Book Review: The NIV Cultural Background Study Bible

When it comes the Bible, most people try to read it through a 21st Century mindset. It surprises them when they realize the Bible was not written within the context of the modern world. Sure, if you hear a sermon today, a pastor will use some element from the modern day culture to communicate the gospel message. The Bible uses elements from the time it was written to help the reader and listeners to apply the Biblical message in their Christian walk.

Study Bibles are a great tool to use to help understand the meaning of the text and culture during the time that particular book was written. Zondervan has produce a study Bible to assist its readers to understand the cultural elements in each book of the Bible. This study Bible is called the NIV Cultural Background Study Bible.

This study Bible was edited by John Walton from Wheaton College and Craig Keener from Asbury Theological Seminary. There are a number of contributors this study Bible as well as a few articles from the NIV Archaeological Study Bible. This study Bible does contain book introductions which do not go into great detail as other study Bibles. There are articles where the reader can get more understanding of the background especially what is happening during that moment in history. The study Bible contains notes like most study Bibles. These notes attempt to assist the readers in grasping the meaning of the text based on the time it was written.

There are many other elements in this Bible that might take me all day to write about, so I will keep this review very brief. Do I think this is a fair Bible? I think it is. I know I will consider using this Bible as I study the Bible from my own sake or for teaching in the church. I think those who want to understand the historic culture in each book of the Bible, this study Bible will be very helpful.

Thanks BookLook Bloggers for letting me review this Bible.

Book Review: NIV Lifehacks Bible

One of the most important elements of the Christian life is spiritual formation. Spiritual formation takes place when discipline ourselves in walking with Christ. Spiritual formations come in various ways such as journaling, memorizing verses in the Bible, and prayer. Many books have been written on the subject which is a big help for new believers as well as those who have been Christians for a long time. You might say you can call spiritual formation, habits, which means a regular practice or tendency that is hard to give up.

Zondervan has produced a new specialty Bible to assist believers in developing spiritual habits called, the "NIV Lifehacks Bible." What exactly is a "lifehack?" Joe Carter, who is the contributing editor of this Bible, said a lifehack is "any advice, shortcut, tip, or skill that helps (the reader) get things done more efficiently and effectively. Applying lifehacks to disciplines makes those disciplines more readily integrated into (the reader's) life."

Most retailers and publishers would call this a study Bible, which it is not. A study Bible would have detailed book introductions along with study notes at the bottom of each page to help the reader learn more the passage and its historical context. This Bible is more of a specialty Bible where it has articles catering to a specific person. This Bible is geared toward those who want to have spiritual disciplines which is a good thing.

There are various articles throughout this Bible that address different topics such as humility, holiness, and evangelism. At the end of each article, Carter gives a sentence or two to help the reader apply what he wrote to their lives.

One plus about this Bible is a reading plan. No, not a reading plan for the articles, but a Bible reading plan. There are some complicated ones out there, but the one in this Bible looks like a simple approach to read the Bible. In fact, I am might be considering using it next year as I wrap up my three-year reading plan.

What made me curious about this Bible is the fact that Joe Carter, editor for the Gospel Coalition, wrote the articles and Kevin DeYoung wrote the forward. The articles are very simple to read and are very practical. I wish they had this Bible available in the ESV, but I get why it is in the NIV because there are some new believers who want to read an easy-to-read version which is what the NIV is.

Thanks Booklook Bloggers for letting me review this Bible.

Book Review: The NIV Zondervan Study Bible

The New International Version (NIV) turns 50 this year. The NIV is considered the most popular Bible translation and the most read for the last couple of decades. Many study and specialty Bible have been made in the NIV which I have a few of them myself. My first NIV Bible was a student Bible which my brother gave me as a middle school graduation present. I used that Bible day in and day out until I had to get a new one which was the NIV Study Bible.

God used the NIV during my early days as a Christian which I am thankful for because there was not as easy to read translation that was close to being as accurate as the NIV was at that time. There were many resources based on the NIV along with the study and specialty Bible as I mentioned earlier. Zondervan has released a new study Bible, the NIV Zondervan Study Bible. This is a different study Bible unlike anything Zondervan has produced in years passed.

This study Bible has D.A. Carson as the general edition, who happens to be a solid Bible teacher and a NIV user. What this Bible is focused is getting the reader to look at the Bible as one story instead of different stories in one book. Carson said this Bible focuses on Biblical theology where the ESV Study Bible focuses on systematic theology.

There are many positives to this study Bible. It has great book introductions and outlines of each book of the Bible. The study notes deal with each verse of the text whether its one verse or three verses. There are many great theological articles written by solid pastors and teachers such as Greg Gilbert, Sam Storms, Kevin DeYoung, and Tim Keller. There are even introductions to each section of scripture such as the gospels and the Pentateuch. You could say this almost like the ESV Study Bible in way.

What are the negatives? While the study notes are good, they don't go over the literal meaning of a Greek word and difference in translation. As many of you are aware the NIV went through an update after the gender-natural, Today's New International Version (TNIV), went bust. Zondervan admit mistakes were made and they wanted to correct them in an updated NIV. One of the words taken out was Saints and was replaced with God's people or God's holy people, which is what a saint is. The study notes do not give a good explanation as to what a saint is but then again this study Bible is based on the NIV and not other literal translations.

Another negative is I feel this is another marketing ploy by Zondervan to gain sales. Sure this Bible will sale in a Christian bookstore or Amazon, but with the ESV Study Bible gaining ground as the study Bible for Christians, I felt this was Zondervan's way of getting more people to buy their product. Not to mention this Bible and the ESV Study Bible is about the same size. I don't think Carson's intention or focus in making a new study Bible was to make a profit but to get people something they could use to study Biblical theology.

In 2008, I switched from the NIV to the ESV because I felt the ESV was a better translation as far as accuracy and readability was concerned. I do use the NIV from time to time in studying the Word but not as often I did when I first believed. The ESV Study Bible will remain my first go-to study Bible, but this Bible will come along side it. There are many Christians who benefit from this Bible especially if your church still uses the NIV. I am surprised that some Reformed/Calvinistic Pastors and teachers, such as Daniel Montgomery, Tim Keller, and Tim Chester, use the NIV in their preaching and teaching where the majority use the ESV, New American Standard Bible (NASB), or New King James Version (NKJV).

I know I will be reading the articles in the study Bible and most likely use them in teaching and preaching. Who knows they might show up on the blog. My overall assessment of the NIV Zondervan Study Bible is it is a good tool to have in studying Biblical theology. I really appreciate D.A. Carson's commitment in making a theological study Bible.

Thanks Booklook Bloggers for letting me review this study Bible.

Book Review: NIV Essentials Study Bible

The New International Version (NIV) has been one of the best selling translations of the Bible for over 30 years. Many pastors, scholars, and lay people embraced it as their main translation for preaching, teaching, reading, and memorization. There has also been a great number of study Bibles that has been produced containing the NIV such as the NIV Study Bible, The Archaeological Study Bible, and the Quest Study Bible. In addition to study Bibles, there has been a number of special interest Bibles such as the Student Bible, which was my first NIV.

Zondervan has produced a study Bible that is unique known as the NIV Essentials Study Bible. Why is this study Bible unique? The reason being is that it contains 6 NIV resources. Those resources are:

The NIV Study Bible, which contains study notes and book introductions

The Archaeological Study Bible, which is looking at the history and archaeology of the Bible

The Quest Study Bible, which is a Q&A Bible suitable for new believers

The Student Bible, which is a Bible for students with book introductions and little devotionals

The Great Rescue Bible, a narrative Bible that looks at the central story of the Bible as God's rescue plan for mankind

The Essential Bible Comparison, a reference resource used to point out the context of the books of the Bible and understand the significance of the Bible's story

Since this contains the NIV Study Bible, it does contains the book introductions and study notes from it. However, it does contain elements from all the other resources which can a distraction for those new to the Bible. It seems at times, those elements seem to drive you away from the text. Don't get me wrong, a study Bible is important, but not one that will distract you from the text. Also, not everyone who is a new Christian is not a student so I question why the Student Bible was thrown in this mix. I am sure no adult who comes to faith in Christ would want to have something meant for teens in a study Bible like this one.

Yes, there are a lot of resources for Christians to study the Bible. I thought it was a good idea to put 6 resources into one study Bible, yet I felt there was to much going on. If I was making a study Bible like this one, I would not have put the Student Bible in the mix. This was a good idea, I just don't think it was executed very well.

Thanks BookLook Bloggers for letting me review this Bible.