Why I Use the ESV Study Bible

I've been using the ESV Study Bible for several years now, and it's become my go-to resource for understanding difficult passages and finding out what the "classical" Christian perspective is on any many ethical issues. Although the notes are clearly written from a Protestant, evangelical point of view, the editors have been careful not take too strong a stance on any issue where there is no evangelical consensus.

The ESV Study Bible has been especially helpful for me in understanding the historical and cultural context of the books of the Old Testament. The primary reasons I continue to use the ESV Study Bible extremely regularly are:

• The English Standard Version of the Bible is both readable and acurate, and has now stood the test of time in terms of the legitimacy of its scholarship, etc. The approach the editors chose to use is called an "essentially literal" translation. This means that the translators tried to use a direct English word corresponding the the original language when it would be possible and when it would make basic sense to the modern English reader. If this wasn't possible, the translators then strove to convey the meaning as accurately as possible.

• There are more than 20,000 exegetical notes throughout the text that illuminate the meaning.

• The 50 study articles in the ESV Study Bible cover a broad range of topics of interest to all Christians, regardless of domination.

• The format is aesthetically very pleasing - a modern typeface is used and the layout is top-notch.

• Additional help includes full color maps of the geographic context, as well really nice diagrams of important structures (the Tabernacle, Temple, etc) in the Old and New Testaments.

• The cross references in the the English Standard Version are second to none. This resource alone is a valuable tool for in-depth Bible study.

• There are many editions available, from the smaller "personal size" ESV Study Bible to the nicer, premium leather editions.
  

I have no doubt that the ESV Study Bible will continue to be at the core of my personal theology library for many years to come.