Non-Catholic Study Bible for my son

[FaithfulAndTrue]

FaithfulAnd True - I will try very hard not to be “right” all the time, understanding that this will put him off. Just good dialogue will be much safer, I agree. This is new territory for me, so I hope one screwup doesn’t undo five good discussions. I must be extra careful, calm, and definitely no caffeine. No dialogue sessions when I’m tired (and easily irritated) or not feeling well, either. This could turn me into a new person.

I had never heard of those two study Bibles, and your description of them raises my interest. My Bible is an NAB, so I don’t know what an NASB is but I will find out. It is interesting that one exists that is neutral/generic, but the MacArthur does seem better anyway. I really don’t think I would have a problem with the Calvinistic bent, because I will be equipped to deal with it.

I will have to look at all these and decide what to get my son and what I will use. It may well be more than one.

I did pick up a copy of the Prove It - The Catholic Teen Bible, and Ignatius Catholic Study Bible - The New Testament. At the same time, I want to have some other resources, such as you and a few others have recommended.

Thanks you, and all of you, for your interest in helping my son and me. I will refer to all of your kind notes - advice, encouragement and admonitions - as guideposts to help me in this exciting and important new endeavor.

That sounds like a good plan

I just wanted to clarify my comment that the Ryrie tries to be neutral/generic. I mean regarding the notes for verses on salvation. He tries to hide a Calvinism vs Arminianism bias either by stating both positions, something short and vague, or nothing at all. Usually, it falls toward the vague or nothing at all category which can be frustrating because the whole point of the study version is to have helpful notes.

I should also clarify that both study Bibles do come in several versions. I think both are available in KJV, NKJV, NIV, and NASB. I think that there are other versions available (RSV, ESV, etc) in one but not the other. You’ll have to check on that because I’m not sure.

I picked the NASB (sometimes abbreviated as NAS) which stands for New American Standard Bible. It is a more literal word for word translation unlike the NIV which is more thought for thought. The biggest reason that I personally prefer the NASB is because you can very easily look up the Greek and Hebrew lexicons for a particular word which can be extremely helpful. For example, read John 3:16 here. Check the box that says “Strongs Numbers” and then click on a word in the verse. You’ll see the original lexicon (if you have the Greek or Hebrew font which is downloadable on the site), a pronunciation, multiple definitions, usage counts of the word broken down by book, etc.

I have never read an NAB so I can’t comment at how closely they would be but I do know that the NAB contains the deuterocanonical/apocryphal books and the NASB does not.

I hope that helps. God Bless.

 

[Izdaari]

A non-Catholic* answer:

I’m fond of the ESV translation, which is basically a revision of the RSV. It’s like the NRSV, but intended to be less liberal. I’d say it’s about the best currently available combination of elegant, readable English and a mostly literal or “word-for-word” translation.

My favorite study bible is the ESV Study Bible. It’s kind of a weighty tome, but that’s because it includes very thorough notes, which are probably as scholarly as you’ll find in an edition aimed at a broad, popular audience, and a lot of very good maps. There is a slight conservative Evangelical and Calvinist bias in the notes, but it’s not bad.

I would recommend against the MacArthur (though I own one and like it), because it’s basically a one man job by MacArthur and assistants, and MacArthur is Calvinist and Fundamentalist, and brooks no deviation from his always-right opinions. He knows a lot and is a good teacher, but I’m very put off by his “my way or the highway” approach, and all the more so because I disagree with many of his opinions. And yet it has enough going for it that I like it anyway… when I’m not mad at it.

I have no opinion on the Ryrie. It has a generally good reputation but I don’t own one.

(*I’m somewhere in between Pentecostal and Anglican.)

 

[Big_Dummy]

I would recommend the NET study Bible it is adding the apocrypha in fulture editions
store.bible.org/ you can preview it online bible.org/passage

For more neutral in NRSV

The New Interpreter’s Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version With the Apocrypha Walter J. Harrelson (Author)

The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version Michael D. Coogan (Editor)

in HCSB

The Apologetics Study Bible
christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=1742455&sp=59339&event=1003STDY|211349|59339

in NIV or KJV

Archaeological Study Bible, Hardcover
Edited By: Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garett

Others you may want to look at

Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, Softcover
By: J.B. Phillips

Amplified, KJV, NASB, & NIV Comparative Study Bible, Hardcover
Zondervan / 1999 / Hardcover
christianbook.com/amplified-kjv-nasb-niv-comparative-hardcover/9780310903338/pd/90333?item_code=WW&netp_id=115457&event=ESRCQ&view=details

The Expanded Bible: Explore the Depths of Scripture While You Read
Thomas Nelson / 2011 / Hardcover

The New Testament: An Expanded Translation By: Kenneth Wuest
christianbook.com/the-new-testament-an-expanded-translation/9780802808820/pd/1229?item_code=WW&netp_id=105561&event=ESRCG&view=details

 

[bowmandj]

Izdaari and Big Dummy - Wow, I’ve continued to hit paydirt. I just gotta ask the right question to the right folks. It will be fun just looking into all these resources, with your commments in mind. Thanks.