The Macarthur Study Bible by John MacArthur (2007, Paperback, Updated)

I recently re-read MacArthur's book "The Gospel According to Jesus", and many new insights happened as a result. MacArthur's perspective is not in so much of today's easy believism where one can mutter some words to get into heaven, but rather in setting forth Jesus' principle that more is demanded of true Christian believers. Specifically, that Jesus is not just "savior" but also seeks to become Lord of our lives in an authentic, intimate, eternal salvation experience.

Impressed as I was with MacArthur's work, I heard about his Study Bible, and bought an NASB translation despite my own preference for King James. And again, MacArthur delivered a truly spirit-awakening literary experience. There are tons of timelines, maps and explanations of both historical events that occurred (Old Testament) as well as timelines of events prophecied and yet to unfold. But mostly, the study notes ALONG WITH the Biblical text, is the Gem within this Bible. MacArthur does - in my opionion - an absolutely brilliant job of explaining the Biblical text, and providing additional Biblical references that support his summary. I cannot help but believe that he was being moved by the Spirit when he wrote his commentaries, in preparing this work because some of the insights are things that at some level you know are true, but perhaps you've breezed past the actual sentence before but never noticed the spiritual importance of it in the Bible.

I do not think this Bible is best for those wanting to skim through things lightly, although the text itself is in plain English and certainly would accommodate that. Rather, the main value of this Study Bible, is in slowing things down and "drinking in" the Word, the study notes, going to the various other Scriptural references noted, spending time in the maps. Sure it's more work to get into this Study Bible. But in truly spending time "abiding in" the Word in this particular Bible, how can greater intimacy with the Creator of the Universe not result?

If you are a serious searcher of Truth, the MacArthur Study Bible will deliver eureka moment after eureka moment if you invest the time to dwell in it, and let the words sink in.

I highly - highly - recommend the MacArthur Study Bible.