The Bible Study Bible: Book Review

The Bible Study Bible is an excellent resource for both individuals studying the Bible on their own and small groups studying the Bible together. I must confess. I’m a little obsessed with study Bibles. Every time a new one comes out, I want to check it out to see how it will add to my…

The Bible Study Bible is an excellent resource for both individuals studying the Bible on their own and small groups studying the Bible together.

I must confess. I’m a little obsessed with study Bibles. Every time a new one comes out, I want to check it out to see how it will add to my personal Bible study. When I learned about The Bible Study Bible, I was definitely intrigued.

The Bible Study Bible is actually much simpler than most study Bibles. It’s not loaded down with a ton of extra features. Instead, it offers something I’ve not seen any other Bible do. It has a Bible study for every single chapter in the Bible.

If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering how that can be. well, it’s really quite simple. Instead of all the footnotes and side notes and cross reference notes, it has the Bible text and boxed-in Bible study lessons to go with the text on that page.

The Bible Study Bible Review

Though I was excited by the concept, the lessons at first caught me off guard. Each study opens with a nonspiritual question and activity. These are designed to correlate with the scripture text and range from questions like, “What are some companies or products you enjoy so much you often talk about them with others?” (John 1) to activities like , “Dress up in one of your best outfits — something you would wear to an important meeting or ceremony. Keep track of your feelings as you get dressed. Then look at yourself in the mirror. How does that outfit influence your state of mind?” (2 Chronicles 5)

I get that these are icebreakers designed to ease people into Bible study, but I’m afraid they can easily hijack study time. With that said, I like the other sections of the studies.

The Grow sections are questions designed to make you think. These aren’t fill-in-the-blank but rather open-ended questions that force you to read and ponder.

Each study concludes with a Go section. It’s all about application, taking what you’ve learned and applying it to your life.

I would consider The Bible Study Bible to be an introductory study Bible. It’s not deep or extensive, but its simplicity and ease of use make it perfect for anyone new to studying the Bible on their own. It’s also a great resource for anyone considering leading a Bible study but fearful they don’t know what they’re doing. It makes studying the Bible a little less intimidating.

If you’re looking for a single resource to get you started with Bible study, The Bible Study Bible will provide you with an easy to understand approach.