Hey all,
I currently have the NKJ version of the Bible, but I’d like to get another. Right now I’m looking at the New American Standard. I’m 16, very interested in how the events of the Bible fit in with the rest of history and I’m eager to learn everything I can. My question is, what are the advantages of a study Bible? Would it give extra information that is helpful?
Thank you in advance.
~Lefty22
If I were you I’d start by getting a Catholic Bible that includes the deutero-canonical books in them. You don’t even get the entire Bible with the NKJV or the NASV! I’d suggest either the New American Bible or the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition.
Typically, study Bibles contain cross-references, foot-notes, maps, charts, introductions, and many other things which have the potential to unlock many of the deeper teachings that the Bible has to offer. There are many good ones out there, I own something like 2 and a half? I have the ESV study Bible. It is Protestant and specifically Evangelical but it’s actually pretty orthodox. I got it because it’s one of the most comprehensive study Bibles I’ve ever encountered, plus I love the ESV translation. While this is a good study Bible, I would not suggest it to you because it contains more information than you want or need at this developing stage and because it is Evangelical.
I also have an “Ecumenical” study Bible, the New Oxford Annotated Bible, Augmented Third College Edition; to be honest I rather dislike this study Bible for many reasons (too many to get into here). The reason I got it was because it is the required edition for the theology courses in my school.
I also have the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch. It’s only the New Testament, but it’s still pretty good. I’ve read many reviews of it saying that it is an apologetics study Bibles and I largely agree with it, but the footnotes contain much more information concerning morals and helping to understand Church teachings, etc.
Unfortunately I have yet to come across one that I think would be extremely beneficial to the lay faithful. Essentially, I’d like a Catholic version of the ESV study Bible. Something that is as comprehensive and exhaustive, but Catholic. But no one said we live in a perfect world!
Before any of this though I would suggest that you get a regular Catholic Bible to read from, then worry about study Bibles!
