The HCSB Study Bible is scheduled to be released in October of this year. But CBD has 16 sample pages for you to look through right now!
Here are my initial impressions
- It’s beautiful. This study Bible is printed in full color, instead of in two colors, like many other Bibles. Not just the map pages, but all throughout you’ll find very nice design work.
- Those pesky brackets are refreshingly absent!
- There are lots of notes. This is not merely a devotional Bible with a few thoughts at the bottom of the page. There are very copious notes.
- The notes are detailed. There are even explanations of certain Greek terms that are important to the passage.
- The introductory notes are thorough. The introduction to Matthew is very strong without sounding too academic.
- I don’t have enough pages to tell what theological biases the note writers take. My concern is that there may be an obvious dispensational, Baptist interpretive stance (see notes on Matthew 3:6 and on page 1843). But there just isn’t enough information here to judge.
- Unfortunately, the pronouns referring to deity have still retained their capitalization. But from my discussions with Dr. Blum in my earlier interviews, it sounds like that’s not likely to change.
Some more clarifications
While you’re checking it out, keep these further clarifications in mind about the updated text. The Minister’s Bible was already in print while some discussions were still going on about certain issues. So the Study Bible will probably be the first to have these changes:
- Footnote or bullet point about “tongues” in 1 Corinthians
- Footnote or bullet point on John 3:16 about the reason for the HCSB translation of that passage
- Footnote or bullet point on the word “brothers” throughout the NT
Conclusion
Overall, I’m very impressed with what I see in the Study Bible. I don’t personally use study Bibles, but this looks like a good one. Again, since I’m neither dispensational nor Baptist, I don’t know how strongly to endorse the notes themselves in certain parts of this study Bible. That being said, though, this appears to be a high quality, thorough study Bible that will serve well an excellent translation.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the great link. I appreciate the information. It does look great, and I’m really happy with some of the changes in the text still to come. I just hope the pages aren’t too busy (with all the color, pictures, etc.) to easily digest. As far as the notes are concerned, I would be very surprised if they aren’t baptist and somewhat dispensational in nature.
I am Baptist but not dispensational, so I share your concerns on the notes. I am afraid that’s what it will be though. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. I’m not a ‘study Bible guy’ either, but the best one I’ve seen is the NIV Study Bible. The notes are evangelical but as far as I can tell they explain things without any bias. I was hoping the HCSBSB would do the same. Time will tell.
I just checked it out. This study bible is quite impressive. The layout is great.
Looks great so far. This study Bible will go a long way I think in increasing the readership of this fine translation. If the B&H guys are thinking, they might make some preview copies or pre-release copies available to the folks at the Together For the Gospel conference next month. May boost their standing. Regardless, I am eagerly anticipating the arrival in October.
Not a bad suggestion. I’ve passed it on.
Thanks Will!
It looks pretty good. Not sure if I understood your above statement, but are you saying that you are not sure now if the Minister’s Bible will have the final changes for the HCSB? I really would like to know for sure as that is an expensive bible that I plan to buy, and if it does not have the final changes I would rather not buy one as I already have a copy of the Minister’s Bible, 1st edition.
Yeah, apparently one of the benefits to B&H of not making this a full-blown official update is that they can release these changes in stages. Most of the changes, at least textually, should be in the Minister’s Bible. The changes we’ll see later are probably going to be related to notes,bullets, etc. That would be my guess anyway.
I might cancel my pre-order of the HCSB Minister’s Bible if that’s the case.
It will be nice when they finally finalize the revisi0n and make it available to folks in a simple bible format. I really don’t want to have to buy a study bible to finally see it! I’m hoping perhaps Olive Tree will make it available soon for my iphone but the screen shots on the version they currently offer seem to show the older text.
It’s sad that the Minister’s bible has been hyped as containing the fully revised text. That’s an expensive edition to purchase if that’s what one is seeking…. great binding but that’s a steep price to pay and not get the real thing.
Unfortunately the pdf isn’t loading for me at all.
This is about par for the course for me! I’ve tried to contact B&H to get a review copy of their new text so that I can give them some exposure on WorldViewChurch.org (a Chuck Colson related site) but can’t even get a response from them when using their contact form!
I have been blind testing translations in my congregation each Lord’s Day. Everyone could read the NLT without stumbling. The ESV was definitely harder. The HCSB seems to be a good compromise for accuracy and readability in my setting so I’m definitely up for using it on a more regular basis.
I’ve updated the link to go directly to the CBD page with the sample. Try it now.
Thanks. I subsequently downloaded it. I had to change from Google Chrome to IE. The problem also was the size… I assumed 16 pages would be relatively small but it was 38 megs.
Very nicely laid out. I am looking forward to actually getting to read the revised text. I have to say that my mind has recently changed about the HCSB and I’m enjoying the present version as well.