NIV Bible: Study Version or "Standard" Version?

[Raesha]

Parable Books is currently selling the NIV e-book at a catch of a price - I own an electronic copy of the KJV, but I think that I'd like to purchase a copy of the NIV as well so that I can simply immerse myself in the stories and messages without pondering my way through the archaic English of the KJV.

Parable Books are selling two versions - what I assume to be a "no-frills" version at US$4.99, and the study version at US$8.99. I haven't yet read the Bible through, so whichever Bible I purchase will be the Bible I use for my first reading. I would like to know whether or not you folks believe that the study version contains enough extra content to warrant the extra dollars; I'm a student, after all!

I do enjoy taking a scholarly approach to things, and thus far I've loved taking notes and contemplating the society and environment of the various events and times in the Bible - if my understanding is correct, the study version will aid me in this? At the same time, I look forward to the idea of simply getting lost in the stories and meandering my way through. So, what do you think? Will the study Bible be worth it? (Are study Bibles generally the better route to take?) Or would the "no-frills" version be a better choice as I'm not studying religion?

 

[Radagast]

Study Bibles are generally very helpful, for anyone without an extensive theological library. My Study version of the 1984 NIV certainly got a lot of wear.

 

[Raesha]

Study Bibles are generally very helpful, for anyone without an extensive theological library. My Study version of the 1984 NIV certainly got a lot of wear.

Thanks, Radagast. As my theological library is absolutely nil (I'm going to fix that, somehow!), I'll purchase the study version.

 

[dysert]

Another vote for the study version. The only catch is to remember that the study notes are not inspired -- just the Bible text is. (Lots of times in Bible studies people cite their notes as if they're as authoritative as the text itself. The notes, after all, are just human commentary.)

 

[Raesha]

Another vote for the study version. The only catch is to remember that the study notes are not inspired -- just the Bible text is. (Lots of times in Bible studies people cite their notes as if they're as authoritative as the text itself. The notes, after all, are just human commentary.)

Thank you!

 

[Peripatetic]

Great choice. Study Bibles have been a huge help to me when I'm trying to understand the historical context of a passage, or the different interpretations that people have made over the centuries. Oh, and welcome to the forum!

 

[Raesha]

Great choice. Study Bibles have been a huge help to me when I'm trying to understand the historical context of a passage, or the different interpretations that people have made over the centuries. Oh, and welcome to the forum!

Thank you! I've purchased the study Bible, now I just need to sort out some issues which are preventing me from loading it onto my e-reader, and then I can get started!