What Study Bible Should You Buy?
Learning to study the Bible is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. But when it comes to choosing a study Bible, the question arises: What kind should I buy to get the most out of reading the Bible?
There’s no simple answer to this question, as not all study Bibles are created equal—they serve different purposes. Before I share my top recommendations for your bookshelf, let’s address an important topic: English Bible translations. This is the first question I’m almost always asked: Which translation should I read?
Side note: Things are about to get pretty nerdy! If you’re just here for my recommendations, feel free to skip to the end of this post. But if you’re ready to dive deep, keep reading!
What goes into a translation of the Bible?
The process of creating a Bible is more complex than it might seem. Most modern Bibles—excluding paraphrases like The Message by Eugene Peterson—are the product of teams of scholars working to interpret ancient languages, a task that is far from simple. Furthermore, not all Bibles aim to directly translate ancient Semitic languages into English. Some, like the shift from the King James Version (KJV) to the New King James Version (NKJV), are retranslations of earlier versions into more contemporary language. Even in these cases, someone has to decide which words best convey the intended meaning. Unless you’re fluent in two or three ancient languages, you’re relying on someone else’s interpretation to bridge the gap between those ancient texts and modern English.
Thousands of manuscripts help us understand the meaning of biblical texts, yet many passages remain surprisingly ambiguous. Consider Colossians 4:15 as an example. Nympha is mentioned as someone to greet, apparently hosting a house church. But is Nympha a man or a woman? Some translations refer to “her house,” while others, reflecting uncertainty in the manuscript evidence, use “their house.” Does this distinction matter? That depends on the question you’re asking. But I digress.
So, what determines which English word goes into the Bible on your table? The scholarship team is responsible for the translation you’re reading. Take a moment to look at the beginning of your Bible—not Genesis 1, but the pages before that, the ones you might normally skip. It includes info about the translation team. It lists which sections they worked on: the Old Testament, New Testament, Gospels, or Pentateuch.
These scholars, mostly men, carefully chose the words that make up your Bible. They made decisions based on their academic expertise, and in some cases, their choices have shaped the culture of the church for generations. This isn’t to suggest they had ulterior motives—it’s simply a reflection of the facts.
The point is, when you are choosing a translation for studying the Bible, each one has a point of view.
Going deeper into translations: Exploring Genesis 1:27
Why is this important? Because no single Bible translation is inherently more faithful than another. The idea that one version is superior is a common myth in Christian circles. When someone claims a particular translation is more accurate, they’re simply expressing their perspective on what they believe is accurate—but that doesn’t make it objectively true. Take Genesis 1:27 as an example. Let’s begin with the ESV (English Standard Version) translation, which reads:
“So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.”
What do you see here? The text states that God created a man—in His image, He created the man. Then, it mentions male and female, concluding with “them.” It seems straightforward, right? Those who argue that this interpretation is more accurate are correct in a sense. But does it fully capture what the author intended to convey? Let’s dive in and take a closer look.
The Hebrew word for “man” is Adam (aw-dawm), which is the same word used in Genesis 1:27. Seems straightforward, right? Adam = man, so a simple reading would translate it as “man.” Now, let’s take a look at the NIV (New International Version), another popular translation. Here’s how it reads:
“So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.”
Notice the difference? The NIV translates the Hebrew word Adam as “mankind” or “them,” rather than “man.” So why the change? The NIV translation team concluded that a more faithful rendering of the author’s intent in this passage is that God was not creating a single male human in this moment but rather all of humanity. This is why they chose terms like “mankind” or “humans,” which other translations may also use.
Pick up two different Bible translations, and you might notice variations in how this verse is rendered—and that’s okay. Of all the most popular translations on the market today, there is roughly a 50% split on what word to use in Genesis 1:27. All are making interpretive choices. So, which one is correct? That depends on the assumptions you bring to the text. If you believe man was created first, followed by woman, translating the word as “man” might seem reasonable—even though that’s not what the Hebrew word Adam means in this context.
How do we know this? Because of something called a definite article, the equivalent to the English word “the.” In Hebrew, the word Adam here is not just Adam but hā’āḏām. “Ha’adam” is a flexible term in Hebrew. It can refer to:
•Humanity as a whole (Genesis 1:27).
•A singular human being (generic, often pre-Eve in Genesis 2).
•Specifically, the first man, Adam, as an individual male (after Genesis 2:22).
The translation of the term ha’adam depends on its context, giving translation teams the flexibility to choose the word they believe best fits the passage.
Let me break this down simply: If you believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, wouldn’t it be crucial to translate its words from Hebrew to English as accurately as possible? Yet, as we’ve seen in the example above, the translation isn’t so straightforward.
Why bring up all this for a post about which Bible study to buy? Because it’s important to understand that no translation is perfect. Every translation involves choices that can shape how you think about the Bible. That’s why it’s essential not to rely on just one translation.
A great tip I picked up years ago came from N.T. Wright. When asked which translation he recommends, he shared that each year, he reads a different one. I loved that idea and have been trying to do the same ever since. Reading a new translation each year allows you to experience the Bible in fresh ways. While much of it will remain the same, you might be surprised by how certain stories stand out simply because of a different word choice or sentence structure used to convey the original Hebrew or Greek.
Here’s a quick guide: Bibles like the ESV, NASB, ASV, and RSV are known for being more technical and precise, but they can be harder to read. On the other hand, versions like the NLT (New Living Translation), CEV (Contemporary English Version), or LB (The Living Bible) are much easier to understand but less technical. If you’re new to reading the Bible, I suggest starting with the NLT. For more experienced readers seeking a balance between readability and accuracy, the NIV (New International Version) or NET (New English Translation) is an excellent choice.
As for me, I stopped using the ESV a few years ago—but that’s a topic for another post!
Now, back to the main question: What Study Bible should you buy?
Putting translation choices aside for now—It’s entirely up to you!
Study Bibles generally fall into two categories:
Academic Study Bibles – These focus on in-depth study, exploring the details of Hebrew and Greek words, the manuscripts or codices behind certain passages, and other technical aspects of the text. They’re great for digging into the scholarly side of Scripture.
Devotional Study Bibles – These are designed to deepen your spiritual and devotional life. While they still offer insights into the text, their primary goal is to nurture personal spiritual growth and formation.
Choosing the right type depends on what you want to get out of your study time! If your goal is to dig deeply into the roots of biblical passages, an academic study Bible is likely the best choice. However, if you’re looking to go a bit deeper while focusing on strengthening your faith and spiritual growth, a devotional study Bible might be the better option.
Here are my favorite study Bibles, both academic and devotional, along with the reasons I recommend them. I hope this list helps you as you decide which one to choose!
Academic Study Bibles:
New English Translation (NET)
My top recommendation is the New English Translation (NET) Bible. This is the newest English Bible translation available, developed by a team of 25 scholars starting in 1995 and released in print in 2005. I love this translation for a couple of key reasons:
Readability: The NET Bible strikes a great balance between being technical and faithful to the text while remaining easy to read. It’s versatile enough to use as a morning devotional Bible or for a deep, scholarly dive into the Scriptures.
Exceptional Footnotes: What truly sets the NET Bible apart is its extensive footnotes. Unlike other study Bibles that include occasional insights, the NET Bible provides all the scholarly notes the translation team used to decide on specific words and phrases. These notes—thousands of them, covering nearly every verse—offer detailed insights into why particular translation choices were made. I absolutely love this level of transparency and depth.
New Oxford Annotated Bible
A strong secondary choice for an academic study Bible is The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NOAB), often referred to as “the scholar’s Bible.” The NOAB is perfect for those who want to study the Bible through a scholarly lens, whether for academic research or personal discipleship. It’s especially valuable for students, teachers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Bible’s historical, cultural, and literary contexts.
I have both on my shelf and work through them when trying to think about the text more deeply.
Devotional Study Bibles:
New Living Translation (NLT)
My top choice for a devotional study Bible is the NLT Study Bible. This is an excellent resource to have on your shelf. Its readability and accessibility are, in my opinion, unmatched—you get the heart of the text while maintaining a good level of technical accuracy.
This study Bible includes background information and character profiles that help readers dive deeper into the context, all while supporting spiritual growth and formation. I particularly love the cloth lay-flat edition, which stays open easily and makes it convenient to use alongside other Bibles during study sessions.
For a young Christian looking to go deeper into their Bible reading, this is my go-to recommendation.
Upside Down Kingdom Bible
A fascinating second choice is a new study Bible on the market called the Upside Down Kingdom Bible. Haven’t heard of it? That’s understandable—it’s very new.
What makes this Bible stand out are its in-depth articles on topics highly relevant to our world today, such as social justice, gender, sexuality, and slavery. It tackles issues rarely addressed in other study Bibles, with contributions from top scholars in their respective fields.
This Bible is a recent addition to my collection, but I’m already falling in love with it for its fresh and thought-provoking approach.
Closing thought
And there you have it—simple, right? Here’s the thing: whatever Bible you choose, you really can’t go wrong. Tim Mackie was once asked which Bible is the best, and his response was both simple and profound: “The one you read.”
So don’t overthink it. Just pick one, dive in, and see where it takes you!