ESV Study Bible

Just in case you don't have your bloglines linked to any cool pastor blogs, I wanted to let you know that the website for the new ESV Study Bible is now online.  It is going to be available sometime this fall (projected for October).

I have been using the ESV for about 6 years.  While in college and seminary, I used the New American Standard Bible because it was more of a literal "word for word" translation (as compared to the more "idea paraphrase" of the NIV) in updated English.  Since the ESV has come along, I have appreciated it for the same reasons and yet it is a little easier to read. 

My recommendation for this particular study Bible is because the team that put this together is one of the greatest scholarship teams to come along in quite some time.  The list of editors is below and you can go online to check out the overall contributors.  While having the Word of God in a literal, readable form, the ESV Study Bible will have:

Primary Features:

• 25,000-plus notes—focusing especially on understanding the Bible text and providing answers to frequently raised issues.
• Over 50 articles—including articles on the Bible’s authority, reliability, and interpretation; on biblical archaeology, theology, worship, prayer, and personal application.
• Over 200 full-color maps—created with the latest digital technology, satellite images, and archaeological research; printed in full color, throughout the Bible.
• 200-plus charts—offering key insights and in-depth analysis in clear, concise outline form; located throughout the Bible.
• 80,000 cross-references—to encourage easy location of important words, passages, and biblical themes.
• More than 40 new full-color illustrations—including historically accurate reconstructions of the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, Solomon’s temple, Herod’s temple, the city of Jerusalem in Jesus’ time and throughout the history of Israel, and many more.

The following people comprise the Editorial Oversight Committee, which developed the concept, selected the 93 contributors, and provided general oversight and final approval of the content and design of the ESV Study Bible.

Executive Editor

Lane T. Dennis

Ph.D., Northwestern University

Chair of the ESV Translation Oversight Committee, President, Crossway Books and Bibles

General Editor

Wayne Grudem

Ph.D., University of Cambridge

Research Professor of Bible and Theology, Phoenix Seminary

Theological Editor

J. I. Packer

D. Phil., University of Oxford

Professor of Theology, Regent College (Vancouver, Canada)

Old Testament Editor

C. John Collins

Ph.D., University of Liverpool

Professor and Chair of the Old Testament Department, Covenant Theological Seminary

New Testament Editor

Thomas R. Schreiner

Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary

James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Project Director, Managing Editor

Justin Taylor

B.A., University of Northern Iowa

Associate Publisher, Crossway Books and Bibles

posted by Brad

Comments

[berry]

I have a couple of questions for some folks I respect:
1. do you all think that it's helpful to use a study Bible?

2. do you think a literal word for word translation is better than an idea for idea translation?

[Brad]

Not sure if I fall under the "those I respect" category.

I do think it is helpful to use a study Bible that will be of this caliber (totally biased opinion). Basically it is a lot of study notes within the same binding of a Bible. So I see it like books, notes or other resources of people that I like and respect.

As for the Bible. I teach our students using almost exclusively 2 translations. The ESV for "word for word" study is my favorite (obviously) and I have been using "The Message" with my students who don't actually use the Bible (most of them). My desire is for them to see the meta-narrative and hunger for the details.

[amy]

Brad, are you getting some kind of commission? I was looking for the "tell 'em Brad sent 'ya" line at the end there... :)

I think it's helpful to use a study Bible when you don't have all the other resources available - though now I'm feeling a little inferior with my lesser, NIV Study Bible.

[Brad]

Hurry, hurry, hurry....we'll beat your best deal or your money back.

Sometimes I just grin, sometimes I shoot milk out of my nose...amy caused the latter.

[berry]

maybe that was a loaded question I asked because my general opinions (admittedly lacking seminary experience) are contrary to those.

I tend to think that sometimes it's better not to translate word for word because while it may be more accurate in stringing the correct words together it doesn't always help with the meaning or understanding.

for example, how would you translate "it's raining cats and dogs" into another language? I'm sure the ESV isn't that literal but do you see my point?

I'm sure this simple argument is shot down all the time but I've never really heard a satisfying argument against it and it's something I really care about.

As for the Study Bible, when I used to use one it was more temptation than I could handle to actually study the passage on my own first before turning to what others would tell me.

[chet]

I'm kind of torn between 'idea for idea' bibles versus 'word for word' translation. I currently use TNIV (thanks Youth Specialties) and i appreciate it opening up some of the ideas of gender-specific words in the Bible. I do have respect for Piper's opinion that pastors should be the ones interpreting, but sometimes the ideas convey a better sense of the meaning itself and as protestants I think that we should applaud any scripture translation that gets the clearest sense of ideas in scripture across to the individual readers.