Frank Viola is a best-selling author, blogger, speaker, and consultant to authors and writers. His mission is to help serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. To learn more about Frank and his work, go to 15+ Years of Projects. To invite Frank to speak at your event, go to his Speaking Page. Frank’s assistant moderates comments.
Great translation. I like how the HCSB includes God’s Name, “Hallowed by thy Name” Yahweh. That is, beginning in Exodus 3:15 and follow throughout the Old Testament where God’s name is emphasized. I like that, it’s about time.
Glad to read this review.
I have used the HCSB for over 5 years. Having used the NASB for nearly 25 years before that, I really like the HCSB. In comparison with the NASB and ESV, I personally like this version better. The ESV still has too much of an archaic reading with odd phrasing at times. The HCSB is really not a Baptist Bible if you read their information in the introduction. The HCSB Study Bible is my first real study bible.
Hmm, I had thought it didn’t have a concordance, or not much of one. I’m going to give the study bible a second, and much more thorough, examination. I do enjoy the HSCB text, and, like your review stated, this bible has a wealth of information, maps, and other study aids.
Jeffrey: Someone recently recommended to me the ESV Study Bible. Looks quite impressive — looks more academic than any of the other Study Bibles on first blush. It’s on the way. Will review it as well.
It has no concordance in the back, which to me, means not only a lack of oversight but also epic fail. A study bible should, at least, have standard gear. Additionally, I thought the notes were too closed on various topics (clearly a conservative evangelical/fundamentalist bias). I still think that the NLT Study Bible is the best 🙂
Jeffrey: Actually it does have a concordance in the back. It’s not as large as the NTL Study Bible’s, but even that one isn’t exhaustive. Personally, I am not a fan of concordances in the back of a Study Bible as they can never be exhaustive. I personally think the other helps are much more important.
Regarding your comment about conservative evangelical/fundamentalist bias, the same bias exists in the NLT Study Bible (they are published by Tyndale, after all, a very conservative evangelical publisher. All the more reason why it’s a near-miracle that they published “Pagan Christianity”).
I do agree with you that the NLT commentary on some texts is better than those of the HCSB Study Bible. But on other texts, I feel the latter is better.
I am always interested in study Bibles with great visuals and comments, etc. and checked this out a bit more deeply to discover which ancient texts were given more weight in the translation process. I found this link pretty helpful in that regard: http://www.bible-researcher.com/csb.html
Sometimes the choices for a study Bible are just overwhelming so thank you for your recommendation on this study Bible Frank. I have placed my order today.
Thank you for pointing this out. I haven’t investigated the HCSB much. I looked at a few pages on Amazon. I like the way they use the colors for verses and refs. It’s often hard to find verse numbers in paragraph form when the numbers are the same color as the text. The commentary seemed very helpful as well. Definitely something to put on the wishlist.
It has no concordance in the back, which to me, means not only a lack of oversight but also epic fail. I still think that the NLT Study Bible is the best 🙂
This is a good Bible for sure. We were about to pick it up – but we found the ESV Study Bible was better for us as a family. Perhaps sometime down the road we will acquire a copy of this too for reference and comparison. 🙂
Clark
Great translation. I like how the HCSB includes God’s Name, “Hallowed by thy Name” Yahweh. That is, beginning in Exodus 3:15 and follow throughout the Old Testament where God’s name is emphasized. I like that, it’s about time.
HalleluYah!
Frank
Glad to read this review.
I have used the HCSB for over 5 years. Having used the NASB for nearly 25 years before that, I really like the HCSB. In comparison with the NASB and ESV, I personally like this version better. The ESV still has too much of an archaic reading with odd phrasing at times. The HCSB is really not a Baptist Bible if you read their information in the introduction. The HCSB Study Bible is my first real study bible.
jason aldridge
I’ve used the Holman for about 3 years and love it. I have the ESV and like parts of it but it is very. Academic. I use it supplementally.
frankaviola
Bill: The ESV Study Bible is on its way. I’ll be reviewing it down the line.
Jeffrey Turpin
Hmm, I had thought it didn’t have a concordance, or not much of one. I’m going to give the study bible a second, and much more thorough, examination. I do enjoy the HSCB text, and, like your review stated, this bible has a wealth of information, maps, and other study aids.
Thanks for the reply back 🙂
frankaviola
Jeffrey: Someone recently recommended to me the ESV Study Bible. Looks quite impressive — looks more academic than any of the other Study Bibles on first blush. It’s on the way. Will review it as well.
Jeffrey Turpin
FROG
It has no concordance in the back, which to me, means not only a lack of oversight but also epic fail. A study bible should, at least, have standard gear. Additionally, I thought the notes were too closed on various topics (clearly a conservative evangelical/fundamentalist bias). I still think that the NLT Study Bible is the best 🙂
frankaviola
Jeffrey: Actually it does have a concordance in the back. It’s not as large as the NTL Study Bible’s, but even that one isn’t exhaustive. Personally, I am not a fan of concordances in the back of a Study Bible as they can never be exhaustive. I personally think the other helps are much more important.
Regarding your comment about conservative evangelical/fundamentalist bias, the same bias exists in the NLT Study Bible (they are published by Tyndale, after all, a very conservative evangelical publisher. All the more reason why it’s a near-miracle that they published “Pagan Christianity”).
I do agree with you that the NLT commentary on some texts is better than those of the HCSB Study Bible. But on other texts, I feel the latter is better.
Lynda Rimke
I am always interested in study Bibles with great visuals and comments, etc. and checked this out a bit more deeply to discover which ancient texts were given more weight in the translation process. I found this link pretty helpful in that regard: http://www.bible-researcher.com/csb.html
Fiona Linford
Sometimes the choices for a study Bible are just overwhelming so thank you for your recommendation on this study Bible Frank. I have placed my order today.
Fiona
Bill Vencil
Glad you are liking the HCSB. I’ve got it for my Kindle. My curent fav however, is the ESV Study Bible (Kindle Edition):
I really love the study notes. Some of them remind me of the “Untold Story…”, which I also have on my Kindle.
Cheers!
cindyinsd
Frank, The HSCB has been my fav for several years. I’m excited to learn they now have a study bible. On my way to Amazon.
mark
Thank you for pointing this out. I haven’t investigated the HCSB much. I looked at a few pages on Amazon. I like the way they use the colors for verses and refs. It’s often hard to find verse numbers in paragraph form when the numbers are the same color as the text. The commentary seemed very helpful as well. Definitely something to put on the wishlist.
Seeker
I really like my Holman Bible!! Glad to see you have been converted 🙂
Jeffrey Turpin
It has no concordance in the back, which to me, means not only a lack of oversight but also epic fail. I still think that the NLT Study Bible is the best 🙂
Michael King
Thanks for the heads up Frank! Looks exciting.
Marni
This is a good Bible for sure. We were about to pick it up – but we found the ESV Study Bible was better for us as a family. Perhaps sometime down the road we will acquire a copy of this too for reference and comparison. 🙂