Rating: 
Summary: Er... I changed my mind.
Review: Actually, since I wrote this review, I've done a lot of in-depth nit-picking of the translation, and it's not quite as accurate as I'd thought. In fact, it dumbs things down so much in some cases that it becomes inaccurate. It's fine for most of the Old Testament, but the words of Jesus, hard to interpret, are dumbed down. For instance, when Jesus uses hyperbole ("I tell you, in order to be my disciple, you must hate your mother and father, your brothers and sisters, and yes, even your own life!"), the NLT would translate it rather stupidly ("I tell you, if you want to be my disciple, you must love me more than your mother, father, brothers and sisters."). I'm not saying that translation doesn't work, because it does, but I think when you flip it around like that it loses something. What Jesus meant was that your love for him should be so great that, in comparision, your love for others, even your family, would seem like hatred. Your love for Jesus should be so much larger that any other love, in contrast, is small. If you buy this Bible, make sure you also have an accurate translation (NIV, NRSV, RSV) to compare to. Also, the study notes in this Bible, in some cases, sound more condemning than anything. Instead of explaining what is going on, it's constantly telling you how to shape up your life. I suppose it is a Life Application Bible, though, after all. I recommend the Quest Study Bible and the Oxford Annotated Bible over this one. Sorry for the change in opinion and confusion I might have caused. :-)
Rating: 
Summary: Great Translation and notes...spiritual growth just ahead...
Review: After i bought this study bible i found that it was hard to put it down, the combination of this translation and notes truly speak to my heart. My only complaint is that at times i find the translation desiring a bit more in accuracy, for example in Micah 5:2 and John 8:58, but if you have the word in your heart in a word for word translation you will find it ok. Wonderful bible....get it!!
Rating: 
Summary: The most authoritative reference Bible.
Review: Although it is very heavy, the Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation is the both the best Bible and Bible reference. I enjoy reading this Bible, because it clarifies God's Word with applications to my daily life!
Rating:
Summary: The most authoritative reference Bible.
Review: Although it is very heavy, the Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation is the both the best Bible and Bible reference. I enjoy reading this Bible, because it clarifies God's Word with applications to my daily life!
Rating:
Summary: True North
Review: Every person who has replied back about this wonderful Bible has been right on the mark! A friend had told me about this New Living Translation Study Bible (NLT), and so I thought I would give it a try as I was searching for a Bible that would be really simple but direct, and very user friendly... I had been using the New International Version (NIV) and found it very good as well, but it really doesn't even compare to this NLT.In this fast changing world we live in, it's nice we can pick up this easy reading Bible no matter where we are in our walk and be able to understand it, and better yet be enlightened on what's to come as He promises us.. I call the Bible True North, like being lost in the wilderness and needing a good compass to get you home.. Get this version Folks, you will be extra glad you did, I promise! Jesus, Don't Leave Earth without Him...
Rating:
Summary: Finally, the Bible makes sense!
Review: First of all, one needs to realize there are two components to this version of the bible. The first is its translation, The New Living Translation. The second is the "Life Application" part, which has been paired with other translations too. This translation is available without the study notes, but I wouldn't recommend a straight text-only bible to anyone other than a bible scholar. We need help understanding the book and how to read it. It's not like reading a novel! This bible is an extremely effective study bible. The study notes are thorough and cover a broad array of angles on the text. Many maps, character profiles, and other in-text tools in the Life Application version make background information instantly available without purchasing separate study books. The New Living Translation was put together by over 100 world-class scholars, unlike The Living Bible. So if you are a bit confused by the translation title, wondering if it's just like the latter (which was just one person's paraphrased version), you need not fret: it is not. The amount of research and scholarship put into this translation is amazing. The only similarity is the ease of understanding. To try to put direct English translation on the original Greek and Hebrew text is detrimental to its meaning; everyone knows that one cannot accurately translate any language if insisting on such a method. (Just watch poorly subtitled foreign films if you need an example!) What these scholars have thus done is provide us with a translation that actually makes sense in our day and time and current language. (Remember, that's why the King James Version came out when it did--so everyday people could read and understand the bible too, not just the elite few who understood Latin.) It is also inaccurate to read the Bible at face value and ignore the cultural, historical, and literary contexts of its passages. This bible gives explanation to each of those, as well as concepts upon which to meditate, helping us to apply what we've read to our own lives and hearts. Combining an eighth-grade reading level with doctoral scholarship and research, this bible is accessible and appropriate for all people. It has changed my life and the lives of many, many others I know. I recommend it to everyone!
Rating:
Summary: Finally, the Bible makes sense!
Review: First of all, one needs to realize there are two components to this version of the bible. The first is its translation, The New Living Translation. The second is the "Life Application" part, which has been paired with other translations too. This translation is available without the study notes, but I wouldn't recommend a straight text-only bible to anyone other than a bible scholar. We need help understanding the book and how to read it. It's not like reading a novel! This bible is an extremely effective study bible. The study notes are thorough and cover a broad array of angles on the text. Many maps, character profiles, and other in-text tools in the Life Application version make background information instantly available without purchasing separate study books. The New Living Translation was put together by over 100 world-class scholars, unlike The Living Bible. So if you are a bit confused by the translation title, wondering if it's just like the latter (which was just one person's paraphrased version), you need not fret: it is not. The amount of research and scholarship put into this translation is amazing. The only similarity is the ease of understanding. To try to put direct English translation on the original Greek and Hebrew text is detrimental to its meaning; everyone knows that one cannot accurately translate any language if insisting on such a method. (Just watch poorly subtitled foreign films if you need an example!) What these scholars have thus done is provide us with a translation that actually makes sense in our day and time and current language. (Remember, that's why the King James Version came out when it did--so everyday people could read and understand the bible too, not just the elite few who understood Latin.) It is also inaccurate to read the Bible at face value and ignore the cultural, historical, and literary contexts of its passages. This bible gives explanation to each of those, as well as concepts upon which to meditate, helping us to apply what we've read to our own lives and hearts. Combining an eighth-grade reading level with doctoral scholarship and research, this bible is accessible and appropriate for all people. It has changed my life and the lives of many, many others I know. I recommend it to everyone!
Rating:
Summary: NLT is Very Easy To Read and Understand
Review: I AGREE with the majority here, this version of the Bible (New Living Translation, NLT) is easy to read and understand. I hate to admit it, I have not read the Bible much since the mid 1970's, so my last experience was reading the old King James Version. I found the KJV quite difficult to read. I recently decided to try reading the Bible again, am Glad I DID. THE NLT (also, check out the NIV) versions of the Bible, IMHO, are MAJOR improvements. I now find myself reading a chapter or so in this Bible (NLT), then reading the old KGV to compare, and I am AMAZED. Do yourself a favor, get the NLT Life Application Study Bible. I think you will enjoy reading it as much as I do!
Rating:
Summary: Life application Bible
Review: I bought this Bible second hand and it came in excellent condition! It had a dust cover on it, and had no bent pages, or markings. This is the best study Bible I have ever used. The additional information in the footnotes is invaluable. The New Living version has made reading the Bible effortless. I highly reccomend this Bible if you are doing any kind of Bible study or if you'd just like to understand more of what you read, when you read the Bible.
Rating:
Summary: Life Application
Review: I bought this Bible, Life Application Study, to go with my other Bibles. I have taken so many notes in my other Bibles that I needed a new on, and when I saw the New Living Translation I thought I'd try it. I find it to be very good, as it explains things in our terms so that we can understand and relate to it, and my 13 year old son can also understand it. I highly recommend this Bible for new Christians looking for a Bible, it is very good.
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