Reformation Study Bible is my favorite study Bible. The notes and commentary are biblically solid. I have been reading through the entire study Bible and have found it to be extremely helpful illuminating Scripture. It is theologically conservative, which I appreciate.
Terrific and fair review! I grew up in the Reformed tradition. I have the older and newer editions of this study Bible. It was the only Bible I ever used until I started watching your Bible reviews. I have quite a few in ebook format now, so I can read the notes from different perspectives. I still belong to a Reformed church because I like the expository preaching, the importance of every member knowing what their Bible says, and the seriousness of worship. But you are right; some Reformed churches believe they are the ones with the real truth. But after listening to your channel, I admit that some things within some Reformed circles have always made me sad. Complementarianism is one. Election is another. But what bothers me the most is that I don't feel that I can invite "anyone" to church because some won't be warmly welcomed. Not many Reformed churches reach out to people who live on the margins of our society either. I always had to take my children to Catholic outreach ministries so they would learn to have a heart to minister to anyone in need. In my personal experience, I have witnessed male church elders dismiss the capabilities of women on several occasions. A woman interested in ministry can work in the nursery, teach Sunday School or a women's Bible study, or work in the kitchen on Wednesday nights. Reformed churches are not all the same, but there are only two Reformed denominations in my area - PCA and ARP. They are similar. Churches in my area seem to be ultra-liberal/nonBiblical or ultra-conservative/legalistic at times. Thanks for making these videos. I appreciate your videos and the youth work that you do in Charlotte.
Great review, I do lean reformed myself but I can and I think we should be able to see why different folks land in different camps while agreeing to disagree respectfully. We’re brothers and sisters in the body of Christ first. I appreciate you taking the time for the in depth review with the bias stated upfront.
I have the NKJV edition of the Reformation Study Bible. When I still use a physical Bible (I more frequently use Bible apps on my phone these days), the Reformation Study Bible is the one I use. I must admit more of a Calvinistic bias as not only is this my primary study Bible, but I have been attending churches in the Presbyterian Church in America for over 20 years and many of my favorite authors share that same bias as well. All the same, I appreciate your review of the ESV edition and I found it to be careful, thoughtful, and helpful.
I'm a Reformed Baptist (of the “uncaged” sort you spoke about, LOL), and I have been using a New Geneva Study Bible NKJV (the precursor to the Reformation Study Bible) since it came out back in 1995. However, after using the Faithlife Study Bible via Logos, and after having watched your excellent review of the FSB, I intend to get a paper copy in the NKJV for future use. Of course, I typically carry with me a smaller NKJV Bible, but I often use a study Bible as well. Anyway, thanks for your helpful reviews.
I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for shag carpet (I’m reformed Baptist). 😎. I have seen this Bible in stores before but have not yet purchased it. I must say, your review of this Bible was utterly outstanding! Thank you for your in-depth review. I’m currently in seminary and I was excited that I was familiar with most everything you touched on. Keep up the good work!
I, like you, am not Reformed (with a upper-case ‘R’), but I am reformed (with a lower-case ‘r’). Great review. It is one of the Bibles I use for reference on my Olive Tree app. (hence, it sits on my digital ‘shelf’). It is always good to be familiar with different perspectives.
I am a Reformed Presbyterian (aligning myself with PCA) and I really appreciate your fair and unbiased view of this study Bible! Thanks for a thorough review of my favorite study Bible! I would say the 2015 edition is a lot better than this one since they expanded the notes and all that.
I myself might be Orthodox but I still really like all your reviews and how you really explain all the things and give different opinions. Overall just great channel bro :). Also will you improve the camera resolution in the future its a bit hard to see the text and the type of notes. Anyway Godbless!
As a Christian, I don’t know what flavour I am and I don’t understand why we have to categorize ourselves… I think that it’s Satan’s way of having us take our eyes off the prize..of doing what we’re supposed to be doing…that is shining His light into a dark world instead of arguing amongst ourselves I liken it to God looking down on His squabbling children arguing that “I know God more than you do!” As long as you believe that Jesus died for you, that He was God incarnate..you are my brother/sister in Christ
In my opinion, I found the hubris to continue in many of the comments and articles in the ESV Reformation Study Bible. I initially got the Bible to learn more about the Calvinist approach to Scripture and was disappointed that they only explained a few passages that disagree with their viewpoint. I learned a lot more from Joel Beeke's KJV Reformation Heritage Bible and Richard Pratt's NIV The Spirit of the Reformation. Both bibles are more theological, devotional and traditional in the Calvinistic Puritian/Reformed tradition.
My religious background and views are very close to your own. I'm not fond of the ESV and I really expected to dislike the tenor of this particular study Bible, but after viewing your review I'm pleasantly surprised: it looks like a solid resource. I might pick it up sometime if I run across it in the wild.
I respect your work. Like others have said, you're fair and explain as opposed to a bunch of bashing and trash talking. You mentioned other options to Calvinism or the reformed tradition. I'm trying to explore these other options but don't know who to read to get an accurate picture. Would you recommend some books that lay out your view as clearly as possible, please? Thanks much.
@@Sean210_retired start with the video here on the channel where I explain why I am not a Calvinist. Then head over to the Society of Evangelical Arminians website for more articles on Corporate Election/Communal Arminianism.
I find it funny because this bible and the Lutheran study bible share the same name in Spanish, me and my close Presbyterian friend had a good laugh about it, this is a great bible.
Reformed Protestantism of the Calvinist sort, I believe, is marketed wrongly. The Reformation Study Bible seems to present it pretty well. Firstly, I would not start with the Tulip. When I get to the Tulip, I would put a more positive slant on each point. 1) Totally Inability (rather than Totally Depravity) means that a sinner cannot be justified by his own power. It is God who justifies him. Limited Atonement doesn't mean that Christ dies for only a few. Paul states that Christ's blood was shed for many, but not all. God willing the Fall just means that God created finite humans who are not robots. Adam was finite and a moral agent. I came very close to becoming a Calvinist at one point. I still respect Reformed doctrine. I do believe everyone God elects will persevere to the end. Good review of the Reformation Study Bible.
Nicely put… even some (not all) people are mistaken in the words Jesus spoke during the fullness of time. Providence those words are still alive today?
Oversimplifying Reformed theology like that is not helpful. This Study Bible is frikkin' great while it also retains the warts of our Reformed peep's indiosyncracies.
@@markwalker3484 “If” we are unholy because of inherited sin, then it follows that the only hope is for God to save us by giving us a foreign righteousness (from Christ)- that is the good news.
you do realize that through the different lens the bible changes. if you look at it from mans perspective it makes sense with free will and you choosing God.... etc. but if you look at it from Gods perspective then its all about God and his glory. I was in the same boat as Nico looking at the scriptures from mans perspective and realizing that doing so im looking at it from a physical creation standpoint. Jesus said no Nico you dont crawl back in the womb to be born again but rather look at it from Gods perspective and you must be born of spirit. Mans perspective = physical universe that God created Gods perspective = eternal realm spiritual so ever since i found that stance on theology i see the God of the universe way differently now then i did when i was a arm.....now im strictly by Gods POV. Its all about what the father has done for the son and never been about man EVER. mans free will is not even real. never has been. salvation is a pardon that is given to you by the king Jesus kinda like the POTUS pardons his son Hunter for all his crimes. Jesus pardons whom he wants to and you have no free will decision in that. it all belongs to the father whom he chose before the foundations of the world in the eternal covenant of whom Jesus is going to pardon called the elect bv the father written in the Lambs book of life. Its all about Gods glory and has nothing to do with man. sorry but that is the true theme of the bible. The Godhead's plan was the father gave the son a gift called the Human race and to show the father how much he loved his new gift Jesus told the father that i would die for my bride or gift. NEVER BEEN ABOUT MAN EVER!!!!!!!! WE ARE JUST BENEFICIARIES OF THE KING PERIOD
@@The300ZXGuru your way of reading Scripture is very much a human perspective (and one that arose primarily in the 16th century). It is quite foreign to the God of the Hebrew Scriptures.
@@DiscipleDojo I USE TO YES THAT'S WHY I WAS AN ARMENIAN!!!!!!!!!!!! now i see scriptures through the lens eyes perspective whatever you want to call it of God and now to me the bible makes perfect sense. Its all about Gods glory nothing to do with man.
As a Calvinist I appreciate the effort, but, humbly, you got "What is Calvinism" so wrong, and we agree The Reformation Study Bible isn't meant to be theologically balanced across our disagreements.
@@DiscipleDojo i think that the term "Calvinist" itself is so loaded and problematic that it lends itself to these types of disagreements. ... and you went to like- THE Calvinist Seminary. Lol
@@Bl_Radio Yeah, we talked further in private, and can agree that our brother did pretty well in the 1st video where he mostly just accurately quotes some great sources. It's in the 2nd video where he fine-tunes his resistance that swerves a bit into misinterpretation and an unbiblical labeling, imho. He's still a cool bro.
Reformation Study Bible is my favorite study Bible. The notes and commentary are biblically solid. I have been reading through the entire study Bible and have found it to be extremely helpful illuminating Scripture. It is theologically conservative, which I appreciate.
Great review, thank you for not only pointing out biases but explaining them.
As a reformed guy, I really appreciate your fair review. Great to see.
Thanks. My goal is to treat my Reformed friends the way I wish they'd treat me.
@@DiscipleDojo And vice versa!
Hot dang, dude. This is a smashingly in-depth review and I appreciate it EXTREMELY!
Terrific and fair review! I grew up in the Reformed tradition. I have the older and newer editions of this study Bible. It was the only Bible I ever used until I started watching your Bible reviews. I have quite a few in ebook format now, so I can read the notes from different perspectives. I still belong to a Reformed church because I like the expository preaching, the importance of every member knowing what their Bible says, and the seriousness of worship. But you are right; some Reformed churches believe they are the ones with the real truth.
But after listening to your channel, I admit that some things within some Reformed circles have always made me sad. Complementarianism is one. Election is another. But what bothers me the most is that I don't feel that I can invite "anyone" to church because some won't be warmly welcomed. Not many Reformed churches reach out to people who live on the margins of our society either. I always had to take my children to Catholic outreach ministries so they would learn to have a heart to minister to anyone in need.
In my personal experience, I have witnessed male church elders dismiss the capabilities of women on several occasions. A woman interested in ministry can work in the nursery, teach Sunday School or a women's Bible study, or work in the kitchen on Wednesday nights. Reformed churches are not all the same, but there are only two Reformed denominations in my area - PCA and ARP. They are similar. Churches in my area seem to be ultra-liberal/nonBiblical or ultra-conservative/legalistic at times. Thanks for making these videos. I appreciate your videos and the youth work that you do in Charlotte.
Great review, I do lean reformed myself but I can and I think we should be able to see why different folks land in different camps while agreeing to disagree respectfully. We’re brothers and sisters in the body of Christ first. I appreciate you taking the time for the in depth review with the bias stated upfront.
I have the NKJV edition of the Reformation Study Bible. When I still use a physical Bible (I more frequently use Bible apps on my phone these days), the Reformation Study Bible is the one I use. I must admit more of a Calvinistic bias as not only is this my primary study Bible, but I have been attending churches in the Presbyterian Church in America for over 20 years and many of my favorite authors share that same bias as well. All the same, I appreciate your review of the ESV edition and I found it to be careful, thoughtful, and helpful.
I'm a Reformed Baptist (of the “uncaged” sort you spoke about, LOL), and I have been using a New Geneva Study Bible NKJV (the precursor to the Reformation Study Bible) since it came out back in 1995. However, after using the Faithlife Study Bible via Logos, and after having watched your excellent review of the FSB, I intend to get a paper copy in the NKJV for future use. Of course, I typically carry with me a smaller NKJV Bible, but I often use a study Bible as well. Anyway, thanks for your helpful reviews.
I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for shag carpet (I’m reformed Baptist). 😎. I have seen this Bible in stores before but have not yet purchased it. I must say, your review of this Bible was utterly outstanding! Thank you for your in-depth review. I’m currently in seminary and I was excited that I was familiar with most everything you touched on. Keep up the good work!
Blank pages would be for notes?
I, like you, am not Reformed (with a upper-case ‘R’), but I am reformed (with a lower-case ‘r’). Great review. It is one of the Bibles I use for reference on my Olive Tree app. (hence, it sits on my digital ‘shelf’).
It is always good to be familiar with different perspectives.
I am a Reformed Presbyterian (aligning myself with PCA) and I really appreciate your fair and unbiased view of this study Bible! Thanks for a thorough review of my favorite study Bible! I would say the 2015 edition is a lot better than this one since they expanded the notes and all that.
PCA here as well! 🙌🏽
I am fascinated by the history of Christianity. I definitely will be looking for this wonderful study Bible.
I wish I could afford one. I am a great admirer of R.C. Sproul.
Every so often, Ligonier will give it away for an "any amount" donation.
Back to school discount over in 1 hour HURRY UP NOW !!
I just became very fortunate and someone sold a Like New one to me on eBay. I hope it is in that condition.
Calvinism is just a nickname for biblically consistent theology
I myself might be Orthodox but I still really like all your reviews and how you really explain all the things and give different opinions. Overall just great channel bro :). Also will you improve the camera resolution in the future its a bit hard to see the text and the type of notes. Anyway Godbless!
Thank you,JM🌹⭐🌹Super fair!
As a Christian, I don’t know what flavour I am and I don’t understand why we have to categorize ourselves… I think that it’s Satan’s way of having us take our eyes off the prize..of doing what we’re supposed to be doing…that is shining His light into a dark world instead of arguing amongst ourselves
I liken it to God looking down on His squabbling children arguing that “I know God more than you do!”
As long as you believe that Jesus died for you, that He was God incarnate..you are my brother/sister in Christ
I feel like it was really hard for you to say, “let’s get reformed.”
In my opinion, I found the hubris to continue in many of the comments and articles in the ESV Reformation Study Bible. I initially got the Bible to learn more about the Calvinist approach to Scripture and was disappointed that they only explained a few passages that disagree with their viewpoint. I learned a lot more from Joel Beeke's KJV Reformation Heritage Bible and Richard Pratt's NIV The Spirit of the Reformation. Both bibles are more theological, devotional and traditional in the Calvinistic Puritian/Reformed tradition.
When I became a follower, I was was learning from Rc Sproul and Norman Geisler .
My religious background and views are very close to your own. I'm not fond of the ESV and I really expected to dislike the tenor of this particular study Bible, but after viewing your review I'm pleasantly surprised: it looks like a solid resource. I might pick it up sometime if I run across it in the wild.
Both sides CAL and ARM have people in their camp that would probably shed blood if it wasn’t illegal .
My favorite study Bibles so far have been the ESV Study Bible, The CSB Study Bible and the Reformation Study Bible.
I respect your work. Like others have said, you're fair and explain as opposed to a bunch of bashing and trash talking. You mentioned other options to Calvinism or the reformed tradition. I'm trying to explore these other options but don't know who to read to get an accurate picture. Would you recommend some books that lay out your view as clearly as possible, please? Thanks much.
@@Sean210_retired start with the video here on the channel where I explain why I am not a Calvinist. Then head over to the Society of Evangelical Arminians website for more articles on Corporate Election/Communal Arminianism.
Blank pages are for notes
Best study Bible around
The newer editions are much better design- and quality-wise. Single column, thicker paper, etc.
@@pastornickmcrae that's good to know.
Cool review, haha it is like a house with a shag carpet. I used to have it but I gave it away I do have the ESV Study which I use for reference.
I find it funny because this bible and the Lutheran study bible share the same name in Spanish, me and my close Presbyterian friend had a good laugh about it, this is a great bible.
Reformed Protestantism of the Calvinist sort, I believe, is marketed wrongly. The Reformation Study Bible seems to present it pretty well.
Firstly, I would not start with the Tulip. When I get to the Tulip, I would put a more positive slant on each point.
1) Totally Inability (rather than Totally Depravity) means that a sinner cannot be justified by his own power. It is God who justifies him.
Limited Atonement doesn't mean that Christ dies for only a few. Paul states that Christ's blood was shed for many, but not all.
God willing the Fall just means that God created finite humans who are not robots. Adam was finite and a moral agent.
I came very close to becoming a Calvinist at one point. I still respect Reformed doctrine.
I do believe everyone God elects will persevere to the end.
Good review of the Reformation Study Bible.
Idk, putting slant or spin on Tulip comes across a little shady whether that is positive or just the standard slant.
Nicely put… even some (not all) people are mistaken in the words Jesus spoke during the fullness of time. Providence those words are still alive today?
What did Calvinest call themselves before Calvin was born???
@@joshuamitchell5481 Later-Augustinians 🤷
Don’t all Study Bibles make the same ‘lofty claims?’ 😮
The only consistent Arminian is an open theist
TULIP is the very antithesis of *good* news.
Sad you think this way.
Oversimplifying Reformed theology like that is not helpful.
This Study Bible is frikkin' great while it also retains the warts of our Reformed peep's indiosyncracies.
No it's not, that's not a biblical fact, that's your opinion.
@@thlipsislamont1352 ?? What are you on about?
@@markwalker3484 “If” we are unholy because of inherited sin, then it follows that the only hope is for God to save us by giving us a foreign righteousness (from Christ)- that is the good news.
you do realize that through the different lens the bible changes. if you look at it from mans perspective it makes sense with free will and you choosing God.... etc. but if you look at it from Gods perspective then its all about God and his glory. I was in the same boat as Nico looking at the scriptures from mans perspective and realizing that doing so im looking at it from a physical creation standpoint. Jesus said no Nico you dont crawl back in the womb to be born again but rather look at it from Gods perspective and you must be born of spirit.
Mans perspective = physical universe that God created
Gods perspective = eternal realm spiritual
so ever since i found that stance on theology i see the God of the universe way differently now then i did when i was a arm.....now im strictly by Gods POV. Its all about what the father has done for the son and never been about man EVER.
mans free will is not even real. never has been. salvation is a pardon that is given to you by the king Jesus kinda like the POTUS pardons his son Hunter for all his crimes. Jesus pardons whom he wants to and you have no free will decision in that. it all belongs to the father whom he chose before the foundations of the world in the eternal covenant of whom Jesus is going to pardon called the elect bv the father written in the Lambs book of life. Its all about Gods glory and has nothing to do with man.
sorry but that is the true theme of the bible.
The Godhead's plan was the father gave the son a gift called the Human race and to show the father how much he loved his new gift Jesus told the father that i would die for my bride or gift. NEVER BEEN ABOUT MAN EVER!!!!!!!! WE ARE JUST BENEFICIARIES OF THE KING PERIOD
@@The300ZXGuru your way of reading Scripture is very much a human perspective (and one that arose primarily in the 16th century). It is quite foreign to the God of the Hebrew Scriptures.
@@DiscipleDojo I USE TO YES THAT'S WHY I WAS AN ARMENIAN!!!!!!!!!!!! now i see scriptures through the lens eyes perspective whatever you want to call it of God and now to me the bible makes perfect sense. Its all about Gods glory nothing to do with man.
As a Calvinist I appreciate the effort, but, humbly, you got "What is Calvinism" so wrong, and we agree The Reformation Study Bible isn't meant to be theologically balanced across our disagreements.
@@SquabBob interesting, since the VAST majority of my Calvinist viewers specifically said that I did not, in fact, get it wrong. 🤷
@@DiscipleDojo Hmmm... I have a rather lengthy reply, if you'd allow it and there a suitable place to send it.
I sent it through gmail if that's OK.
@@DiscipleDojo i think that the term "Calvinist" itself is so loaded and problematic that it lends itself to these types of disagreements.
... and you went to like- THE Calvinist Seminary. Lol
@@Bl_Radio Yeah, we talked further in private, and can agree that our brother did pretty well in the 1st video where he mostly just accurately quotes some great sources. It's in the 2nd video where he fine-tunes his resistance that swerves a bit into misinterpretation and an unbiblical labeling, imho. He's still a cool bro.