Bible Review: NIV The Woman’s Study Bible from Thomas Nelson

A good Study Bible can make all the difference when it comes to studying God’s Word.

This post is sponsored by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

When I wrote the post, How to Choose a Good Study Bible, I didn’t know The Woman’s Study Bible existed.

When Thomas Nelson asked me to review The Woman’s Study Bible, NIV, I was skeptical. Usually resources marketed to women are just fluffy.

After a little research though, I agreed to let them send a few copies over for me to review.

I am so glad I did!

About The Woman’s Study Bible, NIV (Thomas Nelson)

A perennial best-seller, The Woman’s Study Bible is relied on by women of all ages as the go-to source for Bible study needs. Now beautifully redesigned – and the only full color study Bible for women – its timeless content speaks God’s life-giving truth to women today.

The Woman’s Study Bible includes thousands of study helps from biographical portraits of women in the Bible to verse-by-verse study notes to topical messages for real life application to full color charts and maps.

You can see a full list of study features here.

It truly is packed full of relevant content to help you understand the Bible in context so that you can apply God’s Word in your own life.

It is available in the New International Version (NIV) and the New King James Version (NKJV). Each version comes in hardcover, hardcover floral, and leathersoft.

There are Biblical insights on every single page of The Woman’s Study Bible.

I was absolutely blown away by the amount of information packed into the pages of this Study Bible. If you want a closer look at the insides, you can download a free sample here.

Since the publication of the first edition of The Woman’s Study Bible under the editorial guidance of Dorothy Kelley Patterson and Rhonda Harrington Kelley, this landmark study Bible has sold over 1.5 million copies.

The Woman’s Study Bible contains contributions by more than eighty women leaders representing a variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds. Some of the names I recognized were Mary Kassian, Elisabeth Elliot, Susan Hunt, Anne Ortlund, Edith Schaeffer, and Joni Eareckson Tada (to name a few).

This truly is a Study Bible written by women for women.

My Thoughts on The Study Bible for Women, NIV (Thomas Nelson)

For my review, I’m going pull up my post on How to Choose a Good Study Bible and answer the questions I outlined in that post. Then, I will give you my honest thoughts on what I like and do not like about this Study Bible.  Sound good?

When deciding what kind of Bible to use for studying, I’ve found a few simple questions can usually help siphon the bad from the good pretty quickly.

1. Is it a translation or a paraphrase?

The NIV and NKJV are both translations of the Bible. The NKJV is considered to be a more literal translation and the NIV is considered to be more of a thought-for-thought translation.

2. What study tools does it have available?

I have shared most of those study tools above, but for sake of ease, I’m going to list the study tools available in a bullet point below:

• Detailed biographical portraits of over 100 biblical women
• Verse-by-verse study notes
• Over 300 in-text topical articles on relevant issues
• Book introductions and outlines
• Hundreds of full-color in-text maps, charts, timelines, and family trees
• Set of full-page maps of the biblical world
• Quotes from godly women throughout history
• Insightful essays by women who are recognized experts in the fields of theology, biblical studies, archaeology, and philosophy
• Topical index
• Concordance

3. Does it seek to help me understand the original meaning of the text?

Without a doubt, yes. The Woman’s Study Bible gives me the tools I need to come to my own conclusions about the text. It isn’t a regurgitation of someone else’s thoughts on each verse, but it is exegetical in nature.

What I Like About The Woman’s Study Bible

There is an in depth introduction for each book of the Bible.

The introductions include:

• Author
• Date
• Setting
• Audience
• Purpose
• Literary characteristics
• Themes
• Basic outline of the book

This is an important feature when you want to study a book (or verse!) in context. Not understanding the context of when the book was written causes a lot of problems when we start trying to interpret what it means for us today.

In addition, there is a good list of scholars and women teachers who have contributed to The Woman’s Study Bible.

I like knowing there are names I trust contributing to my understanding of the Bible. Women whose theology has been tested and proved, and women who take other women seriously as students of the Bible have made contributions to this Study Bible.

I also like that The Woman’s Study Bible is in full color. It just makes reading and studying so much easier!

Also, Jesus’ words are in red. This is one thing I do not like about the other two Study Bibles I currently use.

I love being able to see at a glance which words were spoken by Jesus and which words were spoken by someone else.

Finally, I love the surplus of information packed into this Study Bible. It truly is a massive resource, and it would take me days to outline all the information I have loved reading since receiving this Study Bible.

What I Don’t Like About The Woman’s Study Bible

I don’t love the fact that The Woman’s Study Bible only comes in NIV and NKJV.

However, I understand why. 🙂 They just aren’t my preferred translations of the Bible.

Because The Woman’s Study Bible is so full of information, there is very little room for note-taking or writing in the margins.

A little bit wider margin would have been nice.

Lastly, there isn’t a verse-by-verse cross reference guide. At least not the way I’m used to referring to cross-references.

The Woman’s Study Bible forces me to jump to the commentary section to search out the cross references, and I prefer to cross reference for understanding before I read any commentary on a text.

To Purchase a Copy of The Woman’s Study Bible

Overall, I found The Woman’s Study Bible to be a solid resource for women who are serious about studying God’s Word. I wholly recommend it to anyone looking for a Study Bible specifically geared toward women.

You can purchase a copy of The Woman’s Study Bible at ThomasNelsonBibles.com.

About the publisher:

In business since 1798, Thomas Nelson is one of the oldest Bible publishers in the world. Their mission is to inspire the world by using our talents, assets, opportunities, and influence to engage and equip people with Scripture and draw people to a deeper study and understanding of God’s Word.

The Woman’s Study Bible is also available on Amazon.com and Christianbook.com.

        

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and ChristianBook.com affiliate program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to their sites and affiliated sites. You can see my full disclosure policy here.

This post is sponsored by Thomas Nelson Publishers (in case you missed that at the top 😉 ). You can read my full disclosure policy here.