I have updated and added items to the North Prospect Union Store. I’ve focused especially on study Bibles. As you may know, study Bibles contain not only the text of the Bible, but they also contain many articles, explanatory notes, outlines, charts, maps and more. They can make reading the bible much more enjoyable and informative. These days several of them also have free on-line companion versions, which have the advantage of easy searching and hyperlinks.
in this article I’ve highlighted study Bibles in three translations, all of which are excellent.
The New living Translation (NLT) is the most contemporary English translation. It is quite easy to read; however, it is a very reliable translation of the original languages. I would rate it as moderate to conservative in its slant. I recommend it it especially because it makes plain many passages that are confusing in more traditional versions. Here’s a website to find more information about the NLT Study Bible.
The New interpreter’s Study Bible and the Discipleship Study Bible both use the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, which is the heir to King James version. It is the Bible we have in the pews at the church. The Discipleship Study Bible slants toward the progressive, while the New Interpreter’s is a bit more moderate, but they both are very much in the “mainline.” The New Interpreter’s comes in a computer version as well, and it contains some other very good resources as well, such as the 5 volume Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible.
Finally, there is the English Standard Version (ESV) Study Bible. The ESV is a slight revision of the Revised Standard Version (predecessor to the NRSV, if you’re following the lineages). This version has been heralded by evangelicals, and its study notes and articles reflect this slant. It is one of the most comprehensive study Bibles available and a very good choice. Like the NLT Study Bible, it comes with a free on-line registration. Here’s a link to learn more about the ESV Study Bible.
So, which ones would I recommend? That’s a hard question to answer. I like the plain sense of the NLT. I also like the on-line added bonus of the NLT Study Bible and the ESV Study Bible. And the computer version of the New Interpreter’s has some very good additional resources. That said, you won’t go wrong with any or all of them.
