Bottom line: If you want the best study Bible, I recommend getting an essentially literal translation. Now let’s bring it all together. Given all the information above, what study Bible should you choose? Personally, I believe the best study Bible will have study notes written by a variety of scholars. This allows you to get a variety of perspectives on a variety of texts. If all the notes are written by a single person, you’re only getting their interpretation of all the passages. This can get especially dicey if you’re getting into more difficult texts, like in the Book of Revelation. Because I believe that the Holy Spirit is primarilyresponsible for helping us apply God’s word to our lives. He is the one who makes convicts us of sin and righteousness. He is the one who reveals Christ to us. He is the one who comforts us in our afflictions and encourages when we’re downtrodden.

First, let me say that both interpretive and application study Bibles are wonderful resources, and calling one type the “best study Bible” probably isn’t the most helpful way to think about the subject. Overall, this is a big simplification of the two methods of translation, but I think you get the point. Additionally, I don’t want someone else doing the hard work of wrestling through how to apply various verses. I want to prayerfully grapple with the text, seeking God’s help to pull out the various meanings and applications. When choosing, I would recommend using this formula (that sounds too precise, but you know what I mean): Full text of the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), combining the latest biblical scholarship with clear, natural EnglishCharts and diagrams help readers visualize different concepts and relationships and their significance in the book, throughout the Bible and in our lives. Maps Because it has the potential to introduce the biases of the translators. This, in turn, can lead to words and phrases being used that weren’t originally in the text. Generally speaking, study Bibles fall into one of two categories: Interpretation Centered Study Bibles Essentially literal study Bible translations are those that seek to examine the original Greek or Hebrew word, then translate that word into English as literally as possible. Preferred Essentially Literal Translation + Interpretation Focused Study Bible + Contributions From Numerous Scholars = The Best Study Bible

Today's #1-Selling Study Bible has been thoroughly updated and expanded in The Life Application Study Bible - 3rd Edition, offering fresh and relevant insights. Now let’s dive into the nitty gritty of choosing a good study Bible for you. Which Is The Best Study Bible Translation? Usually, these Bibles have loads of study notes underneath the text, plus maps, diagrams, cross-references, and dozens of other helpful tools.

Life Application Study Bible Features

There are Bibles for men, women, college students, high-school students, kids, military members, and on and on. It’s a flabbergasting, overwhelming blessing. There are certainly going to be elements of preference involved in making your choice. Maybe your church uses one particular translation. Maybe you grew up reading and memorizing the NASB. Maybe you just like the way a particular translation feels. Dynamic equivalence study Bible translations attempt to translate the Bible in a “thought-for-thought” manner. In other words, instead of translating each word individually, they attempt to translate the original thoughts behind each word and phrase. Bottom line: When it comes to choosing the best study Bible, I would recommend one that focuses on interpretation rather than application. Bringing It All Together: Best Study Bible Recommendations There are rare occasions when a literal translation will make zero sense to a modern English reader, and in that case, the translation attempts to be as close to the original as possible while still making sense to the reader.

Don’t neglect the “weightier matters” of Bible reading. God desires obedience and a heart that delights in him. New features include: a refreshed interior design with a second color for visual clarity; meaningfully updated study notes and features; and the Christian Worker's Resource- a special supplement to enhance the reader's ministry effectiveness. Trusted & Treasured by Millions of Readers over 30 years, the Life Application Study Bible Is Today’s #1–Selling Study Bible Study the stories and teachings of the Bible with study notes, overviews, vital statistics, outlines, and timelines. Grasp difficult concepts using in-text maps, charts, and diagrams. Discover how you can apply the Bible to your life today.

Features

In other words, instead of simply translating the words as they were originally written, an attempt is made to interpret the meaning of the original words and then let that interpretation guide the translation. This beautiful full-color Bible provides a complete resource for study, including thousands of notes, articles, extensive cross-references, and features contributed by top evangelical scholars. These multilayered study tools, combined with the accuracy and clarity of the New King James Version, make this Bible a perfect choice to help you understand and deeply engage with Scripture.

There are so many different types of study Bibles that it can be confusing trying to determine the best study Bible for you. Study the stories and teachings of the Bible with verse-by-verse commentary. Gain wisdom from people in the Bible by exploring their accomplishments and learning from their mistakes. Survey the big picture of each book through overviews, vital statistics, outlines, and timelines, and grasp difficult concepts using in-text maps, charts, and diagrams—all to help you do life God’s way, every day.

Life Application Study Bibles are designed to help readers understand and apply the Bible's teachings to their lives. They are available in the NIV, NLT, KJV, and NKJV translations.

Personally, I believe this is an inferior and unhelpful method of translation because it has the potential to introduce interpretationinto the translation. Now more than 10,000 Life Application® notes and features that help explain God’s Word and challenge you to apply its truth to your life today These types of study Bibles are primarily designed to help you understand the meaningof the text in each book of the Bible. In other words, they want to help you get to the heart of the author’s original intent. There are obviously differences between each of these Bibles, and scholars will debate the merits of the study notes, but overall I think these are your best bet. The Final Word: Obedience Matters Most Before you decide on a good study Bible for you, it’s really important to determine the best translation of the Bible to use.