Monday, February 2, 2015

Book Review: NKJV Study Bible, Second Edition, Full Color Edition - Thomas Nelson Publishers



I currently have the pleasure of reading through the new full color edition of the NKVJ Study Bible, and after reading through Job and Genesis I have enough of a feel for it to write a review. I will make some comparisons with the first edition from 1997 (not in color) which I also have access to, as well as give my thoughts on the general content and quality of the Bible.

Comparison of Content

The Second Edition contains study annotations similar to the original edition. I compared some of the annotations in Genesis and Job and didn't see a difference, so as far as the general notes there doesn't seem to be much of a difference. Both editions have word studies, articles, charts, and maps. Many of them are the same, but the new edition has added and updated some of the content. Also, the second edition has Bible Times and Culture Notes, which give background information on some of the cultural practices during Bible times. These provide historical insight to the passages and I found them to be quite enriching. The first edition also had eight FullView Bible summaries, which are missing from the second. I must say that these FullView Bible summaries were a little awkward in the first edition, as they were printed on thicker, colored paper and appeared to be glued into parts of the thinner pages near the binding. The Second Edition seems cleaner without them.

Format and Layout

The book introductions in the second edition are formatted in such a way as makes them easier to read, through the use of color, layout, and font. Another big difference that makes the second edition more user-friendly is the placement of the center column references. The first edition had them in boxes in the middle of the annotations. I think the idea was to make the Biblical text itself appear cleaner. However, it made the page appear “busy” to me. The second edition has them back in the center margin of the text, and shaded blue. To me, this is easier since I am used to glancing in the center to find this information. In general, I think the format of the second edition is easier to follow, and the use of color in this particular version helps the pages appear less cluttered.

Review of Content

As far as the content of the NKJV study Bible in general, I really like the articles, maps, charts, word studies and other features. The annotations themselves seem a little lacking to me, but they are great for someone newer to study Bibles in general. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not enough to where I can’t gain some great insights through reading it, but sometimes I wish the annotations took a stronger stance on certain interpretations. There are areas of Genesis chapter 1 where it mentions a few common views about the timeline of creation and then leaves the reader to form their own opinions. This may be fine for some, but I wish it would analyze the original Hebrew and look at it in context. There are other areas in Job where it seems to follow very mainstream opinions (specifically about the proposed identities of Leviathan and Behemoth) where I have read better analyses in other study Bibles.

Craftsmanship

The copy that I have is hard back and thread bound with a ribbon bookmark. The pages are more durable than normal Bible pages without adding too much extra bulk. The print is a good size and easy to read (although not large print). As I mentioned before, the Bible is put together in a way that isn't too crowded, even though it has a lot going on.

All criticism aside, I’m really enjoying reading the Second Edition NKJV Study Bible, and I think it is a great one to add to your collection. It is also a great starting place for someone who wants an in-depth study Bible but might be new to study Bibles in general. Hopefully I've been able to provide enough comparison for those who have the first edition and are considering upgrading to the new one. It is definitely much improved and I would recommend making the switch!


I received this book for free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions and thoughts I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255