After months of waiting it finally arrived in the mail—my new ESV Study Bible! Every Christian who is serious about studying the Bible (and that should be every Christian) needs to get one. It provides an incredible wealth of resources for putting the scripture accounts in their proper context, as well as many theological articles written by men such as Wayne Grudem, John Piper, and J. I. Packer.
But there is also a hidden gem with this study bible. Inside each purchased copy is a secret code that will give you lifetime free access to the online version. The online version has the same content as the paper version—but it is also searchable, you can insert your own study notes, and you can listen to an audiobook version of each chapter read by Max McLean. Brilliant!
Move it to the top of your Christmas list, or buy it for your friends and family.
UPDATE: The online audio has already been updated to include an audiobook read by David Cochran Heath, which I feel is clearer than the original Max McLean version.
‘Needs to get one?’ I’m still enjoying my crusty old NASB. Perhaps the word ‘need’ should be used a little more sparingly. If I ‘need’ to get this new exciting version of the Bible, then what word is left to describe the far more important task of internalizing it?
Does the ESV use gender-inclusive language? Is there a British-English edition or is it in International English?
No—it does not use gender-inclusive language. John Piper’s quote on the ESV, “It embodies the best balance of literal accuracy and contemporary English readability.”
And there is already a 2007 updated version with British/Anglicized spelling.