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Rating: 
Summary: Helpful up to a point
Review: After extensively using the Harper Collins for personal study, I must conclude that it is a mixed bag. The scholarship is certainly excellent and the translation trustworthy, but the study notes seem to have been written by people who do not believe in God. For example, this was especially noticeable in Isaiah, where the idea of prophecy as a vision of the future is not even entertained, even to argue against it. Therefore the reader is not given the option of making up their own minds as to the nature of miracles or the supernatural. While I understand that this is an issue which individuals must decide for themselves, I am a little disturbed that this viewpoint wasn't even considered. In my opinion, it calls into question the usefulness of the notes, since it is difficult to imagine reading the Bible separated from God's influence on the world.It is a good counterpart to the NIV study bible, which gives a more religious viewpoint, for example offering evidence that Isaiah was written by one person based on similarities in the text throughout. Again, you must make up your own mind, but the NIV does provide both viewpoints. For historical information and a glimpse into what the original texts must say, it is excellent. But for learning God's will for man, and how to grow closer to Him, I would read it with a grain of salt and an eye to the non-believer's influence.
Rating: 
Summary: Scholastic integrety and a well balanced translation
Review: I prefer to interpret the relevence of the Bible for myself. The Harper Collins SB presents only the facts, without the typical suasion toward a secular view. It graciously leaves the interpretation up to the reader. The notes are the best I've seen. The translation is a good balance between the literal and the paraphrastic approach; it is lucid, flows well, and is quite accurate. If you are looking for an intelligent scholarly study bible rather than a devotional one, this is the best available. If only it were offered in a leather binding, but this durable and attractive full cloth hardcover is the next best thing.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspired? Not hardly...
Review: My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, beware of this book. If you are not a brother or sister in Christ, please consider your souls. Jesus said we must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven. After studying this book, along with other versions and studies for the last three years, as I suspected early on, the commentaries, and much of the translation(s) are far from inspired. If you will notice from the website of the "Society of Biblical Literature", which is denoted on the front cover of the book, there is no mention in their mission statement to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, and in fact his name is not mentioned even once. Harper-Collins is in the business of selling books, not promoting or furthering the gospel. To amass such a cadre of so-called scholars, and intellectuals, in the interest of selling books, is not part of the great commission. Ask yourself why Jesus chose the men he did as disciples, rather than the most learned scholars of his day? I will point out one example from the book where the historical translation has been subverted, see 1 Cor. 7:16, and it doesn't even contextually make sense. I adjure you to look it up, those that possess a copy. Please seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and beware satan's deception... the unholy trinity. He is the author of confusion, and this book does not add to clarity. In conclusion, I refer to 2 Timothy Chapter 3, especially verse 7 "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." You may study a painting, or anything down to the minutest detail, but still miss the beauty of the whole... as in not being able to see the forest for the trees. Don't get me wrong, the Bible needs close and constant study, but with guidance of the Holy Spirit, not some editor or publisher out for a buck. May God Bless you all, and may you all come to worship the Lord in truth and in spirit. All praise and thanks be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
P.S. I didn't see an option to give it less than one star, so that's why it's there.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Study Bible, With a Few Shortcomings
Review: Positives: Detailed, informative notes stressing literary and historical background. Beautifully rendered color maps. Includes the apocryphal books. The NRSV is generally a fine translation. Negatives: No concordance. No side notes (cross references are included in the annotations). NRSV's gender-neutral rendering of the text sometimes departs too much from literalness. I found that the light typeface and slightly glossy paper contributed to eyestrain. For content, I prefer this Bible to the rival NIV Study Bible from Zondervan. For presentation, I like the Zondervan edition better -- the Zondervan's font, though smaller, is darker and easier to read, and the Zondervan has side notes and a concordance. Hey, why not buy both?
Rating:
Summary: A Very Good Study Bible Overall
Review: The HarperCollins Study Bible is one of the best study bibles for students and scholars of biblical criticism. Its best feature is the complete Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, a must for serious, historical Old Testament studies. On the down side, it lacks an extensive reading guide found in the Catholic Study Bible: New American Bible for gaining a better historical perspective on all books of the bible. Still, the New Revised Standard Version Translation, introductions and footnotes are easy to grasp and understand. This study bible is recommended mainly for those in serious critical bible study, rather than the mainstream Christian.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Study Bible for the Serious Student
Review: This bible is based on the New Revised Standard Version translation, which I like. It maintains the poetic and literary quality of the King James Version while the meaning and wording does not suffer. The rights to the NRSV are held by the National Council of Churches in Christ which is a group very focused on ecumenical issues. The footnotes are very good and thorough, though at time they are a little liberal, doubting whether events happened. But this is not major, for as in any study bible, you should make your own judgement. It has good maps and charts, including my favorite,a list of Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament. All books have introductions, and some outlines. It also comes with the deuterocanical books which is good for study even if your denomination does not endorse them. This bible is very good for mainline Christians and certainly good for study. I give this Bible 5 stars
Rating:
Summary: I liked it so much, I bought a second copy.
Review: This is a fantastic Bible. I bought two copies so I could look at two separate passages at once without having to flip back and forth. Someone complained about the footnotes taking up too much space and adding to the bulk of the book. This is, of course, a STUDY BIBLE, so the footnotes are kind of the point. A Study Bible without annotations isn't really a Study Bible at all. Regular Bibles without footnotes are widely available, and less costly. Someone else complained that the translation of 1 Cor 7.16 does not make sense "contextually." I'm not sure what is meant by that, exactly, but I would "adjure" this person to learn Koine Greek and compare the NRSV to the original. I can't imagine how the translation of that particular verse could be improved. The KJV turned it into a rhetorical question (which was quite unwarranted), but it nevertheless made the exact same point. Bottom line: if you're looking for a good study Bible, this would be an excellent choice.
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