This is a must-have for me. I have it in the NIV version, but the notes are the same from what I understand. You're right that it doesn't do much bibical exegesis, but it IS a fantastic addition to a collection because it can definitely help with exegesis! It's critical to understand the time and culture to really dig out what the text means, and this is a good resource for that.
Nice overview of this Bible! I received one at Christmas and have been working through the NT with it. The cultural information is very interesting. And I too have gotten used to the cut-off lowercase g.
@Alethia 21 - I'll give you an example: 1 Cor 12.6. The RSV has, "and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one." The NRSV reads, "and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone." I think "activates" is better than "inspires". The RSV could have used "works", which would have kept the parallelism visible in the Greek. As a general rule, I prefer the RSV over the NRSV. But the NRSV sometimes smooths the language, making it easier to digest, and occasionally it's more literal. If you're interested, take look at my NRSV vs ESV video: th-cam.com/video/fjzl-YjImrk/w-d-xo.html .
@Alethia 21 - I enjoy its elegant mid-20th century style. The RSV isn't particularly literal, but that doesn't prevent me from using it as a secondary translation. I wish the RSV's translators had made better use of the New Testament interpretations of the Old Testament (e.g, "virgin" in Isaiah 7.14), but I can write "virgin" in the margin. I would say: Yes, overall it's a sound translation. I still haven't found a perfect one.
I have this Bible in large part b/c of your review and others, and I am very happy with it. This is an awesome study Bible full of information. The NRSV isn't my first choice but the study notes and background information is why I picked up this Bible.
Thank you for reviewing this Bible. I have been curious about the contents, since I first saw it in a bookstore last year. I did not get a lot of time to really get the feel of the Bible, while I was there. I decided not to buy it, at the time, because I have a NRSV Oxford study Bible (4th ed.) that has decent cultural notes (in my eyes). Your review has been helpful in making up my mind. Thank you, again.
@awe yea I am not sure if this question was for me or not. But, I will give my opinion, since it was a reply to my comment. I really like my Annotated Oxford NRSV. It is a quality Bible. I also like the translation. It does have good cultural and historical notes, and it is also packed with extra information. It is pretty accurate at representing modern Reform and Conservative Jewish thought in the Old Testament. And, of course, it has the best Bible maps ever made. However, I would not recommend it to a person who doesn't have a solid theological background or strong faith. It was written ecumenically, so it tries to stay neutral on a lot of points, or it skips over them all together. I don't agree with someone the opinions in the back essays, either.
@@rachelkarslake7787 I have the older RSV version and I also appreciate it. I sometimes feel that the New Testament scholarship doesn’t have enough conservative views but the Old Testament comments are top notch at pointing out how the books interact.
I have this Bible in NKJV Leathersoft. Having studied archaeology and cultural anthropology in college, I find this Bible enlightening to the cultures and times of the Bible. Of course there have been and even more archaeological finds being discovered since it was written. Good review. Maybe it's the lighting but the pages in yours are lighter or brighter than in my copy.
Thanks for that kind comment, Charlene F.! I adjusted the exposure on the camera for the latter portions of this video, so that may explain the difference. Of course, the paper may be lighter too.
Wonderfully done Review of this Cultural Study Bible. I purchased this NRSV in Hardback expecting to find the Apocrypha inside -- but to my surprise, no Apocrypha! I noticed you did not mention the Apocrypha missing from this translation.
Thanks for the kind comment! I may have neglected to mention, in the video, that this is a 66-book Bible, but I believe I showed the table of contents. And the video description includes this sentence: "Only the 66 books of the Protestant canon are present."
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@@RGrantJones @R. Grant Jones - Thanks for responding. Yes, I missed that.
Based on the brief sections of the footnotes you showed in the video, it seems that this Bible may raise more questions than provide context. I can see how many people reading the study notes may walk away more confused than before. Perhaps thats the danger of having only 2 authors?
Maybe, but maybe that was deliberate? It could be that the target market is mature pastors and teachers and serious Bible students who have little need for explanations, but who have an interest in ancient Middle Eastern culture and view pagan religions as distorted foreshadowings of Christianity. Just guessing. Thanks for commenting!
I have noticed this in regards to other NRSV study bibles like the Harper Collins and the NOAB . In general NRSV study bibles are going to be targeted more towards academics (they are the most commonly recommended by university courses and seminaries ) and assume a focus on, and in turn familiarity with, certain topics that might not be familiar to the average person in the pew. In particular they are more focused on the study of the bible itself: the background and composition, as opposed to theological exegesis or personal growth. For that reason I wouldn't really recommend any of the three NRSV study bibles I mentioned as a first study bible unless the person knows what they are getting into although I find all three are very well done.
It's mostly factual evidence from the cultures that were around during those times and it isn't intended to be an actual biblical commentary. It kind of explains the history behind things - what other cultures believed, why things may have been written the way they were, etc. Like he said, it's not a standalone study bible. It IS a wonderful resource for understanding what was happening when the books were actually written.
Hassan: it does have one -- a Brodart archival dust jacket cover. I removed it for the video, since it's very reflective. But I shot the still photos for the video with the dust jacket beneath its plastic cover. Thanks for the kind comment!
@@RGrantJones I see in your library shelve you have removed the dust cover of books. I think it is a better option? Dust jackets are a problem as they themselves become damaged. Paperback books are fine for casual books like GOT or Harry Potter. But I am thinking of buying all important books like Bible, Quran, Philosophy of Science books in hard cover, but dust jackets are a huge problem as they require extra protection, they get damaged the most. Am I the only person who finds them problematic? :) And Can we store them separately in a box? What will a professional writer do?
@@hassanmirza2392 - if a dust jacket is missing from one of my books, that usually means I bought it used and the dust jacket was absent. You could store them separately, but it would be difficult to avoid putting creases in them. Perhaps you could place them in a large box, with the larger covers enveloping the smaller ones.
@@RGrantJones You should do a video on how you store your books in boxes, library, and how you try to protect them from sunlight, humidity damage etc. Many people will like it.
I'm interested in this study Bible largely because I'm typically disinterested in excessive exegesis in a study Bible (though I'll take that over clunky attempts at modern-day application...ugh). This Bible seems to strike a nice middle ground between a purely secular academic work such as the newest editions of the Oxford Annotated Bible and a purely conservative Evangelical composition such as the ESV Study Bible.
It's unique -- in my experience at least. I may have made the point about its limited exegesis too often, but I didn't want the viewer to have the impression that this study Bible aims to clarify all (or even many) obscurities. Still, it contains interesting and useful information. Thanks for commenting!
That’s “Lord Jesus, Think on Me.” I used a program called MuseScore, which allows you to type in the notes, select instruments, and output an mp3 file. I chose “flute.” I believe the tune is known as “Southwell.” Thanks for the question.
Grant great video as always i have the NKJV okay study bible great article on the Shroud of Turin, can you do a review on the John Macauthor study bible and the Nelson NKJV study bible both excellent bibles
Thanks for the kind comment! I intend to review the NASB MacArthur Study Bible with Comfort Print font in a few weeks. Unfortunately, the Nelson NKJV Study Bible I have was printed in 2008, so it's not very recent.
thanks for your quick response Nelson does have i think fourth edition i use it great balanced study notes 15k and word studies articles when u do your review would like to hear your view on his interpretation of I Corn 13'7-10 I disagree with him lol I take a gordon fee or wayne grudeun approach keep up the videos especially the study bible videos mamy are interested God bless
Since Craig Keener and J. Walton are the Authors of this Cultural Backgrounds SB and of the IVP Bible Background Commentary as well,.....If i already have the IVP Commentary of them....that means that I already have all of the study notes that are in the Cultural Backgrounds SB ........whats the difference between them??
The timelines are such a crap shoot for me. If they follow the Masoretic dates, it makes the whole bible worthless for me haha. For that reason I think it’s better to just get a plain bible.
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This is a must-have for me. I have it in the NIV version, but the notes are the same from what I understand. You're right that it doesn't do much bibical exegesis, but it IS a fantastic addition to a collection because it can definitely help with exegesis! It's critical to understand the time and culture to really dig out what the text means, and this is a good resource for that.
This is one of the best Study Bibles available now.
Thank you for a fantastic review of this very interesting book.
Thank you for the kind comment!
Nice overview of this Bible! I received one at Christmas and have been working through the NT with it. The cultural information is very interesting. And I too have gotten used to the cut-off lowercase g.
Thanks for the kind comment, Thrift Store Bibles!
Always great to get a new review from you! (And I'm a fan of the NRSV!)
Thanks for that heartening comment, Paul!
@Alethia 21 - I'll give you an example: 1 Cor 12.6. The RSV has, "and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one." The NRSV reads, "and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone." I think "activates" is better than "inspires". The RSV could have used "works", which would have kept the parallelism visible in the Greek.
As a general rule, I prefer the RSV over the NRSV. But the NRSV sometimes smooths the language, making it easier to digest, and occasionally it's more literal. If you're interested, take look at my NRSV vs ESV video: th-cam.com/video/fjzl-YjImrk/w-d-xo.html .
@Alethia 21 - I enjoy its elegant mid-20th century style. The RSV isn't particularly literal, but that doesn't prevent me from using it as a secondary translation. I wish the RSV's translators had made better use of the New Testament interpretations of the Old Testament (e.g, "virgin" in Isaiah 7.14), but I can write "virgin" in the margin. I would say: Yes, overall it's a sound translation. I still haven't found a perfect one.
I have this Bible in large part b/c of your review and others, and I am very happy with it. This is an awesome study Bible full of information. The NRSV isn't my first choice but the study notes and background information is why I picked up this Bible.
Thanks for the encouraging comment, ThyMasterToo!
@@RGrantJones You're welcome brother!
Thanks so much for this and all the other reviews on your channel. I ordered my nrsv bible and already love it. Thumbs up!
Thank you for reviewing this Bible. I have been curious about the contents, since I first saw it in a bookstore last year. I did not get a lot of time to really get the feel of the Bible, while I was there. I decided not to buy it, at the time, because I have a NRSV Oxford study Bible (4th ed.) that has decent cultural notes (in my eyes). Your review has been helpful in making up my mind. Thank you, again.
I'm glad the video was helpful. Thanks for letting me know!
@awe yea I am not sure if this question was for me or not. But, I will give my opinion, since it was a reply to my comment.
I really like my Annotated Oxford NRSV. It is a quality Bible. I also like the translation. It does have good cultural and historical notes, and it is also packed with extra information. It is pretty accurate at representing modern Reform and Conservative Jewish thought in the Old Testament. And, of course, it has the best Bible maps ever made. However, I would not recommend it to a person who doesn't have a solid theological background or strong faith. It was written ecumenically, so it tries to stay neutral on a lot of points, or it skips over them all together. I don't agree with someone the opinions in the back essays, either.
@@rachelkarslake7787 I have the older RSV version and I also appreciate it. I sometimes feel that the New Testament scholarship doesn’t have enough conservative views but the Old Testament comments are top notch at pointing out how the books interact.
I have one in NKJV. Outstanding.
I have this Bible in NKJV Leathersoft. Having studied archaeology and cultural anthropology in college, I find this Bible enlightening to the cultures and times of the Bible. Of course there have been and even more archaeological finds being discovered since it was written. Good review. Maybe it's the lighting but the pages in yours are lighter or brighter than in my copy.
Thanks for that kind comment, Charlene F.! I adjusted the exposure on the camera for the latter portions of this video, so that may explain the difference. Of course, the paper may be lighter too.
I appreciate that response. We have an overcast day today and our lighting isn't good. Have a dark cave for a house today. lol
Thank you, Mr. Jones.
Wonderfully done Review of this Cultural Study Bible. I purchased this NRSV in Hardback expecting to find the Apocrypha inside -- but to my surprise, no Apocrypha! I noticed you did not mention the Apocrypha missing from this translation.
Thanks for the kind comment! I may have neglected to mention, in the video, that this is a 66-book Bible, but I believe I showed the table of contents. And the video description includes this sentence: "Only the 66 books of the Protestant canon are present."
@@RGrantJones @R. Grant Jones - Thanks for responding. Yes, I missed that.
Thank you Grant. Another worthwhile review.
Thanks for the kind comment, acardnal!
Based on the brief sections of the footnotes you showed in the video, it seems that this Bible may raise more questions than provide context. I can see how many people reading the study notes may walk away more confused than before. Perhaps thats the danger of having only 2 authors?
Maybe, but maybe that was deliberate? It could be that the target market is mature pastors and teachers and serious Bible students who have little need for explanations, but who have an interest in ancient Middle Eastern culture and view pagan religions as distorted foreshadowings of Christianity. Just guessing. Thanks for commenting!
I have noticed this in regards to other NRSV study bibles like the Harper Collins and the NOAB . In general NRSV study bibles are going to be targeted more towards academics (they are the most commonly recommended by university courses and seminaries ) and assume a focus on, and in turn familiarity with, certain topics that might not be familiar to the average person in the pew. In particular they are more focused on the study of the bible itself: the background and composition, as opposed to theological exegesis or personal growth. For that reason I wouldn't really recommend any of the three NRSV study bibles I mentioned as a first study bible unless the person knows what they are getting into although I find all three are very well done.
@@bradb2680 Totally agree!
It's mostly factual evidence from the cultures that were around during those times and it isn't intended to be an actual biblical commentary. It kind of explains the history behind things - what other cultures believed, why things may have been written the way they were, etc. Like he said, it's not a standalone study bible. It IS a wonderful resource for understanding what was happening when the books were actually written.
Great review, I think this books should have a plastic cover to save its good looking dust jacket.
learned this term ''Dust Jacket' only recently ;).
Hassan: it does have one -- a Brodart archival dust jacket cover. I removed it for the video, since it's very reflective. But I shot the still photos for the video with the dust jacket beneath its plastic cover. Thanks for the kind comment!
@@RGrantJones I see in your library shelve you have removed the dust cover of books. I think it is a better option? Dust jackets are a problem as they themselves become damaged. Paperback books are fine for casual books like GOT or Harry Potter. But I am thinking of buying all important books like Bible, Quran, Philosophy of Science books in hard cover, but dust jackets are a huge problem as they require extra protection, they get damaged the most.
Am I the only person who finds them problematic? :) And Can we store them separately in a box? What will a professional writer do?
@@hassanmirza2392 - if a dust jacket is missing from one of my books, that usually means I bought it used and the dust jacket was absent. You could store them separately, but it would be difficult to avoid putting creases in them. Perhaps you could place them in a large box, with the larger covers enveloping the smaller ones.
@@RGrantJones You should do a video on how you store your books in boxes, library, and how you try to protect them from sunlight, humidity damage etc.
Many people will like it.
I'm interested in this study Bible largely because I'm typically disinterested in excessive exegesis in a study Bible (though I'll take that over clunky attempts at modern-day application...ugh). This Bible seems to strike a nice middle ground between a purely secular academic work such as the newest editions of the Oxford Annotated Bible and a purely conservative Evangelical composition such as the ESV Study Bible.
It's unique -- in my experience at least. I may have made the point about its limited exegesis too often, but I didn't want the viewer to have the impression that this study Bible aims to clarify all (or even many) obscurities. Still, it contains interesting and useful information. Thanks for commenting!
You stated this study bible is not good for exegesis... in your opinion, which study bible do you suggest that is exegesis in nature?
Allow me to ask, what is the music at the intro?
That’s “Lord Jesus, Think on Me.” I used a program called MuseScore, which allows you to type in the notes, select instruments, and output an mp3 file. I chose “flute.” I believe the tune is known as “Southwell.” Thanks for the question.
@@RGrantJonesThanks for being you.
Grant great video as always i have the NKJV okay study bible great article on the Shroud of Turin, can you do a review on the John Macauthor study bible and the Nelson NKJV study bible both excellent bibles
Thanks for the kind comment! I intend to review the NASB MacArthur Study Bible with Comfort Print font in a few weeks. Unfortunately, the Nelson NKJV Study Bible I have was printed in 2008, so it's not very recent.
thanks for your quick response Nelson does have i think fourth edition i use it great balanced study notes 15k and word studies articles when u do your review would like to hear your view on his interpretation of I Corn 13'7-10 I disagree with him lol I take a gordon fee or wayne grudeun approach keep up the videos especially the study bible videos mamy are interested God bless
Dear Rev Grant, in your opinion, wich one is the best? This bible, Archeological study bible or some other (for cultural backgrounds purpose)?
Since Craig Keener and J. Walton are the Authors of this Cultural Backgrounds SB and of the IVP Bible Background Commentary as well,.....If i already have the IVP Commentary of them....that means that I already have all of the study notes that are in the Cultural Backgrounds SB ........whats the difference between them??
What do they mean that these women will someday judge angels?
The timelines are such a crap shoot for me. If they follow the Masoretic dates, it makes the whole bible worthless for me haha. For that reason I think it’s better to just get a plain bible.
Thanks for commenting, C S. No doubt the timelines are speculative.
Love my version except the kerning and tracking in the footnotes is all defective. For example: F o rg ods lovedth eWorld thathegavehis o n l y
You stated this study bible is not good for exegesis... in your opinion, which study bible do you suggest that is exegesis in nature?
Please answer, I'm looking for a study bible with exegesis. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks for the question, kisha! The ESV Study Bible, the Reformation Study Bible, and the MacArthur Study Bible all explain the text quite well.