This is a list of the study notes, ebooks, Bible versions that I have purchase and use frequently in study from the Olive Tree library. As I have said earlier some are very evangelical but give another perspective on how some view Christianity. A Call to Spiritual Reformation American Standard Version - ASVJul 28, 2011 An Introduction to the New Testament, Second EditionApr 26, 2011 An Introduction to the Old TestamentSep 19, 2011 Case for Christ Study Bible NotesJul 13, 2011 Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to ChristianityDec 15, 2011 Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should KnowJun 9, 2010 Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old TestamentFeb 13, 2012 Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless GodNov 2, 2011 Erasing HellSep 30, 2011 Expanded Bible: New Testament, TheJan 17, 2012 Fed by God's Grace: Lectionary-based Communion Prayers, Years A, B & C - Bundle Items within this collection: Fed By God's Grace: ANov 23, 2009 Fed By God's Grace: BNov 23, 2009 Fed By God's Grace: CNov 23, 2009 Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy SpiritSep 30, 2011 Good News Translation (GNT)Sep 9, 2010 Grudem's Systematic TheologyNov 2, 2011 HarperCollins Study Bible NotesDec 10, 2010 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Study Bible NotesNov 24, 2010 Holman Christian Standard Bible - HCSBJun 17, 2009 Holman Concise Topical ConcordanceJun 15, 2011 How to Read the Bible Book by BookMay 20, 2011 King James Version - KJVAug 14, 2009 Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible Notes: Inspirational Applications for Living Your FaithNov 17, 2011 MacArthur's Quick Reference Guide to the BibleNov 17, 2011 New American Standard Bible - NASBDec 14, 2011 New American Standard Bible - NASB - with Strong's NumbersJan 16, 2012 New International Version (NIV)May 20, 2011 New Interpreter's Study Bible NotesJan 18, 2012 New Revised Standard Version - NRSVJul 17, 2009 NKJV Study Bible Items within this collection: New King James Version - NKJVDec 15, 2011 NKJV Study Bible NotesJan 12, 2012 Olive Tree Enhanced Strong's DictionaryJan 16, 2012 Olive Tree KJV Concordance (Englishman's and English Bible Concordance)Jan 16, 2012 Olive Tree Summer Bible Reading PlanMay 30, 2012 Quest Study Bible Notes: The Question and Answer BibleAug 1, 2011 Study Guide: Systematic TheologyAug 2, 2010 The Jesus You Can't IgnoreNov 17, 2011 The MessageJun 15, 2009 The NKJV Daily Bible: Read the Entire Bible in One YearNov 17, 2011 The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volumes 1-35: Genesis - RevelationNov 17, 2011 Us - A User's GuideFeb 3, 2012 Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament WordsDec 1, 2011 Zondervan Atlas of the BibleOct 28, 2011 Zondervan Encyclopedia of the BibleOct 28, 2011
Gordon, Great list. We're certainly not short on resources, now. This thread is extremely helpful. Thanks, Anna
Friends, thanks so much for your contributions to this thread! We have a great list of resources and websites that will be a great help to many of us. I recently picked up a copy of The Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament and Psalms. So far, it has blown me away! It takes a "beginner" approach to introducing the Orthodox faith and beliefs. The introductory chapters are very easy to understand and do a great job of introducing/explaining the Orthodox faith. Also, the commentary/notes are very well written and easy to understand. There is also a tutorial for Morning and Evening Prayer the Orthodox way. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more about Orthodoxy or anybody who wants a great study Bible. Please feel free to post your reviews or to share when you pick up a new study Bible.
Sean, I'm very interesting in this Study Bible. I'll check online. Thanks for the review. Peace, Anna P.S. Good to have you back and posting again.
Sean, Is this the same Bible shown here on Amazon? http://www.amazon.com/The-Orthodox-Study-Bible-Testament/dp/0840783914 Thanks, Anna
Yes, that is the one. They also publish one that includes the Apocrypha and Old Testament. I picked up the one with the New Testament and Psalms only. I got it used, in perfect condition, off of ebay for $7.00 shipped in. Seeing how much I like it, I kinda wish I wouldn't have been so cheap and picked up the complete version.
Sean, Thanks for confirming that I found the Bible you recommended. I live on a tight budget. So, cheap is my middle name these days. lol. I hadn't thought about e-bay. Thanks so much. Anna
I have the 1966 Jerusalem Bible (full study notes) and The Orthodox Study Bible. I must admit I am not a big study Bible person. I have several text versions. The 2 I read read the most at this time, are the NET Bible and 1966 Jerusalem Bible (text version).
Has anyone used the Lutheran study Bible? http://www.cph.org/p-11334-the-lutheran-study-bible-hardback.aspx It sounds an interresting one, I appreciate lutheran thought and the idea of including a mixture of insights from early church, medieaval and reformation era sources sound a good idea. Been tempted to order one just to see what it's like
I don't own one but I've had a chance to examine one. It's pretty highly regarded. Confessional Lutherans take their biblical scholarship seriously, and the text is ESV which is a very solid translation. So yeah, it's a good one!
I think the best study bible is the one that has the word of God in language that the individual reader can best understand (and maybe a concordance at the back). The rest falls into place thanks to the all-sufficient counsel of the Holy Spirit, if we just pray to Him for guidance. Never mind all the traditions, exhortations, and possible interpretations. Church Father X used Verse Y to combat Arianism in his day, and Church Father Y used Verse X to combat Gnosticism in his own day. Give us the Word, without additions. Sorry, my reductionist evangelical thinking tends to get in the way.
You hit it right on the head. Each study bible is slanted toward it's given purpose. Like I said I have several both study and text Bibles. I pray that God will use his word to speak to me on any given day. Just reading is a discipline. That is why I have such a problem with mega-churches. They don't encourage bible reading and use what ever version or versions that fit what they want to teach on any given day.
I was in our local Christian Bookshop on Saturday morning and saw a collectors edition of the 1611 King James Version of the Bible and quite enjoyed getting my head around the way it is is written J are I's and v's are u's and vice versa the extra splattering of letters in words etc. Hard work just trying to work out what it reads let alone what it means..... :think:
UPDATE I just added some more study bibles to my personal library. First, I picked up a couple in the arminian perspective. Wesley Bible: A Personal Study Bible for Holy Living, NKJV (1990)Reflecting God Study Bible, NIV 1984 (2000)Next, a couple in the reformed perspective. Reformation Study Bible, ESV (2008)ESV Study Bible (2010) Then a couple of middle-of-the-road study bibles. NIV Study Bible (2011)NLT Study Bible (2010) And I brought these out of cold storage (up from the basement). Scofield Reference Bible, KJVLife Application Study Bible, NIV 1984MacArthur Study Bible, NKJVAmplified Bible ***** Yesterday, a thunderstorm passed through and I spent the day reading the notes at Psalm 31 in the above 18 study bibles. A very interesting day. I can honestly say that I learned something from the notes in each study bible. However, the review took several hours. If I had to pick one of the above study bibles and put the rest in cold storage--I would have a tough time of it. Maybe the ESV Study Bible or the NLT Study Bible. The New Oxford Annotated Bible and the Life Application Study Bible would also beg to be on the short list. And finally, I have to say that l like the Reformation Study Bible because of its directness--simple reformed theology, without the ego of the MacArthur Study Bible. ***** Oh, well, I just wanted to let everybody know what I did yesterday. Scottish Monk
The first bible I ever bought for myself was the Harper Collins NRSV Study Bible with Apocryphal. While I have reservations with the translation and some interpretations of Revelation, overall I have greatly enjoyed it.
While not a study bible, I have just ordered the Luther Bibel mit Apokryphen, heard such great things about it and it will hopefully help me refresh my German