ESV Student Study Bible, Crossway Books

I received a notification from Crossway Books last week that they had just released their latest ESV Bible and that it was Students Study Bible version. I immediately ordered one since I work with some college students and young adults just starting their careers (I use to be the Youth Pastor at our church). 

I am very pleased with this new version of the ESV Study Bible. In addition to the regular study notes and topics that are included, along with the Outlines and Introductions to each book of the Bible there are several new features. In the Student Study Bible they have included 120 new Bible character profiles. These profiles are short (just a few paragraphs each) but they are well done and help the student get a thumbnail sketch of important characters of the Bible. 

There are also 900 New 'Did You Know" facts that are listed throughout the Bible. An example from page 34 is the "Did you Know" fact about "Cherubim (Genesis 3:24) are angels who guard holy places. They appear in various places in the Bible. 'Cherubim' is the Hebrew plural form of 'cherub'." These little facts help a student to come to an understand about a term that they might not be familiar with if they are new to Bible reading. 

Also included in the Bible are the plan of salvation and many topics that will help a new Christian navigate their way to a better understanding of the Bible. The color maps are well done and give just the right information when needed to go along with stories that the student is reading. 

Then there are the regular notes (commentary) at the bottom of each page that give the students information regarding the text that they are reading. There is also a great concordance in the back that is well done and will help students to search out topics that they are interested in. 

Finally, all of this in the Bible you purchase your student plus an authentication code that will allow them to register with ESV.org so that they will have full access to the ESV Study Bible online as well as the printed edition they have. Today's students are so computer oriented that you will find that many of the students will become so adept at using the online Bible that they won't have to carry their study Bible with them, instead they can sit down in an internet cafe or at a library and sign on and start reading and studying anywhere. 

I think that Crossway Books has done a great job in putting this Bible together and just when you thought, how can they improve on the ESV Study Bible, well they do it with the Student Version. So, thank you Crossway for developing this new study tool for students. 

Enjoy and God bless!