ESV Study Bible - A Bible Thumper’s Delight

I was just reading about the new ESV Study Bible and am quite impressed. I really like the ESV translation and this study bible makes it a great one-volume bible study tool. It has more than 25,000 notes to help understand the text and answer frequently raised issues; 50 articles on subjects such as biblical authority, text reliability, a interpretation; biblical archeology, theology, worship, prayer, and personal application; 200 full-color maps (including satellite imagery); 200+ charts located throughout the bible; 80,000 cross-references of important words, passages, and biblical themes; and 40 full-color illustrations, including historically accurate reconstructions of the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, Solomon’s temple, Herod’s temple, Jerusalem. Yes, a major study bible.

I would love to get my hands on one of these but will have to wait till October when it is published. As a matter of fact I have placed an advance order for a couple to give away as presents since they are giving a 35% discount on all pre-orders made before May 15th!

Contents and Features

The website shows sample pages from the Gospel of John, sample illustrations like that of Solomon’s Temple, as well as giving details about the full-color illustrations and maps that are included.

What is really great is that the study bible is being published simultaneously online — and all who purchase a copy of the print edition will have access to the online edition. The online edition will allow you do do easy searching, follow interactive links between maps, articles, timelines, cross-references, etc. Other features include:

• Section summaries are highlighted for easy location throughout the notes. Summaries provide an overview of each main section and correspond to the outline shown in the introduction for each book.
• Over 200 full-color maps printed throughout make events and places in the Bible come to life.
• Over 25,000 notes focus especially on understanding the Bible text and providing answers to frequently raised issues. Words from the Bible text are printed in bold for easy reference.
• Over 80,000 cross-references provide easy access to key words, passages, and themes throughout the Bible.
• Numerous diagrams bring fresh understanding to key places and events in the Bible, based on the best, most recent historical and archaeological research.
• Over 200 charts provide concise, “at a glance” summaries of important themes and teaching.

Binding Formats

There are eight different binding formats that are currently planned, from a regular, plain-ole hardcover edition to a pricey (for me) Premium Calfskin. In between those two, they offer imitation leather, bonded leather, and genuine leather covers, each coming in 2 different colors. With a whopping 2,752 pages, this thing looks thick. Here are the specs:

• Trim Size—6 ½ × 9 ¼ inches.
• Paper—Printed on high-opacity, high-quality French Bible paper from Papeteries Du Luman (PDL); this is widely considered the finest paper in the world and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), having been made from forests that are managed to preserve and sustain forestlands.
• Typesetting—Set in highly readable, 9-point, single-column type for the Bible text, and 7.25-point, double-column type for the notes.
• Printing—Full-color throughout, printed on high-speed web presses created especially for the high-quality demands of Bible printing.
• Binding—All editions are Smyth sewn, which is considered the finest Bible binding method and is designed to last a lifetime.

Contributors and Endorsements

The list of contributors is a who’s-who of the evangelical Bible scholars and teachers, spanning 9 countries and 20 denominations. The articles that are included look to make interesting reading on their own, giving a good introduction to the bible; which is, of course, what a study bible should do.

The ESV Bible Blog has collected over 100 comments about the new study bible from all over the web.

The number of ‘big name’ endorsements is impressive, I will just include a few:

“The ESV is a dream come true for me. The rightful heir to a great line of historic translations, it provides the continuity and modern accuracy I longed for. Now the scope and theological faithfulness of the ESV Study Bible study notes is breathtaking. Oh how precious is the written Word of God.”
    John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church

“The ESV Study Bible is the most important resource that has been given to the emerging generation of Bible students and teachers. The ESV Study Bible is the best. Period.”
    Mark Driscoll, Preaching Pastor, Mars Hill Church; President of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network

“Like the ESV itself, this Study Bible sets a new standard in excellence. The craftsmanship invested in every page—from the insightful articles and informative notes to the crisp design and gorgeous illustrations—makes it an invaluable tool for students of God’s Word. As a pastor it’s my goal to get one into the hands of every member of my church.”
    Joshua Harris, Senior Pastor, Covenant Life Church

“I can’t imagine a greater gift to the body of Christ than the ESV Study Bible. It is a potent combination indeed: the reliability and readability of the ESV translation, supplemented by the best of modern and faithful scholarship, packaged in an accessible and attractive format. A Christian could make no wiser investment for himself, a pastor could recommend no better resource for his congregation.”
    C. J. Mahaney, President, Sovereign Grace Ministries

“I was privileged to act as General Editor of the English Standard Version, and now that I look back on what we did in producing that version, I find myself suspecting very strongly that this was the most important thing that I have ever done for the Kingdom, and that the product of our labors is perhaps the biggest milestone in Bible translation in certainly the last half century at least, and perhaps more. And now, as Theological Editor of the ESV Study Bible, I believe that the work we have done together on this project has set an altogether new standard in study Bibles.”
    J. I. Packer, Professor of Theology, Regent College (Vancouver, Canada)

Conclusion

I mentioned at the beginning of this that I was impressed. I shouldn’t be. This is the way Crossway has done all the things for the ESV version. They offer more ‘free’ tools than anyone else — just check out the Scripture Zealots rundown of ESV offerings on the web. Check it out for yourself, and see if you can tempt yourself to pre-order before May 15th and get 35% off these great bibles.