Rating: 
Summary: This was the first study Bible I owned...
Review: I was recently asked by someone who had read some of my reviews which study Bible I recommended. Such a hard question, since there are many excellent ones available! My answer to him compared the NIV Life Application Bible and the NIV Study Bible. Here are my thoughts on these two, plus comments on the Quest Study Bible as well.The Quest Study Bible doesn't go as deep. I think it's perfect for someone who is just beginning to study the Bible and has lots of questions like those that are answered in the Quest Study Bible. However, that's not to say that I already know all the answers to those questions! ;-o It just doesn't go much deeper than those questions. I have in front of me the NIV Study Bible and the Life Application Bible NIV. They are both excellent - either one would go deeper into the Word than the Quest Study Bible. The obvious differences to me are as follows: Text The Life Application Bible (LAB) has the text straight across the page - the NIV Study Bible has the two-column layout. I think I prefer the two-columns. It is easier to get through some of those Old Testament books such as 1/2 Chronicles! ;-o However, this is very much a matter of personal preference. Notes The notes, while excellent in both Bibles, are different in tone. The NIV Study Bible notes are very objective and purely informational. One of the downsides to the LAB, for me anyway, is that sometimes the notes in the LAB get rather preachy and sometimes go far afield of the text. I'm not saying asking personal applications is a bad thing, but if you're doing a lot of reading in that Bible, it might get to be a bit much. The tone of the notes is is the reason I gave this Bible 4 stars instead of 5! A note might ask "Do you believe that God can help you? Do you really want his help?" (note for Matt 9:27-30) Other helps In the back of the LAB, there is an "Index to Notes" which includes the maps, charts, personality profiles, and the notes. It really isn't a concordance, but it is helpful. The NIV Study Bible has an Index to Maps separately, an Index to Subjects, and a Concordance. The Concordance isn't exhaustive, of course, but it is much better than the one in the LAB. The LAB wins the contest in the "Personality Profiles" category. They have quite a detailed description of all the key people you'll meet in the Bible - they often cover about 2/3 of a page!! In the NIV Study Bible, these personality notes are relegated to just a few lines in the Notes section! The LAB definitely is the winner in this category. Both Bibles contain a Harmony of the Gospels, something I find really helpful. The LAB, however, numbers each event in the Gospels, and before the section in the text, it gives this number and then gives the passages in the other gospels that tell the same story. I found the number to be really helpful. The NIV Study Bible doesn't have such numbers. I could go on and on, but you get the idea! Those are the main differences, I think!! Both Bibles are excellent. I haven't found any others that are better. I also have the NIV Living Insights Study Bible that has Chuck Swindolls notes, but the notes aren't as complete. Also, the "Word in Life Study Bible" is chockfull of different kinds of sidebars and articles and is just wonderful as well. I had purchased the Large-Print Edition of the NIV Study Bible because of some temporary vision problems. The Large-Print Edition of the NIV Study Bible doesn't have HUGE print - just a bit bigger than most Bibles. I still use that Bible a LOT and it's just comfortable reading. It is a bit bigger and heavier than my LAB, but not by a lot. I really like the larger type. You can get REALLY large print, but that's not what this. I hope this is helpful! Please check out my other reviews of Bibles and other Christians books and contemporary Christian music!
Rating: 
Summary: A dagerous book, should be on the banned list.
Review: Who wrote this book? And most importantly, who allowed it to be publised? This book contains a multitude of dangerous ideas that will allow individuals to escape responsibility for their actions. It can be used to justify just about anything - sexism, racism, slavery, genocide ... the list goes on! If the popularity of this book spreads global wars will follow! The book (which pretends to be a documentary) already describes so many atrocities, and it has the potential to cause more. This book does not even deserve one star, but the rating system will not allow me to give it zero. So, one star it is.
Rating: 
Summary: Best Bible for non-native English speaker.
Review: Non-native English speakers like me often find it difficult to read the Bible. The Bible cannot be read casually like reading newspaper or comic book. It is really a deep book. This Bible not only help me by using easy to understand words, but also help describe the meaning of the word of God with illustrations and side notes. It was the extensive side-notes that help me so much in understanding the word of God. Reading the Bible now feels like reading a bestseller of the greatest author of life Himself.
Rating:
Summary: If you read the bible without applying it,it is just fiction
Review: This bible was given to me by my wife a number of years ago and has helped me significantly in really understanding what the bible is all about. It is about the most important thing in your life, your relationship with God. What ever you are doing, you can't take it with you (when you leave this world). Other reviewers have recapped it very well. Let me know if you buy one and what you think. Brian Nelson Marketing Business Critic bnelson@onramp.net 713-467-3025. God Bless.
Rating:
Summary: Best Study Bible I have ever encountered.
Review: I received this book as a 50th birthday present. It was the best present I have received by far! This is a wonderful Study Bible. The introductions to each book are excellent, the individual profiles are enlightening, the notes to the text are well written and applicational to daily christian living, it is packed with interesting facts which are so helpful. The necessity of trusting in Jesus for salvation and living for him is emphasised at every opportunity. All in all, an excellent book for personal study and in the preparation of sermons. I would heartily recommend it to you.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not great
Review: If any Bible can claim to have supplanted the KJV as the new standard, it is the New International Version (NIV). It took seven years and 115 scholars to produce this version. Most scholars consider the NIV a conservative translation that has kept interpretation to a minimum, in most cases. Most scholars respect the NIV for being accurate and fairly free of bias. The New York Bible Society used a very careful editorial process for this translation. Before final approval was given for any passage for inclusion, at least twenty-five to thirty translators examined the passage in question. In the end, translators averaged 170 hours of labor for each Bible chapter. Despite such effort, which gave this Bible a remarkable leap in being understandable, this reviewer finds the prose flat and lacking a good liturgical meter. In the NIV 1 John 3:17 reads: If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (NIV) The NIV receives a B in accuracy and a B in readability.
Rating:
Summary: A resourceful version of the Bible...
Review: I have found the Life Application Bible to be a resourceful bible and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a study bible.
Rating:
Summary: Tremendous Version Of The Bible
Review: This is a wonderful version of the Bible for new and more experienced Christians alike. This particular Bible helps to stimulate thinking about our faith and its applications to every day life. The word of God truly comes alive in this excellent Bible.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding translation
Review: I am a 13 year-old Christian and previous to this Bible, I had an NIV student Bible. I wanted a Bible that had words of Christ in red, as well as some guidelines to help me apply the Bible to my life. Sometimes when I read an NIV version, it confuses me and I memorize it, but I think the important part is spreading the Gospel. If you don't know what it means, then what use is it? The NIV Life Application Bible is almost complete to me, I read it daily, and it is great for devotions.
Rating:
Summary: Seriously
Review: This is a good rendition of the bible however a understanding text would be good to accompany it
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