Are Study Bibles Really Needed?

[nanookadenord]

I have the free Logos 7 app and for my birthday on the 1st of October they game me $20 to use within their store. So, I have been looking through their store at things that I can use the $20 for.

I have been looking at adding more bibles to my collection within the app. I have several already. I am not into commentaries or anything like that. I have also been looking at study bibles, but not really sure about them.

Are they really needed? I tend to just like to read my bible.

 

[tampasteve]

Needed? Probably not for matters basic to the faith. However, they can add great information about the culture and times of the people in the books, they can also be good for additional commentary on the passages we are reading. That said, we must check who wrote the study portions and make sure what is being taught is theologically sound. But most have some sort of slant to the study notes, be it Calvinist, Word of Faith, Catholic, Anglican, etc. Most people get a study bible that is on the spectrum of what they consider themselves.

I have a couple that I use frequently, I like to add them to my normal reading to expand on what I am reading. Mostly I use a Lutheran study bible as well as one with notes from a Reformed perspective.

 

[nanookadenord]

Needed? Probably not for matters basic to the faith. However, they can add great information about the culture and times of the people in the books, they can also be good for additional commentary on the passages we are reading. That said, we must check who wrote the study portions and make sure what is being taught is theologically sound. But most have some sort of slant to the study notes, be it Calvinist, Word of Faith, Catholic, Anglican, etc. Most people get a study bible that is on the spectrum of what they consider themselves.

I have a couple that I use frequently, I like to add them to my normal reading to expand on what I am reading. Mostly I use a Lutheran study bible as well as one with notes from a Reformed perspective.

I'm not entirely sure that there is one where the spectrum is for Episcopalians. That would be the ideal one for me I guess.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

Depends. If it's an Orthodox or Catholic study Bible, then it will give you the teachings of the Church and their unchanging interpretation of scripture. If it's a Protestant study Bible, you're going to get hundreds of different and ever changing teachings and interpretations, which seems unnecessarily wasteful.

 

[nanookadenord]

Depends. If it's an Orthodox or Catholic study Bible, then it will give you the teachings of the Church and their unchanging interpretation of scripture. If it's a Protestant study Bible, you're going to get hundreds of different and ever changing teachings and interpretations, which seems unnecessarily wasteful.

Well, I am Episcopalian, so neither the Orthodox or Catholic Study Bibles would apply to me.

 

[Dave-W]

I'm not entirely sure that there is one where the spectrum is for Episcopalians. That would be the ideal one for me I guess.

Conservative Methodist may be close.

There is a John Wesley Study bible in the NRSV translation. He was an Anglican priest.
NRSV Wesley Study Bible: Sage Thicket Decotone, imitation leather

 

[tampasteve]

Well, I am Episcopalian, so neither the Orthodox or Catholic Study Bibles would apply to me.

I am not sure if it is much help, but Fortress makes an ELCA Lutheran study Bible, I like it. It is a NRSV translation and has decent notes and scripture link backs. Since the ELCA and EC are in full communion it might work OK for your situation.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

I have the free Logos 7 app and for my birthday on the 1st of October they game me $20 to use within their store. So, I have been looking through their store at things that I can use the $20 for.

I have been looking at adding more bibles to my collection within the app. I have several already. I am not into commentaries or anything like that. I have also been looking at study bibles, but not really sure about them.

Are they really needed? I tend to just like to read my bible.

I don't think they are "needed", but they have valuable study helps that make reading the Bible more enjoyable.

 

[nanookadenord]

Conservative Methodist may be close.

There is a John Wesley Study bible in the NRSV translation. He was an Anglican priest.
NRSV Wesley Study Bible: Sage Thicket Decotone, imitation leather

I am not sure if it is much help, but Fortress makes an ELCA Lutheran study Bible, I like it. It is a NRSV translation and has decent notes and scripture link backs. Since the ELCA and EC are in full communion it might work OK for your situation.

Thanks guys, however, neither of these are available in the Logos app.

I might have not explained myself well enough. I was looking to purchase something in the Logos app and was asking about study bibles in that regard. I have $20 to spend that was given to me, may as well use it.

 

[tampasteve]

Thanks guys, however, neither of these are available in the Logos app.

I might have not explained myself well enough. I was looking to purchase something in the Logos app and was asking about study bibles in that regard. I have $20 to spend that was given to me, may as well use it.

Ah, you did say that, I apologize!

Here is a pretty decent one on Logos:
NIV Zondervan Study Bible (NIVZSB)

I have the hard back version and find it pretty good. It is from a Reformed perspective, but overall I agree with most of the notes.

 

[bekkilyn]

Here are some:

The CEB Study Bible
The NRSV New Interpreter's Study Bible
The NRSV Harper Collins Study Bible

You should get a choice of with or without the Apocrypha. The study notes are generally more protestant mainstream and tend not to slant towards Reform, Calvinism or politically conservative U.S. Evangelical views, or super liberal, anything-goes views. They tend to be more academic and used in many seminaries for this reason.

You may want to also check if your church and/or denomination has a "recommended list" of bibles/books somewhere to see what is on there. Check with Episcopalian-based seminaries too to see which versions/study bibles they are currently using.

 

[nanookadenord]

Here are some:

The CEB Study Bible
The NRSV New Interpreter's Study Bible
The NRSV Harper Collins Study Bible

You should get a choice of with or without the Apocrypha. The study notes are generally more protestant mainstream and tend not to slant towards Reform, Calvinism or politically conservative U.S. Evangelical views, or super liberal, anything-goes views. They tend to be more academic and used in many seminaries for this reason.

You may want to also check if your church and/or denomination has a "recommended list" of bibles/books somewhere to see what is on there. Check with Episcopalian-based seminaries too to see which versions/study bibles they are currently using.

Thank you!

None of the three up top are on Logos at this time. I know that the NRSV is one version that the EC uses and approves of, which I have already in both print and digital format. Just not a study bible version of it. I can check the EC website for other approved versions.

 

[Neostarwcc]

Ah, you did say that, I apologize!

Here is a pretty decent one on Logos:
NIV Zondervan Study Bible (NIVZSB)

I have the hard back version and find it pretty good. It is from a Reformed perspective, but overall I agree with most of the notes.

I would recommend that study bible as well.

 

[Neostarwcc]

I have the free Logos 7 app and for my birthday on the 1st of October they game me $20 to use within their store. So, I have been looking through their store at things that I can use the $20 for.

I have been looking at adding more bibles to my collection within the app. I have several already. I am not into commentaries or anything like that. I have also been looking at study bibles, but not really sure about them.

Are they really needed? I tend to just like to read my bible.

Study bibles aren't really needed but they're great for reference. I would recommend getting one because they contain lots of helpful footnotes on the Bible. Plus you have $20 to spend for free so you might as well.

 

[hopperace]

I'm not sure I'll be much help either. Logos is top notch, but if you're mostly doing study with parallel translations there's a lot more free online with sites like Biblehub.com. The best features of Logos are the depth of their titles and their fabulous search engine. You've likely learned Logos has a lot of titles for free too, though not so much in free translations or study Bibles. I'd maybe spring for a good Bible dictionary like the Nelson, Holman, Baker, or New Bible dictionaries, but those may run up to $40.00. Bible dictionaries typically are topical, more like encyclopedias than English dictionaries.

 

[nanookadenord]

Ah, you did say that, I apologize!

Here is a pretty decent one on Logos:
NIV Zondervan Study Bible (NIVZSB)

I have the hard back version and find it pretty good. It is from a Reformed perspective, but overall I agree with most of the notes.

I would recommend that study bible as well.

Does it matter if it's the 2011 version of the NIV?

 

[hopperace]

The ESV Study Bible might be an option, but again, they have their own site, and the Logos price is about $40.00. The ESV and NRSV use the same language translation base, and the ESV Study Bible is, imo, one of if not the best of available study Bibles. Most study Bibles though are going to include commentary, cross references, book intros and such.

 

[Neostarwcc]

Does it matter if it's the 2011 version of the NIV?

Not really, no.

 

[nanookadenord]

The ESV Study Bible might be an option, but again, they have their own site, and the Logos price is about $40.00. The ESV and NRSV use the same language translation base, and the ESV Study Bible is, imo, one of if not the best of available study Bibles. Most study Bibles though are going to include commentary, cross references, book intros and such.

Thank you. I will see about that particular one, however a cursory glance of search results show that it's not really a Episcopal church approved Bible.

 

[nanookadenord]

The CEB is interesting, however Logos doesn't have it as a study bible.