Henry Neufeld takes a brief look at a wide swath of study Bibles in a recent post comparing introductory material to the Gospel of Luke. Study Bibles he reviews include:
- The Learning Bible (CEV)
- Oxford Study Bible (REB)
- New Oxford Annotated Bible (N/RSV)
- Holy Spirit Encounter Bible (NLT1)
- New Interpreter’s Study Bible (NRSV)
- NLT Study Bible (NLTse)
Henry’s primary purpose was “making a recommendation to readers of the study guide who are generally expected to be serious lay Bible students, but not Biblical scholars.” He concludes his comparison:
Overall, while my personal study habits will not be altered by much, I will find time to consult this Bible [NLTSB], and I also expect to recommend it to quite a number of Bible students who are perhaps beyond the Learning Bible, but don’t really want to get into something like the Oxford Study Bible or the New Interpreter’s Bible. I will also recommend it to evangelicals who might find constant disagreement with their study Bible to be distracting. The NLT study Bible is a good addition to the Bible edition market.
I think Henry has it right, for the most part. I think the NLTSB is great for the “baby” Bible student, -but- in my own use of the NLTSB, I am finding it to be excellent for those of us well beyond the “baby” stage as well! Its translators notes within the regular comments give us insight into the original words themselves; and the articles and introductions are a great help as well. I think the NLTSB is a solid foundational Bible for many of us to carry and use, even if we think we’re beyond the study Bible stage in life.