I own well over 100 Bibles in just about every major (and many minor!) English translation, as well as Greek and Hebrew texts. Yet out of my vast collection of Bibles, this little NIV Study Bible has become the workhorse of my study and reading, often being referenced or being read before going off to any other source.

I've owned a NIV Study Bible ever since Zondervan offered the very first one, back in 1985 if I remember correctly. Since that first edition, Zondervan has set a standard with study Bibles that no other publisher has been able to match, at least not to my satisfaction.

This particular edition has many resources and helps, so much so that one will find it more than useful for 80 to 90% of your typical needs. The following features make this Bible a real standout:

1. Easy to read, but very literate New International translation (NIV) that is a very worthy successor to the King James translation. It is far more 'accurate' a translation than many critics would lead you to believe, relying on the best practices of current Biblical scholarship and translation strategies.

2. Book introductions that are very scholarly, rather than populist.

3. Outlines of each book.

4. Tremendous footnotes, sometimes easily exceeding the written text itself, especially in the New Testament.

5. Extensive chain-reference system.

6. Extensive index of subjects, and a surprisingly good concordance in the back.

7. Color maps.

While this Bible could be classified generally as Protestant/conservative/evangelical; mirroring the scholars who worked on it, there is nothing the least bit sectarian in its structure or notes that would disqualify it from being used by any Protestant denomination. Only the most dogmatic literalists or "King James only" adherents would find it less than appealing.

For those who like the Apocrypha, the NIV translation does NOT take it into account. You might be better off with one of the fine New Revised Standard translations (NRSV) that include it. But be careful, as not all editions of the NRSV have it...check the Bible carefully before buying it.

I recommend getting the NIV Study Bible in the very handy "personal size" if you can read small print. I also recommend getting it in a leather binding, rather than traditional hard or soft cover.

Overall, it is perhaps the best, most useful English Bible on the market right now. Highly recommended.

pseudo Thomas Merton ( )