I am a bible collector of sorts. I own lots different versions and translations. Each have their good and not so good features. I sometimes wish in this digital age a person could select among many features that one would like and have a custom bible printed and bound. For me the resulting item would weigh around six pounds!
Most of the bibles that I own are listed below:
1.
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible (NIV)
Pratt is editor. Includes all the major Reformed confessions in appendices. Has 100 in-depth articles on various Reformed doctrines, numerous Reformed Confessions in the back, and thousands of study notes for verses, including links to Confessions. If this was available in an ESV or NKJV format it would become my favorite. The theological articles and notes are the best I have seen and I turn to these notes first when needed.
2.
Nelson Study Bible (NKJV)
Excellent layout and scholarly commentaries that do not shy away from contentious topics. Good concordance and index (!) to in-depth topics posted throughout. Get the 2007 edition for the latest version of this popular study bible.
3.
Apologetics Study Bible (HCSB)
Numerous in-depth articles related to apologetic exposition. Verse commentaries are apologetic in nature. Love the fact that it treats open theism as a belief system that is non-biblical. Has one of the best translations of John 3:16 I have ever read. Note: an 2011 update to the HCSB translation and study bible is in the works. Here is a sample:
http://g.christianbook.com/netstorage/pdf/sample/404574.pdf
4.
MacArthur Study Bible (NKJV, NASB, ESV)
A study bible edited by a self-proclaimed leaky dispensational Calvinistmore accurately a Christian dispensational Zionist. Thousands of deep theological study notes with a Reformed flavor. Now available in the ESV translation.
5.
Archaeological Study Bible (NIV)
Outstanding commentary on historical, social, and archeological aspects for verses. Hundreds of in-depth treatments for each book. A gem for this genre.
6.
Thompson Chain-Reference (NKJV, NIV, KJV)
One of my favorites. The NKJV has all chains updated. Over a hundred thousand references and special topics. My only beef is that there are no center-column cross-references, so one must rely upon the chain-reference system. At times that becomes annoying. When I first purchased this bible, I spent a few months colorizing all the plain, black and white drawings in it. Much more pleasing to the eyes! Remains one of my favorites. My son purchased the plush leather Centennial Edition of the KJV for me as a present.
7.
Ryrie Study Bible (NIV)
Dispensational theologian. Commentary is scholarly. Includes nice theology summary of major doctrines.
8.
Reformation Study Bible (ESV, NKJV)
Edited by Sproul. Includes 100 special topic treatments on various doctrinal subjects. ESV is one of the most literal translations and one of three of my preferred bible translations (the other is the NJKV and KJV).
9.
Zondervan Study Bible (NIV, KJV)
Many study notes (20,000), that tend towards middle of the road doctrinal treatments. The KJV includes updated study notes and uses the Scrivener paragraph translation.
10.
New Oxford Annotated Bible w/Apocrypha (NRSV)
Study notes are scholarly and generally treat bible as purely literature.
11.
Harper Collins Study Bible (NRSV)
Scholarly commentary. Again, like the Oxford Annotated, treatment is more like the bible as literature.
12.
The Companion Bible (KJV)
The "Bullinger Bible". One of the most confusing in layout and most complex to navigate. Strong focus on Hebrew and Greek translation aspects in commentary. Very dispensational focus. Bullinger's emphasis on form patterns of chapters, verses, is sometimes strained. Nearly 200 appendices on wide array of topics, some very esoteric. Worth the price just for the content of the appendices. Bullinger's depth of idiomatic passages is another strong point (his book on the same topic is a popular item among academic theologians).
13.
The Open Bible: Completely Revised (NKJV, NASB)
This is another one of my favorites. I have worn out two previous versions. Unfortunately, this version is no longer in print and hard to find unless you want to pay big bucks. Unlike past versions, the NKJV version includes 4,500 study notes. And unlike many study bibles with three times the number of notes, the notes in the Open Bible do not get in the way of God's word with unsupported editorial bias.
The bible's 300 page cyclopedic index (8,000 subjects and 300 word studies) is worth the price alone. The introductions and outlines to each book of the bible have not been equaled by any of the versions of Bibles that I own. Also includes numerous visual bible study aids and in-depth topics. I only wish it was available in a genuine leather (not bonded leather) version.
14.
Scofield Study Bible 2002 edition (NKJV, NIV, NKJV, HCSB)
The bible for most classical dispensationalists. Numerous topical articles, charts, lists, etc. Published by Oxford University Press. Probably the best constructed bible (binding, paper, print, etc.) in this list.
15.
The Dake Annotated Reference Bible (KJV)
The Dake contains a collection of over 35,000 commentary, lists, dispensational allegories, 500,000 cross-references, etc., whose length and number exceeds the actual bible verses. Some of these items are quite bizarre.
Many charismatics are fanatical in their devotion to
The Dake. Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland have drawn upon
The Dake for many of their strange doctrines. I never thought I would find a bible version that exceeded
The Companion Bible in complexity, but
The Dake is over the top. Quite a few items in its content are heretical (Dake is tritheistic, holds to aberrant kenoticism). I do not recommend the book for anyone who is not well-trained and has a solid grasp of proper biblical doctrines. The immature or new believer can be led astray in The Dake.
16.
The Master Study Bible (KJV)
Published by Cornerstone Bible Publishers and used to be my main bible. Was originally issued in NASB version, which I recently obtained from eBay and had rebound with a new hardcover. The uncommented bible text of both translations is two full columns per page with center-column cross-references. No sectional divisions with the usual man-made headings. Just the chapters and verses. The KJV Master Study Bible contains a 407-page topical concordance in the front, and 571-page Encyclopedia of Biblical Knowledge in the back. Also contains numerous other helps, and a 63-page regular Concordance. Like carrying a library in one volume. As far as I can tell, the KJV translation is the Blayney edition.
At present this is my most marked up Bible and my walking around Bible.
17.
ESV Study Bible
Four pounds! 2700 pages! On line version available to owners of this bible. One of my favorites. Very scholarly and a bible that will keep you deep in study for years. Read more
here
18.
1599 Geneva Study Bible
This version is published by Tolle Lege Press:
Reformation Bookstore: Resources for the Next Reformation
This is the very first study bible ever published. Contains original cross references; original study notes by Reformers; genuine leather; modern spelling; and easy-to-read print. Download Romans to view how this bible looks here:
http://www.tollelegepress.com/downloads/1599_Romans.pdf
I have other bibles, including Lockman NASB and NLT versions (get the new 2007 NLT translation in the 2008 Study Bible), and some that are more specialized, such as interlinears, reverse interlinear, Greek, and Hebrew versions and concordances.
Here is a sample of the 2008 NLT Study Bible:
http://www.nltstudybible.com/05_downloads/NLTSB_Genesis.pdf
The reader can also get better acquainted with the various issues with the translations by visiting this site:
English Versions of the Bible
AMR