. This Bible was published May 1: Amazon.

This is the website for the Christian Standard Bible.
To read the “Translation Philosophy of the Christian Standard Bible.”
From the above link: “The CSB was created using Optimal Equivalence, a translation philosophy that pursues both linguistic precision to the original languages and readability in contemporary English.”

Now, for my thoughts.
I’ll start with the less of significant reasons as to why I love this Bible.
1. Aqua is one of my favorite colors. I was not pleased with the color selection of the She Reads Truth, CSB. The choices are white, gray and poppy red. Later, a navy colored leather touch was added. Aqua is easy on the eyes, simple, casual, and a tranquil color.
2. The first several pages are the presentation page, “The Ketubah”, family memories and tree, and spiritual Mother’s page.
The significant reasons why I love this Bible.
1. I love the translation. I believe most people do not read the information about the textual base used for the translation. They see the cover, like the way it reads and they buy the Bible. Possibly certain features of the Bible are a draw like the concordance. I love the readable CSB translation.
2. I love the footnotes at the bottom of the pages. These show the differences in the manuscripts and other OT versions.
3. I love the word studies that are included. The first word study, located on the first page of “Genesis” is “God.”
4. “Doctrine” studies. Early studies in the “Gospel of John” are “Faith, Christology, Incarnation.”
5. “Hard Question.” These are located sporadically throughout the Bible books. In the book of “1 Timothy” the “Hard Question: Is it really possible to be content?”
6. I love the bold easy to read print. I wear bifocals, but the bold print in books help!

Additional points to know:
This not a journaling Bible.
The pages are thin.
They have a matte finish so they are easy to turn.
Only half an inch is on the margins.