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
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