If you only buy one Bible guide, buy this one!
590154
Let me begin by saying that I finally found a timeline that synchronizes biblical events with other historical events to give me a better picture of how they fit together.  I've been looking for something like this for years but haven't really found anything quite so comprehensive.  There are even references to Bible era places with modern day equivalents (Ur of Chaldea is the modern day Iraq while Canaan is the modern day Palestine/Israel).  This gave me a better handle on history and geography while giving me a modern day context.

There's a lot to like about this Bible guide.  I like the author's description of how the Old Testament and New Testament complement each other.  Stedman says that the Old Testament points to Jesus Christ and prepares us for the only One who satisfies.  Not only that, but "the New Testament fulfills the promise of the Old--and we can't fully appreciate the profound meaning of the New Testament until we have first been awakened by the message of the Old Testament" (p. 27).  I also appreciate how the author traces the stories in each of the books of the Bible showing how they seamlessly tell one big story.

Equally helpful are the Bible reading plans included at the end of the book, allowing readers to choose the plan that best fits them, or to choose different reading plans each go-round.  There's even a two-year reading plan for those who find a one-year plan too intimidating.

This is truly a down-to-earth guide to the Bible that helps readers understand the historical and geographical contexts of each book.  And it's written in a way that any reader can understand.  It's not academic, so even my children can enjoy it.  With 944 pages, it's comprehensive, and yet it's non-academic, making it accessible to most readers.  If you only buy one Bible guide, buy this one!

Note:  I received a copy of the book for this review, however, the ideas and opinions expressed are my own.
4894889
This is the first Rough Guide I ever used and it was so great, that I have bought one for each of the countries I visited.  They might be large, but I only had to bring one book and it took care of all questions/confusion/curiousity/mysteries.  It became our bible on our trip to New Zealand!
3752362
I have always been a fan of the Quest study bible, but not of the fact that it only came in a hardcover version.  You may be asking yourself "why would I pay $40-$60 for a bible when I can easily get one for much cheaper?"  Let me answer that one for you.  This Bible is easily the best and most comprehensive study bible out there (save maybe the ones that have like 6 different languages in them).  In the front you will find several fantastic reading plans. Also, next to every passage is a series of probable questions you might have about the passage and the answers to them. Each book has an entire page of history/context to set it up before you read, and in the back you will find several different indexes (promises of God, a subject index and linkages to passages, etc.) and so much more.  I have countless notes in my other Quest study bible and it has changed my life.  This is simply the updated package in a more stylish leather-bound form.  I wish they had come out with this version initially because then all of my notes would be in the same place (but I guess that's why a journal is probably a better idea than writing in the margins).

Easily the best bible I have ever had, it has changed my life.
2154207
Well done.
As an owner of many Bibles, I surely don't need another one. However I have to share what I've found with you...

This Bible has an amazing leather cover, and no I didn't "need" such a supple leather and rather expensive Bible however I plan on making this one my "go to" /best friend. You know, the one a person takes to church all the time.
 It was a bitter sweet decision replacing my old friend; a "seasoned" and otherwise heavily marked NKJV Open Bible, but after long careful comparison between this one and Remnant's Study Bible (which includes the Spirit of Prophecy), I find the Amazing Facts Prophecy Study Bible to be the winner between the two for a few reasons; First, I should already have enough knowledge or be versed in the Spirit of Prophecy. Second, I felt having EGW notations may raise a red flag during Bible study to someone who doesn't know her writings causing a negative response. Lastly, I feel there's too much BLUE copy within the pages for my liking.

You will be so happy after you too understand what this Bible has to offer, not only you the buyer but also those you share this with.
 Below are some but not all the comprehensive features you will find.
1. Has all 27 Amazing Facts Study Guides include near the back. An awesome witnessing tool! Thank You.
2. Listing of all major Bible Prophecy Symbols with references.
3. Answers to difficult Bible texts with detailed explanation.
4. Gospel Comparison reference.
5. Biblical Cyclopedic index ( I rely on this a lot)
6. A Bible reading plan which assists in an annual devotion schedule.
7. Giant Print version.
Once you begin to compare Bibles, you too may find this "Top Shelf"
May the Lord's Spirit lead you down that narrow path. Matt. 7:14
4758350
This massive tome is heavily illustrated with the highest quality paper and color, as one would expect from National Geographic, and is incredibly thorough in its information. The Maps! I love the maps. Extremely detailed and plentiful, they're the best biblical maps I've seen in a book.

It is divided into 5 chapters. "From Genesis to Deuteronomy," "From Joshua to Kings," "From Chronicles to Maccabees," "The Four Gospels," and "From Acts of the Apostles to Revelation." And there's always the index if you don't know what part of the Bible the person of interest is located in, but the index isn't always complete (see paragraph below). There is also much more...an "Epilogue ~ Early Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism After the Fall of Jerusalem," and many other fascinating pieces of historical interest are included within each chapter.

As noted above, the 3rd chapter includes Maccabees. The first thing I checked when receiving this book is if it included the "Apocrypha," those wonderful books that Catholics consider part of the Bible and other Christians sadly tend to ignore. And thankfully, it does. Judith and all her gory glory depicted by Caravaggio, Mattathias and his descendants, and a piece on the Book of Tobit, as well as entries in that chapter's "Who's Who," however, Tobit and his son Tobias as well as other Apocryphal people are not listed in the index, which is a surprising omission.

This "Who's Who in the Bible" is a wonderful coffee table book, and has information that will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the Bible, its history, the culture of its times...and maps!
1096609
So, you are looking for a Bible Atlas?

Go ahead and check out your top five atlases on Amazon.... Guess what?  Most reviews give Bible Atlases 4 or 5 stars!  Why?  Bible Atlases are WONDERFUL tools for learning and understanding your Bible.  So, if you are looking to buy... buy any of the top Bible Atlases (Zondervan, New Moody, Holman, ESV, Tyndale, Rose, Biblia, etc, etc) and you will likely be happy.

So, WHY should this LITTLE, NARROW, gorgeous pocket atlas rate 5 stars (like some of the big name atlases)???  Simple: Useability.

I never paid much attention to these little Bible Atlases.  I ignored the whole "Holman Quicksource" collection of books.  But, I started using one of these little sweet guides while Bible reading and ... WOW! So simple to use and it illuminates with 400 pages of maps, charts, and photos.  Yep.. this little thing has 400 pages!

Why Buy?
It is fast and simple to use. It is great if you are reading through a book as it is organized in Bible-book order.  This small book can't compared with its bigger cousins, but it doesn't need to.  It is great in its own right: USABILITY.  I can't grab my hefty atlases as easily as I can grab this little jewel.  And it is designed to be USED WHILE YOU READ.  That is important.  This is a bible "page-turner friendly" book.

But...
Don't buy it as a STUDY ATLAS.  No.  In that case, get one of the big name atlases. There is no index in this little charmer, and I hope that doesn't change.  This Atlas is designed to follow books of the Bible as you read.  If you are looking for an obscure city, grab your full Bible Atlas.
For a very little bit of money (ten or less), you have a very neat tool, with beautiful maps, clear charts, and helpful photos.
JJ
4626216
This is arguably the best Bible around. It is in clear
English with lots of footnotes to both explain various
issues and to draw the lessons from the text. It also has a
Concordance/Dictionary, index to notes, personality
profiles, maps etc. I have used it for about 10 years and
bought 12 copies for my Sunday School Class. You should buy
the cheapest new hardback version since that is quite
adequate.
932927
This Bible makes it so easy to read the Bible and find helpful verses that apply to you.  The charts in the back are so helpful.  I got a hardcover type of this Bible that I wore it out!  Buy this Bible and you won't be  sorry.  Then I bought two leather bibles.  Ya know what?  The Bibles come  with a LIFETIME GUARENTEE!  The softcover and hardcover have a two year  guarentee. This is the Bible I live from.  I would buy this for anyone I  care about including myself.
4461767
Love this easy to follow guide to reading the Bible in a Year!
1193286
Time for another Booksneeze review!

This one is of Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts (third edition). It's a collection of all the maps and charts that are in Nelson Bibles. Now, before you write this book off as boring or type-Aish, I think you should finish reading the review! Not only is this a collection of helpful charts and maps, but it is an overview of each book of the Bible- the possible author(s), dates, themes, literary structures, outlines, and pictures too!

When reviewing this book, I perused the entire thing, but focused specifically on Isaiah because I spent a semester studying a chunk of it in my Old Testament class last semester. For those interested in a book like this, you should know that this book may tend to land on the conservative side of debatable issues, BUT that it gives the other side credit too.

I loved the attitude of the introduction of this book. They say that this is NOT just a book to sit on a shelf as a "reference" tool. Instead, they want you to freely copy and pass along information and charts to friends in a study group or your students in the classroom. To help in this, they also make all the charts and maps free for download at [...]/MapsandCharts.

This book would be a very helpful tool for those teaching introduction courses in the Bible, or for anyone who likes to see visual representations in order to better understand stories and concepts. I, for one, am a very visual learner, and would have found this book incredibly helpful last semester in Old Testament. Thankfully this book came in time for me to use it in my New Testament class starting on Monday!
543231
I bought this bible in hopes that I would be able to easier understand this critical text.  Not only is it easy to read and understand, there are introductions to each section that give you questions for thought or discussion.  I would advise anyone that has ever had trouble reading the bible purchase this one!
3253099
I just purchased the NKJV Signature Series & the calf-skin cover is a sheer work of art. The purchase of this Bible is highly recommended and will have eternal benefits.

The Thompson incorporates over 70 features giving the reader an in-depth look at the Word of God.

  Although study Bibles do offer value & I'm not about to knock any of them as I do enjoy my Life Application NLT bible but perfer the NKJV better. Sure the NLT is somewhat easier to read but when read Psalms 5:12 the NLT omits the word favor & That to mean is what I trying to discover, & that is Gods favor. I have a Dakes also & well lets say its very easy to get caught up with a persons personal opinion on what he thinks the Word of God is saying. I think that sometimes there is too much of man's option for me to use these as my every day primary usage Bible. So I also like that there's no "study notes" written by someone who could lead you away from what God might be trying to say to you. Many Bibles with same page study notes are very helpful, but they can be distracting as well. The Thompson Chain simply guides you through the chain of scriptures and you come to your own understanding

  In today's multitude of Study Bibles, the Thompson Chain stands out as a classic. The New Thompson-Chain offers something truly different from other study Bibles... it fully uses God's Word to explain itself without the help of man's opinions. It is an incredible tool to dig deep into the Word of God easily. I would encourage using a good commentary by itself but you will find that the Thompson provides a wealth of additional helps and information and because its basic feature is letting Scripture interpret Scripture, well you just seem to get more understanding out of reading Gods Word as this unique chain reference system is what helps a person to read more of what is being said.

  This truly is the best study Bible ever published as I own a personal size NKJV & my most recent purchase the NKJV Calfskin Signature Series
2743778
The title is a bit misleading...  this fantastic book literally takes you book-by-book through the Bible with a quick intro of each, including 1) Authorship, 2) Date, 3) Background context, 4) Literary context (genre, etc.) 5) Theme(s), and a concise/understandable working outline of each book.  That to me is the very best part of this book.  Additionally they include fantastic, easy to understand, charts & maps relevant to each book.  This is NOTHING like the Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps & Time Lines.  While the Rose reference is useful, when I want to know about Paul's mission journey relevant to his the church in Corinth - I just want to find it with 1&2 Corinthians.  As a graduate seminary student I have found this book to be one of the most helpful references in my extensive collection.  The intro to each book is concise, yet thorough.  When you want genuine 'take away value,' this book is the answer.  There are no extensive linguistic discussions, etc., etc. - which have their place - just the 'meat.'  Great reference for students of the Bible at any level (Bible study class, lay leadership, seminary, pastor, etc.).  This book along with Fee & Stuart's 'How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth,' are a couple of my absolute all-time favorite reference books.  Richter's 'Epic of Eden,' is a great work for a framework (metanarrative) of the Bible, and C.S. Lewis' 'Mere Christianity,' is a timeless must-read for every Christian.  Blessings in Christ.  -Kevin
154207
I have Bibles!  I have several different versions, and even parallel Bibles, so when I received the FamilyLife Marriage Bible, I thought, oh, another Bible.  To my surprise,  it isn't just another Bible!  The first feature that immediately caught my eye was that it is the New King James version.  This was a plus, because this is an easy version for me to read.

As I began to read my nightly devotional in Luke, I noticed that this Bible includes "Biblical Insights" that gives you more information on key verses, "Intimate Moments" which provides ideas on how to draw close to your spouse, "FAQ" that they answer and other bits of information throughout the pages.  For me, I find this helpful as I read the Bible, and this will give me ideas on marriage and family.

Great Bible and it will be used for many years to come.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
4019150
The Ryrie NASB is a comprehensive Study Bible that will meet all your needs.  The Hardcover edition is durable and has a "textbook" like feel to it.  I own the Hardcover and Genuine Leather editions.  The contents are the same but the Genuine Leather edition is SmythSewn for greater durability.

This Bible really has it all: great print size; book introductions; 10,000 concise explanatory notes; cross references; concordance; maps; Synopsis of Bible Doctrine and helpful articles.  The NASB, while not as easy to read as some translations, is a word for word accurate translation.  Ryrie's annotations come from a dispensational point of view and are consistent in their interpretation throughout the Bible. Rather than bog you down with lengthy discussion and multiple quotations from scholars from then and now, the annotations are succinct and focus on what the scriptures themselves have to say.  This makes a huge difference when you want to find information that gets to the point quickly.  This is the only Bible I am aware of that has such a detailed and helpful Synopsis of Bible Doctrine.

Overall, highly recommended and very useful!
3095209
This handbook is a guide for lay Bible readers and should be evaluated as such. There is a good reason why Halley's continues to sell: it fills an important need. Yes, Halley was a literalist. So what? Thousands still want to read what he had to say and they are enlightened by it.

I have an earlier version of Halley's and to me, this one, with the NIV Bible is markedly superior. I have this version both as a hardback & as an ebook and refer to them almost daily at times.

When asked about the first books a Bible study beginner should acquire, I say, the NIV Study Bible, Strong's Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words, and Halley's Bible Handbook.
2087136
This Bible(basic instructions before leaving earth) is awesome! It fits in my purse so the size is convenient. Pages are thin, but most bibles have thin pages. I will say there's not a lot of words in the concordance that you would think would be there, but it's absolutely great! Study notes are not in depth, but when I'm truly digging I use up to 3 Bibles anyway. But this is a great buy! It's easy to carry anywhere, notes are handy, and it has a concordance. The main thing it is God's word! I love my Bible.