Some time back, I promised that I would post a comparison of the ESV Reformation Study Bible and the Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible, once I had a chance to review my new copies of each. This is that post.
The bottom line: Both are excellent resources, and you will not go wrong no matter which one you choose. I am actually conflicted as to which I prefer, so I will tell you the differences and let you decide for yourself.
A note: Both of these Bibles are based on the New Geneva Study Bible, and therefore they are highly similar in many ways.
TRANSLATION: The RSB is in ESV of course, and the SotR is in the NIV. This isn't a place for a full discussion of translations -- there is plenty of that around these boards. I will leave it at saying that on the spectrum between literal and paraphrase, ESV is towards the literal with a "word for word" translation philosophy, and NIV is near the middle with a "thought for thought" translation philosophy.
OVERALL TONE: Both are intelligent works in the Reformed tradition. They presume an intelligent but not an expert reader. In some way I can't define, I identify the RSB as the slightly more "scholarly" one, and the SotR as the one that provides a little more theological help... but they are very similar in tone.
SIZE, LAYOUT, AND PRINT: The RSB is in standard two-column form; the SotR is in one-column form. The print size is about the same, and in overall size, my two hardbacks are comparable.
FOOTNOTES: Both have almost identical footnotes, presumably because of their mutual dependence on the NGSB. Occasionally you will find their word-choices slightly differ, but expect the same footnotes. They are concise yet helpful, providing historical background and theological insight. The difference you will find is that the SotR also includes references to relevant passages from various Reformed confessions, which are included in an appendix.
BOOK INTRODUCTIONS: Very similar. I think these must also be taken from a common source (look at me doing textual criticism
). Both provide information on authorship, setting, and theological emphases, and both provide similar outlines to the books.
GENRE INTRODUCTION: For lack of a better term. Each provides introductions to the different types of biblical literature (such as epistles, wisdom literature, etc.) If forced to state a difference, I would say that the RSB gives slightly more historical context, and the SotR gives slightly more thematic emphasis, but please remember that I am splitting hairs between two very similar resources.
OTHER HELPS: Again, both have excellent in-text charts and maps, with the SotR having slightly more. In addition, the SotR has a very nice appendix of color maps, and the RSB does not. The SotR also includes major Reformed confessions in an appendix, which the RSB does not. Both have about the same number of in-text articles on similar theological topics, and from what I have read so far, they are both good. Like I said about the general tone, I tend to think that the RSB is a bit more scholarly, but that may merely be a personal bias due to my admiration of R.C. Sproul.
In conclusion: No absolute recommendation here; they are too similar and too good to make a clear value judgment. I recommend that you consider translation carefully, as that is by far the biggest difference between the two. If you are very visual and like maps, you would be happy with either but slightly more so, perhaps, with the SotR. If you like the two-column layout, you would feel more comfortable with the RSB. There are slightly more helps in the SotR, including the confessions in the back. I feel like the RSB is slightly more academic. But, in my mind, the differences are so very minor that the best way to choose would be based on translation, and either way you will have an excellent study bible.
Happy Reading!
The bottom line: Both are excellent resources, and you will not go wrong no matter which one you choose. I am actually conflicted as to which I prefer, so I will tell you the differences and let you decide for yourself.
A note: Both of these Bibles are based on the New Geneva Study Bible, and therefore they are highly similar in many ways.
TRANSLATION: The RSB is in ESV of course, and the SotR is in the NIV. This isn't a place for a full discussion of translations -- there is plenty of that around these boards. I will leave it at saying that on the spectrum between literal and paraphrase, ESV is towards the literal with a "word for word" translation philosophy, and NIV is near the middle with a "thought for thought" translation philosophy.
OVERALL TONE: Both are intelligent works in the Reformed tradition. They presume an intelligent but not an expert reader. In some way I can't define, I identify the RSB as the slightly more "scholarly" one, and the SotR as the one that provides a little more theological help... but they are very similar in tone.
SIZE, LAYOUT, AND PRINT: The RSB is in standard two-column form; the SotR is in one-column form. The print size is about the same, and in overall size, my two hardbacks are comparable.
FOOTNOTES: Both have almost identical footnotes, presumably because of their mutual dependence on the NGSB. Occasionally you will find their word-choices slightly differ, but expect the same footnotes. They are concise yet helpful, providing historical background and theological insight. The difference you will find is that the SotR also includes references to relevant passages from various Reformed confessions, which are included in an appendix.
BOOK INTRODUCTIONS: Very similar. I think these must also be taken from a common source (look at me doing textual criticism
). Both provide information on authorship, setting, and theological emphases, and both provide similar outlines to the books.GENRE INTRODUCTION: For lack of a better term. Each provides introductions to the different types of biblical literature (such as epistles, wisdom literature, etc.) If forced to state a difference, I would say that the RSB gives slightly more historical context, and the SotR gives slightly more thematic emphasis, but please remember that I am splitting hairs between two very similar resources.
OTHER HELPS: Again, both have excellent in-text charts and maps, with the SotR having slightly more. In addition, the SotR has a very nice appendix of color maps, and the RSB does not. The SotR also includes major Reformed confessions in an appendix, which the RSB does not. Both have about the same number of in-text articles on similar theological topics, and from what I have read so far, they are both good. Like I said about the general tone, I tend to think that the RSB is a bit more scholarly, but that may merely be a personal bias due to my admiration of R.C. Sproul.
In conclusion: No absolute recommendation here; they are too similar and too good to make a clear value judgment. I recommend that you consider translation carefully, as that is by far the biggest difference between the two. If you are very visual and like maps, you would be happy with either but slightly more so, perhaps, with the SotR. If you like the two-column layout, you would feel more comfortable with the RSB. There are slightly more helps in the SotR, including the confessions in the back. I feel like the RSB is slightly more academic. But, in my mind, the differences are so very minor that the best way to choose would be based on translation, and either way you will have an excellent study bible.
Happy Reading!
