NKJV Study Bible, Paperback

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw that I had the opportunity to review this Bible I jumped at the chance. Having a copy of the hardback, I wanted to see how the paperback fared.

First, the colors are magnificent. They are vibrant, detailed, and not grainy at all. I found myself starring at them a lot. However, they were not so distracting that I lost my place while reading.

Another positive is the location of the notes. They are at the bottom which allows the text to flow with minimal interruption. The same goes for the word study notes which are mostly at the bottom as well. Both the text and study notes were in a great font type. This allowed for reading without straining.

What did surprise me as another positive was the introduction to each book. It really helps setup a great read for the upcoming texts and places the proper mindset into the reader.

The only drawback that I can see is the weight. This is a heavy study Bible, especially for a paperback. This should not pose a problem for study on a table or a desk. It will probably pose a problem for handheld reading.

Thus, I give this Bible a 4.5 star rating and suggest that if you are looking for a new study Bible and favor the New King James Version consider this Bible as a great option.

NKJV, The Chronological Study Bible

My of the time when I read a yearly Bible it goes through the books as they are placed in the Bible. This Bible is different. Instead of reading books, this Bible organizes passage by date. By doing this the reader has a more as-they-would-have-happened approach. That being said, here is my review of this Bible.

What I Liked

This Bible has a lot of nice aids. The one that I appreciated the most was the time capsule notes. Each note gave a brief timeline of what was happening during that time and allows the reader to have a better understanding of chronological events.

There are also great maps in the back and a read the Bible in a year schedule. The binding is solid and the Bible can lay flat for ease of note-taking. The typeface is also ideal for reading and not too small.

As to what I did not like: nothing. This is a great Bible for those who want to read the events of Scripture in a timeline format and want a Bible that will last a long time to do such.

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review. 

Guys Slimline Bible NLT, TuTone

I really enjoy reviewing Bibles. Seeing as how it is the most important book on the planet, I really want people to find a Bible that fits their needs. That said, let me give my thoughts on the Guys Slimline Bible by Tyndale.

What I Liked

The Bible is a nice size that is easy to transport but does not sacrifice typeface for a lighter weight. It also takes a minimal approach to aids. They are a few maps in the back and a decent dictionary. It also has a nice feel to it and it easy to leave open for writing notes while reading.

What I Did Not Like

Because I was written for guys I was really hoping for a page or two of topics relevant for guys. I feel this would have been a nice add for a Bible targeted to a specific demographic.

All said, this is a nice Bible for those that just want to read without being distracted by maps and notes.

*I received this Bible in exchange for my honest review from Tyndale

NIV, Life Connect Study Bible by Wayne Cordeiro

Most Bibles that I have come across that mentioned growing deeper usually have a devotional element to them. While this can be a good attribute, I find that some of the thinking has been done already for the reader. This can take away from the available riches that may be deeper if the reader were only to dig further.

The NIV Life Connect Study Bible is a bit different.

This Bible has sections where the reader can write down what impacted him/her. By doing this, the depth of understanding is enhanced as the reader is given the option to reflect and meditate. In my opinion, this is how someone grows deeper in their spiritual life.

However, this Bible is not an ideal devotional Bible as its weight is a bit heavy. If a reader would like a more easily transportable Bible for devotional reading, look elsewhere. Also, the sections for writing are not on every page and have more of a summary affect as they are placed at the back of books or in strategic locations.

That said, this Bible may be a great resource for those who have time to meditate on what they read but do not wish to carry another book like a journal or notepad. I prefer a journal or notepad which makes this Bible unattractive for my devotional reading. The choice, as always, is up to you.

*I received this Bible from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review.

NKJV: Apply the Word Study Bible

The apply the Word Study Bible put out by Thomas Nelson is a new Bible with the understanding for readers to help develop an intimate understanding of God's Word, the Bible message, and that the application of what they read to their daily lives. I found this Bible to be very well laid out and the notes the maps and the helps are in ideal locations that did not distract the reader for the main text. One other thing that is very nice is that this particular Bible has a guarantee for life so that if there's any problem with the Bible whatsoever it can be returned.

As for some of the negatives of the Bible, it is a little heavy so it's not very conducive for an individual who wants to do a devotional reading or take it with them on a trip. Also one thing that I've noticed is that while there are a lot of good helps they are geared more towards  application and I have seem to see very little in terms of actual study. I prefer more study notes that dig into the meaning of words and some history that is behind what is happening. Having said that, when they set out to develop an application based Bible this Bible does the job.

This is definitely a good Bible for somebody who is new to Christianity who would like to understand the Bible better and how it is applicable to them but doesn't want some of the theological notes that a more robust study Bible would have in it. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Thomas Nelson in exchange for this honest review.

Short Answers to Big Questions about God, the Bible & Christianity by Clinton E. Arnold & Jeff Arnold

Questions about the Bible, God, Christianity, and life have been asked for many years. Some answers are simple to answer while others are not so simple. In their book, Short Answers to Big Questions about God, the Bible & Christianity, Clinton and Jeff Arnold have written answers to many of the questions posed by people throughout time.

I was surprised at the type of questions answered as I was expecting something more practical and less theological. However, this book does well to educated the reader on each question so that the reader can better understand the nature of the question and the answer given.

Those that witness to others would do well to have this book as a resource to give answers to questions that may arise by those wanting answers or those trying to disprove the Bible.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Books in exchange for my honest review.

The Westminster Confession of Faith

This little book has the complete Confession of Faith as penned by the assembly at Westminster Abbey in 1643. For those who want a solid, Biblical foundation for what the Bible teaches and what men have believed for several hundred years, this is the book for that. The richness and depth of the content is so potent that I am taken aback by the effect such a work has. I cannot encourage people enough to get a copy of this book.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Banner of Truth Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

The Foundation Study Bible (NKJV)

I enjoy using study Bibles. There is something about reading Scripture and having learned men explain difficult passages that really deepens my desire to read God's Word.

The NKJV Foundation Study Bible is a nice study Bible for personal study. It is not too heavy and the typeface makes for an easy read. Also the study helps are located nicely at the bottom for less distracting reading of the main text.

While this Bible is not a robust study Bible, it does a nice job of delivering a Bible for study that is easier to carry and still maintains a lot of the helps of heavier study Bibles.

*I received this Bible from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Dad's Devotional Bible (NIV)

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

I am usually on the lookout for a good devotional Bible, especially if that Bible is geared towards men/fathers. Being a father is an amazing role, one that I enjoy, even with its challenges.

That said, there are times when you seem like your back is against the wall and you need that encouraging thought to strengthen your resolve.

This devotional Bible is unique in that devotions are inserted in the text so that you can read the Bible or read the section associated with each devotional.

I really like this feature. The devotional Bibles I have had in the past would have a thought or challenge along with the Scriptural passage for that day's reading. This Bible does away with that in favor of using a devotion inside of the text rather than a devotion with the text.

I also enjoy the additional items for fathers like the articles for building your children. They use the Bible to not only challenge me as a father but also as a mentor and leader.

This is a nice Bible for the father in your life and would be a great gift for a new Christian dad. 

The Reformation Study Bible: ESV

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Reformation Trust in exchange for my honest review.

I own an older edition of this study Bible, the NKJV one, and was exited to hear about an update to this Study Bible.

I am amazed at the level of study notes, commentaries, book introductions, and appendices. It is apparent that much thought went into what to include in this Bible.

My favorite has to be some of the creeds of the faith such as The Apostle's Creed and The Nicene Creed. I really enjoy the history that these creeds provide.

While I would like to go into more detail about this Bible, I will instead direct my followers to their website here. Consider purchasing a copy for yourself. If you fancy the NKJV I understand that this translation is set to be released in September of 2015.

The Daring Mission of William Tyndale by Steven Lawson

*I received this complimentary copy from Reformation Trust in exchange for my honest review.

William Tyndale wanted his fellow Englishmen to be able to read the Bible in their own language. Sadly, to produce such a Bible was illegal and carried the sentence of death.

William Tyndale would not be stopped.

This book is about the history of Tyndale as he first develop a complete New Testament in English and later began to work on the Old Testament.

The book goes into who William Tyndale was, what he believed, and the lengths at which it took to translate a Bible into English.

I found this book to be a great read and very inspirational. How often I forget that my Bible was illegal at one time and that Tyndale gave his life so that I might be able to read my Bible today.

The Proclamation Bible (NIV)

*I received this Bible as a complimentary copy from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw that Timothy Keller recommended this Bible my ears perked up. I respect Mr. Keller and his opinion and thought I would give this Bible a chance.

At first I was a bit disappointed. For a "study" Bible there are no footnotes for interpretation, basic center-column references and brief book introductions. Had it been just that I would have discounted Mr. Keller recommendation.

The reason this Bible stands out are the theological helps at the beginning of this Bible. Scholars wrote some very helpful articles on Biblical interpretation, why we can trust the Bible, how to apply Scripture, and more.

In a sense it is a Bible that prepares you to study as opposed to doing it for you. In this respect I understand why it was recommended and I agree.

This Bible does what other study Bibles do not: let the reader do the digging to find the gems. Sadly, not many Bible readers do this which is why this Bible is a stand-out.

As to the Bible itself, a good typeface and good binding are present. Also there are two bookmarks which is nice for cross-referencing. It weights in at about three pounds which does not make it ideal for devotions/study on the go but good for desk study The lay-flat binding is a great add so one does not have to hold down pages while reading.

I give this Bible five stars for the theological articles and solid build. If you need to replace a study Bible give this one a hard look.

NKJV Note-Taker's Bible

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start off by saying that I am a note taker at seminars, classes, and sermons. I have found that it helps keep me focused and I retain more of what I hear.

For sermons, wouldn't it be nice to have a Bible where you could write notes without having to bring an additional item like a journal or wire-bound notepad.

Enter the Note-Taker's Bible.

The first I noticed was the ample space on each page for notes, comments, etc. for study, devotional, There is about a two inch margin on each side of the text for note taking as well as a decent space below the text to do the same.

The Bible itself is not heavy so there isn't much to sacrifice in portability to have the additional space for personal comments.

However, I found the text of the Bible smaller than I would have liked. This makes reading a bit difficult. I would have preferred a slightly heavier Bible with a large typeface than a lighter Bible with a small typeface. That said, I give this Bible a three out of five stars due to typeface.

The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible (NKJV); Phil & Al Robertson Executive Editors

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Inspired by the show Duck Dynasty, Phil and Al Robertson have placed some of the life lessons they have learned in this Bible.

Inserted at key points are comments titled Set Your Sights. Each one of these comments focuses on one of the following areas: faith, family, fellowship, forgiveness, and freedom.

For example, between the books of Jonah and Micah is one on family titled Anger. In this section Phil Robertson gives testimony of how anger controlled his actions.

However, he learned that being angry and be controlled by anger are two different things.

God is angry with evil yet does not sin. Thus, there is a way to be angry and not sin. As the reader continues in the comment it is revealed that love is the key to overcoming improper anger. This is just one example of the lessons that are taught in this Bible.

Overall the Bible is decent with the comments mentioned above. It is not a study Bible, has no columnar references, and has no concordance. The typeface is good for reading, the weight is not too heavy, and the Set Your Sights comments are not distracting. A good resources for teaching and perhaps a devotional or two, but those wanted a good study Bible should seek elsewhere.

The Journey Bible (NIV)

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Zondervan through the BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for my honest review.

The Journey Bible is a Bible for those who are trying to figure exactly what God wants for them. It is not a study Bible per se, though it does have great study notes, but rather it acts more as a guide. It's intent is to guide the Christian into the foundation tenants and truths of who God is, what He wants, and how a person fits into God's overall plan.

First thing is the Bible is rather thick but not very dense. This allows for a good reading typeface and great placement of notes but does not sacrifice content for a little Bible.

The second thing is the paper has the look of a newspaper (for you millennials, a newspaper is a collection of papers put together that tells the news. It is not an app and does not contain video). I really like this feature as it allowed me to think of what I was reading as news: the Good News.

Yet one downside of this newspaper-like feature is the notes are in black and white. This sometimes made it difficult to follow the text and read a note inside of Scripture. I would suggest that anyone purchasing this Bible hold off and see if a leather bound edition will put notes into color. A needed improvement in my opinion.

All in all, a good Bible that needs a few tweeks to make it an excellent resource.

Fast Facts Bible (New International Version)

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from the publisher via BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

I will make this review a relatively simple one:

The Pros:
-Great book introductions and interesting trivia at the end
-Great typeface and easy to read print
-Medium weight

The Cons
-The 1,000 facts are at the beginning and end of each book. Nothing in the middle to aid the reader
-Very basic facts; not ideal for a study Bible

I enjoy reviewing Bibles in hopes to aid my blog followers in purchasing the right one. Sadly, this Bible is not one that I can recommend to a particular group. A very basic Bible with a few bonuses. If that is what you like, this is the Bible for you. I, however, prefer those with a bit more substance. This Bible lacks in that department.

Life Journey Bible by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Zondervan in exchange for my honest review.

I am a big fan of Drs. Cloud and Townsend. I have heard both speak and am presently listening to Boundaries on audiobook.

When I saw this Bible, I was very intrigued. I wanted to see how they would incorporate their teachings into study notes within a Bible. They did an excellent job.

Their "insights" notes were very practical and easy to understand. Plus they would link their notes with a particular passage of Scripture. Not only did this add a application element but it also shows how Scripture is still relevant in the area of personal relationships and growth.

The next thing I noticed was that the Bible was not that heavy. This makes it an excellent option for devotionals and meditation.

The one thing I did notice was that the introduction to each book was brief. I was hoping for more of "look here for personal applications sections" but none was to be found. To be fair the index was very helpful but it would still be nice to have some direction at the introduction for each book.

That all said, this Bible is an excellent resource that the graduating class of 2014 would do well to have. Practical and resourceful, this Bible would aid many  in life's journey.

The New Spirit-Filled Life Bible (Jack W. Hayford, General Editor)

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Thomas Nelson (via Booklook Bloggers). My review is my own and I was not influenced to write a positive or negative review.

When I saw that this Bible was available I was very curious about it. I have an older edition of this Bible and wanted to compare it to this current edition.

The most obvious change is using the NIV translation where the old one I have used the NKJV. An additional change are all the notes that were not in the first. I found the Kingdom Dynamic notes and the Word Wealth notes to be very helpful and well placed.

That said, I wanted to vew the newer NIV translation (2011) and see how it read. I typically use KJV, ESV, NKJV, and the 1599 Geneva Bible as my translations of choice. Thus, my review.

I found this Bible to be in a good typeface and easy to read. The notes were not small and were well placed and the Word Wealth notes were well placed and I feel they are a great addition.

The Bible is a bit heavy weighing almost three pounds. I found that it did not bother me too much but it was noticeable at times. However, even with the heaviness, the Bible is well bound and feels very sturdy and durable.

All this said, while I really enjoyed the Bible, my personal preference would be to get the NKJV edition of this Bible.

The Compass Bible, The Voice

*I received this complimentary Bible in exchange for my honest review from Thomas Nelson*

The Compass Bible is an interesting translation in that it seeks to make reading the Bible easier. Unlike most Bibles that read like a story, this Bible reads more like a movie script. For example, if I was in a theater production and was learning my lines my script may look like this:

Me: blah blah blah
Driver: yea yea yea
Me: uh huh
Driver: yep yep yep

This Bible reads like that. It makes it much easier to read as the reader knows who is speaking. By the same token, the notes read more like a director's instruction to set the stage. They are not an interference at all but do well to enhance what is happening.

The translation itself is quite modern but not so modern as to be disrespectful. I found the translation to be very descriptive and vivid which I feel can be lost in some other translations.

Another benefit is that, while the Bible is not light, the typeface ideally set. It is not too small but not so large either. Also, the notes are set apart so it is easy to continue reading the text once the note(s) has/have been read.

As to a study Bible, it does okay. The notes give insight but for those that desire a very deep study, I would not use this Bible as a primary study Bible. It has its moments but does lack some features like cross references and concordance. All in all, a very nice Bible for those that like to read the Bible as a story.

The Ragamuffin Bible, NIV

The Ragamuffin Bible is a thought provoking Bible with thoughts and quotes from Brennan Manning, author of The Ragamuffin Gospel. While not a devotional Bible per se, it has some great material that can be used for devotional means.

I found the Bible to quite nice in size and feel. Some Bibles try to pack in so much that the Bible is either heavy in weight or the font size is made smaller to lessen the weight. The font of this Bible makes for easy reading and enough room for some small, personal notes by the reader.

I really enjoyed the placement of the quotes/thoughts by Mr. Manning. They did not distract the reader from the text but were at good locations to read when the time was right.

As to the audience, this would be a great Bible for those that are in a "struggle" time in life. The meditations and wrestles of Mr. Manning will resonate with those trying to make sense of things when God's actions seem mysterious.


*I received this book from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not influenced in any way to write a positive or negative review.*