If I were forced to choose a single Bible over the
many study editions lining my desk, I’d probably pick this one!
Actually I have two
copies of The NKJV Study Bible to
review as Thomas Nelson kindly sent me one in bonded leather with full-color
illustrations and another less expensive leathersoft edition without the
images. However, both are presently discounted on Amazon and both seem to have
the same comfort print text, footnotes, and articles.
Regarding the text, the New King James Version (NKJV) retains the poetic style of the KJV
but with contemporary language incorporating recent scholarship, such as the
wealth of information found in archeological digs and the discovery of the Dead
Sea Scrolls in the mid-20th century.
Unlike the KJV, however, the NKJV capitalizes pronouns referring to God –
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which I prefer but may be the choice of the
publisher, rather than the translators.
With sewn pages and comfort print font, this study
edition includes the typical features found in most well-done study Bibles but
with an impressive two-page list of the brief articles scattered throughout the
testaments. For example, insights and information are offered on “The Noahic
Covenent,” ‘The Abrahamic Covenant,” and the “Mosaic Covenant” in the Old
Testament and articles on “The Lord’s Supper,” “Parables: More than Stories,”
and “A New Way to Worship” in the New.
In addition, the section “Bible Times and Culture
Notes” give us a quick acquaintance with "Ur," "The Code of Hammurabi,”
“The Music of the Psalms,” “The Province of Galilee,” “The Origin of the
Synagogue,” and much more.
Other features include “Charts and Diagrams,” ranging
from “The Feasts and Sacred Times of Ancient Israel,” “Job’s Counseling
Sessions,” and “The Christ of the Psalms” to “Grace vs. the Law,” “Right Living
in a Wretched World,” and “The Facts of Love In 1 John.” And “In-Text Maps” help us to locate “Abram’s
Travels” as well as Paul’s missionary journeys.
In the front matter, “Word Studies” refer us to the
descriptions and initial appearances of key words in their biblical order,
while an extensive “Concordance” has been included in the back.
In most Bible study discussion groups I’ve attended,
members often have no idea of the wealth of aids their study editions include,
but these back pages bear close attention. Besides the “Table of Monies,
Weights, and Measures” and color maps generally included, this edition offers lists
such as:
- Teachings and Illustrations of Christ
- Prophecies of the Messiah Fulfilled in Jesus Christ
- The Parables of Jesus Christ
- The Miracles of Jesus Christ
- Prayers of the Bible (OT and NT)
My favorite addition, however, is the 8-page chart “From
Biblical Book to Contemporary Hook,” which lists the book, theme, Christ-focus,
implications, and hook. For example,
Biblical Book
Habbakuk
Comfort in God
Theme
God is my only comfort in life and in death in a world
of seemingly unchecked evil.
Christ-Focus
Jesus offers true comfort and rest to those who come
to him (Matt. 11:28).
Implications
In any trouble, we may find comfort in God and in his
care for us (1 Pet. 5:7).
Hook
When things go wrong, where do you turn for comfort?
Do you really believe that God knows what he is doing?
From Genesis to Revelation, these book-by-book major
themes provide us with prompts for Bible study discussions, sermons, nonfiction
books, devotionals, and (my preference) poems.
Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019, poet-writer reviewer
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