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ESV Archaeology Study Bible
Winner of the ECPA Book of the Year Award for Bibles Explore the Ancient World Behind the Written Word Created by a team of field-trained archaeologists, this highly illustrative Bible features brand-new notes and hundreds of helpful maps and photographs. 2,000+ study notes, 400+ full-color photographs, 200+ maps and diagrams, 15 articles, 4 timelines, and more. The ESV Archaeology Study Bible roots the biblical text in its historical and cultural context, offering readers a framework for better understanding the people, places, and events recorded in Scripture. With editorial oversight from Dr. John Currid (PhD, University of Chicago) and Dr. David Chapman (PhD, University of Cambridge), as well as contributions from a team of field-trained archaeologists, the ESV Archaeology Study Bible assembles a range of modern scholarship―pairing the biblical text with over 2,000 study notes, 400 full-color photographs, 200 maps and diagrams, 200 sidebars, 14 articles, and 4 timelines. These features bring life to the ancient texts, helping readers situate them in their historical context while recognizing the truth that the eternal God became flesh entered human history at a specific time and in a specific place.
2048 pages, Hardcover
Published April 24, 2018
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160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 17, 2018
The Bible is God’s Word in human words. As God’s Word, it is inspired and inerrant, the final authority for what Christians believe and how they behave. As God’s Word in human words, it reflects the time and place of its original composition. Interpreting Scripture correctly, then, means understanding both its divine message and its human forms.
Archaeology is one of several academic disciplines that help us do the latter. The interpretive fruit of archaeological investigation is evident in the recently published ESV Archaeology Study Bible, edited by John D. Currid and David W. Chapman. Notable features include the following:
* introductory essays to the Old Testament and the New Testament, as well as to the books within each testament;
* notes on individual biblical passages showing how archaeological studies illuminate their meaning;
* sidebars about specific people, places and concepts mentioned within the text;
*photos, maps, diagrams and charts to illustrate places, things and events;
* articles on topics related to biblical archaeology as a discipline;
*and a glossary, a bibliography, indexes and a brief concordance.
From the outset, the editors identify three “foundational pillars” that characterize their work: “biblical orthodoxy,” “academic integrity” and “accessibility.” They affirm the historicity of Scripture, but they also note instances where archaeologists disagree on the time, place and meaning of biblical events. Most importantly, they show how archaeology helps readers better understand the biblical text’s original context. Let me offer three examples.
First, covenants. The Bible makes repeated references to covenants. For example, referring to the giving of the Ten Commandments, Moses says, “The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb” (Deuteronomy 5:2, ESV). Archaeologists have discovered a number of second-millennium B.C. Hittite covenants between a suzerain and a vassal. These suzerain-vassal treaties lay out the reciprocal rights and duties each has toward the other, though the relationship is not egalitarian. The suzerain is clearly in charge.
What’s interesting about these Hittite treaties for our purposes is that Deuteronomy is organized roughly like one of them. For example, the treaty between the Hittite King Mursili II and his Amurru subject Duppi-Tessub contains five elements: preamble, historical prologue, stipulations or commandments, witnesses and sanctions, both positive (blessings) and negative (curses). Deuteronomy similarly has a preamble (1:1–5), historical prologue (1:6–4:49), stipulations (5:1–26:19), witnesses (31:19–22; 32:45–47) and sanctions (27:9–30:20).
Obviously, there are differences between Deuteronomy and the Hittite treaties. Moses was a monotheist; Hittites were polytheists. Deuteronomy is a covenant between God and His people, whereas the other treaties were between a human overlord and other human subjects. Still, it is helpful to know that when God revealed himself to the Israelites, He did so in a cultural form that they would understand.
Second, parables. Jesus Christ is famous for His story parables — e.g., the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32). Interestingly, the only other people to use story parables during this period were Jewish rabbis. They used them to explain Old Testament texts, introducing them with the formula, “To what may the matter be compared?” The Talmud records hundreds of these parables, and all of them are in Hebrew, even though the commentary about them is in Aramaic.
How does this help us understand New Testament parables? For one thing, it helps us understand that when Jesus taught His disciples, He used a well-established Jewish form of teaching — the story parable. For another thing, though the rabbis used parables to elucidate the meaning of the Law, Jesus used them to help His listeners understand the advent of the kingdom of God. Note Luke 13:18,20, for example, where Jesus asked: “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?” and “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?” (ESV).
Finally, Jesus’ use of story parables may hint at the fact that He taught in Hebrew. New Testament scholars often say that Aramaic was the lingua franca of the Holy Land in the first century A.D. That’s true to an extent and is reflected in the Gospels. Jesus uttered words and/or phrases in Aramaic (e.g., Mark 5:41; 15:34), certain place names in Jerusalem were in Aramaic (e.g., John 19:13), and Aramaic phrases even made it into the liturgical language of the Early Church (e.g., 1 Corinthians 16:22). But if Jesus’ use of story parables paralleled the rabbis’ well-established form of teaching, and if the rabbis told parables in Hebrew (even long after the first century A.D.), then it stands to reason that Jesus told His parables in Hebrew, too.
Third, the Erastus Inscription. I recently had the opportunity to travel through Greece, retracing Paul’s steps around the Aegean on his second missionary journey. One of our stops was Corinth, a city whose church Paul founded and in which he spent 18 months of fruitful ministry (Acts 18:1–17). Paul wrote two letters to the church in this city (1 and 2 Corinthians), and it is likely that he wrote his magnum opus, Romans, from this city.
Our guide walked us through an overgrown field of grass until he came to a roped-off pavement. Pointing down, he read what’s left of a mid-first-century A.D. inscription discovered in 1929: “ERASTVS. PRO. AED. S. P. STRAVIT.” That’s an abbreviated Latin sentence. When translated, it says, “Erastus in return for his aedileship paved it at his own expense.” (An aedile was a public official in charge of public buildings and, in Corinth, the famous Isthmian Games.)
Interestingly, in Romans 16:23, Paul sends greetings to the Roman church from one “Erastus, the city treasurer,” using the Greek word oikonomos rather than the Latin word aedile (ESV). It’s not certain, but it is quite possible that the Erastus of the inscription is the Erastus of Scripture, whom other New Testament passages identify as a coworker of Paul’s (Acts 19:22; 2 Timothy 4:20).
The value of the Erastus Inscription is not so much that it confirms the existence of a person mentioned in the New Testament. Rather, its value is that it shapes our understanding of the sociology of the Early Church. Sometimes, we think of early Christianity as a movement of poor people with little social influence, which it largely was. But Christ drew converts from all segments of society, including wealthier public officials such as Erastus. This helps us better understand some of the tensions between richer and poorer members that strained the fabric of Corinthian church unity (e.g., 1 Corinthians 11:17–34). I’m not suggesting that Erastus participated in this division, by the way. I’m only pointing out that there can’t be division between rich and poor in the church if there aren’t both rich and poor within the church in the first place.
In many ways, we live in a golden age of biblical interpretation, at least from the standpoint of what we can know about the world of the Bible. The ESV Archaeology Study Bible is an excellent, one-volume reference work that brings to bear the results of archaeological investigation on the necessary responsibility of reading the sacred text in light of its ancient context. Given the amount of useful information the ESV Archaeology Study Bible contains, it is reasonably priced and will repay careful study.
Book Reviewed
ESV Archaeology Study Bible, ed. John D. Currid and David W. Chapman (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018).
P.S. This review is cross-posted from InfluenceMagazine.com with permission.
P.P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
Archaeology is one of several academic disciplines that help us do the latter. The interpretive fruit of archaeological investigation is evident in the recently published ESV Archaeology Study Bible, edited by John D. Currid and David W. Chapman. Notable features include the following:
* introductory essays to the Old Testament and the New Testament, as well as to the books within each testament;
* notes on individual biblical passages showing how archaeological studies illuminate their meaning;
* sidebars about specific people, places and concepts mentioned within the text;
*photos, maps, diagrams and charts to illustrate places, things and events;
* articles on topics related to biblical archaeology as a discipline;
*and a glossary, a bibliography, indexes and a brief concordance.
From the outset, the editors identify three “foundational pillars” that characterize their work: “biblical orthodoxy,” “academic integrity” and “accessibility.” They affirm the historicity of Scripture, but they also note instances where archaeologists disagree on the time, place and meaning of biblical events. Most importantly, they show how archaeology helps readers better understand the biblical text’s original context. Let me offer three examples.
First, covenants. The Bible makes repeated references to covenants. For example, referring to the giving of the Ten Commandments, Moses says, “The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb” (Deuteronomy 5:2, ESV). Archaeologists have discovered a number of second-millennium B.C. Hittite covenants between a suzerain and a vassal. These suzerain-vassal treaties lay out the reciprocal rights and duties each has toward the other, though the relationship is not egalitarian. The suzerain is clearly in charge.
What’s interesting about these Hittite treaties for our purposes is that Deuteronomy is organized roughly like one of them. For example, the treaty between the Hittite King Mursili II and his Amurru subject Duppi-Tessub contains five elements: preamble, historical prologue, stipulations or commandments, witnesses and sanctions, both positive (blessings) and negative (curses). Deuteronomy similarly has a preamble (1:1–5), historical prologue (1:6–4:49), stipulations (5:1–26:19), witnesses (31:19–22; 32:45–47) and sanctions (27:9–30:20).
Obviously, there are differences between Deuteronomy and the Hittite treaties. Moses was a monotheist; Hittites were polytheists. Deuteronomy is a covenant between God and His people, whereas the other treaties were between a human overlord and other human subjects. Still, it is helpful to know that when God revealed himself to the Israelites, He did so in a cultural form that they would understand.
Second, parables. Jesus Christ is famous for His story parables — e.g., the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32). Interestingly, the only other people to use story parables during this period were Jewish rabbis. They used them to explain Old Testament texts, introducing them with the formula, “To what may the matter be compared?” The Talmud records hundreds of these parables, and all of them are in Hebrew, even though the commentary about them is in Aramaic.
How does this help us understand New Testament parables? For one thing, it helps us understand that when Jesus taught His disciples, He used a well-established Jewish form of teaching — the story parable. For another thing, though the rabbis used parables to elucidate the meaning of the Law, Jesus used them to help His listeners understand the advent of the kingdom of God. Note Luke 13:18,20, for example, where Jesus asked: “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?” and “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?” (ESV).
Finally, Jesus’ use of story parables may hint at the fact that He taught in Hebrew. New Testament scholars often say that Aramaic was the lingua franca of the Holy Land in the first century A.D. That’s true to an extent and is reflected in the Gospels. Jesus uttered words and/or phrases in Aramaic (e.g., Mark 5:41; 15:34), certain place names in Jerusalem were in Aramaic (e.g., John 19:13), and Aramaic phrases even made it into the liturgical language of the Early Church (e.g., 1 Corinthians 16:22). But if Jesus’ use of story parables paralleled the rabbis’ well-established form of teaching, and if the rabbis told parables in Hebrew (even long after the first century A.D.), then it stands to reason that Jesus told His parables in Hebrew, too.
Third, the Erastus Inscription. I recently had the opportunity to travel through Greece, retracing Paul’s steps around the Aegean on his second missionary journey. One of our stops was Corinth, a city whose church Paul founded and in which he spent 18 months of fruitful ministry (Acts 18:1–17). Paul wrote two letters to the church in this city (1 and 2 Corinthians), and it is likely that he wrote his magnum opus, Romans, from this city.
Our guide walked us through an overgrown field of grass until he came to a roped-off pavement. Pointing down, he read what’s left of a mid-first-century A.D. inscription discovered in 1929: “ERASTVS. PRO. AED. S. P. STRAVIT.” That’s an abbreviated Latin sentence. When translated, it says, “Erastus in return for his aedileship paved it at his own expense.” (An aedile was a public official in charge of public buildings and, in Corinth, the famous Isthmian Games.)
Interestingly, in Romans 16:23, Paul sends greetings to the Roman church from one “Erastus, the city treasurer,” using the Greek word oikonomos rather than the Latin word aedile (ESV). It’s not certain, but it is quite possible that the Erastus of the inscription is the Erastus of Scripture, whom other New Testament passages identify as a coworker of Paul’s (Acts 19:22; 2 Timothy 4:20).
The value of the Erastus Inscription is not so much that it confirms the existence of a person mentioned in the New Testament. Rather, its value is that it shapes our understanding of the sociology of the Early Church. Sometimes, we think of early Christianity as a movement of poor people with little social influence, which it largely was. But Christ drew converts from all segments of society, including wealthier public officials such as Erastus. This helps us better understand some of the tensions between richer and poorer members that strained the fabric of Corinthian church unity (e.g., 1 Corinthians 11:17–34). I’m not suggesting that Erastus participated in this division, by the way. I’m only pointing out that there can’t be division between rich and poor in the church if there aren’t both rich and poor within the church in the first place.
In many ways, we live in a golden age of biblical interpretation, at least from the standpoint of what we can know about the world of the Bible. The ESV Archaeology Study Bible is an excellent, one-volume reference work that brings to bear the results of archaeological investigation on the necessary responsibility of reading the sacred text in light of its ancient context. Given the amount of useful information the ESV Archaeology Study Bible contains, it is reasonably priced and will repay careful study.
Book Reviewed
ESV Archaeology Study Bible, ed. John D. Currid and David W. Chapman (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018).
P.S. This review is cross-posted from InfluenceMagazine.com with permission.
P.P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
June 11, 2018
This ESV Archaeology Study Bible is filled with great study tools, such as notes of cultural context, color maps, clarifying text, and editorial insights. I love the Biblical history it provides. It holds a wealth of historical information.
Even after reading only a small portion of this Hardback Bible, I’ve learned so much. It doesn’t feel like studying—more like soaking in God’s Word in a way that is clear and enlightening. It’s a wonderful resource for gaining a better understanding of the cultural and historical context of Bible times—A wonderful bonus to study time. It gives me a better understanding of how people lived.
Cons: Some of the text (probably due to space limitations) is small for older eyes, and the book is large and heavy (so not particularly portable) but the benefits far outweigh the slight disadvantages.
Cover: Okay
Title: Like it
Publisher: Crossway
Pages: 2048
Crossway provided a complimentary copy of this book through the Blog Review Program.
E.g. Psalm 52:8 “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God…” Though the tree is only mentioned briefly in this verse, the provided notes showcase its symbolism and deep significance of that time.
E.g. In 1 Samuel, the notes explain how and why David fled from Saul, clarifying the size of his army, and a map of the area at that time.
E.g. Psalms and Proverbs probably have the most significant and interesting notes (in my opinion.) The study sections provide interesting material concerning musical instruments, reconstruction photos of ancient scales, photos of a traditional wineskin, and surviving examples of wisdom literature from Egypt.
Even after reading only a small portion of this Hardback Bible, I’ve learned so much. It doesn’t feel like studying—more like soaking in God’s Word in a way that is clear and enlightening. It’s a wonderful resource for gaining a better understanding of the cultural and historical context of Bible times—A wonderful bonus to study time. It gives me a better understanding of how people lived.
Cons: Some of the text (probably due to space limitations) is small for older eyes, and the book is large and heavy (so not particularly portable) but the benefits far outweigh the slight disadvantages.
Cover: Okay
Title: Like it
Publisher: Crossway
Pages: 2048
Crossway provided a complimentary copy of this book through the Blog Review Program.
October 1, 2018
https://audrasbookblabbing.wordpress....
4.5 Stars
First of all, I want to say: #1 I have only read the footnotes in this book through Exodus. #2 A study bible really shouldn't be read the way I read it.
This study bible is really, really cool. It got me pretty excited to read my bible! This book has tons of texts from ancient myths compared to biblical text. I read most of the archaeological notes by going through and reading only the scriptures that the notes talked about. This is not the best way to read it, as it can seem a little repetitive. Even with reading it that way, it was still very interesting!
Not only does this study bible have footnotes on every single page, it also has tons of maps, photos of ruins, excerpts about different cultures, photos of ancient idols, reliefs, charts, and articles about archaeology! I learned a lot of things from it, and I would say it's quite faith-building.
The only things I didn't like were the few "duh" moments in some of the notes (a.k.a. unnecessary explanations). Also, keep a dictionary on hand. Almost every page has at least one fancy/scholarly word that no normal person would know even though there is a lot simpler words that could be used.
I have really enjoyed what I have read so far. The information this book contains is definitely worth reading and I recommend it completely!
~I was sent a free copy of this book from Crossway for an honest review~
4.5 Stars
First of all, I want to say: #1 I have only read the footnotes in this book through Exodus. #2 A study bible really shouldn't be read the way I read it.
This study bible is really, really cool. It got me pretty excited to read my bible! This book has tons of texts from ancient myths compared to biblical text. I read most of the archaeological notes by going through and reading only the scriptures that the notes talked about. This is not the best way to read it, as it can seem a little repetitive. Even with reading it that way, it was still very interesting!
Not only does this study bible have footnotes on every single page, it also has tons of maps, photos of ruins, excerpts about different cultures, photos of ancient idols, reliefs, charts, and articles about archaeology! I learned a lot of things from it, and I would say it's quite faith-building.
The only things I didn't like were the few "duh" moments in some of the notes (a.k.a. unnecessary explanations). Also, keep a dictionary on hand. Almost every page has at least one fancy/scholarly word that no normal person would know even though there is a lot simpler words that could be used.
I have really enjoyed what I have read so far. The information this book contains is definitely worth reading and I recommend it completely!
~I was sent a free copy of this book from Crossway for an honest review~
March 26, 2020
Helpful notes and supplemental material. This is a good resource for anyone interested in archaeology and the Bible.
June 22, 2018
I have a love-hate relationship with study Bibles. On the one hand, the Bible is thousands of years old, and you’d be a fool to solely rely upon your own intuition about what it all means. That’s not to say there’s some mystical secret da Vinci code hidden between the lines or something, but only that you should have a healthy suspicion of your natural intuitions about any book this old or from such a different cultural context. Because of this, a study Bible can be a great boon! On the other hand, study Bibles can gently ease the mind into a sort of cognitive lethargy; rather than pressing your synapses into the cracks and crevices of the text to hunt down meaning, you can simply glance at the bottom of the page and a pre-packaged answer to whatever question you might’ve asked is right there. As Patrick Rothfuss puts it, “It’s the questions we can’t answer that teach us the most. They teach us how to think. If you give a man an answer, all he gains is a little fact. But give him a question and he’ll look for his own answers.”1 There are answers to the questions the Bible raises, but Rothfuss is right to say that asking questions is part and parcel to the learning process.
With that out of the way, I must say that I own a few different study Bibles, and I have bought some on occasion for others as gifts. They are tools, and they are the right tools in some circumstances and the wrong tools in others. I recently got a copy of Crossway’s ESV Archaeology Study Bible, (ESVASB) and I can confidently say that it would be quite a sharp tool for many readers. So who would benefit from it?
The most obvious audience of the ESVASB is anyone who is unfamiliar with the field of near eastern archaeology, which is just about everyone. Beyond that, it’s also positioned to fill in gaps of historical-cultural context that cannot be dug up out of the ground or dusted off with a brush: names, words, concepts, customs, etc. It also has a healthy smattering of full-color maps and photos of artifacts, places, foods, clothing, etc. When paired with the text, these ought to help you feel a little bit less lost when you run into the passages that nobody preaches. If, for example, you have no idea what a threshing sledge is, Isaiah 41:15-16 (ESV) may be a bit opaque to you:
Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge,
new, sharp, and having teeth;
you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,
and you shall make the hills like chaff;
you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away,
and the tempest shall scatter them.
You will crush mountains with your new, sharp teeth? It almost sounds like a battle scene from a Marvel movie. This is an example where the ESVASB really does what it does best: it gives you not only an explanation of what a threshing sledge is and what it is for (“A threshing sledge is a wooden sled driven over harvested grain. Rocks and iron teeth attached to the underside of the sledge cut up the grain and separate kernels from husks”), but it also gives you a photograph of what one looks like.2 Of note is also what this doesn’t say: why Yahweh is saying this.
Writing commentary on a text is a delicate art, and notes like these are done exactly right: providing context without telling you what to think about it. That is your job to do as the reader, and nobody else can do it for you. Unfortunately, not every note in the ESVASB strikes that balance well. Consider, for instance, the note a few chapters later on Isaiah 44:9-20, quoted here in full:
44:9-20 This is a mocking contrast of Israel’s incomparable God with man-made idols. God’s people are foolish to abandon him for these other gods. The text describes a metalsmith fashioning a cutting tool that a carpenter then uses to cut and shape wood into an idol. Nevertheless, people are oblivious to the absurdity of worshiping an object that could just as easily have been firewood.3
Not only does this comment fail to say anything that cannot be gleaned from the text itself, but it actually does a certain damage to the text! As anyone who has read a Neil deGrasse Tyson tweet knows, sometimes analysis and exacting correctness is exactly wrong. If you have to explain a joke… it’s not funny anymore, and spelling out the literary irony of the text here flattens the effect of the irony. The job of commentary in a Bible like this is not to answer theological or interpretive questions, but to give you the context you need so that you can answer those questions yourself.
In addition to the inline notes on the text, the ESVASB has plenty of articles ranging from an overview of the discipline of Archaeology and its place in biblical studies to smaller essays on Houses in Galilee or The Sabbath. There are also introductions to each book and each testament, which thankfully tend to be concise and to the point.
The book as a whole is clean and sharp in its design—the sort of excellence you would expect from a Crossway Bible. The text is set in a readable font, but the paper teeters on the edge of too thin and text bleeds through a little bit. I was disappointed that the biblical text is in two columns, because it makes it read like reference material and seems to discourage engrossment. I also own Zondervan’s NIV Archaeological Study Bible (published 12 years ago), and though the design is a bit kitschy it’s at least single column to emphasize the biblical text over the notes. I also find its cross-reference system to be much more usable (cross references are in a column next to the verses they reference rather than in a glob at the bottom). This are relatively minor quibbles, though, and in general I found the notes of the ESVASB to be slightly more helpful. I would certainly recommend this Bible to readers who wish to understand the text but regularly find themselves confused by references to people they’ve never heard of, places they’ve never been to, or customs they’ve never participated in.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.
1 Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man’s Fear, 558.
2 ESVASB note on Isaiah 41:15-16, pp. 1012-13.
3 ESVASB note on Isaiah 44:9-20, pp. 1016-17.
With that out of the way, I must say that I own a few different study Bibles, and I have bought some on occasion for others as gifts. They are tools, and they are the right tools in some circumstances and the wrong tools in others. I recently got a copy of Crossway’s ESV Archaeology Study Bible, (ESVASB) and I can confidently say that it would be quite a sharp tool for many readers. So who would benefit from it?
The most obvious audience of the ESVASB is anyone who is unfamiliar with the field of near eastern archaeology, which is just about everyone. Beyond that, it’s also positioned to fill in gaps of historical-cultural context that cannot be dug up out of the ground or dusted off with a brush: names, words, concepts, customs, etc. It also has a healthy smattering of full-color maps and photos of artifacts, places, foods, clothing, etc. When paired with the text, these ought to help you feel a little bit less lost when you run into the passages that nobody preaches. If, for example, you have no idea what a threshing sledge is, Isaiah 41:15-16 (ESV) may be a bit opaque to you:
Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge,
new, sharp, and having teeth;
you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,
and you shall make the hills like chaff;
you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away,
and the tempest shall scatter them.
You will crush mountains with your new, sharp teeth? It almost sounds like a battle scene from a Marvel movie. This is an example where the ESVASB really does what it does best: it gives you not only an explanation of what a threshing sledge is and what it is for (“A threshing sledge is a wooden sled driven over harvested grain. Rocks and iron teeth attached to the underside of the sledge cut up the grain and separate kernels from husks”), but it also gives you a photograph of what one looks like.2 Of note is also what this doesn’t say: why Yahweh is saying this.
Writing commentary on a text is a delicate art, and notes like these are done exactly right: providing context without telling you what to think about it. That is your job to do as the reader, and nobody else can do it for you. Unfortunately, not every note in the ESVASB strikes that balance well. Consider, for instance, the note a few chapters later on Isaiah 44:9-20, quoted here in full:
44:9-20 This is a mocking contrast of Israel’s incomparable God with man-made idols. God’s people are foolish to abandon him for these other gods. The text describes a metalsmith fashioning a cutting tool that a carpenter then uses to cut and shape wood into an idol. Nevertheless, people are oblivious to the absurdity of worshiping an object that could just as easily have been firewood.3
Not only does this comment fail to say anything that cannot be gleaned from the text itself, but it actually does a certain damage to the text! As anyone who has read a Neil deGrasse Tyson tweet knows, sometimes analysis and exacting correctness is exactly wrong. If you have to explain a joke… it’s not funny anymore, and spelling out the literary irony of the text here flattens the effect of the irony. The job of commentary in a Bible like this is not to answer theological or interpretive questions, but to give you the context you need so that you can answer those questions yourself.
In addition to the inline notes on the text, the ESVASB has plenty of articles ranging from an overview of the discipline of Archaeology and its place in biblical studies to smaller essays on Houses in Galilee or The Sabbath. There are also introductions to each book and each testament, which thankfully tend to be concise and to the point.
The book as a whole is clean and sharp in its design—the sort of excellence you would expect from a Crossway Bible. The text is set in a readable font, but the paper teeters on the edge of too thin and text bleeds through a little bit. I was disappointed that the biblical text is in two columns, because it makes it read like reference material and seems to discourage engrossment. I also own Zondervan’s NIV Archaeological Study Bible (published 12 years ago), and though the design is a bit kitschy it’s at least single column to emphasize the biblical text over the notes. I also find its cross-reference system to be much more usable (cross references are in a column next to the verses they reference rather than in a glob at the bottom). This are relatively minor quibbles, though, and in general I found the notes of the ESVASB to be slightly more helpful. I would certainly recommend this Bible to readers who wish to understand the text but regularly find themselves confused by references to people they’ve never heard of, places they’ve never been to, or customs they’ve never participated in.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.
1 Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man’s Fear, 558.
2 ESVASB note on Isaiah 41:15-16, pp. 1012-13.
3 ESVASB note on Isaiah 44:9-20, pp. 1016-17.
June 21, 2018
'History is foundational to the worldview presented in Scripture'. As we read the Bible we need to know that it's contents were written to a specific people at a specific time. Therefore we need to 'go to Corinth' - to understand what the original readers would have thought - before we apply truths to ourselves. This is where Crossway's Archaeology Study Bible aims to help.
As famed Biblical archeologist David E. Graves says, archaeology is not a 'proof' for the Bible. Instead it should inform our exegesis. This is why I was excited to hear about Crossway's latest study bible. And why I was even more excited they offered me a copy to review!
So let me take you on a tour...
Look/Feel
The very first thing to say about this Study Bible is that is it looks great!
Text is in double column paragraphs with translation footnotes in a single column under the text and the references in a single column under that. Archaeological notes are at the bottom of the page in two columns.
With the amount of information provided, there was a trade-off in the page thickness. This does lead to text being visible through the pages, but this is not unlike other similar volumes. Obviously this is also needed in keeping the price down - as well as the weight - which is appreciated. It's also worth noting that the maps provided at the back of the Bible are printed on much thicker paper.
Content
The content is what really shines in this volume. Scholar involved in archaeology or related fields are the authors of all the articles. This means that the study bible aims to steer clear of the sensational, but unreliable, discoveries in archaeology. This results in information that is well attested, and the reader can know that they getting the best information.
Like many study bibles, the Archaeology Study Bible contains an introduction for each Bible book. These include the author, date, purpose, and outline.
What makes this Bible different though is the specialised 'Contributions from Archaeology' section. Here you will be pointed to discoveries that influence exegesis of the particular book. These introductions also whet the appetite for what will be presented in the next few pages. There is also a historical map for explaining the setting of the book, as well as a date of composition.
Maps
The Study Bible contains over 700 maps. These include the introductory maps, but also others showing key events. These are useful for seeing journeys or the setting of events in the Bible.
As someone who gets lost in the place names, or by places being renamed, I find these extremely useful. These maps help the reader to see the key locations - adding more depth to what is being read.
These maps also have zoomed in sections if particular events are happening in a smaller area. Or provide arrows to show where movements took place.
Locations
As you come across locations, you will find an article written on it. This includes information about the place itself, as well as information on any archaeological digs done there.
I found this helpful when looking up a passage in 1 Samuel. This presented an article about Shiloh, which referenced all the other places the location came up in the Bible text. It also presented information on the recent digs and discoveries found there. These are really interesting to read, as well as providing useful information.
Cultural concepts
The other type of article throughout the Archaeology Study Bible is cultural concepts. These ideas that come up throughout scripture that we do not have today.
When preparing a passage in Mark, I noticed one on the rabbinic use of parables. This helped me understand the common phrases and questions that a rabbi would have used, and helped me see that Jesus was using a method widely attested in that time period and location.
I look forward to discovering more articles interspersed throughout the study Bible!
Inter-testamental information
I really liked the inter-testamental information found before the New Testament. Not many Study Bibles I have used mentioned very much on what happened in the 400 years of silence.
The Archaeology Study Bible though has articles on what happened in Judea-Palestine, the Dead Sea Scrolls and what was going on in the wider world at this point in history.
It also contains a timeline that I found particularly useful. This timeline contains Bible references to things the reader need to be aware of in order to exegete the passages faithfully.
Articles
I want to draw attention, finally, to the articles found at the end of the study Bible.
Here there are 7 articles, written on different areas of Biblical archaeology. Particularly of note in here is John D. Currid's article on 'Expository Preaching and Archaeology'. This raises a number of uses for archaeology in exposition. As Currid states 'Archaeology anchors the texts in real everyday life, highlighting the "life setting" of Scripture.
There is also a useful timeline of Biblical History hiding at the back, allowing the reader to see major historical events across the major civilisations at the time.
Conclusion
This study bible is a great addition to any Christian's Bible study. Crossway has now published three study tools that, combined together, aid the reader enormously. The Archaeology Study Bible joins the ESV Study Bible (2008) and the ESV Bible Atlas (2010), providing a suite of introductory Bible study tools.
Personally I enjoyed using this Bible to prepare talks/studies in Mark, Colossians and 2 Peter. The insights provided were extremely useful, and helped me to get closer to what the original passage meant. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Crossway for another book to review! They provided me this book for free so I could honestly review it.
The Crossway ESV Archaeology Study Bible is available now in the UK.
(Full review found at https://www.david-couch.com/2018/06/r...)
As famed Biblical archeologist David E. Graves says, archaeology is not a 'proof' for the Bible. Instead it should inform our exegesis. This is why I was excited to hear about Crossway's latest study bible. And why I was even more excited they offered me a copy to review!
So let me take you on a tour...
Look/Feel
The very first thing to say about this Study Bible is that is it looks great!
Text is in double column paragraphs with translation footnotes in a single column under the text and the references in a single column under that. Archaeological notes are at the bottom of the page in two columns.
With the amount of information provided, there was a trade-off in the page thickness. This does lead to text being visible through the pages, but this is not unlike other similar volumes. Obviously this is also needed in keeping the price down - as well as the weight - which is appreciated. It's also worth noting that the maps provided at the back of the Bible are printed on much thicker paper.
Content
The content is what really shines in this volume. Scholar involved in archaeology or related fields are the authors of all the articles. This means that the study bible aims to steer clear of the sensational, but unreliable, discoveries in archaeology. This results in information that is well attested, and the reader can know that they getting the best information.
Like many study bibles, the Archaeology Study Bible contains an introduction for each Bible book. These include the author, date, purpose, and outline.
What makes this Bible different though is the specialised 'Contributions from Archaeology' section. Here you will be pointed to discoveries that influence exegesis of the particular book. These introductions also whet the appetite for what will be presented in the next few pages. There is also a historical map for explaining the setting of the book, as well as a date of composition.
Maps
The Study Bible contains over 700 maps. These include the introductory maps, but also others showing key events. These are useful for seeing journeys or the setting of events in the Bible.
As someone who gets lost in the place names, or by places being renamed, I find these extremely useful. These maps help the reader to see the key locations - adding more depth to what is being read.
These maps also have zoomed in sections if particular events are happening in a smaller area. Or provide arrows to show where movements took place.
Locations
As you come across locations, you will find an article written on it. This includes information about the place itself, as well as information on any archaeological digs done there.
I found this helpful when looking up a passage in 1 Samuel. This presented an article about Shiloh, which referenced all the other places the location came up in the Bible text. It also presented information on the recent digs and discoveries found there. These are really interesting to read, as well as providing useful information.
Cultural concepts
The other type of article throughout the Archaeology Study Bible is cultural concepts. These ideas that come up throughout scripture that we do not have today.
When preparing a passage in Mark, I noticed one on the rabbinic use of parables. This helped me understand the common phrases and questions that a rabbi would have used, and helped me see that Jesus was using a method widely attested in that time period and location.
I look forward to discovering more articles interspersed throughout the study Bible!
Inter-testamental information
I really liked the inter-testamental information found before the New Testament. Not many Study Bibles I have used mentioned very much on what happened in the 400 years of silence.
The Archaeology Study Bible though has articles on what happened in Judea-Palestine, the Dead Sea Scrolls and what was going on in the wider world at this point in history.
It also contains a timeline that I found particularly useful. This timeline contains Bible references to things the reader need to be aware of in order to exegete the passages faithfully.
Articles
I want to draw attention, finally, to the articles found at the end of the study Bible.
Here there are 7 articles, written on different areas of Biblical archaeology. Particularly of note in here is John D. Currid's article on 'Expository Preaching and Archaeology'. This raises a number of uses for archaeology in exposition. As Currid states 'Archaeology anchors the texts in real everyday life, highlighting the "life setting" of Scripture.
There is also a useful timeline of Biblical History hiding at the back, allowing the reader to see major historical events across the major civilisations at the time.
Conclusion
This study bible is a great addition to any Christian's Bible study. Crossway has now published three study tools that, combined together, aid the reader enormously. The Archaeology Study Bible joins the ESV Study Bible (2008) and the ESV Bible Atlas (2010), providing a suite of introductory Bible study tools.
Personally I enjoyed using this Bible to prepare talks/studies in Mark, Colossians and 2 Peter. The insights provided were extremely useful, and helped me to get closer to what the original passage meant. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Crossway for another book to review! They provided me this book for free so I could honestly review it.
The Crossway ESV Archaeology Study Bible is available now in the UK.
(Full review found at https://www.david-couch.com/2018/06/r...)
June 18, 2018
The ESV Archaeological Study Bible (courtesy of Crossway book review program, but thoughts are 110% my own) is a great Bible for anyone who is wanting to dive into the historical background of Scripture. I wouldn't recommend it as one's only resource for historical context, but it's a great resource nonetheless! The contributors to this Bible are field-trained Biblical archaeologists, but the vocabulary is not geared toward archaeological buffs by any means. This book truly is for anyone. The fact that it’s easy to read combined with the fact that an understanding of the historical context behind Scripture is vital to obtaining a proper understanding and application of the Word makes this a no brainer. The ESV Archaeological Study Bible absolutely deserves a spot on your bookshelf.
June 14, 2018
The recently released ESV Archaeology Study Bible claims that it roots the biblical text in its historical and cultural context, offering readers a framework for better understanding the people, places, and events recorded in Scripture. This is another beautifully done Bible by Crossway in a faithful text that can be trusted. Overall, I find it to be a useful resource that is stuffed full of historical contextual nuggets that help you to see how Bible history fits within the greater timeline of world history.
The Bible is a grand narrative about the person, work, and restoration of Jesus Christ. That is its main focus. Within that grand narrative, we are taught of real humans that lived throughout history and left us examples of what it means to either follow or reject the Eternal God of the Bible. Scripture teaches us how the incarnate Christ, God made flesh, entered human history at a specific time and in a specific place (ESV Archaeology Study Bible info flap). The Bible is not a book of fairy tales, fables, or myths. It is a narrative work and historical record of real people, real events, that took place on the greater timeline of real world history. The ESV Archaeology Study Bible gives teeth to this argument by the immense collection of archaeological records that have been discovered throughout the history of the world.
Bible Quality Considerations
There are several points I consider when deciding whether a Bible is of good quality or not. They are translation, paper, binding, font, notes, and visual appeal. Here are my detailed thoughts on these points for the ESV Archaeology Study Bible.
Translation
The Archaeology Study Bible is in the very popular, accurate, and faithful English Standard Version translation. The ESV is a formal equivalence translation, meaning it is a word-for-word approach (in contrast with a thought-for-thought approach, or dynamic equivalence). Using a word-for-word translation, or formal equivalence, makes for the most accurate exegetical or inductive study, especially when conducting word studies in the original languages.
Paper
Paper quality and style is a big factor in choosing a Bible. And much of this decision is subjective and preferential. I very much enjoy the paper in this Bible. It is just the right amount of crinkly-ness while still being thick enough for note-taking. There is a fair amount of ghosting (where you can see the text on the opposite page through the paper), but not distractingly so. The paper is white, not ivory, but also not bright-white, reducing glare and it has a matte finish as opposed to a glossy one, again, reducing glare.
Binding
My review copy of this Bible is a hardback and I find it to be very well-bound. It is Smyth-sewn to allow for it to lay flat when open. It is sewn nice and tightly, not leaving any gaps in any sections that I have found, which means that your pages will stay bound and properly in their binding for years to come. I can only guess that the leather editions are even more well-bound, as leather is a more premium level of processing.
Font
The font size in the ESV Archaeology Study Bible is a 9-point type for the Bible text and 8-point type for the study notes. These are very generous font sizes for a study Bible and the font itself has excellent readability. The Bible text is in a double column, with cross-references in the footnotes section and the verse numbers are done in paragraph structure rather than one-line-per-verse. This is typical for a study Bible.
Notes
The notes section of this Bible is extensive. If you are a history or archaeology buff, you will be in heaven. Indiana Jones would be proud (nerdy friends, you know what I mean!). Because the notes section is so extensive, I personally find them to be slightly distracting. On many pages, there are so many notes, there is very little room left for Bible text. But, much like paper preferences, this is a personal taste matter. Those of you who really enjoy study notes and study Bibles, in general, will probably find the notes to be more functional than distracting.
The quality of the notes themselves, their content and usefulness, is stellar. I will enjoy having this Bible in my home as an invaluable resource tool and reference material. I anticipate pulling it from the shelf quite often when I’m deep in the throes of intense study. It will help greatly to place me in historical and cultural context at the onset of each fresh study.
Visually Appealing
This last consideration is purely aesthetic and, therefore, subjectively based on my opinion. This Bible is not one that would attract me visually compared to others on a shelf. I would have to open it and look through it to see its functional appeal. However, I can see my 16-year-old son being very drawn to it. The design is a bit more on the masculine side and it has a contemporary vibe. Quite beautiful in its own category, but just not my personal taste.
Overall, this is another great study Bible option from Crossway and the English Standard Version. If it’s something you’ve had your eye on, I would highly recommend grabbing a copy. In addition, with Father’s Day this weekend, it would make a wonderful gift for Fathers. What better gift to the spiritual leaders of our homes than a new Bible to help them grow in their understanding of Scripture so they can become even better leaders?
I received a complimentary copy of this Study Bible from Crossway Books
in exchange for my honest review.
The Bible is a grand narrative about the person, work, and restoration of Jesus Christ. That is its main focus. Within that grand narrative, we are taught of real humans that lived throughout history and left us examples of what it means to either follow or reject the Eternal God of the Bible. Scripture teaches us how the incarnate Christ, God made flesh, entered human history at a specific time and in a specific place (ESV Archaeology Study Bible info flap). The Bible is not a book of fairy tales, fables, or myths. It is a narrative work and historical record of real people, real events, that took place on the greater timeline of real world history. The ESV Archaeology Study Bible gives teeth to this argument by the immense collection of archaeological records that have been discovered throughout the history of the world.
Bible Quality Considerations
There are several points I consider when deciding whether a Bible is of good quality or not. They are translation, paper, binding, font, notes, and visual appeal. Here are my detailed thoughts on these points for the ESV Archaeology Study Bible.
Translation
The Archaeology Study Bible is in the very popular, accurate, and faithful English Standard Version translation. The ESV is a formal equivalence translation, meaning it is a word-for-word approach (in contrast with a thought-for-thought approach, or dynamic equivalence). Using a word-for-word translation, or formal equivalence, makes for the most accurate exegetical or inductive study, especially when conducting word studies in the original languages.
Paper
Paper quality and style is a big factor in choosing a Bible. And much of this decision is subjective and preferential. I very much enjoy the paper in this Bible. It is just the right amount of crinkly-ness while still being thick enough for note-taking. There is a fair amount of ghosting (where you can see the text on the opposite page through the paper), but not distractingly so. The paper is white, not ivory, but also not bright-white, reducing glare and it has a matte finish as opposed to a glossy one, again, reducing glare.
Binding
My review copy of this Bible is a hardback and I find it to be very well-bound. It is Smyth-sewn to allow for it to lay flat when open. It is sewn nice and tightly, not leaving any gaps in any sections that I have found, which means that your pages will stay bound and properly in their binding for years to come. I can only guess that the leather editions are even more well-bound, as leather is a more premium level of processing.
Font
The font size in the ESV Archaeology Study Bible is a 9-point type for the Bible text and 8-point type for the study notes. These are very generous font sizes for a study Bible and the font itself has excellent readability. The Bible text is in a double column, with cross-references in the footnotes section and the verse numbers are done in paragraph structure rather than one-line-per-verse. This is typical for a study Bible.
Notes
The notes section of this Bible is extensive. If you are a history or archaeology buff, you will be in heaven. Indiana Jones would be proud (nerdy friends, you know what I mean!). Because the notes section is so extensive, I personally find them to be slightly distracting. On many pages, there are so many notes, there is very little room left for Bible text. But, much like paper preferences, this is a personal taste matter. Those of you who really enjoy study notes and study Bibles, in general, will probably find the notes to be more functional than distracting.
The quality of the notes themselves, their content and usefulness, is stellar. I will enjoy having this Bible in my home as an invaluable resource tool and reference material. I anticipate pulling it from the shelf quite often when I’m deep in the throes of intense study. It will help greatly to place me in historical and cultural context at the onset of each fresh study.
Visually Appealing
This last consideration is purely aesthetic and, therefore, subjectively based on my opinion. This Bible is not one that would attract me visually compared to others on a shelf. I would have to open it and look through it to see its functional appeal. However, I can see my 16-year-old son being very drawn to it. The design is a bit more on the masculine side and it has a contemporary vibe. Quite beautiful in its own category, but just not my personal taste.
Overall, this is another great study Bible option from Crossway and the English Standard Version. If it’s something you’ve had your eye on, I would highly recommend grabbing a copy. In addition, with Father’s Day this weekend, it would make a wonderful gift for Fathers. What better gift to the spiritual leaders of our homes than a new Bible to help them grow in their understanding of Scripture so they can become even better leaders?
I received a complimentary copy of this Study Bible from Crossway Books
in exchange for my honest review.
February 20, 2019
A study Bible that illuminates the history and reality of the biblical world, and a great add to your library. My full review: https://medium.com/park-recommendatio...
June 25, 2018
I’ve spent a considerable amount of time rifling through and perusing the various options of this Archeology Study Bible. So, now it’s time to provide information to you regarding what it contains.
First: The version I am reviewing was the English Standard Version (ESV). The purpose of this review is not to detail the reliability or pro’s and con’s of the ESV, but to detail some of the features the editors have included in it to make it an Archeology Study Bible.
Second: While most study bibles contain interpretive assistance based on a particular approach to theology, this study bible takes its approach from – obviously – an archeological standpoint. The editors provide several insights pertaining to the originations and even some similarities of other ancient, non-biblical writings. These commentaries aren’t intended, I don’t believe, to give “authority” to those writings, but to show some similarities among the world’s religions.
For example, found in Proverbs 22:17-24:22 is a comment titled, “the words of the wise.” This commentary references the “thirty sayings” of Solomon. The commentary provides a reference to the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope, which appears very similar. But the cross reference doesn’t stop there, but I also found it over in Psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree.” Once again, a reference to Amenemope appears.
Obviously, this piqued my interest, as I’m certain it will others. Examples like these two may inspire others with a history-buff kind of mind to dig deeper into ancient writings.
Third: Color pictures abound! Often short articles pertaining to a particular archeological find appears, and near it are pictures to assist your mind’s eye.
Fourth: Intertestamental Events Timeline. Tucked nicely between the Old and New Testaments, the editors have provided a brief, yet helpful, timeline of events that occurred during the intertestamental period of time. Names like “Alexander the Great” and “Epicurious” will likely ring a bell with most readers. This timeline helps readers place the biblical timeline in context with world history.
Fifth: Cultural points to ponder. Randomly throughout this study bible are brief histories of cultural norms, such as what divorce and the temple tax looked like in the 1st Century. These are helpful, in that they provide background from the original authors’ and readers’ points of view, rather than from the 21st Century.
RATING: Overall, I like the A.S.B., and I give it 4 stars. It will not be my primary bible for regular use, but it will certainly supplement my studies.
DISCLAIMER: I received this bible from Crossway free of charge in exchange for my unbiased review of it. All opinions are mine, and I was not required to provide a positive review of it.
First: The version I am reviewing was the English Standard Version (ESV). The purpose of this review is not to detail the reliability or pro’s and con’s of the ESV, but to detail some of the features the editors have included in it to make it an Archeology Study Bible.
Second: While most study bibles contain interpretive assistance based on a particular approach to theology, this study bible takes its approach from – obviously – an archeological standpoint. The editors provide several insights pertaining to the originations and even some similarities of other ancient, non-biblical writings. These commentaries aren’t intended, I don’t believe, to give “authority” to those writings, but to show some similarities among the world’s religions.
For example, found in Proverbs 22:17-24:22 is a comment titled, “the words of the wise.” This commentary references the “thirty sayings” of Solomon. The commentary provides a reference to the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope, which appears very similar. But the cross reference doesn’t stop there, but I also found it over in Psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree.” Once again, a reference to Amenemope appears.
Obviously, this piqued my interest, as I’m certain it will others. Examples like these two may inspire others with a history-buff kind of mind to dig deeper into ancient writings.
Third: Color pictures abound! Often short articles pertaining to a particular archeological find appears, and near it are pictures to assist your mind’s eye.
Fourth: Intertestamental Events Timeline. Tucked nicely between the Old and New Testaments, the editors have provided a brief, yet helpful, timeline of events that occurred during the intertestamental period of time. Names like “Alexander the Great” and “Epicurious” will likely ring a bell with most readers. This timeline helps readers place the biblical timeline in context with world history.
Fifth: Cultural points to ponder. Randomly throughout this study bible are brief histories of cultural norms, such as what divorce and the temple tax looked like in the 1st Century. These are helpful, in that they provide background from the original authors’ and readers’ points of view, rather than from the 21st Century.
RATING: Overall, I like the A.S.B., and I give it 4 stars. It will not be my primary bible for regular use, but it will certainly supplement my studies.
DISCLAIMER: I received this bible from Crossway free of charge in exchange for my unbiased review of it. All opinions are mine, and I was not required to provide a positive review of it.
August 14, 2018
This is a fantastic Bible, especially if you want to understand the times that you are reading about. I love how it puts things into context for me by educating me about the people and their culture. It gave me a deeper understanding of why certain things were done or said in the Bible.
There is so much information packed into this beautiful Bible. Photographs, maps and more! I love that you have so many visual aides inside to help you truly see how the people lived. Plus, having the color maps is really nice so you know exactly where you're reading about.
There are over 2000 study notes, plus diagrams, articles (like the one you see above) and more! It truly does take you into the lives of the people! I also liked that there are book introductions before each book of the Bible. I find this very helpful before actually digging into the book. You have an idea of what you're going to be reading and how you can apply it to your own life.
I have never had a timeline inside my Bible before and I love this! You can look at a glance to see when important events took place and exactly where they are in the Bible. There are actually 4 timelines in this Bible and I found them to be so helpful!
There is so much to read, to look at, and to ponder over as you read. This Bible would be great for anyone but it would really be great for Pastors, teachers or students. For my own women Bible studies, this is going to be invaluable for gaining more out of my studies.
Everything is easy to read and understand, which is also a plus. You come away feeling like you truly understand things so much clearer because of how it's written.
I really love this Bible and highly recommend it! It's become my favorite and I'm using it as I do my studies as well as my daily Bible reading. It's made it all come more alive for me. I give this Bible 5 out of 5 stars.
*This Bible was provided to me for my honest review by Crossway
There is so much information packed into this beautiful Bible. Photographs, maps and more! I love that you have so many visual aides inside to help you truly see how the people lived. Plus, having the color maps is really nice so you know exactly where you're reading about.
There are over 2000 study notes, plus diagrams, articles (like the one you see above) and more! It truly does take you into the lives of the people! I also liked that there are book introductions before each book of the Bible. I find this very helpful before actually digging into the book. You have an idea of what you're going to be reading and how you can apply it to your own life.
I have never had a timeline inside my Bible before and I love this! You can look at a glance to see when important events took place and exactly where they are in the Bible. There are actually 4 timelines in this Bible and I found them to be so helpful!
There is so much to read, to look at, and to ponder over as you read. This Bible would be great for anyone but it would really be great for Pastors, teachers or students. For my own women Bible studies, this is going to be invaluable for gaining more out of my studies.
Everything is easy to read and understand, which is also a plus. You come away feeling like you truly understand things so much clearer because of how it's written.
I really love this Bible and highly recommend it! It's become my favorite and I'm using it as I do my studies as well as my daily Bible reading. It's made it all come more alive for me. I give this Bible 5 out of 5 stars.
*This Bible was provided to me for my honest review by Crossway
June 5, 2018
I own several study Bibles but nothing like this. The archaeology study Bible is an excellent resource…it allows the reader to understand and picture the culture and times of the Biblical text. This Bible is full of illustrations, photographs, maps, and diagrams that shed light on the stories in the Bible and really help the stories come to life. When I received this Bible, I sat for about 2 hours, flipping through all of the pages and looking at the goodies that are inside, it is packed with helpful information!
There are also 2000+ study notes that discuss things from an archaeological/ historical standpoint, which makes this Bible unique. I’ve found through my years of Bible studying that understanding context is extremely important to getting the most out of verses…this Bible really explains the context with the help of many visual aids (which is wonderful as I am a visual learner).
In addition to all of the great diagrams, photos, etc, there is also a glossary included and a large concordance as well as a timeline of Biblical history.
The ESV translation is one of my favorites as it is “an essentially literal translation”. It is also a very accessible translation that is easy to understand.
Visually, this Bible is gorgeous. The cover is very sturdy with cream and dark brown coloring that would be suitable for both men and women. I love the spine of the book…it has a gold geometric design that would look gorgeous on a shelf. It feels like it is of very good quality and will last for many years to come.
I highly recommend this Bible for those who sometimes have difficulty picturing some of the scenes in the Bible. It’s a Bible that I will use for many years to come!
My Rating:
5 stars
I received this Bible from the publisher to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There are also 2000+ study notes that discuss things from an archaeological/ historical standpoint, which makes this Bible unique. I’ve found through my years of Bible studying that understanding context is extremely important to getting the most out of verses…this Bible really explains the context with the help of many visual aids (which is wonderful as I am a visual learner).
In addition to all of the great diagrams, photos, etc, there is also a glossary included and a large concordance as well as a timeline of Biblical history.
The ESV translation is one of my favorites as it is “an essentially literal translation”. It is also a very accessible translation that is easy to understand.
Visually, this Bible is gorgeous. The cover is very sturdy with cream and dark brown coloring that would be suitable for both men and women. I love the spine of the book…it has a gold geometric design that would look gorgeous on a shelf. It feels like it is of very good quality and will last for many years to come.
I highly recommend this Bible for those who sometimes have difficulty picturing some of the scenes in the Bible. It’s a Bible that I will use for many years to come!
My Rating:
5 stars
I received this Bible from the publisher to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 26, 2018
The ESV Archaeology Study Bible is based on the latest archaeological research with contributions from leading biblical scholars and archaeologists. The bible has a sewn binding with the word archeology across the cover stamped in gold. The text of this bible is 9-point in a double column paragraph with translation footnotes and references. At the bottom of the page Archaeological notes are placed. Also, the bible includes many color photos, charts and diagrams.
The bible also contains 15 full color maps - The Middle East Today, The World of the Patriarchs, The Exodus from Egypt, The Tribal Allotments of Israel, Israel under Saul, David, and Solomon, The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires, The Persian and Greek Empires, Israel under the Maccabees, Jerusalem, Palestine under Roman Rule, The Apostles’ Early Ministry, Paul’s First and Second Missionary Journeys, Paul’s Third Missionary Journey and Voyage to Rome, The Spread of Christianity in the First Two Centuries
The ESV Archaeology Study Bible is an excellent study resource for students and teachers. The many maps, color photos and diagrams are really helpful visual aids. I’d recommend this to anyone interested in biblical archeology. Archaeological study can help with understanding the meaning of many biblical passages.
*I received a complimentary copy of this bible from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
The bible also contains 15 full color maps - The Middle East Today, The World of the Patriarchs, The Exodus from Egypt, The Tribal Allotments of Israel, Israel under Saul, David, and Solomon, The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires, The Persian and Greek Empires, Israel under the Maccabees, Jerusalem, Palestine under Roman Rule, The Apostles’ Early Ministry, Paul’s First and Second Missionary Journeys, Paul’s Third Missionary Journey and Voyage to Rome, The Spread of Christianity in the First Two Centuries
The ESV Archaeology Study Bible is an excellent study resource for students and teachers. The many maps, color photos and diagrams are really helpful visual aids. I’d recommend this to anyone interested in biblical archeology. Archaeological study can help with understanding the meaning of many biblical passages.
*I received a complimentary copy of this bible from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
July 3, 2018
I received a free copy from Crossway in exchange for a review.
I have loved this Bible! It is super helpful if you’re wanting historical context, background information, or a full picture of practical things in the text (like who was this emperor? Or what did the temple look like? Or what was life like for this people group? Or what is an olive press? Or what was this city like?) There are also tons of maps in the back, timelines, and thorough introductions to each book of the Bible. There is some normal study Bible commentary but this Bible is jam packed with historical/archaeological information that you’d normally either always wonder about or really have to dig in other sources to find out. History and archaeology are not without error so obviously this historical commentary (and any commentary) should be weighed and considered and not given the same weight and authority as the Word of God (not even close) . .
The last thing I’ll add is that while I recommend this as a study Bible, I’m not recommending it as an every day Bible for two reasons:
1. It is huge and heavy.
2. The historical information is FASCINATING and so helpful as I said, but that’s for study time. I found it distracting during daily reading, church, and Bible study. I love history and random information too much to carry this one around throughout the day.
I have loved this Bible! It is super helpful if you’re wanting historical context, background information, or a full picture of practical things in the text (like who was this emperor? Or what did the temple look like? Or what was life like for this people group? Or what is an olive press? Or what was this city like?) There are also tons of maps in the back, timelines, and thorough introductions to each book of the Bible. There is some normal study Bible commentary but this Bible is jam packed with historical/archaeological information that you’d normally either always wonder about or really have to dig in other sources to find out. History and archaeology are not without error so obviously this historical commentary (and any commentary) should be weighed and considered and not given the same weight and authority as the Word of God (not even close) . .
The last thing I’ll add is that while I recommend this as a study Bible, I’m not recommending it as an every day Bible for two reasons:
1. It is huge and heavy.
2. The historical information is FASCINATING and so helpful as I said, but that’s for study time. I found it distracting during daily reading, church, and Bible study. I love history and random information too much to carry this one around throughout the day.
July 30, 2018
This is a very well thought out Study Bible. Throughout it's pages and features, it stays true to the subject of Biblical archaeology and Scripture. It's contributors bring an enormous level of credibility, experience, and application.
This Bible is appropriate for anyone with an interest in understanding how archaeology and ancient cultures relate to Scripture. It's also perfect for those in Seminary, and for anyone in any teaching capacity in the church, including pastors preparing sermons every week. I admit, I wouldn't likely preach from this Bible, but will most definitely use it in study and for teaching in classroom situations, and for sermon preparation.
The ESV Archaeology Study Bible comes with my deepest recommendations for anyone and everyone who has even the slightest interest in Biblical archaeology and desires a deeper understanding of how ancient cultures and Scripture relate.
I received this book in return for an honest, but not necessarily favorable, review from Crossway Books in participation with Crossway’s Blog Review Program. I have an extensive review with photos on my website (https://genewhitehead.com/book/esv-ar...).
This Bible is appropriate for anyone with an interest in understanding how archaeology and ancient cultures relate to Scripture. It's also perfect for those in Seminary, and for anyone in any teaching capacity in the church, including pastors preparing sermons every week. I admit, I wouldn't likely preach from this Bible, but will most definitely use it in study and for teaching in classroom situations, and for sermon preparation.
The ESV Archaeology Study Bible comes with my deepest recommendations for anyone and everyone who has even the slightest interest in Biblical archaeology and desires a deeper understanding of how ancient cultures and Scripture relate.
I received this book in return for an honest, but not necessarily favorable, review from Crossway Books in participation with Crossway’s Blog Review Program. I have an extensive review with photos on my website (https://genewhitehead.com/book/esv-ar...).
June 12, 2018
I received a free copy from Crossway in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are 100% my own. Thank you, Crossway!
Click here to go to my blog and read my review.
Click here to go to my blog and read my review.
July 29, 2025
Amazing way to connect with God.
Want to read
April 28, 2018Fascinating discoveries here.
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June 6, 2018I am reviewing the ESV Archaeology Study Bible! I have really enjoyed getting to read this bible! It has tons of wonderful facts about the Biblical history. It is a wonderful starting point if you are interested in a deeper study of the bible and all of the cultures during biblical times. The 200 plus study notes make reading deeper into Gods word easier. The maps make it easier for me to place where different events happen. The pictures peak my interest!
I was given this bible in exchange for my fair and honest review. The thoughts and opinions are own.
I was given this bible in exchange for my fair and honest review. The thoughts and opinions are own.
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