3 Study Bibles to consider (and why you should own one)

If there was only one tool I could put in your hands to help you follow Jesus better, it would be a solid study Bible. When we take folks who are new to our church through Starting Point (which is the first meaningful opportunity to learn more about our church and get connected beyond merely attending), we spend so much of our time together talking about the Bible.

One of the major themes we emphasize is that we believe the Bible tells one big story that is all about Jesus. We also talk a lot about the fact that there is no single catalyst for your growth and progress as a follower of Jesus that surpasses personal Bible reading. Simply put, carefully and consistently reading the Bible supercharges everything else.

The more you read and study Scripture on your own, the more you’re going to grow. You will get more out of the sermons. You will get more out of your discipleship group. Your character will begin to change. The fruit of the Spirit will be more evident in your life (Gal. 5:22-23). Through his Spirit God will use his Word to make you like his Son.

It never fails.

Of course, you will find your Bible reading to be so much more enjoyable and engaging when you actually understand what you’re reading. That’s what makes a study Bible so valuable.

Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely passages that are so unmistakably clear and obvious that you don’t need any help to observe, interpret, and apply them on your own. But if we’re honest, most of the time it doesn’t take us long before the chapters or verses we’re reading become a maze of questions and (hopefully) mild confusion.

A solid study Bible helps bring clarity to that confusion.

Study Bibles always have useful information at the beginning of each book of the Bible to help you get your bearings. They also tell you things like: who wrote it and to whom, when and why it was written, and how you might apply its message to your own life. It will have notes at the bottom of each page (usually a lot of them!) guiding you toward a better understanding of the chapters and verses you just read. And in most cases, they will include a ton of extra content to help you learn even more about the Bible and its message.

A solid study Bible is a one-stop shop for biblical literacy. No study Bible is exhaustive (it doesn’t cover EVERYTHING), but I promise you will be exhausted before you exhaust the resources, notes, and commentary in your study Bible.

So which one should you choose? There are SO MANY good options, but here are 3 of my favorites with a brief explanation:

ESV Study Bible – The ESV is my favorite translation (most days). It’s the version I preach from. I like that it retains much of the beauty of the KJV without the language barrier of early 17th century English.

NIV Study Bible – I think the NIV is a little more readable than the ESV. And the updated NIV Study Bible (linked here) is an amazing resource! I use my ESV and NIV study Bibles side by side all the time.

CSB Study Bible – In my opinion, the CSB is the most readable version that is also a truly reliable translation of the original languages. However, I’m honestly not wild about the way it translates some familiar passages like Psalm 23 that we expect to sound/read a certain way. But setting that small gripe aside, the CSB is a super readable translation and the CSB Study Bible also offers a ton of helpful insight for your Bible reading.

Regardless of the translation or study Bible you choose, the key is to engage with God’s Word daily. A study Bible is a great tool, but your commitment to reading and applying God’s Word is what truly brings leads to Christlikeness.

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Note: There are countless versions and covers of each of these Bibles, so choose the one you like best. You can’t go wrong with any of these!