NKJV MacArthur Study Bible 20th Anniversary Edition

There is no comparison

I have the Leather one, and I absolutely love this Bible!! It’s word for word and in a modern tone that anyone can understand and has commentary and is extremely well researched and done. I study it daily and this word will speak to your heart and your soul

This is a great study Bible. MacArthur presents a great deal of intelligent insights and background information, as well as outlining every chapter in the Bible. The outlines alone are worth the price of the Bible. His beginning-of-book summaries are the best I've seen, covering each book's author and date of writing, historical context, and even exegetical problems and theological issues. About the New King James Version of the Bible: I started off as an NIV user (since that's the first Bible I ever really used). I had always felt the NKJV was sort of a crutch for people who couldn't understand the KJV but couldn't give up their King James forms. When I saw that MacArthur's study Bible was only available in the NKJV, that made me think again. Now I love this translation: it's both accurate and easy to read. I've read the evidence presented by King James Only advocates and, while I respect their sincerity, I am unconvinced that the NKJV is the Enemy's work. For the reviewers who said that MacArthur only presents one point of view: isn't this what's expected? The whole purpose of a study Bible is that the author of that Bible's notes presents his understanding of Biblical passages, which you are then free to accept or reject (obviously, under wise council of other godly people and the control of the Holy Spirit). I have looked at many study Bibles, and they all do exactly that - Ryrie, Scofield, LaHaye, whoever. Does one expect LaHaye to provide evidence for preterism, or Ryrie for so-called "Lordship Salvation"? I am afraid that when other reviews say "he only presents one point of view" they really mean "he doesn't present MY point of view." Besides, in the beginning-of-book "theological issues" sections MacArthur at least deals with other points of view, something that most others don't do. A perfect example is the reviewer who mentioned 1 Corinthians 14. Obviously this fellow doesn't agree with MacArthur. Might I hazard a guess that the reviewer is charismatic? MacArthur appears to be a cessationist. But the point is that a study Bible is not the place to cover the issues in detail: if the commentary is not to overwhelm the Biblical text in quantity, probably the best that can be accomplished is to give one point of view. My advice would be to get a good book that covers those types of issues in detail: Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology does a good job of that (while also taking a particular point of view, somewhat different from MacArthur's). I should note that I am not a cessationist nor a dispensationalist myself. I believe Spiritual Gifts are for today and all history. But, unlike another reviewer, to say cessationism "borders on REAL heresy" is far beyond what can reasonably be concluded from Scripture. "Christianity" as taught by people such as Charles Capps and Frederick Price, yes: cessationalism, no. In sum, if you're looking for a new Bible that you'll love for years to come, get the MacArthur Study Bible. Whether you agree wit

The word "Student" in the title may lead people to think this is a study Bible for youngsters. Not so! A young person of college age or even high-school age would love it, but so will people in their sixties (cest moi)! It is the one study Bible that is not loaded with 85 percent commentary and 15 percent Bible. It tells you just what you want to know and lets you get on with your reading. The informative longer notes appear only occasionally, and they are complete on one page. The short notes appear in shaded areas and are very valuable. For example, the short note with Luke 22:44 explains Christ's sweating great drops of blood with an excellent explanation of the medical phenomenon known as "hematidrosis." The absence of red-letter type is a relief--too many Bibles now are printed with the red-letter feature. One no longer has a choice, and the red ink is often badly applied or more pink than red and hard to read. MacArthur's Student Bible is easy to live with--very legible large type, but not overlarge, and plenty of white space. The introductions to each book of the Bible are very well done too. This is a gem!

The MacArthur Study Bible is by far the best study Bible on the market. I own several study Bibles (NIV Study Bible, Life Application Study Bible, Old Scofield Study Bible, Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible, Nelson's King James Study Bible, Praise and Worship Study Bible, The Comparative Study Bible, etc.). I can say, without a doubt, that the notes in the MacArthur Study Bible are the finest to be found anywhere. When studying a particular passage of scripture in various commentaries (e.g. The NIV Bible Commentary [i.e., the condensation of the Expositor's Bible Commentary], Tyndale NT Commentaries, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, and the Believer's Bible Commentary), I often find that MacArthur's treatment (in his study Bible) is more detailed!! In all cases, MacArthur reaches a sound conclusion. I have yet to find any theologically unsound teaching in this Bible. MacArthur expounds the Word the way it was meant to be expounded - with clarity, with scholarship, and with a belief in the infallibility of God's inspired Word. Everything in this Bible is top notch. In addition to the abundance of commentary, many other helps are found, e.g. a section on "How We Got The Bible," a section on "How to Study The Bible," wonderful chronological charts, a section entitled "Overview of Theology," etc., etc.. In short, the MacArthur Study Bible has everything other study Bibles (i.e., the ones mentioned above) have, plus more! Additionally, the actual page layout is quite appealing to the eye -- unlike some study Bibles. Also, the book introductions are among the best I have seen.The New King James Version is an excellent translation. Serious students of the Bible will find the marginal manuscript variation notes invaluable! I would give the MacArthur Study Bible an unconditionable recommendation to anyone looking for a study Bible giving a detailed treatment of the Word.

John MacArthur has provided outstanding study helps, with: 1. the New King James Version (NKJV) text, one of the most "accurate, beautiful, and complete" bible translations; 2. 20,000 study notes! 3. comprehensive bible introduction; 4. thorough book introductions and outlines; 5. outline of basic theology; 6. 200-pg topical index; 7. bible archaeology; 8. maps; 9. comprehensive timelines; 10. book harmonies; and, many other impressive helps!The only detraction from this otherwise outstanding study bible is the lack of a concordance. Including a concise concordance would be of immense help, and that may be something the publishers would want to include in the next edition. In any case, a truly excellent and outstanding work, and I very highly recommend it for every Christian!