Westminster Study Bible NRSVue (w/ Deuterocanonical/Apochrypha books) - An honest review!

In this episode we are looking at the newly-released Westminster Study Bible from Westminster John Knox.

Other videos mentioned:

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[adriancarreira]

As someone who leans a bit progressive in certain things... Seeing these extremely skeptical study bibles is so frustrating! Sometimes they are trying to be "liberal" or "progressive", they fail to see what would actually be "liberal" or "progressive" in the text. Like you mentioned, how can one genuinely say that the biblical view of women is to be submissive, when you have Deborah and other women actually have power/not being subservient at all!

And that is just one example! I much prefer using a "conservative" study Bible, because I don't need notes that constantly put in doubt the text, instrad of explaining or helping me see what it means.

And this is not to say that biblical criticism is bad, I think everyone should be acqainted with it of course, but come on-

Anyways, thank you JM for another great review, thanks to your reviews I decided to get the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible and the Biblical Theology Study Bible and I've been loving them!

[kellygupton]

Thank you for the review! I'd love to see a video on the pros and cons of the various "Mainline" or "liberal" study bibles you've reviewed! I'm an Episcopalian and use the CEB Study Bible and the New Oxford Annotated Bible (NOAB) 5th Edition, both in the editions with the Apocrypha. Of the two I prefer the CEB Study Bible, both for the notes and the overall layout. I really don't like the layout of the notes in the NOAB.

[arielkirouac]

Thank you for this review! I would be curious to see a video on the NIV Upside-Down Kingdom Bible, it just came out, and I’m wondering if it’s worth looking into. Peace ✌🏻

[ThriftStoreBibles]

Thanks for this very thorough review. I keep waiting for a worthwhile NRSVue Study Bible, and it looks like I'll keep waiting.

[cynthiacarter]

Man, glad I saw this video. With a name like Westminster my first thought was it had something to do with "The" Westminster (as in Catechism). Obviously not. That opening section was enough for me to know this thing was spewed out by some academics whose primary focus is social activism, not faithful study of the foundational book of our faith. No thanks to them, but a thank you to you for saving me time/money.

[sadusattack]

I'm tempted to get this just to have the NRSVue translation but I don't need another study Bible from a "skeptical" viewpoint. I already have The Oxford Annotated Study Bible and The New Interpreter's Study Bible.

[tp]

Reviews like this are important. We know what to avoid.

[daveuk]

Thank you very much for this review. I enjoy the NOAB NRSV for study and reading the NRSV translation.

There is something about the NRSVue translation that does not sit right with me; this study bible confirms that 'instinctive feeling'.

I read and study translations from different decades, partially to compare and contrast word and attitude changes (within translations); for example, the move from what has been commented as 'linguistic sexism' (male, brethren) to more inclusive language (brothers and sisters): NKJV and NRSV (1980s), NASB95 (1990s).

Concerning your feedback around the book comments about Paul only targeting the gentiles (around the 30m to 38m mark), I am reminded of Paul's consistent teaching concerning Jews and Gentiles: Ro. 3:22-24, Ro. 3:29-30, Ro. 10:12, Ro. 10:24, 1 Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:28, Eph. 2:14-22, Eph. 3:6, Col. 3:11.

[michaelroots]

Sounds like a theological minefield. One wrong step and BOOM. I think a lot people that are not Biblically literate would be Lea astray.

[anonimo-umng]

Thank you, I bought the Archeological Study Bible used in fantastic condition, it seems new, no mark of anything, not even a name on it and included the cd rom (for less than 40 dollars at amazon). I cancelled my pre order of Westminster SB and because of your video, I do not want to buy a study Bible who has that credential (Ph.d in queerism?) and who is not a respected pauline scholar. Romano Penna´s commentary on Romans is the best (available in italian and spanish translation) and I have all english commentaries (NIGTC; AYBC; WBC; NICNT etc) but Romano Penna´s is the best.

[gloriabrown]

Thank you for this review. You've saved me a lot of time and disappointment.

[robertshirley]

So…why is this called the ‘Westminster’ Study Bible? I have always connected the word ‘Westminster’ with Reformed theology and the Westminster Confession of Faith.

[MAMoreno]

So disappointing. I was actually looking forward to checking out this release, as I thought that having interdisciplinary perspectives could potentially be interesting. But it's one thing to point out how certain modern interpretive lenses would interrogate the text. It's another entirely to misrepresent what the text was originally saying in its historical context. In other words, that Song of Solomon note is more or less on point, but those notes in Romans are pretty dodgy.

[jeffreybrannen]

The Roman’s commentator doesn’t sound Trinitarian.

If faith in Jesus (because he is not God) is forbidden, then that would make sense from a Unitarian perspective.

[davidanfinrud]

I often use your reviews to pick up study bibles for my Logos Software. This is one I would not pick up. I was thinking like another comment it was about the Catechism. Which I have a noteboook in Logos that allows me to see all the links in the Bible with the Catechism How things are written these days. I have less and less trust on recent material. And having an honest review is good love your comparison to Jewish Study Bible thinking for Romans. No one study Bible is ever perfect.

[Yaas_ok]

What you think of it's apocrypha study notes ?

[alex-qeqn]

Thank you for an excellent review! And thank you for your earlier excellent review of the SBL edition! I have recommended both reviews to the Facebook public group, Fans of the NRSV. My copy of the Westminster should soon be arriving. I’ve been teaching from the SBL edition, but I don’t rate it too highly. I’m now being asked to teach from the Westminster edition, as an alternative or in tandem; but I’m not sure that I haven’t had enough of these “liberal” offerings!

[patrickreindel]

I'm not one who advocates burning books...

[RogerBesst]

Could you recommend a study bible that is not influenced by Calvinism?

[dylanvaline]

At least its a readable NRSVeu study bible unlike the SBL's