One of the things that preachers love to do is recommend books, and I am no exception. This is the first in a series of posts in which I plan to recommend what I think are the best books for Christians to have on their shelves. This will include a variety of topics from Bible study to devotional literature.
First on my list is the NIV Study Bible. This latest release is based on the NIV 2011, which I have found to be an excellent translation and update of the original NIV. It is definitely not the only translation I use, but it is the Bible which I consult most frequently and the Bible from which I preach and teach. The NIV Study Bible has developed a reputation as a reliable and thorough source of insight and background information for Bible study, but this edition goes far beyond what we have seen in the past. It is full-color throughout, which includes numerous photos, illustrations, and maps within the text, not tucked away at the back or in a center picture section. This brings the text alive in ways that previous version simply could not. The timelines are helpful (though some scholars would probably quibble with some of the dates), and the charts and references which appear frequently organize both the history and topics of the Bible in ways that can readers make better sense of biblical narrative and theology.
This Bible is an excellent resource for personal Bible study and for preparation to teach or preach. While no study Bible is a good substitute for consulting commentaries, dictionaries, and other resources, this is best one volume resource that I have found. The price is fairly reasonable, especially from online sellers, running around $30 for the hardback or leatherbound editions.
