With that in mind, I was very excited to review the NKJV Study Bible from Thomas Nelson. It is a big Bible! That was my first impression when it arrived. I got out my old study Bible, to be sure it wasn't all in my head. I discovered that it is thicker and slighly larger in the cover, but not really by much.
When I opened the Bible, I was immediately impressed by the full-color charts and photos, and the introduction to each book of the Bible that explains who wrote it, when, where, as well as the context and themes of the book. Each introduction includes a summary of where Christ is referenced, prophesied, or foreshadowed in the book, so you can see Him throughout Scripture. I really like that feature.
Other NKJV Study Bible features include:
- NEW full-color page design
- NEW Bible-land photos and graphics
- NEW in-text maps and charts
- Full cross-references with textual notes
- Word studies and indexes
- Bible Times and Culture Notes
- Book introductions, outlines, and timelines
- Reader-friendly notes and articles ideal for extended study
- Deluxe NKJV Concordance including proper names
I got out both my study Bibles to compare the notes. I was wondering if they'd have similar information, because I've loved referencing the notes in my NIV Study Bible. Unfortunately, I found NEW information in the NKJV Study Bible. I groaned and told my husband this was going to mean I'd want to take both Bibles with me to Bible Studies now. (I won't, but there may be times at home that I reference them both.)
I have been using the NIV Bible ever since I was in junior high and our church switched to reading from it instead of the KJV. I still have a mixture of NIV and KJV memorized verses, due to beginning life with the KJV and switching over. I really like how the NKJV bridges the gap between the traditional beauty of the KJV and the more-easily understood NIV. I still think that the NIV works better for young kids and new Christians, but the NKJV is great for those who have grown up in the church or are older adults who are somewhat familiar with the language of the KJV Bible.
The NKJV Study Bible is a high-quality, beautiful Bible that will be very helpful for those wanting more insight into God's Word. I love the cross-referencing, the word studies, charts, graphs, photos, book introductions, and cultural notes. This would make a perfect gift for a college student or a young Christian really wanting to dig into God's Word and grow. I definitely recommend it!
April E.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of the NKJV Study Bible from Book Look Bloggers, in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received, and this review contains my honest opinion.
