NIV Zondervan Study Bible - A Review

I just received my paper copy for review of the NIV Zondervan Study Bible - available from LOGOS here:

https://www.logos.com/product/53348/niv-zondervan-study-bible

It is a massive work of almost 3000 pages in a single volume. I will have a full review either later this week or at the beginning of next week. In either case, you will want to have this Study Bible in your library.

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Lonnie Spencer

Over on the Gospel Coalition website, there is this interview with Don Carson, who was one of the editors of this study bible.

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/don-carson-on-the-niv-zondervan-study-bible

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/758696#Comment_758696

I placed my order on the notes only since I already own both 1984 & 2011 text. Don't want things to be so cluttered when I'm reading

DAL

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/758712#Comment_758712

I ordered a print copy to supplement my Logos notes when it comes out. I have increasingly found that I still start better from paper notes and a physical Bible.

Carson's description of the theological reference of this volume should be well received.

Doc B

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/758721#Comment_758721

I have ditched the NIV for the ESV, but the scholarship in this particular SB looks impressive enough to get a copy. One of the great things about Logos is, if you like your version, you can keep your version, and still use the other versions' study notes.

(See what I did there?) [:D]

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/758743#Comment_758743

I saw what you did. [:)]

Daniel NM

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/758743#Comment_758743

(See what I did there?)

Well played, sir. Well played. [8-|]

P A

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/758776#Comment_758776

With regards physical copies can someone do a screenshot of The New Zondervan NIV SB alongside ESV SB?

This would be useful for comparison.

Thanks

P A[;)]

David Thomas

here is the link for just the notes -

https://www.logos.com/product/53349/niv-zondervan-study-bible-notes

Scott S

Is the NIV SB iOs compatible? I used to see a mobile icon on resource pages, but it appears they are not longer used.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/758848#Comment_758848

I'd love to oblige you. But unfortunately I only have it on my iPad now.... Most later Olivetree releases are requiring 5.9 and above and the Mac Bible Study App is only 5.4.3 (6 is due out anytime now but not yet available)....

-Dan

Ben

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/758939#Comment_758939

I received an email that this will be shipping soon. Will be interested to see how it compares to the old NIV Study Bible which I have in paper (somewhere.)

John Kight

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/759258#Comment_759258

I received an email that this will be shipping soon.

September 4, 2015

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/758887#Comment_758887

Is the NIV SB iOs compatible? I used to see a mobile icon on resource pages, but it appears they are not longer used.

The product page says it "runs on Windows, Mac and mobile" so should be fine on iOS

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/759259#Comment_759259

I received an email that this will be shipping soon.

September 4, 2015

[Y]

Kenneth Neighoff

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/759262#Comment_759262

[Y]

Donn Arms

I received a comp copy of this several weeks ago. It is a massive and impressive volume. One would not tote it to church on Sundays. Mine came with a code to use to receive a free copy on Olive Tree. I have been using that and keeping my favorite translations open on my Logos app. I do not like the NIV and I do not like the emphasis in this study Bible on biblical theology but still, it is packed with a lot of useful material.

Scott S

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/759261#Comment_759261

Thank you Graham.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/759303#Comment_759303

I am not sure if this applies to the FL version but I see:

Zondervan has just released the NIV Zondervan Study Bible, featuring Dr. D.A. Carson as the general editor. Built from the ground up to reflect the most current 21st century scholarship, Dr. Carson and a team of over 60 contributors have crafted all-new study notes, book and section introductions, theological articles, and other study tools that specifically focus on biblical theology, which is the progressive unfolding of theological concepts through the Bible.

As you read and study with the NIV Zondervan Study Bible, you’ll learn more about the biblical writers, the times in which they wrote, and the larger purpose of their writings in God’s story.

Let’s walk through the features of this terrific new study Bible so you can see just how comprehensive it is.

NIV Bible Text
When we release new study Bibles for use in the Bible Study App, we typically don’t include the Bible text. The text is usually the same as the Bibles we already offer, so there’s no need. However, this time we include the Bible text that comes with the NIV Zondervan Study Bible. When we started working on this resource we realized that many of the cross references were different from the NIV Bible we offer. Since we wanted to offer our users a complete experience with this resource, we opted to include the NIV text with its custom cross references. All the cross references you find in the print version of the NIV Zondervan Study Bible will be in our digital version. This may seem like a minor feature to some, but it’s worth noting because cross references make finding related passages easy.

You can also easily access these cross references through the Related Verses section of the Resource Guide. This is yet another way Olive Tree makes this study Bible work for you.

-Dan

Floyd Johnson

[quote user="Floyd Johnson"]

I just received my paper copy for review of the NIV Zondervan Study Bible - available from LOGOS here:

https://www.logos.com/product/53348/niv-zondervan-study-bible

[/quote]

And as promised, here is my review:

Some 40 years ago I sat under the teaching of D. A. Carson for Greek Exegesis. It was my third or fourth semester of seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Worse than that, it was Dr. Carson’s first seminary class at Trinity. Though I had done okay in my first two semesters of Greek, I felt over my head under his tutelage.

So now, 40 years later, I have the opportunity to get revenge. But having spent a couple of weeks with his newly released Study Bible - I have no intention of doing so. The word that came to mind as I opened the package containing my review copy was, “Massive.” And I have not been able to shake that initial feeling. At nearly 3000 pages, this book is more than a Study Bible. It is truly a single volume Bible Commentary, a set of theological essays, and a rather well-done, though compressed, concordance.

Articles are written by a variety of scholars from the Reformed or Baptist heritage - with an obvious lack of representation from Wesleyan/Holiness schools or churches. Not surprising given that Zondervan is the publisher, but disappointing, none-the-less, for a work of this size.

This reader enjoyed the formatting of the book. Notes are clearly set aside from the Biblical text by giving them a light green background, while the Biblical text has a more standard white background. The use of full-color pictures throughout adds value to the work. A number of tables summarize important topics - the tables also make use of color to help important columns or rows stand out. As with most Study Bibles, the appendix includes a good supply of Bible maps; unlike some, the body of the book also includes a large number of colored maps which supplement the notes. The hard copy also includes access to an electronic copy of the book.

I have a few favorite Study Bibles - the NIV Zondervan Study Bible will/has become another of those favorites. I will be consulting it often - I suspect others will as well.

______________

This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

John Kight

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/759826#Comment_759826

At nearly 4000 pages

I think you meant "nearly 3,000 pages"

Floyd Johnson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/759835#Comment_759835

I think you meant "nearly 3,000 pages"

Yep - I'll correct it here, but the review page does not allow for corrections.

Cynthia Tucker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/759847#Comment_759847

Great review, Floyd. It made me place my order! [:)]

Floyd Johnson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/759853#Comment_759853

Just a quick note that the NIVZSB has downloaded - it is indexing as I type.