Friday, April 21, 2017

NIV Faithlife Study Bible, Standard Print

book cover
NIV Faithlife Study Bible
Standard Print


ISBN-13: 9780310080572
Hardcover: 2704 pages
Publisher: Zondervan
Released: March 7, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Filled with innovative graphics and rich commentary, this visually stunning study Bible delivers helpful insights designed to inform your faith. Robust study notes are built on the original languages and adapted from the popular Faithlife Study Bible app. The balance of striking graphics, comprehensive study features, and intriguing insights from multiple points of view will keep you curious as you explore the treasures of God’s Word.

Features include:

-The full text of the most read, most trusted modern-English Bible – the New International Version (NIV)

-In depth book introductions that include an outline and information on authorship, background, structure, themes, and a map, a timeline, or both

-Verse-by-verse study notes with the unique focus of revealing nuances from the original biblical languages for modern readers

-Informative contributions by respected scholars and best-selling authors including Charles Stanley, Randy Alcorn, and Ed Stetzer, among others

-Over 100 innovative full color infographics, comprehensive timelines and informative tables to enrich Bible study. Three detailed life-of-Jesus event timelines chronicling his infancy and early ministry, the journey to Jerusalem, and the passion and resurrection. 27 family trees and people diagrams illustrate the interconnectedness of key characters in Scripture


My Review:
NIV Faithlife Study Bible is a New International Version with copious study notes. These notes included word studies, information on people and places mentioned in the verses, and cultural or historical background information. It also had maps, timelines, family tree charts, tables comparing different theological views, and infographics showing things like a fishing boat, ancient Israelite house, and royal seals of Judah.

It sounded like the study notes would focus on helping the reader understand the text for themselves rather than telling the reader what to think about the verses. In the New Testament, that was generally true and I felt the notes and graphics were interesting and helpful. It's in the Old Testament--especially early Genesis--that I had some problems.

The Old Testament notes often assumed that other Ancient Near Eastern beliefs deeply influenced the biblical narrative and beliefs. I believe that Genesis preserves the true history of the universe, and any similarities found in ancient myths are degraded forms of that true history. So I had problems with statements like "this reflects an understanding common in the ancient Near East" about how the universe worked, and then the verse was explained using New Eastern beliefs. And we're told that "the deep" in Genesis 1:2 refers to chaos and a chaos deity, thus God created chaos and so "the chaos is part of what God deems 'very good'" All because the word for "the deep" is somewhat similar to the name of a chaos deity in a religion that existed around the time of Moses.

The notes sometimes provided a look at a various viewpoints. In early Genesis, they gave more information about views that don't favor the plainly intended meaning of a verse. So we're told that the author of Genesis 1:5 specifies the length of the day with "evening and there was morning," but then they immediately say it could really mean any length of time. They could have simply stated the nonliteral interpretations rather than making it clear that they favor a nonliteral view. The notes for Noah's Flood mention that there is evidence that backs up a global flood and the verses clearly indicate such, but then basically say that a global flood is still questionable. I would have preferred it if the notes just stated the various views or that there are similarities with other religions rather than telling us what to think.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Graphic Example:



Thursday, April 6, 2017

Reclaiming the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation by Robert Morgan

book cover
Reclaiming the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation
by Robert Morgan


ISBN-13: 9780718083373
Hardback: 192 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: April 4, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. — Psalm 19:14

Do you long to deepen your intimacy with the Lord? To find a sense of soul-steadying peace? To develop emotional strength? Then you will need to pause long enough to be still and know He is God. Trusted Pastor Robert Morgan leads us through a journey into biblical meditation, which, he says, is thinking Scripture—not just reading Scripture or studying Scripture or even thinking about Scripture—but thinking Scripture, contemplating, visualizing, and personifying the precious truths God has given us.

The practice is as easy and portable as your brain, as available as your imagination, as near as your Bible, and the benefits are immediate. As you ponder, picture, and personalize God’s Word, you begin looking at life through His lens, viewing the world from His perspective. And as your thoughts become happier and holier and brighter, so do you.


My Review:
Reclaiming the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation examines the practice of meditating on Scripture. The author started by explaining what biblical meditation is and the many benefits of practicing it (like peace, energy, hope, insights, etc.). He talked about biblical and modern examples of people who practiced biblical meditation and provided "quick tips" about practicing Biblical meditation. He also explained how to meditate on Scripture by pondering, personifying, and practicing the verses to help you to internalize these truths and gain God's perspective on life.

While it seemed like much of the book focused on convincing the reader to take up (and stick with) biblical meditation, I did feel comfortable that I could do it after completing this book. I enjoyed the 10-day meditation guide at the end, which takes you step-by-step through the "ponder, personify, practice" process using some verses quoted in the book. Overall, I'd highly recommend this book.

Side note: He included a story about having trouble sleeping once due to a sudden fear that popped into his mind, but meditating on a Scripture verse allowed him to fall back to sleep. I've been struggling with fears popping into my head when I'm trying to sleep, but I've been able to remain calm since I started pondering Bible verses as I go to bed. I felt like that story was just for me.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.