Playing Twenty Questions with the ESV Systematic Theology Bible

Releases October 2017, published by Crossway

1. Which translation is used? ESV 2016
2. Are there study notes? No
3. Are there sidebars? Yes. There are 424 sidebars.
4. What makes this Bible systematic? The 424 sidebars are broken down into ten categories or systems. They are: 1) the attributes of God, 2) revelation, 3) mankind, 4) sin, 5) Jesus Christ, 6) salvation, 7) the Holy Spirit, 8) church life, 9) the Christian life, 10) end times. At the back of the Bible there are two indexes to help you use the sidebars. (Canonical index; Thematic index).
5. Are there book introductions? Yes. Book introductions are 1-2 pages. An outline is included in each introduction. Old Testament introductions are by Paul R. House. New Testament introductions are by Robert W. Yarbrough. 
6. Are there articles? Yes. Located at the back of the Bible. There are 28 articles--essentially 100 pages worth of theological material. 
7. What need does it fill? I think the ESV Systematic Study Bible would be ideal for new believers. Or believers NEW to reading and studying the Word of God regardless of how many years they've been saved. Why? Because it is packed with information. But it isn't overwhelming or intimidating. 
8. Size of the text? Nice medium size. 9 pt. Lexicon. It's not large print. But it's not tiny either. No squinting will be required! Both the text of the sidebars and the text of the Bible are easy on the eyes.
9. One column or two? Two. Verse by verse or paragraph? Paragraph
10. Black letter or Red letter (words of Christ)? Black letter.
11. Are the pages thick or thin? Not super-thin but still thin.
12. Does the text bleed through the pages? Yes. But it's not bad in comparison to other Bibles I've bought recently. 
13. Does it have section headings? Yes
14. Does it have cross-references? Yes Does it have textual footnotes? Yes
15. Are there maps? No. (Personally, I won't miss not having maps).
16. Does it lay flat? Yes.
17. Which formats are available? Hardcover, TruTone leather, genuine leather.
18. Is there a concordance? Yes. About 130 pages.
19. Is it high quality? The print quality is good. The text isn't too light. Everything is readable. It features a presentation page, a page for marriages, births/adoptions, and deaths. Not all Bibles do this. The better ones do.
20. What about the overall weight/size? I think it's a comfortable size. It's not too bulky--or heavy. It may be heavy with the weight of God's glory. But it won't be too heavy to carry with you to church and back. It may not be the most convenient for reading in bed. But it is easy to read sitting up and drinking tea!  

Bonus question: How does it compare with the ESV Study Bible, the ESV Student Study Bible, the ESV MacArthur Bible, and the ESV Reformation Study Bible?

It features LESS--but in a way that makes for MORE. Everyone needs a reference Bible. A Bible they can refer back to when they have questions--their own questions or someone else's questions. But reading through a study Bible day daily--using it as your main #1 Bible? Well. It can be too much. 

It is heavy. The text is usually small--barely readable. Your brain can be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information that it fails to absorb and soak in the essentials. It can make reading the Bible seem harder and less doable than it actually is. The best Bible is the Bible you'll actually pick up and read every single day. 

I would recommend either the ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible OR the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible for daily use. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible