NIV Zondervan Study Bible: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message

by D.A. Carson (Editor)

This NIV Zondervan Study Bible is a tremendous tool for informed Bible reading and study. I highly recommend this publication. Tim Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City

Let the NIV Zondervan Study Bible equip you for more faithful theological thinking and doctrinal integrity. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The NIV Zondervan Study Bible, featuring Dr. D. A. Carson as general editor, is built on the truth of Scripture and centered on the gospel message. An ambitious and comprehensive undertaking, Dr. Carson, with committee members Dr. T. Desmond Alexander, Dr. Richard S. Hess, Dr. Douglas J. Moo, and Dr. Andrew David Naselli, along with a team of over 60 contributors from a wide range of evangelical denominations and perspectives, crafted all-new study notes and other study tools to present a biblical theology of God s special revelation in the Scriptures. To further aid the readers understanding of the Bible, also included are full-color maps, charts, photos and diagrams. In addition, a single-column setting of the Bible text provides maximum readability.

The accessible and fresh interior design will capture your attention and enhance your study experience. Along with your purchase, you ll also receive free electronic access to the NIV Zondervan Study Bible."

Genres: Reference, Christianity, Theology, Religion, Christian, Nonfiction

2912 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2015

About the author

Donald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. He has written or edited about sixty books. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two adult children.

Reviews

[Mike E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beast when it comes to size . . my genuine leather edition is elegant . . at first glance this appears to be one of the best study Bibles with highly capable scholars assigned to various books of the Bible . . the authors are identified in the introductory material . . Carson's attention-to-detail comes through in a superb study Bible . . I was impressed with the willingness of the notes to take controversial stands when the text of Scripture is clear . . for example on 1 Cor. 7:15 the notes say:

"It is often suggested that this allows a deserted Christian spouse to remarry since the Christian is not "bound" to the marriage that has been dissolved. This interpretation is not plausible: (1) In verse 11 Paul prohibits remarriage in cases where divorce has taken place. (2) The Greek verb does not mean "bound"; It means "enslaved" or "under bondage." (3) The thrust of the context is maintaining marriage. (4) Paul speaks of "freedom" for a new marriage only in cases when the spouse has died (v 39; Romans 7:1-3)."

I like the fact that those who wrote/edited the notes are free to distance themselves from the NIV (2011) translation. In 1 Cor. 7:15 they rightly note that "bound" is not the best translation of the corresponding Greek verb even though it's used by NIV (1984 & 2011).

[Kyla Fergason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bible in a 1(.25) year!! I have been wanting to do this for a while but finally did it, and what a journey it has been! Going to write about my favorite books this time around to look back on :)
- Genesis- I mean ofc! This is the start of it all and there’s just so much here to unpack
- Esther- I mean I have always loved this book. A heroine in the Bible? We love to see it
- Job- read through this through all the craziness of 2020 and got SO much out of it.. thank you Bible project and Bema for so much insight
- Ecclesiastes- this really is just such an interesting book, and I still feel like I have a lot to unpack here. But again, thank you Bible Project
- Isaiah- this one gets me.. all the prophecies that we get to see that Jesus fulfilled are just amazing.. Isaiah 53 had me :’)
- Habakkuk- this was one of those I had truly never spent time in and could’ve told you nothing about before, but I just loved it! Habakkuk 3 is just too good.. kinda like a mini Job? I don’t know God’s plan and I may not like it but I am trusting God with it.
- the Gospels are obviously always amazing
- Romans- always love going through and digging in to romans
- Galatians-loved Bema’s commentary on this one
- Ephesians- this letter has just always been one of my very favorites
- Philippians- I love that we get to see this community steadfastly following the Lord! It is just so encouraging
- Philemon- this little tiny book stuck out. Jesus wants to set each of us free!
- Hebrews- this has quickly become one of my favorite books of the Bible! Getting to go through the OT and see how Hebrews so beautifully connects the old to new was so encouraging to me. It has helped me resolve so many questions I had as I was going through the OT, and I am so grateful.
- 1 John- obviously! The focus on love here and the power of that love is simply amazing.

Anyways obviously it’s all good, these were just ones that really stuck out to me through this past year. Excited to see what God continues to teach me through this book!

[Craig Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

The long awaited NIV Zondervan Study Bible (NIVZ) is finally here! This much anticipated Bible combines the most popular translation (NIV) along with a stellar line up of Christian scholars who provide a myriad of helpful content to help readers understand the Bible better. This Bible is all about serving the reader in their understanding of the God that is glorified in the text.

The Editors

The NIVZ Study Bible was overseen by general editor D. A. Carson. Carson can, and has, ably written across a multitude of disciplines. He is rightly considered a scholars scholar by many. I pray the Lord raises up more like him and may the Lord give him enough life to bless the church and the academy with more of his writing. His assistant editor is Andy Naselli whose list of published works is growing. Presently, Naselli is teaching at Bethlehem College & Seminary. Naselli has two PhD’s and served as Carson’s research assistant for a number of years. Naselli is a budding scholar with an ever promising future ahead of him.

Together, Richard Hess and T. D. Alexander serve as the Old Testament editors; additionally Hess focuses on the archaeology and maps and Alexander focuses on the biblical theological aspects. Both men have cut their teeth on the Old Testament and are dependable scholars. The New Testament editor is none other than Douglas Moo who also handles the biblical theology for the New Testament. With previous history with the NIV, Moo is a NT theology and Pauline scholar.

These scholars provide a solid ground from which this biblically sound study Bible has emerged to serve Christians in their pursuit of knowing God for generations to come.

The Translation

The NIVZ uses a translation philosophy that produces a translation with a different feel compared to the ESV, NASB, and other literal translations. As is consistent with the translation philosophy of the NIV, the translators sought “to recreate as far as possible the experience of the original audience – blending transparency to the original text with accessibility for the millions of English speakers around the world.” (xxiv) Since we are not the original recipients of the biblical text, in audible or written form, and are far removed from the socio-political/cultural context of the Bible, the translators have done their best to translate the text in such a way that contemporary readers will experience reading the text, as much as possible, in the same way the original audience did.

In attempting to reach their translation goal and minimize the translation “damage” done when working from one language to another, the committee adopted three general guidelines: (1) the meaning of words is determined by the social context in which they were originally used, (2) the English words chosen must accurately represent what the text is actually saying, and (3) the grammatical context of the passage in which a word appears, along with the flexibility of a words meaning, determines what a word means in a given context.

There is nothing particularly new in the translation philosophy used with the exception of the second principle. Though it is not appropriate to go into the history of the NIV (TNIV) and the translation of the third-person masculine singular pronoun (TPSMP) but it deserves a note here. The original Hebrew and Greek use the TPSMP to refer to both genders without batting an eye. So “man” or “mankind” is used as a singular word to refer to both male and female. It has not only been culturally acceptable to use the English equivalent of TPSMP, but also linguistically understood as to what is meant.

Western culture is changing and with it its language. Further, there are not just Western English concerns but global ones as well. Where appropriate, and where it will clearly not detract from the intended meaning of the text, the translators have opted, for example, to replace “he” or “him” with “they” or “their”. For instance, take Mark 8:36:

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (ESV)

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (NIVZ)

In addition to the obvious difference in the words used to translate the sentence, the NIVZ replaces “man” and “his” with “someone” and “their”. Both Christians who have read the Bible for much of their lives and new readers of the Bible will understand the subject of the pronouns used in the NIVZ just as they would in a translation like the ESV or NASB. The meaning is retained and the contemporary reader is served in understanding the text as the original readers did. It produces the same net effect (as much as possible considering the gap in time and culture).

The Content

What makes a good study Bible? There are study Bibles for all kinds of purposes. As a single translation study Bible, the NIVZ is the largest to date boasting 2,912 pages (262 more than the NIV Study Bible (2011) hardback and 192 more than the ESV Study Bible hardback). The single characteristic that sets the NIVZ Study Bible apart from any other is its biblical-theological focus. From the book introductions to the study notes themselves, this study Bible is focused on pointing to and weaving together the biblical-theological themes present within the text. Themes like temple, peace, dwelling, redemption, law, etc., are the focus of the notes. The introductory articles to each book provide the biblical-theological overview of each book and then the notes complement and draw out those themes and ideas.

If the notes were not enough to give value to the NIVZ, there are several other aspects that enrich the readers experience as they read this study Bible.

Editorial Team – The editorial team responsible for the notes and accompanying articles strikes a diverse balance. There are scholars (seasoned and new), pastors (seasoned and new), pastor theologians, and women. The line-up is truly impressive and trustworthy.

Book Introductions – The introductions to the various sections of the Bible and the individual books themselves imbibe the biblical-theological focus of the study bible. They set the sections and books within the overall redemptive-historical narrative of the Bible. Coupled with the study notes, the reader is able to see both the meaning of the trees (books) without missing the forest itself (whole focus of the Bible).

Study Notes – In addition to a biblical-theological focus, the study notes aid the reader in gaining a better grasp of the text within its biblical, theological, grammatical, cultural, and social context. The word(s) of a verse that is being commented on is highlighted in bold so they are easy to distinguish.

Marginal Notes – The marginal notes contain three parts. First, there is ample room for personal note taking. This is a great advantage over the ESV and NIV study Bibles. Second, there are cross reference verses on the outside of the margins. Third, between the text of Scripture and the study notes are optional readings of parts of verses.

Maps, Charts, and Pictures– These things are all over the place! They have a map for Jacob’s journey in Genesis, a chart for the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart in Exodus, a chart showing the distance in miles between OT cities, a picture of King Tut’s golden chariot in 2 Chronicles, a map and diagram of the familial house of Herod in Matthew, an extensive chart harmonizing the Gospels, and even a chart contrasting the Levitical priesthood with Jesus’ priesthood in Hebrews. The pictures are in full color. The more you read the text of Scripture the more you will see the value and helpfulness of the extensive charts. The chats are as helpful to understanding the text as the study notes.

Text of Scripture – Where the text of Scripture stands out in this study Bible is the result of having a single column instead of a double column presentation of the text. Genealogies are presented in list form (with the exception of Gen. 5). The thirty sayings listed in Proverbs 22:17-24:22 are cataloged as such on the left side of the text.

Articles – While articles in a study Bible are not unique, the articles in the NIVZ Study Bible focus on 28 of the most common biblical-theological themes in the Bible. Themes like the gospel, the glory of God, creation, sin, law, covenant, priest, temple, justice, worship, and mission are expounded upon and set within the context of the whole revelation of Scripture.

Conclusion

The NIVZ Study Bible is a remarkable achievement in its content and contributors. There are a lot of good study Bibles competing for people’s money and shelf space, and in my opinion everyone should have more than one. The NIVZ Study Bible is one worth having. It will serve generations of Christians to come as it serves readers in gaining a better grasp of the message of Scripture – the gospel of Jesus Christ!

For more information about the NIVZ Study Bible go to nivzondervanstudybible.com.

I received this book for free from Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Steven Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "NIV Zondervan Study Bible: Built on the Truth of Scripture and
Centered on the Gospel Message" (hereinafter, Zondervan Study Bible) is,
as of August 2015, a new, completely rewritten study Bible, based on the
groundbreaking and popular New International Version first published in
1985. This new version weighs just short of a hefty five pounds, is
printed with the beautiful four-color process, and contains almost
20,000 new verse notes, as well as extensive cross references, indexes,
a concordance, introductions to each book or major section, maps,
photos, charts, timelines, and a library of 28 theological articles
written by biblical experts on a wide variety of subjects.

As an active Latter-day Saint, I strive to take care when using study
Bibles, preferring those that are "balanced" between opposing viewpoints
and appear to adhere closely to the original written texts. This Bible
does not disappoint, despite the evangelical lens its been filtered
through. It is theologically conservative, but is not afraid to mention
secular or liberal points of view. Further, the contributors to the
Zondervan Study Bible are top notch scholars, and were carefully
screened and vetted to ensure that the contributions were from "[those
who] revere scripture," strive to "excel in idiomatic accuracy" and
where great care is taken that "the phrases, sentences, the idioms,
[are] all . . . taken into account."

So I was curious to see how the Zondervan Study Bible handled various
topics, one such being the authorship of the first five books of Moses.
I found this topic well balanced between Moses as the sole author and
the so-called Documentary Hypothesis, or several authors, perspective.

For the viewpoint in favor of Moses, this Bible cites verses such as
when "Jesus himself refers to the Pentateuch as 'the book of Moses (Mark
12:26), 'the law of Moses' (Luke 24:44)," when Philip spoke to Nathaniel
about finding the "one Moses wrote about in the law" and when "Moses" as
scripture is referred to in Luke 16:29, Luke 24:27 and 2 Corinthians
3:15. Support also comes "from the Pentateuch itself, which directly
credits Moses with writing down sections . . . the 'Book of the
Covenant' in Exodus 20:22--25:33 (see also Exodus 24:4, 7) and the 'Book
of the Law' in Deuteronomy 5--26." The claim for Moses himself being the
author is clearly stated.

For the viewpoint of other authors besides Moses, the Zondervan Study
Bible mentions: (1) the "knowledge of events that occur after Moses'
lifetime; (2) the "manner in which the Pentateuch refers to [Moses] in
the third person; (3) the mention in Numbers 12:3 where Moses refers to
himself (supposedly) as "a very humble man, more humble than anyone else
on the face of the earth." Would the real Moses have referred to himself
in such a manner? This point is compelling (4). Then there is
Deuteronomy 34 which reports Moses' death. This Bible cautions that
because of these observations one should not be overly dogmatic that
Moses penned absolutely everything in the Pentateuch. And we haven't
even covered the Documentary Hypothesis.

But lack of space and time prevents me from covering the Documentary
Hypothesis thoroughly. It'll have to suffice to mention that it is
presented and in some detail. Trust me. The reader is presented with
enough information to be informed to make up his own mind regarding the
matter.

I wanted to see how the Zondervan Study Bible handled one of my favorite
Old Testament Scriptures, Psalm 19. I was delighted to read: "This psalm
is a majestic meditation on how God has revealed himself; indeed, it is
a celebration of two different modes of revelation: God reveals himself
in creation (vv. 1-6) and in his word (vv 7-14), corresponding to what
theologians call "general" and "special" revelation respectively . . ."
Due to my training in history, theology, and law, this resonated with my
understanding. That law was either inherent in the nature of things
(natural law), and was discovered through observation and reason, or law
is given directly by God, Divine or revealed law.

The idea of a "general revelation" or a discovery of "natural law" also
accords with Latter-day Saint scripture. The world and all in it, or out
of it, "are created and made to bear record of [Christ]” (Moses 6:63),
and "denote there is a God.” (Alma 30:44)

The Apostle Paul's teachings on Mars Hill have always fascinated me, so
I wondered how the Zondervan Study Bible dealt with Paul's phrase "we
are his offspring" in Acts 17:28. The Zondervan Study Bible provided the
necessary historical background vital to understanding that Paul met the
Greeks with their own understanding, that of their own Poets. The reader
is informed that these words stem "from the stoic poet Aratus (315-240
BC) in his 'Phaenomena'." The Zondervan Study Bible commentary on this
verse does come short of the Latter-day Saint understanding of Adam and
Eve, and the rest of us, being spirit "offspring" of Deity, but I don't
really expect that in any non-LDS Bible.

I also was curious how the Zondervan Study Bible reacted to baptism for
the dead, 1 Corinthians 15:29. Here there was first, a predictable
evangelical Christian response. It's to be understood "in a manner
adapt[ed] to the context. If there is no resurrection from the dead, it
makes no sense for new Christians (who were spiritually dead before
their conversion) to undergo baptism if faith and baptism have no effect
on what happens after death. But that understanding is balanced by the
words that this verse is to be understood as "vicarious baptism on
behalf of deceased people" as was carried out by certain sects of that day.

I found myself spending hours looking up the footnotes, reading the
commentary, reading the illustrations, etc. Overall the Zondervan Study
Bible is well balanced. I was impressed with how "controversial" parts
of the Zondervan Study Bible were treated. A respect for the text was
shown and, for the most part, avoided wresting scripture to fit any
particular theological agenda. And where there was a division of opinion
they clearly staked out the positions, leaving it up to the reader to
decide "hard questions."

It even has a subject index. Something I complained about when I
reviewed the NIV Essentials Study Bible.

I like gazetteers and this Bible has a gazetteer, of sorts. It has a
three page map index, which is good, but I would have preferred a more
comprehensive gazetteer, one able to look up all those tiny, obscure,
backwater places that seem insignificant but often have significant
importance.

There are several blemishes. One of my biggest gripes is the tiny size
of the text. But maybe that's more indicative perhaps of my age. Another
is the rather clunky and cumbersome digital access. I found it hard to
use. But it is free with the purchase, and it does enable you to find
what you need, highlight important verses or passages, take notes, look
up any word or phrase, find places in the map section and so forth.

But these are just tiny nits. This is a good Bible. It will be on my
"readily available" shelf.

Yes, I really like this Bible. It has much going for it.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

When first received my copy of the NIV Zondervan Study Bible in the mail, my first impression was amazement over its size and weight, it is HUGE! It is quite impressive on the inside as well, the text of the NIV is laid out in a one column format instead of the usual 2 columns. The cross references are placed on the side of the column and study notes on the bottom. I loved the charts throughout, especially in the OT which included charts summing up what was in certain sacrifices and offerings, and charts on the Lord's appointed festivals, census results, Levite Numbers and responsibilities…etc. Very helpful. There were many photographs of Biblical areas throughout, and also pictures of various archeological finds having to do with many biblical events and people. Those are quite fascinating and interesting.

Many of the study notes seem quite intricate and useful and exegetical. Several of the pages are quite packed with notes. There were various scholars writing the study notes for each individual book of the Bible and you can see the negatives and positives to that. For instance, I was pleasantly surprised (shocked may be the better term) that the person who did the study notes in 1 Corinthians actually took the literal view of chapter 7, where Paul repeats, affirms and perhaps expounds upon, the Lord's command, "To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife." 1 Cor. 7:10-11 The writer of the study notes comments: vs. 11"...There are only two options for a divorced woman: (1) remain unmarried or (2) reconcile with her husband. a husband must not divorce his wife. Just as a woman must not divorce her husband; again Paul formulates no exception." Vs. 15, 'Let it be so.' when a non-Christian spouse divorces a Christian spouse, the Christian cannot do anything about it. not bound in such circumstances. it is often suggested that this allows a deserted Christian spouse to remarry since the Christian is not 'bound' to the marriage that has been dissolved. This interpretation is not plausible: (1) In v. 11 Paul prohibits remarriage in cases where divorce has taken place. (2) The Greek verb does not mean 'bound'; it means 'enslaved' or 'under bondage.' (3) The thrust of the context is maintaining marriage. (4) Paul speaks of 'freedom' for a new marriage only in cases when the spouse has died (v. 39; Rom 7:1-3). If a non-Christian spouse leaves the marriage, the Christian spouse is not responsible for the divorce. Christian spouses may not initiate divorce from non-Christian spouses on religious grounds..." But then where you turn to Christ's comments on divorce and remarriage in Matthew 7 and 19 you find the usual view espoused (dissolution of a marriage before God in the case of adultery)by whomever wrote the study notes.

But now I must talk about the negative aspects of this Bible. One is not so bad, but some may find it quite inconvenient, and that is that the font is (or seems to me) quite small, and that is aggravated by the fact that it is difficult to lift the book closer to one's face to take a closer look because it is so heavy. I am curious as to how big the large print edition is as it seems to me that if they made the font any bigger the Bible's overall size would be impractical and it would probably end up having to be treated like some old gigantic Bibles of the past where would you just designate a place for it to be left open on its own stand as it would be difficult to transport.

The second negative was that the person(s) who wrote the study notes on Genesis did not come down firmly on a literal 24 hour day creation. For instance in the introduction to Genesis it is stated that, "The question of the age of the earth is not automatically resolved with the use of the seven days in 1:1-2:3. In 2:4, Moses uses the same Hebrew word for 'day' to summarize all the work of creation…Of course, this does not mean that the term 'day' cannot refer to a 24-hour day in the seven days of creation. But it may also serve other purposes." And therefore of course, they also do not firmly promote a global flood in Genesis 6-7 but leave it open to the possibility of its being a regional flood.

The third negative is that the Bible has at least a few engravings, paintings and other forms of art picturing unclothed people. I'll mention three of them here: First there was a picture of a naked Adam and Eve holding a few tiny conveniently placed leaves…I don't get why they don't at least depict them in the clothing of leaves they had tried to make, or why don't they picture them when God clothed them with animal skins? Why depict the father and mother of all mankind in what is now their shame??? It is STILL their SHAME, why is it okay for their offspring to have pictures of them in that state???????I don't understand that at all. And then there was an engraving or something showing circumcision being performed on men and it was completely unnecessary, I didn't need to see that. And lastly there was a painting in the introduction to Psalms that showed unclothed and scantily clothed Egyptian women musicians, the only connection to the Psalms was that they were musicians. Why? Why choose that one? I don't care if they are ancient archaeological finds and are considered 'a work of art', I don't care how old it is, there are bad/immoral works of art from history just as there are bad works of 'art' today! I don't understand how a person can think that pictures depicting naked people are justified to have in a Bible, rather I see it as an affront and a contradiction to the teachings of the Bible itself. Think of Christ's statement: "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. "(Mat 5:27-28 ASV). What if a picture was placed beside it showing a lewdly dressed woman with the caption "ancient depiction of a prostitute", wouldn't that seem a little (sarcasm) contradictory?

I'm sorry to have to be so negative but I simply had to say something. I would have rated the study Bible higher if it hadn't been for the bad pictures.


I received a free review copy of this book from the Booklook blogger program in exchange for my review which did not have to be favorable.

[Peter Krol · Rating 3 out of 5]

"English-speaking people have no shortage of study Bibles," writes Dr. D.A. Carson in his preface to the NIV Zondervan Study Bible. But do these English speakers need another one? Does the NIV Zondervan Study Bible stand out in this crowded marketplace?

What it does

The NIV Zondervan Study Bible (ZSB) offers a library of resources in a single volume, focusing on biblical theology—"the ways in which many important themes work their way through Scripture and come to a focus in Jesus Christ." The body of the book contains:

• the full text of the NIV Bible
• study notes (commentary) on the text
• introductions to all 66 books of the Bible
• section introductions (wisdom books, prophetic books, gospels, etc.)
• maps
• charts
• photos
• cross-references

Between Malachi and Matthew lies a very helpful article and timeline on "The Time Between the Testaments," which brings modern readers into the cultural shifts that took place in Israel in the centuries before the Son of God entered history.

Following this body come further resources for the curious Bible student:

• 28 short articles on topics examined through a biblical-theological perspective
• a 160-page concordance
• 14 large maps indexed by location

What it does well

The ZSB has a lot of material. If you love swimming in large amounts of information about the Bible, you'll love the ZSB.

• The commentary generally directs your attention to the text and not merely to what others have said about the text. Tremper Longman's notes on Daniel stand out as a prime example.
• The book introductions have lots of historical, literary, and theological details. Along with the section introductions, they give much attention to the Bible's storyline and historical context.
• The 28 articles tell and re-tell the single story of the Bible (creation, fall, redemption, consummation) through different filters: Temple, City of God, Holiness, Sonship, Worship, etc.

The charts in this study Bible are outstanding. Page 197 has a full-page chart of Old Testament offerings and sacrifices, tracing the 5 main types of offerings and their materials, associated offerings, blood manipulation, portions burnt on altar, portions eaten, and purpose. Between John and Acts, a 7-page chart lists the 186 enscripturated events of Jesus' life and places them in chronological order, with probable dates, probable locations, and references to show which Gospel records the event.

What I find unique in this study Bible, however, is the photos. Perhaps other study Bibles include color photographs, but they haven't hit my desk. Here I can see the ruins of ancient Laodicea, the massive theater in Ephesus, the shore of the Sea of Galilee, a preserved seal impression that mentions Baruch son of Neriah, a carved ivory of a chariot with horses, and a branch of hyssop. If you are a visual learner, you will love this study Bible.

I must also mention that Kevin DeYoung shines brightly over a sea of bland academese. One gets used to phrases like "The essential concerns," "a regular part of life in ancient Israel," and "among significant theological concepts, few are as fundamental and comprehensive in scope as...." But hitting DeYoung's article on "Sin" is like voluntary shock therapy:

"Sin is another name for that hideous rebellion, that God-defiance, that wretched opposition to the Creator that crouches at the door of every fallen human heart. Sin is both a condition, inherited from Adam, and an action—manifesting itself in thought, word, and deed—that when full-grown gives birth to death."

Would that more scholars wrote like this!

What could be better

The massive amounts of information may be this Bible's greatest detraction. At almost 2900 pages, this is the largest study Bible I've handled. It's huge and heavy, and unfortunately wordy.

• In a world of search engines, do folks still use concordances? This Bible could have dropped a quarter of an inch right there.
• The book introductions are long (usually 6-8 pages), and their length limits their usefulness. For example, you might want to know what 1 John is about. • The answer is here to be found ("1 John was written to bolster their assurance by providing criteria they could use to evaluate the spurious claims of the secessionists and with which they could reassure themselves"), but it's buried on the second page in the middle of a long paragraph.
• The 28 articles at the end are concise in themselves, but they get repetitive when read one after another. I'm not clear on the need for separate articles on "The Glory of God," "Worship," and "Mission." Or "Holiness" and "Justice." Or "Love and Grace" and "The Gospel."

The ZSB's Assistant Editor, Andrew Naselli, recently claimed this volume to be one of the two best study Bibles on the market. If you're totally juiced by color photographs of ancient ruins and archaeological finds, go for this one. If not, I suggest you're better off with the other one.

BookLook Bloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are study Bibles galore on the market today. Some merely contain the name of a popular author, theologian, or pastor, while others focus on specific elements of church history or theology. Adding to those various choices is the matter of translation with many study Bibles offering one or a variety of translations. This makes choosing a study Bible somewhat akin to throwing a dart at a dartboard, hoping you hit the proverbial bulls-eye. Since most Bibles are not exactly cheap, it is important to make sure we make a wise investment.

Into the crowded study Bible market comes the release of the much anticipated NIV Zondervan Study Bible. Respected theologian and author D. A. Carson is the general editor and the overall editorial staff consists of other well-seasoned and notable theologians such as Richard Hess, T. D. Alexander, Douglas Moo, and Andrew Naselli. If that collection of theological minds was not impressive enough, the list of study note and article contributors reveals that a great deal of work from a variety of theologians respected in their various fields of study is captured in this study Bible.

When I first opened the box, I was immediately struck by the thickness of the NIV Zondervan Study Bible. Now I did not order the large print version meaning that what is contained in this Bible is a plethora of material. As I began to peruse its contents, I quickly realized that not only is this a study Bible with lots to offer, what it does have to offer is very much worth noting. Let me share a few highlights.

1. This is a very attractive looking Bible. The study elements are presented in full color. This makes these important study materials stand out, drawing the reader’s eyes to the copious footnotes, charts, maps, illustrations, articles, and outlines. Given this is marketed as a study Bible, the full color approach helps the reader find and pay attention to those aspects.

2. The scholarship is impressive. In part, this has already been noted, in particular the impressive array of theologians who have contributed their respective expertise. Not only are the articles notable in their content, they also purposefully address some of the main themes that weave their way throughout the biblical corpus. This is of the utmost importance for believers. I am a firm proponent of the need for the study of Scripture to be rooted in noting the biblical patterns and principles that reveal themselves from Genesis to Revelation. Tracing for instance the topic of redemption involves starting in Genesis and noting how that fundamental message presents itself in each and every book of Scripture. This is after all the message of the gospel. So for a study Bible to declare itself as being gospel centered, it must have a focus on matters of redemption. The NIV Zondervan Study Bible meets that challenge.

3. The introductions to the books of the Bible are excellent. Some study Bibles merely address matters of authorship, take a stab at the date of writing, share a few key ideas, and toss in an outline. The NIV Zondervan Study Bible provides a far more in-depth approach to its introductions. While important matters of authorship, provenance, date of writing, genre, and thematic elements area part of the introductions, other important issues such as challenges in the text that should be given attention are noted and the theological themes are given a great deal of focus. Finally, the outlines are rather in-depth, breaking down the text in a way what helps the reader get a good understanding of what they are about to encounter in that particular book.

4. The access to digital features is an added bonus. With the purchase of this study Bible, Zondervan grants access to a variety of online features. With a study Bible of this size and weight for that matter, having the ability to have a digitized version available to which you can highlight passages, take notes, look up words or phrases, as well as having access to maps and other exclusive material, truly rounds out the awesome features provided. Given the widespread use of smartphones, tablets, and other on the go electronic devices, this means one can have all the features of this excellent study Bible available in the palm of their hand and at their fingertips.

If you are in the market for a study Bible, I highly recommend you take a look at the NIV Zondervan Study Bible. It meets all the criteria I look for in a study Bible and with the added features available online, it is a valuable entry into the study Bible market. In fact, out of the recent round of study Bible offerings and even some of the older venerable titles, I firmly believe the NIV Zondervan Study Bible meets or exceeds anything I have come across to date. Full of helpful theologically sound articles as well as a variety of material that will greatly benefit your study of God’s Word, this is a study Bible worth the investment.

I received this book for free from Zondervan and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Sharon Siepel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This NIV Zondervan Study Bible uses the 2011 version of the NIV, which is different than the 2002 and 2005 translations which received a far amount of backlash. It is pretty easy to find good articles regarding the different versions on the Internet, if that is something that interests you.

The first thing I noticed about this Bible is its size. At 5 lbs and 2880 pages, this definitely constitutes a hefty book. The second thing I noticed was that the general editor is D.A. Carson, a professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, which is actually associated with the denomination which I attend. Already having some exposure to Carson, I felt like I could trust a study Bible that he was involved in editing. So I did walk into this review expecting a decent study Bible and was not disappointed.

Besides the actually Scriptures, this Bible includes tons of historical, cultural, and theological information. It is actually one of the most complete study Bibles that I have come across in awhile.

This Bible includes:
An overview of each testament, an overview of each section and an overview of each chapter. It has a large concordance and maps section, lots of study notes, charts, pictures, etc. The Scripture itself is in a nice size readable font printed in a single column. There is room in the margins for notes. The spacing between lines in generous, so that you can highlight or underline without messing up the test around it.

With the purchase of this Bible you also gain access to an online Bible that allows you to read, highlight, take on your phone, tablet or computer. This online source also contains more maps, study notes and additional information.

For the price you cannot beat this resource. This huge Bible is probably not the one you are going to take to church with you, however, if you are interested in studying Scripture in depth this is a great place to start.

[Josh L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough, readable, and well-rounded scholarship. Especially, like the emphasis on themes (motifs) in the grand narrative of scripture

[Tim Phan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful, a lot of resources from a lot of scholars. If you're reading ESV, it's always nice to compare it with NIV. The notes are well balanced and insightful.

[Carole McDonnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: NIV Zondervan Study Bible
D A Carson, General Editor


The NIV Zondervan Study Bible is a new study Bible which uses the NIV translation and which is structured in the following manner:

Quick Start Guide
Table of Contents which is divided into the following sections:
Each book of the Bible and its location
Maps
Charts
Illustrations
List of Articles
Abbreviations and Transliterations
Acknowledgments
Editorial Team
Editor's Preface
Preface
The Bible
Weights and Measures
Articles

The Bible proper is introduced with Chronological maps for both testaments and each Bible book is preceded by an Introduction which generally describes the author and place of the book's composition, the date of the book, the genre to which the book belongs, the style, content, and challenges of the book and the purpose for which it was written. Canonicity, Themes, and Theology of the books are also summarized. Some book introductions have more than these topics, some less. At the end of the Introduction, there is an outline of events in the Bible book.

Each page of the Bible takes up about --on average-- 50% of the page with verse-by verse commentary taking up the bottom half of the page. Verse cross-references are in tiny columns on the upper right edge of the pages.Illustrations are found throughout. Sub-chapter sections have summary headings that are printed in green. Corresponding Bible stories are listed under each topic heading.

The Articles in the Study Bible begin after the book of Revelations and are very good for the most part. Some writers write more accessibly than others. There are two or three women contributors, but for the most part the writers are men. The writers are also primarily European and from mainstream seminaries, denominations and theologies.

Unlike many Bible studies where verse-by-verse commentaries focus more on the spiritual application, exegesis, and meaning of a verse, the study portion of the Study Bible seems to have been written for story or reading comprehension. Historical backgrounds, insights into motivations and actions of Biblical characters as well as analyses of ramifications and consequences are shown for verses, individually or collectively. Most of the explanations are historical and spiritual. There are moments, however, when certain cultural biases or ignorance creep in, sometimes at the cost of truth. (This is often the reason why Study Bibles can be detrimental. Because human opinion is placed beside God's word, careless readers will incorporate the assumptions and biases of the Study Bible's editors and writers. )

For instance, a writer states in the commentary on Daniel 1:8-16:
"...this refusal of the royal diet has nothing to do with keeping kosher, avoiding political connections, or refusing food offered to idols; rather, they are giving God room to work. Their healthy appearance at the end of the chapter is the result not of diet but of God's grace." NOTHING? Nothing is a big word.

and Daniel 1: 13-14:
"A diet of vegetables and water rather than the royal food and wine would naturally make the four men look worse." NATURALLY? Based on what?

The commentator even states that Daniel not eating the king's choice food was only temporary and cites Daniel 10:3 as proof that Daniel later ate the king's food. But "choice food" is not the same as the king's choice food. And one can eat choice food according to the Torah without it being choice food from the king's table..even if one returns to meat-eating. Seems like a big leap to me.

Reading such a line makes the reader wonder if this is someone out to defend the meat diet. Is the writer speaking against vegetarianism? And the writer's parochial notion of what is healthy also causes him to dismiss the possibiity of Daniel actually keeping the diet prescribed by the law. The writer has a good point; God is the ultimate keeper of one's health. But in attempting to show this truth, he goes overboard. "NOTHING to do with keeping kosher?"


Did this man in one commentary on a verse totally dismiss Daniel's allegiance to the Kosher diet? What about the verse where Daniel decided he would not defile himself with the king's meat?

This kind of questionable opining is everywhere.
For instance, the description of what a spiritual mystery is in the commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:2 reads as follows: "Because nobody understands the language [when someone is speaking in tongues] what is being said is a mystery."

The writer is saying this is a spiritual mystery because no one understands what is being said. Certainly the word "mystery" turns up in other Bible books. "Great is the Mystery of our faith" is mentioned in Phillipians for instance. And "mystery" doesn't mean simply not understanding a language. But here, mystery is not defined as it is in other Scripture. One gets the feeling that some of the writers of this Bible Study don't read the Bible much.

The analyses are very insightful and helpful or sometimes just plain obvious to a longtime Bible reader. Although nothing in this Study Bible will cause anyone to stray from theological truth, it's best if the reader use two or three Study Bibles instead of just one. It is not a bad book. It is even a good and helpful book but it could be better.

The font used for Scripture is thin and perhaps should've been heavier but it is still readable. This book was sent to me free of charge in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Ronald W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love the way the NIV reads. It's the first version I was able to read all the way through. And it inspired me to read many other versions such as the very loved King James. Face it, the bible is old literature and can be hard for many people to read and understand. The NIV opened my eyes to the beautiful words of GOD and helped me understand it in ways I was struggling with in the King James version. Highly recommend to anyone who finds the older English to hard to read. It can open your eyes to GODS word.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is right up there with the ESV Study Bible in terms of how comprehensive it is. I got the hard copy of this on christianbook.com for $15 and I have definitely gotten a lot of bang for my buck out of it. Much better in my view than the older NIV study Bible.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best study Bibles on the market and a worthy investment.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must confess that I have quite a few study bibles. My latest is the NIV Zondervan Study Bible: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message. It is a great resource for home study because it is big! And heavy! There are 2,880 pages. It is substantial. I can turn the pages without worrying about tearing them. I can read the print...and I'm not young! There is lots of color to add interest. And best of all...it came with free access to the digital edition so I can access it remotely.

The NIV Zondervan Study Bible has a great layout. For example, the New Testament begins with an introduction to the New Testament which is followed by an introduction to The Gospels and Acts. Then there is an introduction to the Book of Matthew. There are beautiful illustrations, maps charts and graphs throughout. At the end of the Book of Revelation there are articles by biblical scholars such as Timothy Keller who is one of my favorite biblical writers.

If you only want to have one study bible then this would be definitely one to consider. It is filled with a wealth of information for increasing your understanding of the bible. It is available for purchase beginning August 25th.

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic study Bible! The notes are superb. The editor and contributors are some of the best expositors and teachers that the Church has to offer. This study Bible is a perfect gift for any believer. It is written on such a level that both the new believer and seasoned scholar alike can benefit and grow in the material presented. The articles alone are worth the price of purchase but you also get a very good translation and biblical and beneficial notes to support the text. I am reformed and would usually lean towards a study Bible that reflects my theology. This Bible is not "reformed" per se, but does represent sound hermeneutics and proper theology. A+ Highly recommended.