Life Application Study Bible (2000, Hardcover, Updated)

This is by far the best bible I have ever seen much less owned. You can get it in many different translations. This bible is unique in so many ways. Before each book ex. Job, there is about two pages telling the "Mega Themes" of that book of the bible. It also lists the most important characters in that book, and has 100 character profiles of characters in the bible. It has lots of maps all threw it and a time line across the top of the page so you literaly know what time era you are reading. This bible is the MOST UNDERSTANDABLE bible out there, and not just for great translation. It has on each page about half the page is scripture and at the bottom half is food notes explaining what you just read. It gives deeper insight. No scriptures are skipped the book is long but you get more out of reading one chapter in a book with reading thoughs foot notes than if you read many chapters on your own. Literaly anyone can understand it and thats what makes it so awsume. When you read it in the New Liveing Translation, like I have. The scriptures sound like how we talk now. This bible reads so well that you could get up infront of a congregation with no experiance no nothing just read some versuse and the foot notes explaining it and people would think you are a preacher. It just reads that way. So its almost like I am getting preached to by a preacher every time I read it. If you can read you can give a sermon with this bible. By the way Billy Graham has praised this bible the Life Application Study Bible, his quote is "The Life Application Study Bible is a great step forward in helping Christions apply the Bible's life-changing message in our own lives". No bible has ever kept my interest and keep me reading daily ... just because I want to. I didnt want to with other bibles. If you know someone who want to minister too and they dont know the word of God well or even someone like me thats been a christion for awhile, well this bible is what you need to get to that lost person. They need you to give it to them. Then they will be more likely to read it as it is formated alot like a text book, which is a familuar learning style we use here. The word of God is all in there, theres just a ton of extra stuff that doesnt complicat it simplifys with explanations. This is a great bible for anyone, especially that lost soul you want saved.

Easy to read, and feels like you are personally in the story. The personality profiles are great. The indexing and the maps are also easy to follow and to get to. Binding is good, but a little unstable. The cover and binding could be better, especially if in leather or some other smoother, tighter form. Still overall an excellent grade.

I've owned this bible for several years and it is my favorite one. I have a hardcover version I keep in the car so I can read while I'm waiting in car pool line, or while the kids have music or taekwondo lessons. I have one that has the leather cover that I use in the house and going to church. Each book is introduced to the reader with background information - who the book was written to, what the themes in the book are, etc. The lives of some of the biblical people are outlined within the pages of the book of the Bible that they are mentioned in, lots of study notes and commentary appear at the bottom of the pages, as well as MAPS showing you where things happened. I LOVE that! You don't have to flip to the back of the book to find the map! Get one of these, in whatever your favorite translation is. Your Bible study will be greatly enriched.