The Oxford Study Bible: Revised English Bible with the Apocrypha

by M. Jack Suggs (Editor), Katharine Doob Sakenfeld (Editor), James R. Mueller (Editor)

This volume combines a cultural guide to the biblical world and an annotated Bible. Its notes feature the reflections of Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish scholars.

* Twenty-three insightful articles on aspects of the history, literary background, and culture of the biblical era.
* A special index of people, places, and themes of the Bible.
* 36 pages of full-color New Oxford Bible Maps, with index.

Genres: Religion, Reference, Christianity, Classics, Nonfiction, Theology, Textbooks

1860 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 1992

Reviews

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not have such hubris that I am assigning a star rating to the Bible, but the five stars above refers to this translation and accompanying notation in the text.

I've long been fascinated by the Bible, even though I'm not particularly religious. This is my sixth version I've read all the way through, and I can easily recommend it as the most useful. I came upon this version as a textbook for Bible as Literature class I took as an undergrad, and have come back to it many times since then. If we hope to understand our culture and literature, we need to understand the Bible, since it informs so much of the current Western world.

This Bible as a couple hundred pages of excellent essays prior to the beginning of the text proper. Each book is preceded by a short description of the book's historical origins, probable author(s), and themes. And it is chock full of interesting historical notations that run across the bottom of each page, providing a much fuller experience for the reader. These notations are not for the devotional reader, but for the reader that wishes to understand the text in context of its times and culture.

If you want to get beyond what you may have heard in the pews on Sunday mornings, into the nuts and bolts of the Bible, this is the Bible for you. This is the Bible for serious students.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok... so i haven't read this cover to cover wuite yet :)

but i like the translation a lot - and tend to find more clarification in the language here than other translations... although the footnotes aren't especially lengthy, and it's not brimming with maps or graphics (maybe i need a children's edition? visual learner!)

oops....am i allowed to give a bible 4 stars? more graphics and footnotes please :)

[margaret armstrong]

dnf 22%

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rating and review of the translation and not of the Bible itself.

Read and analyzed the New Testament portion of this translation as part of a History of the Christian Tradition class at university, and have since done the same with various parts of the Old Testament (especially Leviticus).

Although I have other versions on my shelf, this is my go-to version anytime I have a question as a scholar.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a little dry at parts, but got very moist as the ages wore on. At times, the protagonists can be moralistic, but not without good cause. There is not really a cohesive theme throughout the whole thing, but all of the stories combined make for a good read. I think this was another first book for the author--can't wait to see the next one!

[sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

damn...i had no idea the bible had so much smut in it. why do they never talk about that at church? sex!! natural disasters! deciet! murder!! damnation! its like a soap opera! also a good way to impress people by telling them, yes, you have read the whole bible.

[Dom William OSB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't believe anyone ever completes reading the Bible, but I have found this to be a phenomenal translation of the New English Bible, which came out many years ago. It is clear, crisp, and easy to understand and well translated. \

[Daniel Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different to most other study Bibles I have read. Most study Bibles have lots of notes at the bottom of the page. When I first read the Oxford Study Bible, I was disappointed because the notes at the bottom of the page lack any significant depth compared with other study Bibles I have read.

The wealth of this study Bible is found in the beginning of the Bible. This Bible is essentially two books in one. You have the Bible with notes at the bottom of the page, which are not as in depth as other study Bibles. And then you have the essays that encompass an entire 189 pages of study in them. The articles at the front lean towards critical scholarship and are more liberal theologically but certainly interesting to read. The best article was on hermeneutic interpretation of the early church on whether to have literal versus allegorical interpretation. Origen and Augustine had allegorical whilst Hilary of Lyons had literal interpretation. The allegorical interpretation won in the Catholic church whilst conservative protestants tend towards literal interpretation.

An interesting study Bible nevertheless.

[Matt Kauffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's start by acknowledging that my rating is for the translation. Including readability, notes, and other supporting materials.

I find the Revised English Bible (REB) a nice contrast to the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

I find the REB one of the more readable translations. The notes are not as substantial as other study bibles. In some ways, that makes this bible a nice companion to a study session.

[Renjini]

fgdfgfdgfd

[Carolyn Mae]

I did not enjoy this, only read samuel but I didn't like it, whys God so mid? Jk jk :0

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Old Testament is a stunning literary achievement and record of the most fascinating and tenacious people on the face of the earth. The New Testament is the story of the beginning of the religion that would change the world.

I'm rating the Oxford Study Bible, not the Bible itself.

The REB translation is very loose at times, almost a paraphrase. On the other hand, it can be more accurate than other "literal" translations like the KJV because the REB translators didn't feel compelled to repeat historical tranlation errors.

[D Merck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hidden gem, by far the best English translation and unfortunately not as well known as it should be. How often did I hear a bible professor at theology school say in class about a certain passage: "Most translations get this wrong it should be translated this way ..." Unfailingly, the Revised English bible gets it right. It saves so much time to have a bible whose translation navigates difficult passages this well.

It is endorsed by all the mainline Christian churches in the United Kingdom.

[Christopher Mocella]

I feel like I've read 70-80% of it, although not straight-through, not in order, and over the course of many years. I like the language in the New International Version better, but this is the only Bible I actually paid for (college course in Biblical and Classical Literature), so I feel obligated in a feduciary sense to keep it as the main reference.

This one will perpetually be on my to-read, currently reading, and read shelves. I also feel like giving a rating would be a moot point.

[Dan Greenland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Say what you will about Christianity, but one would be hard pressed to find a text that has influenced Western culture more than the Bible. We live in land that was founded by Puritans, and run by Evangelicals. Laws are made, wars are fought, ideologies tinkered with. Read it!

[Kim Denning-Knapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a required textbook in a Philosophy class. It's full of maps, translations and historical footnotes. The additional notes add a grounded, historical perspective to theological/religious studies. it's pretty cool as an ancient History text if you're not into the religion thing.

[Ara]

This is a slow read for me, in particular because I am taking the time to annotate the margins with my thoughts (and I'm also reading other material in the meanwhile). Currently, I am finishing reading Exodus in the Old Testament.

[Michael Dunford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this during a "Bible as Lit" class in college. The prof Randall Helms ripped the bible a new one and used this edition to prove his points. I loved every second of it, and really enjoyed comparing different translations of different texts.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm enjoying reading a new translation of the Bible (new to me, that is)--I feel like I'm reading a lot of it for the first time. (I can't comment on it from a scholarly perspective--e.g., whether it's a "better" or "worse" translation than others.)

[Samuel]

Built like a cookbook.

[Jessica Land · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genesis and Exodus are my books of speciality. I've also read various book chapters concering sexuality and gender, particularly Leviticus.

[David]

Be nice if there was N/A on the rating system for this and other religous classics.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is truly the best translation

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The. Best. Bible. EVER.