ESV Study Bible

November 2, 2009



Jeremiah 39-40 in the ESV Study Bible.

For over a decade I’ve been collecting a variety of study Bibles to use in sermon preparation. I can’t say that I’ve got every study Bible on the market because so many new ones come out every year. But I have used (and enjoyed) the NIV Study Bible, the Ryrie Study Bible, the MacArthur Study Bible, the Life Application Bible, the Transformation Study Bible, and the NET Bible, to name just a few. Sometimes I will have eight or ten Bibles spread out on my desk while I’m working on a message. 

A good friend at Crossway Books sent me a copy of the ESV Study Bible last week. Based on what I have seen so far, it seems destined to become the gold standard of study Bibles. Besides the thousands of notes covering every key verse in the biblical text, there are charts galore. And maps! I found full-color maps sprinkled throughout the pages, not just at the back of the book. Plus there are articles by luminaries such as J. I. Packer, John Piper, Daniel Wallace, Kent Hughes, Darrell Bock, and Mark Dever. I particularly appreciate the thorough book introductions and the detailed outlines. The publisher says the book contains 1.1 million words of explanation and teaching. Anyone who uses the ESV Study Bible is bound to come to a deeper understanding of God’s Word.

While the notes are generally written from a Calvinist perspective, in many places you find alternative interpretations listed. The only negative I could find (and this isn’t really a negative) is that this isn’t likely to be a Bible you will take to church with you. Containing over 2700 pages and weighing almost five pounds, you aren’t likely to grab this Bible as you run out the door to make the early service on Sunday morning.

If you are thinking about giving a Bible to someone you love for Christmas, check out the ESV Study Bible. Better yet, buy two copies, one for yourself and one to give to a friend. 

Do you have any thoughts or questions about this post?