What’s a Study Bible & Is it Better Than a Normal Bible?

Here's one big, fun uninterrupted podcast-style episode about all the features of study Bibles and a little bit about how to use them.

[sagemorrison]

I stole my first Bible from a hotel room. It was April of 2018. I wasn't religious at the time. I was in New Hampshire for the annual New England High School Drama Festival ( I was a senior). My school was chosen as one of the best schools in Massachusetts to go. I opened a drawer to put my charger in and there was a Bible. Rebel me thought it would be hilarious to take it. So I did. Read a couple chapters here and there and I ended up reading most of the Gospel According to Matthew (due to me being in a production of Godspell. Great musical, check it out) and now here I am, truly discovering religion.

[msherman]

The gideon's have actually stated that replacing a bible in the hotel room means they have succeeded. so Feel free to take the hotel bible make a gideon's day.

[johnmcafee]

I've got to admit, I love Study Bibles and I probably own way too many. My current favorite is the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. One problem we all have to overcome every time we sit down to read the Bible is our cultural filters. The Bible was written to people of the ancient Near East, but I’m a modern Westerner. This often puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to interpreting the Bible. Take for example the parable of the Lost/Prodigal Son. When the son "came to his senses" and returned home, his father saw him coming and "ran to him". This last phrase doesn't stand out to many of us today but, as this Bible's study notes point out, in the ancient Near East it was undignified for an important person to run. To Jesus' listeners this would have been a major plot twist in revealing the depth of God's love. So this just adds a layer of nuance to a familiar story. It's like Dr. John Walton says, when we read the Bible we need to "listen with ancient ears".

[dabeamer]

Yes, "eleventy billion". 1:21
and "garganticer" 16:12

[Tinker_it]

+1 for montage music during the long desk travel

[NotHisRealName]

Thanks for this, Matt. I've had bibles in the past, but they never meant anything to me and I couldn't ever 'get' the stories being told. They were always just words.
Although I consider myself agnostic, your videos have inspired me to read the bible again and these recent vids are helping me pinpoint how to get back into it.
Thanks again.

[bravocrunchie]

Matt, the Gideons Bibles in hotels were meat to be taken. It’s a fascinating story, definitely worth a TMBH video.

[davidtaylorsr]

Loved your trip to the end of the desk, Matt.

[jwrm]

The hotelroom Bibles are for the taking, thats the whole point!
The Bibles placed by Gideon, that is...

[calebgardner]

This is really helpful. I grew up in church and felt like I didn't need a study bible because we shouldn't need anything more than what God has given us in his word and his Spirit. Totally makes sense that these would be a HUGE time saver and resource.

[TasJess]

Maps are also great during particularly boring sermons if you want to play out imaginary battles in your head but still look pious.

[brittainbrad]

I was given an Archeological Study Bible in college and I love it. It also pairs nicely with your Acts series. Also- maps are the best.

Love,

Mom

[timejesus]

As a Gideon I can confirm that hotel Bibles are placed that people might pick them up, read them, and pass them on to somebody else.

On average, each of our Bibles placed is read by eight people.

Have a blessed day, and be a blessing by giving somebody a Bible along with helping them in whatever their need might be.

There's truly nothing quite like storing up treasures in Heaven!

[MicahMcLellan]

Thanks again, Matt, for another great video! I'm glad you mentioned the caution of using the notes exclusively, as I've come to learn (mostly through experience) how, depending on the publisher/translation used, the notes will most definitely have some type of theological bias - even if unintentional (e.g. NIV/ESV more "Calvinist-Reformed", CSB-more Traditionalist, etc.). Keep up the great work!

[sfspencer]

Thanks Matt. Your are quickly becoming an invaluable resource for my theological edification. I am slowly narrowing down how to go about wrapping my mind around Christianity in a much more meaningful way. What a task! God bless you brother. Appreciate all the help. S. Spencer

[cmac]

1:40 what a trip! Thanks for taking us along!

[WORTHYOFITALL]

It blows my mind that genealogy in the Bible by defining the names all point toward Jesus, his characteristics and death/resurrection.

[jesussavedrjm]

I draw my own maps and insert it. Helps me remember

[pzcanada]

Thanks for this video. I'm 2 months in on a reading plan, going through my new ESV Study Bible. I wondered what exactly the cross references could be used for. I'll be utilizing them in bible study with my buddies so we can bounce around scripture when studying a particular concept.

Oh and I got the personal size -- not too unwieldy! But sometimes I need to squint reading the tiny study notes

[stephenbuchanan]

Thank you. I have bought an ESV study bible and it’s really helping!