If you are a student of the Bible, you know that the task of finding and purchasing a new study Bible can be overwhelming. A quick perusal of a modest Christian book store will present scores of options. Is there really that big of a difference between study Bibles? Are most of the differences cosmetic and structural in nature, or are there major differences in theology woven throughout different study Bibles? While I have personally used the Life Application, Ryrie, King James, Scofield and Zondervan KJV Study Bibles, most of my serious Bible study has been accomplished using the Scofield and Zondervan. Here are some things I have found that I like and dislike about each.
Scofield Study Bible
The Scofield Study Bible is the King of classic study Bibles. Written by the Reverend C.I. Scofield in the late 1800s, it was one of the first thorough and complete study Bibles available to every day Christians. The language is rich and full of meaning, supplying an eloquent commentary on the King James Version of the Bible.
Another aspect of the Scofield Bible that I appreciate is the cross-reference system. The center column of each scripture page is filled with references to other scriptures to help both advanced and elementary students find their way to other relevant scriptures during their personal Bible study. The cross references allow individuals to study words, phrases, prophecies, places, people and more.
Finally, the best feature of the Scofield study Bible is the concordance. The concordance is literally hundreds of pages of text and serves as a mini Strong’s Concordance, making it possible to find thousands of verses of scriptures, but without the Hebrew and Greek word definitions. Verses are easily found by picking one key word which you can think of and checking the concordance. There are also concordance sections for proper names and places. Behind the concordance, a section of maps awaits the person who desires to study the Holy Lands from the time of the Exodus until the time of Jesus.
Because the Scofield is an old study Bible, there are a few ideas within the commentary which could use updating. For instance, the footnotes in the first few chapters of Genesis teach the “Gap Theory” with certainty. As Creation science has developed, the Theory has been largely modified or thrown out altogether, but the Scofield does not yet reflect this change.
Zondervan KJV Study Bible
TheZondervan KJV Study Bible is a newer approach to Biblical commentary. It relies on a more laid-back approach to Biblical interpretation than does the literal, fundamental approach of the Scofield. Rather than assuming that every apparent discrepancy in the Bible has a reasonable explanation, the Zondervan study Bible usually explains discrepancies by stating that a scribal or transmission error occurred. I strongly prefer the Scofield’s view of Biblical inerrancy to the wavering indecision of the Zondervan.
When using discernment, there is much the Bible student can discover and appreciate about the Zondervan Study Bible. Explanation and commentary on biblical texts are down-to-earth and easy to understand. The editors of Bible also use archaeological and scientific evidence to back up controversial biblical texts. This Bible also includes a generous concordance, cross reference system and maps.
One quirk I should mention about the 2002 edition: The Bible uses the 1873 King James Version. Because of this fact, a few of the words throughout the Bible appear to be typos. For instance, instead of the word “fetched,” the text reads “fet.” This may not bother some users, but it could become distracting to others.
A sound, reliable study Bible is essential for the person who wants to delve into the rich meaning and purpose of the Bible. While there are hundreds of options available, discernment and research is needed before you make your purchase. For the beginning Bible student who is unfamiliar with Biblical terms and history, the Zondervan KJV Study Bible is a good place to begin your study. However, for the more developed Bible student, The Scofield Study Bible offers a wealth of study resources and spiritual guidance as you deepen your Biblical knowledge.
