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Produced out of the conviction that the Bible is a unified message of God's grace culminating in Jesus, the Gospel Transformation Bible is a significant new tool to help readers see Christ in all of Scripture, and grace for all of life.
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LibraryThing member njvroom
About a month ago I received a copy of the Gospel Transformation Bible from Crossway. This new study Bible, edited by Bryan Chappell (General Editor) and Dane Ortlund (Managing Editor), contains hundreds of notes appended to the biblical text, each seeking to help readers see the central message of
- What purpose would this Bible serve in the church?
- How helpful are the notes to the reader?
In the rest of the review I hope to provide my perspective on the Gospel Transformation Bible through the lens of these two questions.
**Purpose**
The Gospel Transformation Bible is unlike any other study Bible I have used before. Others--like the ESV Study Bible and the Ryrie Study Bible--provide notes to explain each verse in-depth. These type of study Bibles can almost become commentary-like, helping explain the cultural or biblical background for the reader.
The Gospel Transformation Bible, on the other hand, does not try to explain each and every verse. Instead, the purpose of this study Bible is to show readers how God's redemption plan--culminating in the cross of Jesus Christ--can be found in every passage. This purpose is best expressed in the tagline for this Bible, found printed on the hardcover versions: "Christ in all the Bible. Grace for all of life."
Each of the 12,000 notes (written by over 50 different pastors & scholars) seeks to show how a passage fits in God's redemption plan. This is immensely helpful for new believers--especially those without a church background--as it shows the reason for reading the Old Testament and some of the hard-to-read, harder-to-understand passages. In other words, the notes in this study Bible are trying to explain what each passage means for followers of Christ today.
**Format**
The layout of this Bible is one of the underrated features of this Bible. The ESV text is in two columns, with the notes and cross-references appearing below the text. This is a big advantage for me; while I love cross-references, I can get easily distracted by them when they are situated between the columns of biblical text. These cross-references, however, are situated out of the way enough so as not to clutter the biblical text, but close enough to not be inaccessible. This format can be seen better in this sampler PDF.
A remarkable feature of this Bible is the Topical Index. Found in the back of the book (in front of the Concordance), the Topical Index is a list of relevant topics covered in the notes. At 30 pages long, this is a sweeping list covering all the major--and minor--characters, themes, and images in the Bible. I could see this index being a great introduction to biblical theology, helping readers see the unity of the Bible along certain subjects.
I received the black hardcover edition to review. This cover is perfect for studying while at the desk or at a table. However, I am not used to a hardcover Bible, so it felt awkward using it in the sanctuary during the worship service. Again, this is my personal preference, but if you are like me, there are several Tru-Tone and leather options available.
**Conclusion**
After spending one month with the Gospel Transformation Bible, I am impressed by it. All the notes--focusing on God, his redemption plan, and the Gospel--are helpful in devotional reading. At times the notes read more like sermonettes, making me say to myself "That will preach!"
The folks at Crossway have produced a very nice study Bible, perfect for new believers or those looking to supplement their devotional reading. I will likely use this Bible in that manner: as the first thing I grab to read in the morning. This will also become the go-to study Bible I give away to those students and adults I am discipling. I would encourage pastors and church leaders who are already using the ESV Bible to purchase a case of these Bibles for giving out to new believers.
I received a complementary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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Scripture: the grace of God manifested in Jesus Christ. As I used this Bible everyday for a month, I asked myself two questions:- What purpose would this Bible serve in the church?
- How helpful are the notes to the reader?
In the rest of the review I hope to provide my perspective on the Gospel Transformation Bible through the lens of these two questions.
**Purpose**
The Gospel Transformation Bible is unlike any other study Bible I have used before. Others--like the ESV Study Bible and the Ryrie Study Bible--provide notes to explain each verse in-depth. These type of study Bibles can almost become commentary-like, helping explain the cultural or biblical background for the reader.
The Gospel Transformation Bible, on the other hand, does not try to explain each and every verse. Instead, the purpose of this study Bible is to show readers how God's redemption plan--culminating in the cross of Jesus Christ--can be found in every passage. This purpose is best expressed in the tagline for this Bible, found printed on the hardcover versions: "Christ in all the Bible. Grace for all of life."
Each of the 12,000 notes (written by over 50 different pastors & scholars) seeks to show how a passage fits in God's redemption plan. This is immensely helpful for new believers--especially those without a church background--as it shows the reason for reading the Old Testament and some of the hard-to-read, harder-to-understand passages. In other words, the notes in this study Bible are trying to explain what each passage means for followers of Christ today.
**Format**
The layout of this Bible is one of the underrated features of this Bible. The ESV text is in two columns, with the notes and cross-references appearing below the text. This is a big advantage for me; while I love cross-references, I can get easily distracted by them when they are situated between the columns of biblical text. These cross-references, however, are situated out of the way enough so as not to clutter the biblical text, but close enough to not be inaccessible. This format can be seen better in this sampler PDF.
A remarkable feature of this Bible is the Topical Index. Found in the back of the book (in front of the Concordance), the Topical Index is a list of relevant topics covered in the notes. At 30 pages long, this is a sweeping list covering all the major--and minor--characters, themes, and images in the Bible. I could see this index being a great introduction to biblical theology, helping readers see the unity of the Bible along certain subjects.
I received the black hardcover edition to review. This cover is perfect for studying while at the desk or at a table. However, I am not used to a hardcover Bible, so it felt awkward using it in the sanctuary during the worship service. Again, this is my personal preference, but if you are like me, there are several Tru-Tone and leather options available.
**Conclusion**
After spending one month with the Gospel Transformation Bible, I am impressed by it. All the notes--focusing on God, his redemption plan, and the Gospel--are helpful in devotional reading. At times the notes read more like sermonettes, making me say to myself "That will preach!"
The folks at Crossway have produced a very nice study Bible, perfect for new believers or those looking to supplement their devotional reading. I will likely use this Bible in that manner: as the first thing I grab to read in the morning. This will also become the go-to study Bible I give away to those students and adults I am discipling. I would encourage pastors and church leaders who are already using the ESV Bible to purchase a case of these Bibles for giving out to new believers.
I received a complementary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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DDC/MDS
| REF 220.5 GOS |
Pages
xxx; 2055