Charles Spurgeon has been called the “Prince of Preachers.” He preached to over 10 million people in his lifetime, and his written sermons have impacted millions more since 1866. The CSB Spurgeon Study Bible features thousands of excerpts from Spurgeon’s sermons, chosen and edited by Alistair Begg in order to bring the richness of the Prince of Preachers’ insights into your daily study of God’s Word.
Features include: Introductory Biography of Charles Spurgeon, Study notes crafted from Spurgeon sermons, Extracted sermon illustrations placed on the same page as the associated biblical text, Sermon notes and outlines in Spurgeon’s own handwriting, “Spurgeon Quotables” inserted throughout the Bible, Book introductions with book overviews in Spurgeon’s own words, Topical subheadings, Two-column text, Concordance, Smyth-sewn binding, Presentation Page, Full-color maps, and more.
The CSB Spurgeon Study Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture's life-transforming message and to share it with others.
Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. Following graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church.
In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written several books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. The teaching on Truth For Life stems from the week by week Bible teaching at Parkside Church.
The Spurgeon Study Bible is pretty impressive. The hardcover, tan and brown binding for the edition that I have is very nice to look at and comfortable to hold. I really like that this Bible includes two ribbon place markers. That is very handy.
I enjoy reading the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) interpretation and am happy that this is the interpretation used for this Bible. The font is a nice size and I do not have to squint or strain in order to read God’s word.
Charles Spurgeon’s notes are spread throughout the Bible as footnotes at the bottom of the pages, with occasional breakout quotes printed in a script font. There are also illustration break out sections spread throughout the pages. These are simply more of Charles Spurgeon’s thoughts on particular verses. I like the way these notes and thoughts give me a bit more insight into particular areas of the Bible.
There are also twenty lost sermons from Charles Spurgeon included throughout this Bible. These are shown in his handwriting and also printed out on the facing page for easy reading. The sermons are in outline form.
All in all a good, solid addition to the CSB Bible collection and of particular interest to those who enjoy the works of Charles Spurgeon.
I received a complimentary copy of this Bible. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I took on a more challenging Bible reading plan this year. My goal was to read through the entire Bible in a year, as usual. This time, however, I used the Bible Project Plan, which included scripture and themed videos to help see the Bible as a unified story about Jesus.
Additionally, I chose to read through it in the CSB, using the Spurgeon Study Bible, and I was determined to read all of Spurgeon’s notes. It was rewarding, but as Christa will tell you, I bit off more than I could chew.
I think I have been waiting--actively waiting--for *a* Spurgeon Study Bible to be released, at least eight or ten years. I found out last year that one would actually be released in 2017! It would be in the Christian Standard Bible translation. It would be edited by Alistair Begg. To say I was excited would be an understatement. The year seemed like one long wait until the release date in November.
I received this one for a birthday present in mid-November. I was THRILLED from the start. The print size is very good. The notes were of the "just right" variety. Not too few, not too many. The content of the notes was great. And it was black letter, not red letter. It seemed like it was designed cover to cover with me in mind.
The only thing that would make this one even better would be if it was also available in other translations. I'm thinking the King James Version, since that is the translation Spurgeon used. OR the English Revised Version from 1885, again because Spurgeon would have read.
For the record, I did find one typo in one of the notes in Revelation. They say something about "hating" a new heart--from the context, I'm guessing it's supposed to be HAVING a new heart. Since those in heaven certainly won't be hating their new hearts.
Whatever text Spurgeon preached, he made it his mission to make a beeline for the cross. His sermons were saturated with Christ, and this is reflected in the excerpts Alistair Begg has included as notes in the Bible. Whether you've been reading Spurgeon for decades or you're just now being introduced to him, this Bible is a wonderful resource that will point your soul to the beauty of Christ. While marketed as a "study" Bible, it functions more as a "devotional" Bible.
This was a great Study Bible. It was a gift from my daughter Lauralin. The Study notes are not typical of a study Bible. They are quotes from the sermons and writings of Charles Spurgeon a great preacher in London England in the late 1800s.
I really like the font size and minimal bleed through in this book, and I'm a fan of Spurgeon so that helps. His notes are the same in other "Spurgeon Study Bibles" eg the KJV. The translation is interesting. I wasn't familiar with the HOlman Christian Standard Bible before picking this one up. Turns out there's a difference between the older HCSB and this version, the CSB. Who knew? I compared the two translations and there are subtle differences, but also, this translation removes several verses compared to the HCSB. No reason is given. For me, the KJV is still the best, but I recognize it's difficult for many to understand because of the older language. This translation isn't a bad introduction for someone who wants to have a good idea of what the message is all about.
This was my first time reading the CSB translation. It's a superior translation combining literary quality with modern readability. Nothing will likely ever match the surpassing beauty of the KJV translation, but the CSB is one of the few modern translations that isn't either too stilted or too childish. The notes and sermons from the famous, 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon that are included in this Bible are fascinating, illuminating, and convicting.
I read through this Bible, including reading every footnote by Spurgeon. However, this should be called the Spurgeon Devotional Bible, not the Spurgeon Study Bible, because most of his comments were much more devotional in tone than academic. That being said, reading through it with Spurgeon's thoughts was a wonderful spiritual journey and a blessing to my walk with Christ. Whether in the Old Testament or New, he keeps the focus on Christ.
Read through this in my yearly reading plan last year, but never added the review. I love this Bible, it’s binding, translation, and content. The trutone leather makes a great cover and the Spurgeon notes were great. I also actually really enjoyed the CSB. I’m usually a more formal guy, but reading the Psalms and prophets in it were a blast.
I obtained my copy of the CSB Spurgeon Study Bible at the end of November. This has allowed me a little over a month to familiarize myself with both the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translation as well as the addition of Spurgeon's works in this publication. Four covers are available from the publisher, I'm reviewing the cloth over board edition.
Exterior Appearance: When I unboxed my new Bible, I was pleased with the oatmeal and brown color scheme. Details such as C.H. Spurgeon's signature embossed on the lower right-hand corner of the cover along with the gold lettering on the spine, create a handsome overall appearance. Two ribbons, matching the cover can be seen peeking from the bottom edge, but you will not find indexed fore-edges in this edition.
Interior Features: Within the first few pages is a biography of Charles Haddon Spurgeon written by Alistair Begg. At only 4 pages in length, it's merely a brief overview of his life and ministry. This is followed by indexes of THE LOST SERMONS OF SPURGEON, SPURGEON QUOTES, SPURGEON ILLUSTRATIONS; as well as an INTRODUCTION TO THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE. Moving into the scriptures themselves, each book is preceded by an introduction containing a paragraph or two of Spurgeon's thoughts on the book. Double columns of text with study notes underneath are interspersed with the aforementioned writings of Spurgeon. While the body of the text is an eye-pleasing 10 point font, many of the preacher's writings are presented in his own handwriting. His script is quite elegant, but I appreciate the editors decided to include typewritten transcripts in the footnotes (or on the opposite page for his sermons). Rounding out the accoutrements is an 83-page concordance and 8 full-color maps.
Translation: Together with my daughter, we began reading this text in the New Testament since that is where we were in our reading plan when the Bible arrived on our doorstep. We read Acts through Revelation using this translation. Previously, we had been reading from the English Standard Version (ESV). At times, especially in Romans, I preferred the word-for-word translation over the CSB's "Optimal Equivalence." (See where the CSB falls on the Bible Translation Continuum). That being said, this translation is reader-friendly and would be ideal for daily reading or perhaps as a nice gift for a new believer.
If like me, you already own a copy of the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) you may be wondering what the benefits would be of purchasing the CSB Spurgeon Study Bible. To this I would answer, it is the addition of Spurgeon's insights. While I do not write sermons, I do like seeing how the "Prince of Preachers" broke individual passages down to extract their core concepts. This is something I can emulate in my own study time. As for the translation changes, I do not believe the CSB is a completely new translation, but rather a revision of the HCSB—a fine-tuning.
Two years ago, I read through the HCSB over the course of the year. Even after all this time, I still remember reading about manatees (Exodus 35:7), so that is the first place I looked for a change. Indeed, the CSB has replaced manatee skins with fine leather. By randomly selecting 4 other passages, I found no changes to the wording of 2 Kings 6:1-14, similar word/phrase changes in 1 Samuel 3:1-8 and John 15:1-8, and multiple changes in Acts 8:15-22.
1 Samuel 3:2 ... "in his room" (HCSB) reads "in his usual place" (CSB) 1 Samuel 3:3 ... "tabernacle" (HCSB) is exchanged for "temple" (CSB) John 15:1-8 ... held similar wording changes like "vineyard keeper" (HCSB) for "gardener" (CSB) Acts 8:15-22 held the most changes (HCSB vs CSB)
I was drawn to this Bible by the Spurgeon name. If your desire is to read his thoughts alongside a portion of scripture you are currently studying, then I feel you will be pleased with your purchase. Perhaps, in time, this translation will gain acceptance in more pulpits and have studies written which will require its use. As for now, the CSB Spurgeon Study Bible strikes me as being more for personal reading and reflection.
*This review was originally posted on my blog at martinwvickers.wordpress.com
Holman Bible Publishers has been coming out with some awesome Bibles containing their Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translation. One of the more unique ones has been “The Spurgeon Study Bible.”
Let me state up front that this is not a traditional study Bible. You will not find notes related to culture, words studies, hermeneutics, or application as we would normally think of it. The only part of this that matches normal study Bibles are the introductions to the books of the Bible. (More on that later.)
This Bible is unique in that every study note is a quote from Spurgeon’s sermons that ties in to the text in question. For Spurgeon lovers, this is an interesting way to combine Spurgeon’s thoughts with the biblical text. Rather than having to comb through Spurgeon’s sermons to see where he refers to some Scripture verse, one can see them related here. The notes are not exhaustive, I’m sure, and if you read through Spurgeon’s sermons, you may find multiple times he references verses, but this Bible gives you at least some quotes to connect to the Biblical text.
The edition I have is a cloth over board edition. It comes with a partial paper slip cover that gives some information on the Bible on the back. If you remove the cover, you will find a two-tone brown cloth over board cover with C. H. Spurgeon’s signature at the bottom right corner. It comes with two ribbon bookmarks: one dark brown and one a lighter tan.
The Bible starts with a Table of Contents that lists the books of the Bible and the page references of additional material in this Bible: a Spurgeon biography by Alistair Begg, the lost sermons, Spurgeon quotes, Spurgeon illustrations, and intro to the CSB, abbreviations in the CSB, and the page where the concordance begins.
There is a four page (two columns each page) biography of Spurgeon by Alistair Begg to give people some background on Spurgeon as a person.
In addition, twenty of the lost sermons of Charles Spurgeon taken from “The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon: His Earliest Outlines and Sermons Between 1851 and 1854, Volume 1” are interspersed throughout the Bible. For each sermon, the handwritten sermon is included on one page and a typed-out version is on the next. I have to admit, it is neat being able to see a sermon outline in Spurgeon’s own handwriting!
Each book of the Bible has an introduction to it. Most of the information in the introduction matches the introduction from the “CSB Study Bible” or “The Disciple’s Study Bible.” The outlines that are generally included with the books of the Bible introductions is not present in this edition. In its place is a section titled “Spurgeon on [the Bible book].” From what I can tell, this section is taken from the notes that will come later in the book’s footnotes on the text, so it is sort of a brief summary of what is to come.
Spurgeon Quotes are scattered throughout. They are typed in a cursive font that seems like it was intended to resemble Spurgeon’s own handwriting. These quotes are highlights from the notes at the bottom of the page, and the quote itself is in a green font at the bottom of the page so you can see where it was taken from.
The CSB footnotes are included at the bottom of the page in a green box. There are no cross references in this Bible, unlike most study Bibles.
There are also illustrations (verbal illustrations of the text, not pictures) throughout, which are not included in the notes at the bottom of the page, but are additional thoughts on the notes. If you are looking for a deep study Bible, this is not the one you are looking for. I would recommend the “CSB Study Bible” in that case.
For someone who loves C. H. Spurgeon, however, this is a wonderful Bible. It gives a way of combining some of Spurgeon’s thoughts with the biblical text, allowing you to see what Spurgeon might say as you are reading the word of God.
*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
The Spurgeon Study Bible is a very neat idea. As most people somewhat acquainted with Mr. Spurgeon know, he was not a verse-by-verse through a book of the Bible kind of preacher. He usually would choose a verse (or portion of verses) for one Sunday and would preach on that and then preach on another (non-related, often from a whole different book)verse the next week. And also, some may also notice that his preaching was not always very exegetical.
That being said, this commentary is a great compilation! It sort of gives a glimpse of how it would have been if Spurgeon went by a more verse by verse preaching style, and it focuses on snippets from his sermons that are more exegetical.
The version that I have is the brown and tan cloth over board Bible. It is very nicely bound and seems quite durable. The spine has some fancy looking ridges on it and the front has Spurgeon's signature printed on the bottom left.
There is a lot of good commentary in this work. But there are also, of course, places where the commentary is not so great. To give an example, in one place he says, "I hate that plan of reading the Scriptures in which we are told, when we lay hold of a gracious promise, 'Oh, that is for the Jews.' Then I also am a Jew, for it is given to me! Every promise of God's Word belongs to all those who have the faith to grasp it…." That is a ridiculous, irreverent and, to speak very plainly, quite a selfish statement. Why does everything have to be about us individually? And it absolutely cannot be applied in a general way. What if there was a married, childless, ninety year old woman who greatly desires to have children and so she reads Genesis and Matthew, and grasps hold of the promises given to Sarah and Elizabeth, that they would bear children in their old age, and applies them to herself in faith? Is that a reverent interpretation of God's Word?
Anyway, I still think that this is a worthwhile Bible to get. There is a lot of good commentary in here, and of course, it is filled with pithy statements like, "Let us never think that we have learned a doctrine until we have seen its fruit in our lives." and "Anything is a blessing that makes us pray"
And I was particularly pleased at Spurgeon's conclusions in some places that are more or less controversial today. For instance, in speaking of the flood's being a universal flood some of the commentary says, "If Moses had meant to describe a partial deluge on only a small part of the earth, he used misleading language. But if he meant to teach that the deluge was universal, he used the words we might have expected that he would use. I should think that no person, merely by reading this chapter, would arrive at the conclusion that has been reached by some of our learned men - too learned to hold the simple truth of God. " Wow! That's really stating it plainly.
And then, speaking of 1 Corinthians 9-10 ("What no eye has seen, no ear has heard….") he expresses incredulity at "How frequently verses of Scripture are misquoted! How frequently do we hear believers describing heaven as a place of which we cannot conceive. They quote verse 9, and there they stop, not seeing that the marrow of the whole passage lies in verse 10. The apostle was not talking about heaven at all. He was only saying that the wisdom of this world is not able to discover the things of God, that the merely carnal mind is not able to know the deep spiritual things of our most holy faith…" Rather, these things "must be revealed by the Spirit of God, as they are to all believers." I was delighted that he had come to that conclusion as I know that my dad (a pastor) has been frustrated by the same thing.
As one would expect with just about anything written by Spurgeon, there is a lot of quotable stuff in the commentary. Overall, it's exactly what one would expect in a Spurgeon study Bible.
Many thanks to the folks at B&H Publishers for the free review copy of this book (My review did not have to be favorable)!
There is value in studying a specific pastor or theologian-to read everything that he has written and to study his life. For John Piper it was Jonathan Edwards. For Jonathan Edwards it was David Brainerd. For the man who loves C. H. Spurgeon and wants to get to know him as you read God’s Word, then this Bible is for you. Because of my own personal love for Charles Spurgeon, I jumped at the chance to review this new Bible that is being published by B & H Publishing in the CSB translation.
One of the characteristics of Spurgeon that I always loved about him was that he was real and transparent about his loves and struggles in life. Though he was a tremendous preacher and leader, he battled depression and discouragement. Alistair Begg, Senior Pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the editor of this study Bible, has penned a well written short biography of Spurgeon at the beginning.
At the bottom of every page you are able to read quotes from Spurgeon’s sermons and works so that as you read the Scripture, you are able to see what the Prince of Preachers had to say about that passage. You are literally taken back to Spurgeon’s day on some of the pages because the publisher has printed some of those notes in the very handwriting of Spurgeon himself. To top it off this Bible gives you a taste of some of the lost sermons of Spurgeon that have been found and included in the book The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon: His Earliest Outlines and Sermons Between 1851 and 1854 also published by B & H. In this Bible you can actually read these sermon notes in Spurgeon’s own handwriting.
As far as the CSB Bible is concerned, I have found it easy to read. I absolutely love the font and size of the letters. It is easy on the eyes of this man who doesn’t see like he once did.
If you are a lover of C.H. Spurgeon then this Bible needs to be on your shelf. If you have not been introduced to Spurgeon this Bible needs to be your shelf for you will find in this Bible a good understanding of this preacher who made such an impact in his day and who continues to impact the preaching of preachers in our time.
I was given a copy of this Bible by B & H Publishing for an honest review.
Charles Spurgeon has been impacting people through his sermons since the late 1800s. He has been called the "Prince of Preachers." Holman has recently released a Spurgeon Study Bible to feature Charles Spurgeon's excerpts chosen and edited by Alistair Begg.
The CSB Spurgeon Study Bible features the text of the Christian Standard Bible "which stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity." Along with the Bible text, this Bible features an introductory biography of Charles Spurgeon, study notes taken from Spurgeon's sermons, extracted sermon illustrations on the same page as the Bible text it was taken from, Sermon notes and outlines written in Spurgeon's own handwriting, Spurgeon's quotes inserted throughout the Bible and book introductions with Spurgeon's insights.
I like this new Spurgeon Study Bible so much! Besides all of the Spurgeon information, which I find interesting and want to learn from, this Bible is physically an especially nice Bible. While the pages are thin as with most Bibles, this Bible has a dark print and text that is easy on the eyes. As I get older, I appreciate that ease of reading so much. This Bible is nicely bound with two ribbon markers, which I also quite like. It just feels even more sturdy than most Bibles. It is one I will likely just use at home and not carry to church. But if I were to carry it, I think it would stand up well although it is large and bulky as most study Bibles are. I have been a Spurgeon reader since I found one of his old books at a book sale as a baby Christian so I like having all of these notes and information about Spurgeon to further study his writings. I think it is neat that they have included pieces in his own handwriting in this Bible as well. If you are a Spurgeon fan, I think you would also enjoy this Bible for all of these reasons. Although, I should add that I am not a theologian, just a layperson who enjoys learning.
I received the Spurgeon Study Bible from the publisher and Lifeway. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for the book.
The CSB Spurgeon Study Bible is a rich study Bible that readers of Spurgeon will love. What I appreciate most about this Bible is its creative design concept – the love, care and attention to detail that is evident throughout – and the fact that even though this isn’t a large print Bible, the text was clear, legible, and readable throughout.
The CSB Spurgeon Study Bible has a number of unique features, including sermon and Bible study notes by Spurgeon - many in his own handwriting!
To read my review in its entirety (with photos and video), please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own, based on my assessment of this book.
I love this Bible! It's undoubtedly the best 'bargain' Bible available. By 'bargain', I mean it doesn’t cost a small fortune, yet is made with the highest quality materials available. The leather cover is comfortable to hold, the pages are bright white and thin, and the Bible includes two ribbon markers. The craftsmanship is surprisingly excellent considering the price. I also really like the CSB. It's one of my top five favorite translations, preceded only by the LSB and NASB95. It's not the best study Bible on the market, but it's a fantastic devotional Bible. Loaded with notes and sermon outlines from Charles Spurgeon, this Bible sheds light on some of his wonderful wisdom of God's Word.
What a joy to have Spurgeon's commentary as you read!
This is my favorite Bible to read in the morning. I am doing the Christ Church Same Page Summer Challenge and love this version and reading Spurgeon's thoughts! Download the ChristKirk app and start the Challenge. It goes year round and on Facebook you can see what other believers are saying. Right now we are in Luke. Good bless💜
Great study Bible. I was a bit disappointed that there weren't more study notes than there were. The biblical text is very readable which is a plus. All-in-all, this is a great study Bible, but I prefer the CSB Study Bible for serious study and the CSB Spurgeon Study Bible for devotions.
Incredibly received a free leatherbound edition free through Alistair Begg's ministry. Incredible notes from Alistair and sermon quotations from Spurgeon that drive home and expand your heart and grasp of scripture. Wonderful.
I really enjoyed this CSB translation. So easy to read. I think the CSB may be my new favorite translation. It has the academic integrity of the NASB, but the readability of the NIV84. Highly recommended!
I wish they used the space that they put the hand written squiggles in for more content from Spurgeon. There is so much more that could have been added. The opportunity was lost at the cost of design.
Loved the CSB translation -- easy to follow & true to original languages -- & the Spurgeon commentary/excerpts throughout helped add nuance, color, & clarity at time
An absolute gem! Contains his sermon notes and reflections, some preserved in his own handwriting. Headings come in green which is another unique feature.
I was excited when I first heard about this new Study Bible due to my admiration and respect for both Charles Spurgeon and Alistair Begg. Charles Spurgeon was called the “Prince of Preachers.” He was a great Reformed Baptist preacher in London. He preached to over 10 million people in his lifetime (1834-1892), and his written sermons have impacted millions more. The new Study Bible is edited by Alistair Begg, longtime Senior Pastor, author, conference speaker and Bible teacher on the radio program Truth for Life. The CSB Spurgeon Study Bible features thousands of excerpts (quotes and illustrations) from Spurgeon’s sermons chosen and edited by Alistair Begg. Readers will find twenty of Spurgeon’s earliest sermon manuscripts throughout the Study Bible. I particularly enjoyed the biography of Spurgeon that was written by Begg. The study bible uses the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version of the Bible. This is my first time reading this version of the Bible. In addition, the Kindle version of the CSB Spurgeon Study Bible was available at a very low cost, in comparison with some other Study Bibles that I have purchased. I very much look forward to years of use of this excellent new resource.