Enthusiastically, Dawn

It’s summertime here along the coast of the smallest state in the USA. It’s time to kick back, relax, sip tall drinks, and wait for the next cool breeze. Or one could amp up their summertime scripture study. Maybe a bit of both is good advice. At least not languishing spiritually during the hot, summer days seems wise. My daily routine includes bible reading, meditation, and scripture study regardless of the season. It does seem to be more challenging in summer with the increased outdoor opportunities of great weather and long stretches of beach calling. To keep me on my painted tosies this season I chose to opt in to review the new Thomas Nelson Evangelical Study Bible. As a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (#BibleGatewayPartner) I have the opportunity to receive and review newly published Bibles regularly for free, and the opportunity to try out this new New Kings James Version study bible seemed like the perfect timing to combat any risk of a lazy summer for me! Thanks to The Bible Gateway team, Faith Gateway, and Thomas Nelson Bibles for this opportunity.

This new Bible has some excellent features for personal study and reflection. I have been reading through Proverbs for July, and enjoying getting a feel for the NKJV again used for this latest scripture study offering. It is refreshing to spend time in different translations and one feature I can’t rave enough about is the Comfort Print, and 10.5 font used in this book. It is beautiful to look at and easy on the eyes. Important for those of us who are 50 and up but also those who study and read a lot. At almost 4 pounds and 2368 pages, this a desk study bible {9.52(h) x 6.66(w) x 2.17(d) inches}, unless you are Samson, or enjoy carrying a heavy load! The editor notes in the foreword the goal to set forth, “faith-affirming study notes that represent the finest conservative Christian scholarship and to provide clear explanations of biblical passages for today’s readers”.

There are some unique study features represented with symbols to assist or prompt deeper consideration. These symbols represent Doctrinal Footnotes, Personality Profiles, Archeological Sites, and Apologetics Articles. They are displayed in their own color on the pages and coordinate appropriately with scriptural references. Annotations are found at the bottom of the page and do not hinder the reading flow, though some parts of scripture have more so this varies throughout. I have not found this to be an obstacle or distraction. I have not found the doctrinal notes exhaustive.

One feature I am enjoying is the reference section that runs down the center of the pages. Similar to the Thompson Chain Reference style of following a chain of scripture linked to another. It really is useful and allows the continuity of scripture to reveal itself clearly. The notes in the reference section offer a variety of approaches to go deeper. Offering the following options within the taupe strip on each page are cross-references and translator notes such as equivalent, alternative, and translation details. There are also explanatory, textual, and language notes. Again, the layout is pleasing to the eye, and I appreciate the study notes in this middle strip.

Additional features which make this Bible a welcome addition to my study routine are the full-color photos and images which are like having a visual Bible Dictionary and cultural commentary. There are over 50 full-color maps that are within the text (recompiled and redrawn for this new edition), a topical index to Christ and the Gospels, and an NKJV concordance. The “center-column reference with notes” which, as I mentioned, is one of my favorite and most used features of this Bible. There are also full-color maps at the end of the Bible.

So, let me know if you have any questions about this Bible in the comments below. I will be doing a comparison video on YouTube of this Bible alongside The Bible Study Bible (another NKJV) in August. I will also be posting a review of this Bible then. Excited about that one too, so stay tuned. Let me know your questions or what you want to see in the comments below and I will address it in the video or blog post!

Meanwhile, you can see more about the Evangelical Study Bible Bible Here on Thomas Nelson’s Page.