Rating: 
Summary: Good but unbelievable...
Review: I had to read parts of this book for a religions class I'm taking at school. I thought it was pretty, but some parts were simply too hard to belive. I mean, c'mon. This guy dies, and then comes back to life. I don't know. I prefer a comic book.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Study Bible! - Your "Secret Decoder Ring"
Review: (...)
Excellent Study Bible! - Your "Secret Decoder Ring"
(...)The NIV translation is one easiest Bibles to understand at a grade reading level of 7.8. With the added study Bible features, this becomes an excellent resource for adults or for a confirmation class. Here is what you will like: @ Did you even wonder what Jesus was referring to when he would say, "Did you never read in the Scriptures..." The 100,000 footnotes will show you exactly what scripture is being referenced! @ The 20,000 study notes give you deeper understanding and historical context. They stick to the facts without making political statements. @ Numerous charts, tables, maps, diagrams, and timelines help explain context and clarify key points. @ The Concordance and Subject Guide will help you find passages. The NIV Study Bible is the Bible that our church gives to all 6th graders. As one student said, "This Bible is like a secret decoder ring." We also use it for our adult Bible studies. Enjoy! - Craig
Rating:
Summary: Great Bible
Review: A great study bible. I would recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: The best personal study Bible I have come across!!
Review: I am one of those who was using the Old King James Version all this time and decided to switch to NIV. This is how I began to search for a compact Bible which I could carry to prayer meetings but at the same time could be used as a study Bible. Which meant that a full fledged study Bible wouldn't serve the purpose either since it wouldn't be compact. This is where I think the Zondervan NIV Study Bible was perfectly right for me. It provides short notes (including cross references) at the end of the page for each verse, which kind of helps if you want a little elaboration on a word or phrase, without having the trouble to run to find a commentary on it. So if you are someone looking for a personal size Bible with study notes, this is one of the best. I have other personal size study Bibles at my house in different versions but I find this to be the best of them. You cannot solely rely on this Bible for indepth study..remember this is a personal Bible first and study Bible second. But there is enough help notes to give you a fairly good understanding of passages that you read.
The only thing that I found perplexing is that a seller at Ebay has it on sale for 20 dollars plus 5 dollars shipping which is way less than it is here. I don't find any perceptible difference in the quality either and I wonder why so much difference. Anyway, choosing the seller depends upon you but this Bible is certainly top notch!!
Sherin
Rating:
Summary: Not just for studying
Review: I have really been enjoying the notes, maps and cross references. "Study" sounded, well, kind of studious, and I just wanted to read. But the extra material helps fill in my blanks and make reading the Bible more interesting. If you enjoy watching things like the History Channel which help give you the extra detail, then this is the Bible you want to pick up to read. Oh yeah, I guess the paper is a bit thin, but it's a fair trade to pack so much into something that does not need wheels.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Study Bible! - Your "Secret Decoder Ring"
Review: I have three different NIV's by Zondervan, and that after looking at many different sizes and makes that they offer. It's difficult to settle on one or the other, but I would definately make this observation: The only truly readable size of the "Study Bible" version is this one.
While it is a larger size that you'd want to keep at home, this is the only one in a font that is close to "normal" newspaper-ish size. Also where the print is in red for Jesus's passages, the print is clear dark red. As you go down to the more compact sizes - especially those with the "duo-tone" ( false leather) covers - the red print becomes almost pink, and the print is just too small to read comfortably.
What I would suggest is to get this particular size as a home study bible, or as your main bible. If you want something more portable without study notes, go with the very nice Belgium printed "Premium Bonded Leather Thinline Bible". The latter does not have study notes, but the quality is superb. I don't even know if Amazon has the latter suggestion, but its worth looking for that before you go on to any of the compact versions. I would not recommend getting any STUDY bibles smaller than this.
Content-wise, I'm in agreement with the others. I almost feel there is too much detail in the study notes sometimes, but where to draw that line is almost impossible. This publication is the best resource I know of to understand the Bible without someone else explaining it to you. I am very happily reading along without outside instruction. This is an excellent effort.
Rating:
Summary: The best of Zondervan's publications
Review: I have three different NIV's by Zondervan, and that after looking at many different sizes and makes that they offer. It's difficult to settle on one or the other, but I would definately make this observation: The only truly readable size of the "Study Bible" version is this one.
While it is a larger size that you'd want to keep at home, this is the only one in a font that is close to "normal" newspaper-ish size. Also where the print is in red for Jesus's passages, the print is clear dark red. As you go down to the more compact sizes - especially those with the "duo-tone" ( false leather) covers - the red print becomes almost pink, and the print is just too small to read comfortably.
What I would suggest is to get this particular size as a home study bible, or as your main bible. If you want something more portable without study notes, go with the very nice Belgium printed "Premium Bonded Leather Thinline Bible". The latter does not have study notes, but the quality is superb. I don't even know if Amazon has the latter suggestion, but its worth looking for that before you go on to any of the compact versions. I would not recommend getting any STUDY bibles smaller than this.
Content-wise, I'm in agreement with the others. I almost feel there is too much detail in the study notes sometimes, but where to draw that line is almost impossible. This publication is the best resource I know of to understand the Bible without someone else explaining it to you. I am very happily reading along without outside instruction. This is an excellent effort.
Rating:
Summary: second to none
Review: I have used the NIV study bible for 7 years and I think it is the best study bible on the market. The editors have a somewhat conservative perspective, but they are very much upfront about that, and the scholarship is solid. I also have the Oxford New Annotated Bible and the Harper Collins Study Bible sitting on my shelf right now and the NIV is without a doubt my favorite and most helpful study bible (followed by the Oxford). The cross references may be the best thing about this study bible! They are amazing! If you wish to find any of the obscure Old Testament prophetic references in the book of Revelation, for example, the center column cross refernces are your best friend. In addition the NIV has (I believe) the largest concordance of any major study bible, which makes finding that reference that you only sort of remember much easier. The notes in earlier editions were slanted a bit in the Reformed-Calvinistic direction, but the revisions of the last few years are supposed to make for a more ecuminical study bible. The introductions to the sections and books are also very good, TONS of info is included about the historical contexts from which the different books come in addition to the theological emphases. I HIGHLY recommend this study bible for pastors, students, and anyone who wants a better understanding of the Scriptures.
Rating:
Summary: Top Notch Bible Study Tool
Review: I received this Bible as a gift a number of years ago, and I've used it regularly ever since. Personally, I prefer the New American Standard version for studying and reading, but I always keep this Bible handy for its unbeatable study notes and cross references. The notes, written to be nondenominational and always upholding the infallibility of the Bible, shed light on difficult passages and historical information, helping readers get the most out of time spent in God's word. Bible book introductions are often several pages long and discuss the book's origins and themes. And between the cross references and the excellent included concordance, I've been able to examine what the rest of the Bible says regarding topics in the passages I've studied. In fact, I often copy information out of this study Bible and put it in my other Bibles, so that I can always have easy access to information about my favorite verses and chapters. How this Bible looks also makes it stand out. The leather is high quality and attractive. Inside, the font size makes reading easy on the eyes, and other formatting features help make the Bible simple to use and navigate. Its size makes it a bit cumbersome for everyday use while on the go, but for at home study and going to church, there's no problem. Bottom line: NIV fans who want excellent study supplements inside an attractive cover simply can't go wrong with this Bible. The highly respected, easy to read translation combined with top notch study notes, cross references, and a concordance make this Bible a great way to set out on the journey of studying God's word.
Rating:
Summary: It Changed my life
Review: I was never a Bible reader until I ran across this Bible. I now read and study all the time and it has changed my life for ever.
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