The Open Bible, good, bad or so so?

[CredoBiblicist]

I recently saw Thomas Nelson has just released the newly updated Open Bible. I own the Nelson KJV Study Bible which was my first study Bible and has served me well. I'm now looking to get my first NKJV (having been KJV only for a long time) and The Open Bible seems pretty impressive. Anyone here had experience of it and would recommend it?

 

[Faith.Man]

I recently saw Thomas Nelson has just released the newly updated Open Bible. I own the Nelson KJV Study Bible which was my first study Bible and has served me well. I'm now looking to get my first NKJV (having been KJV only for a long time) and The Open Bible seems pretty impressive. Anyone here had experience of it and would recommend it?

I've looked at it in Christian bookstores and wasn't impressed enough to buy one. It all depends on what you're looking for. I have many study Bibles in various translations: KJV; NKJV; NIV; NASB; HCSB and ESV. I guess my favorite Study Bible right now is the John MacArthur's Study Bible in NASB. Second to that would be the Reformation Study Bible in ESV, and The Apologetics Study Bible in HCSB. I also like my Thompson Chain Reference in NIV for pure reading pleasure, with the ability to look up related verses.

 

[CredoBiblicist]

I've looked at it in Christian bookstores and wasn't impressed enough to buy one. It all depends on what you're looking for. I have many study Bibles in various translations: KJV; NKJV; NIV; NASB; HCSB and ESV. I guess my favorite Study Bible right now is the John MacArthur's Study Bible in NASB. Second to that would be the Reformation Study Bible in ESV, and The Apologetics Study Bible in HCSB. I also like my Thompson Chain Reference in NIV for pure reading pleasure, with the ability to look up related verses.

Decided to just go with a regular NKJV reference Bible in the end, which is on it's way. Didn't see anything in the Open Bible that could improve upon what I already have, Scofield, Thompson and Nelson study bibles all in KJV. My Pastor uses the Macarthur Study Bible NKJV. Better off getting a Holman Bible dictionary than Open Bible I think, been impressed with what I've seen of it, good to compliment reading.

 

[Faith.Man]

Decided to just go with a regular NKJV reference Bible in the end, which is on it's way. Didn't see anything in the Open Bible that could improve upon what I already have, Scofield, Thompson and Nelson study bibles all in KJV. My Pastor uses the Macarthur Study Bible NKJV. Better off getting a Holman Bible dictionary than Open Bible I think, been impressed with what I've seen of it, good to compliment reading.

My wife and I were given an Open Bible for some contribution we made, probably "The John Ankerberg Show". I wasn't that impressed with it either so we gave it to someone else in the family.

Now, most of my reading and studying is done through e-Sword which is a free download for the KJV, ESV, JB, YLT and a number of others. I've added to that the HCSB, NIV, NASB and NKJV, at a modest cost. Many dictionaries and commentaries are free. If you have a notebook computer, it is highly worthwhile. Their website is e-Sword.net. Another free bible software source is TheWord.net. Their format is a little different from e-Sword but some of the resources are different. I like both and have both on my laptop. I find myself mostly using e-Sword because that's the one I've been using for years.

 

[CredoBiblicist]

I have the original NKJV Open Bible (bought it in 1992). Print size is nice and layout and helps are very good. However, I never did like the fact that there were not center column cross references.

My wife just bought the Nelson NKJV study Bible 2.0 Large Print edition. It is big and heavy with 12 pt. type but is an absolutely great study Bible. A wealth of information. She's getting me one. I also have a Scoefield NKJV study Bible that is very nice and much easier to pack around when traveling. 10.5 pt type (large print).

Personally, I'd go with the new Nelson NKJV if you really want to study. Not great to travel with but great to use for personal in-depth study.

God bless.

-Speedy

References are pretty much a must for me in any Bible but I find myself drawn to the end verse reference system that Nelson uses in some Bibles, I like the fact I don't have to look away from the text to find the references for a particular text. I find sometimes going to look for references in the center column distracts from the text. Though that's just a minor thing, still enjoy center column reference Bibles.

The NKJV study Bible does look good, though not sure if it's any better than the Nelson KJV study Bible I already have.

 

[CredoBiblicist]

Probably best to take a look at one up close and personal and compare it with what you already have in the KVJ. The one thing I don't like is in the NT Nelson uses the paragraph style while in the Psalms and sections of the OT they use verse formatting, at least that is what it appears to have. Paragraph would be ok if the verse number were in bold face.

But, I'm getting one via my wife to use solely for in-home study. Won't be traveling with me unless I'm on a three-week trip someplace.

God bless.

-Speedy

Ah I see, not a fan of paragraph style at all, much prefer verse format, much easier when preaching.

 

[KJV1611Warrior]

The NIV perverts the deity of Jesus Christ!

I TIMOTHY 3:16: The clearest verse in the Bible proclaiming that Jesus Christ was God. The King James Bible (KJB) reads, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH. . ." The King James says, plainly, "GOD was manifest in the flesh". The NIV reads, "HE appeared in a body". The NIV "twists" "GOD" to "HE". "HE appeared in a body"? So What? Everyone has "appeared in a body"! "He" is a pronoun that refers to a noun or antecedent. There is no antecedent in the context! The statement does NOT make sense! The NIV subtilty (see Genesis 3:1) perverts I Timothy 3:16 into utter nonsense!

 

[CredoBiblicist]

The NIV perverts the deity of Jesus Christ!

I TIMOTHY 3:16: The clearest verse in the Bible proclaiming that Jesus Christ was God. The King James Bible (KJB) reads, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH. . ." The King James says, plainly, "GOD was manifest in the flesh". The NIV reads, "HE appeared in a body". The NIV "twists" "GOD" to "HE". "HE appeared in a body"? So What? Everyone has "appeared in a body"! "He" is a pronoun that refers to a noun or antecedent. There is no antecedent in the context! The statement does NOT make sense! The NIV subtilty (see Genesis 3:1) perverts I Timothy 3:16 into utter nonsense!

I don't see what that opinion has to do with this thread.

 

[Faith.Man]

I don't see what that opinion has to do with this thread.

It really doesn't belong here. It's a minority opinion with the greater Christian Community.