Life Application Study Bible

Product Information

When choosing, I would recommend using this formula (that sounds too precise, but you know what I mean): If you really want to get annoying and split hairs, application Bibles aren’t technically study Bibles. There are obviously differences between each of these Bibles, and scholars will debate the merits of the study notes, but overall I think these are your best bet. The Final Word: Obedience Matters Most The Life Application Study Bible has been one of the best selling Bibles in the world for over thirty years, and in 2019 it was completely overhauled with edits, updates, and new material. This new “Third Edition” initially appeared in Tyndale’s flagship NLT edition of the Life Application Study Bible, but now they’ve released an updated NIV edition, and later this year the update will arrive in a KJV option.

Personally, I believe this is an inferior and unhelpful method of translation because it has the potential to introduce interpretationinto the translation. New features include: a refreshed interior design with a second color for visual clarity; meaningfully updated study notes and features; and the Christian Worker's Resource- a special supplement to enhance the reader's ministry effectiveness. Overall, this is a big simplification of the two methods of translation, but I think you get the point. Bottom line: If you want the best study Bible, I recommend getting an essentially literal translation.This beautiful full-color Bible provides a complete resource for study, including thousands of notes, articles, extensive cross-references, and features contributed by top evangelical scholars. These multilayered study tools, combined with the accuracy and clarity of the New King James Version, make this Bible a perfect choice to help you understand and deeply engage with Scripture. Additionally, I don’t want someone else doing the hard work of wrestling through how to apply various verses. I want to prayerfully grapple with the text, seeking God’s help to pull out the various meanings and applications.

In my video review of the Life Application Bible, I show you how the study notes work in this Bible. They include traditional notes like most study Bibles that give readers details about the historical and literary context of the biblical text, but they also have notes about how the text applies to our lives (you can see examples of both of these types of notes in the photo below from the Gospel of Matthew). This feature is what makes the Life Application Study Bible unique, because it is designed specifically for application. Where other study Bibles offer insight about the text, the Life Application Study Bible goes one step further and asks readers to consider how it applies to the rhythm of their daily lives. Usually, these Bibles have loads of study notes underneath the text, plus maps, diagrams, cross-references, and dozens of other helpful tools. Study the stories and teachings of the Bible with verse-by-verse commentary. Gain wisdom from people in the Bible by exploring their accomplishments and learning from their mistakes. Survey the big picture of each book through overviews, vital statistics, outlines, and timelines, and grasp difficult concepts using in-text maps, charts, and diagrams—all to help you do life God’s way, every day. Generally speaking, study Bibles fall into one of two categories: Interpretation Centered Study Bibles Dynamic equivalence study Bible translations attempt to translate the Bible in a “thought-for-thought” manner. In other words, instead of translating each word individually, they attempt to translate the original thoughts behind each word and phrase.Adherents of “dynamic equivalence” (and the more recent label “functional equivalence”) do not necessarily feel obliged to translate the actual words of the original. Instead, these translators often engage in commentary on the biblical text instead of translation of it. This is done by bypassing the words of the original and offering an interpretation of its “content meaning” as distinct from its “lexical meaning.” Now let’s dive into the nitty gritty of choosing a good study Bible for you. Which Is The Best Study Bible Translation? These types of study Bibles are primarily designed to help you understand the meaningof the text in each book of the Bible. In other words, they want to help you get to the heart of the author’s original intent. In other words, instead of simply translating the words as they were originally written, an attempt is made to interpret the meaning of the original words and then let that interpretation guide the translation.

The notes, however, are not inspired by God. They are written by men and women and are based on their particular interpretations of scripture. While their comments can certainly be helpful in understanding the text, they don’t require obedience of any sort. Only the Bible itself commands that kind of obedience. Best Study Bible: Interpretive or Application? Before you decide on a good study Bible for you, it’s really important to determine the best translation of the Bible to use. First, let me say that both interpretive and application study Bibles are wonderful resources, and calling one type the “best study Bible” probably isn’t the most helpful way to think about the subject.There are certainly going to be elements of preference involved in making your choice. Maybe your church uses one particular translation. Maybe you grew up reading and memorizing the NASB. Maybe you just like the way a particular translation feels. Because it has the potential to introduce the biases of the translators. This, in turn, can lead to words and phrases being used that weren’t originally in the text. So yes, take some time to do research before you choose a study Bible. But even more importantly, obey the word of God. Today's #1-Selling Study Bible has been thoroughly updated and expanded in The Life Application Study Bible - 3rd Edition, offering fresh and relevant insights.

Now let’s bring it all together. Given all the information above, what study Bible should you choose? Application study Bibles tend to focus primarily (not exclusively) on helping you applythe Bible to various situations in your life. In other words, the main goal of an application study Bible is not to dig deep into the meaning of the text. Rather, it’s aim is to bring the various passages into the challenges you face. There are Bibles for men, women, college students, high-school students, kids, military members, and on and on. It’s a flabbergasting, overwhelming blessing.

Life Application Study Bible Features

What follows is an in-depth guide to choosing a study Bible. First, I’ll lay out some general guidelines when it comes to choosing one, then make some specific recommendations about various study Bibles. Personally, I believe the best study Bible will have study notes written by a variety of scholars. This allows you to get a variety of perspectives on a variety of texts. If all the notes are written by a single person, you’re only getting their interpretation of all the passages. This can get especially dicey if you’re getting into more difficult texts, like in the Book of Revelation. Essentially literal study Bible translations are those that seek to examine the original Greek or Hebrew word, then translate that word into English as literally as possible.