I am a Presbyter in the Methodist Church of New Zealand and managed to get a copy of this, I acknowledge the deficits you identify but I do consult it fairly regularly when preparing sermons. Greatly appreciating your channel; thank you.
Thank you for this review. I will still get this Wesley Study Bible to simply add to my Bible collection. I do have two other Bibles that reflect the Wesleyan/Holiness background. I have not yet seen a review of these, although I've used them, and they are very good study Bibles that give more Wesleyan views within the notes. These two study Bibles are: The NIV Reflecting God Study Bible that the notes adapt to Wesleyan theology from a NIV Study Bible. The other Bible is the NKJV Wesley Personal Study Bible that is another good study notes reflecting Wesley study notes. I would love to see if you can do a review of these just to get what your thoughts and opinions are. I did subscribe to your channel after listening to your thoughts on many Bibles that have been helpful. Thank you.
I am very sympathetic to your theology despite my Baptist education. I love the orthodox heritage in wesleyanism. I try to marry the best parts. Keener has had a profound impact on me. Thanks for this great channel.
Another great review Brother. You are one of my favorite bible reviewers. You get into details that others don't. And, we have the Martial Arts background in common. Keep up HIS great work.
Thank you for this review. Love your videos from the Philippines. My grandfather was a methodist pastor. My father was a baptised methodist. I'm a baptist. 😊
Thank you for your review. I think the big thing the Wesley Study Bible has going for it is that it's a lot cheaper than other NRSV imitation leather study Bibles, about £35 to e.g. £60 for the Cultural Backgrounds leathersoft equivalent. And I think for that money, what you get is pretty good. Certainly a step up from text only, and in my opinion better than the strictly devotional Bibles with the "consider yourself in this situation" sort of notes. It's definitely a well made Bible, and while you're right the notes are very brief, there's a good mix of cultural context and linguistic and theological interpretation there, plus the small life application and core terms devotional boxes you discuss. I think that brevity in the notes makes it a very readable Bible, too. There's very little to get distracted by like in some study Bibles, and if you just want to read the text, the notes are just enough to hold your hand through a verse if you happen to need it. I think for that reason it makes a great everyday Bible, one that you can just read. You're definitely right, that it would undoubtedly be a better product if it included all the things you suggested. Wesley himself has a huge body of work that could abbreviated into some really interesting essays; the notes themselves could be much longer and could easily include a selection of Wesley's own; more information on historical and cultural context would be great; I would love some pictures and timelines and more visual summaries of things; and just anything at all on the history of Methodism would be great. But all that said, would we get that at the £35 price point? Almost certainly not! So all in all, I'd say it's a good buy, but perhaps promises a little more than what it was ever going to be able to deliver.
Your review educated me on some modern Wesleyan scholars. I learned about 19th century Wesleyan and New School scholars in the 1980s and 1990s. Dr. John Miley's two volume systematic theology is my go-to systematic theology. I was big into Charles Grandison Finney as well. The 4 volume set by Thomas Oden looks like a good place to start. I also study Anglican, confessional Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox theologians. I'm a big fan of Philipp Melanchthon.
I am 75, and a few months ago I gave away my last plastic super hero action figures, so there's still hope for you. :) Thank for the review. I was kinda tempted to buy the book, but you talked me out of it.
Appreciate your honesty. In my experience, however, the average person in the Methodist pew is looking for and benefiting from this sort of study Bible. It is a step up from no study Bible and from some of the heavier (in words) but lighter (in good theology) works out there--in my opinion.
It is indeed a step up from a text-only Bible. And if it had been marketed as a "Wesley Devotional Bible" I think my feelings toward it may have been less critical. I appreciate your work immensely, though, and hope more people seek it out (especially "Reading Revelation Responsibly"!). Thank you for watching and commenting!
Dear Brother JM,thank you for your excellent contribution to the Body of Christ. Have you done or considered doing a review of the Asbury Bible Commentary? All the Best and Blessings for you and yours.🌹🌹🌹🌹
Perhaps the second edition can reach entire sanctification. Have you come across the older Thomas Nelson NKJV Wesley Bible from the 1990s? If so, how does it compare? Perhaps it might warrant an update as well. After all, if you can get two different Lutheran Study Bibles (in the ESV and NRSV, respectively), then why not have two competing Methodist Bibles while you're at it?
We've been visiting a Wesleyan Church and have been attending New Member classes. Can you recommend a good book on John Wesley? If you have a moment, no rush...Thanks!
I think they all are, really. As Arminianism is a hermeneutical rather than translation issue. But the NLT, NRSV, NIV, NKJV, and CEB all seem to be fairly popular with many Arminians. The ESV and NASB are probably the most preferred among Calvinists, from what I have seen anecdotally.
I think Wesley only got to the NT (and his goal was to create a revision of the KJV -- a worthy goal, to be sure, but superseded by the RSV and NRSV in that respect).
Wesley's Annotations on the New Testament lean heavily on Johann Bengel's "Gnomon Novi Testamenti" (1742). I know these Annotations are theologically "canonical" for Wesleyan doctrine alongside the Standard Sermons but for the life of me can't figure out why, given the non-Methodist source of a great deal of the material (that doesn't render them useless, but should make us think twice about theoretically committing our clergy to teaching in line with them).
I wish they used better paper and bolder print. it's so hard to read and mark in. and I wish they'd republish the Wesley Bible NKJV too. I keep trying to use it but it's so hard to focus on it with the print. I wish they'd done better and more with it
You are an answer to a prayer! Let me explain: I am a Christian first! And a Methodist second. We are a very small, conservative church (recently split from UMC) in N Mississippi, and my college SS class is starting an inductive study of the Bible. A couple of them asked me what Study Bible I would recommend, and as their group leader-I’m in study Bible OVERLOAD! They are also interested in an NASB version. For 3-4 days I have watched review after review of the very few NASB study Bible….and thus-I’m now in a dazed and confused state! Here’s where you come in…and what a testament that God DOES answer prayers-no matter how big or small! Ok, so around 4:30 am yesterday while I was on video 750 (exaggerating) I put my phone down, and ❤grabbed my notebook and wrote…”Lord, please point me in the right direction for these kids and myself. Don’t let me make a mistake and steer them wrong. Direct me to the book-or to a person that can help clear up my confusion that has knowledge of our beliefs.” And I “stumbled” (God led me!) to you this morning! So now I ask you…is there one of the NASB study Bibles that you would recommend over the other? I’m also open to other translations to present to them. Here are some things they have expressed that they would like to have, but not necessarily “must have”. At least 9 pt, Red letter, quality leather, Concordance of course, good study info, intro to each chapter, and everything else that makes up a fantastic study Bible! If you can steer us in a good direction…I will be forever grateful to you!! Thank you for your time and any recommendations that you have! Have a blessed day!
Thanks so much for the honest review. I grew up Methodist, and I am still Methodist. However, pandemic and post-pandemic, I have only attended my current 12-year home church once, when my daughter was getting recognized for graduating high school. Otherwise, I watch my congregation's services on UA-cam. I received an RSV bible at confirmation, and I got a Youth 88 Today's English Version at the international Methodist gathering at Western Illinois University in August 1988. Somewhere in the 2005-2010 range, I bought the Wesley Study Bible. It is my go-to bible. I've looked occasionally at the study portion in the past dozen-plus years, but haven't truly taken advantage of it as such. The Sunday School classes I was in pre-2020 always had material planned and focused on,... and the Wesley Study Bible did allow me to interject a Wesley perspective on the topics the class leader was sharing with fellow Methodists. The weaknesses you point out are spot on, and yet for a Wesley-based Methodist of my level of learning and reflection, this Study-lite offering is sufficient. Could it be better? Sure! However, I have a library of untouched Methodist-related resources from 2 or 3 generations and value knowing they're available.(2 Methodist parents, 4 Methodist grandparents, and likely Methodist heritage earlier) I look forward to reading the bible, and if life ever slows, I'll supplement it with the study resources this version delivers. But for now, count me as the sweet-spot market for this work. Appreciated!
I find your honest review of this, study bible to be sad. I know nothing of your faith tradition, and this Study Bible would not help. Just as a curiosity, for general Christian information. I do know what I believe and where I stand doctrinally. I just enjoy comparing different theological views. I have come to favor your reviews to anyone else.
"And much like our current United Methodist denomination, the Wesley Study Bible just doesn't seem to know what it wants to be." Ouch. Thanks for the great review! I was so excited to see a Wesley study Bible being offered for sale. I'm glad I looked up reviews before purchasing this: I'm disappointed in how much fluff it seems to have for a study Bible. I do think there's a market for this type of Bible, but I wonder how many of them haven't even considered it as they don't want a "study" Bible.
I’m Methodist as well. A conservative Free Methodist tho. Not UMC. I changed my views after studying and growing in my knowledge of the word of God. I’ve always been an Arminian and was previously an Assemblies of God Pentecostal but I’ve grown so much in my studies in Bible college and reading the early church fathers. I changed my views in baptism, I’m a continuationist and pray in tongues but I don’t believe that everyone gets that gift as the initial sign that you’ve received the Holy Spirit. I believe that everyone gets a different gift or two but we don’t all get the same gifts. This is why I’m no longer a Pentecostal but now I am a Methodist
Why - Oh why? - should anyone care one jot about any bible or any other holy book? Also you were indoctronated as a child into your parent's religion so what does that tell you about that old book's truth? If you were born in Iraq to Muslim parents, what religion would you be and would you think that one to be the truth?
I am a Presbyter in the Methodist Church of New Zealand and managed to get a copy of this, I acknowledge the deficits you identify but I do consult it fairly regularly when preparing sermons. Greatly appreciating your channel; thank you.
Thank you for this review. I will still get this Wesley Study Bible to simply add to my Bible collection. I do have two other Bibles that reflect the Wesleyan/Holiness background. I have not yet seen a review of these, although I've used them, and they are very good study Bibles that give more Wesleyan views within the notes. These two study Bibles are: The NIV Reflecting God Study Bible that the notes adapt to Wesleyan theology from a NIV Study Bible. The other Bible is the NKJV Wesley Personal Study Bible that is another good study notes reflecting Wesley study notes. I would love to see if you can do a review of these just to get what your thoughts and opinions are. I did subscribe to your channel after listening to your thoughts on many Bibles that have been helpful. Thank you.
I am very sympathetic to your theology despite my Baptist education. I love the orthodox heritage in wesleyanism. I try to marry the best parts. Keener has had a profound impact on me. Thanks for this great channel.
I'm Baptist and I greatly appreciate your work. One of my favorite theologians is Thomas Oden, and NT scholar is Witherington.
Another great review Brother. You are one of my favorite bible reviewers. You get into details that others don't. And, we have the Martial Arts background in common. Keep up HIS great work.
Thank you for the encouragement! *fist bump*
Thank you for this review. Love your videos from the Philippines. My grandfather was a methodist pastor. My father was a baptised methodist. I'm a baptist. 😊
I’m still counting it as a win because you were able to recommend some good resources for us 😊 Thank you!
Oh God bless you. I was raised Nazarene, also Wesleyan.
As am I! the holiness movement is an amazing tour de force in church history. God bless y'all
Thank you for your review. I think the big thing the Wesley Study Bible has going for it is that it's a lot cheaper than other NRSV imitation leather study Bibles, about £35 to e.g. £60 for the Cultural Backgrounds leathersoft equivalent. And I think for that money, what you get is pretty good. Certainly a step up from text only, and in my opinion better than the strictly devotional Bibles with the "consider yourself in this situation" sort of notes. It's definitely a well made Bible, and while you're right the notes are very brief, there's a good mix of cultural context and linguistic and theological interpretation there, plus the small life application and core terms devotional boxes you discuss.
I think that brevity in the notes makes it a very readable Bible, too. There's very little to get distracted by like in some study Bibles, and if you just want to read the text, the notes are just enough to hold your hand through a verse if you happen to need it. I think for that reason it makes a great everyday Bible, one that you can just read.
You're definitely right, that it would undoubtedly be a better product if it included all the things you suggested. Wesley himself has a huge body of work that could abbreviated into some really interesting essays; the notes themselves could be much longer and could easily include a selection of Wesley's own; more information on historical and cultural context would be great; I would love some pictures and timelines and more visual summaries of things; and just anything at all on the history of Methodism would be great.
But all that said, would we get that at the £35 price point? Almost certainly not! So all in all, I'd say it's a good buy, but perhaps promises a little more than what it was ever going to be able to deliver.
I’m a Methodist and I love using this Bible.
Your review educated me on some modern Wesleyan scholars. I learned about 19th century Wesleyan and New School scholars in the 1980s and 1990s. Dr. John Miley's two volume systematic theology is my go-to systematic theology. I was big into Charles Grandison Finney as well.
The 4 volume set by Thomas Oden looks like a good place to start.
I also study Anglican, confessional Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox theologians. I'm a big fan of Philipp Melanchthon.
I am 75, and a few months ago I gave away my last plastic super hero action figures, so there's still hope for you. :) Thank for the review. I was kinda tempted to buy the book, but you talked me out of it.
You should've given them...to me! 😁
@@DiscipleDojo Sorry. I gave them to kids. But now that I see how you use them , maybe next time.
Appreciate your honesty. In my experience, however, the average person in the Methodist pew is looking for and benefiting from this sort of study Bible. It is a step up from no study Bible and from some of the heavier (in words) but lighter (in good theology) works out there--in my opinion.
It is indeed a step up from a text-only Bible. And if it had been marketed as a "Wesley Devotional Bible" I think my feelings toward it may have been less critical.
I appreciate your work immensely, though, and hope more people seek it out (especially "Reading Revelation Responsibly"!). Thank you for watching and commenting!
Dear Brother JM,thank you for your excellent contribution to the Body of Christ. Have you done or considered doing a review of the Asbury Bible Commentary? All the Best and Blessings for you and yours.🌹🌹🌹🌹
I don't really review commentaries. There are just too many out there!
@@DiscipleDojo Thank you 🌹🌹🌹🌹
Great vid thank you
Love that shirt. I’ve seen it somewhere before but can’t remember where! Is it available online somewhere?
I like an earlier Wesley bible published in 1990 in nkjv. "The Wesley Bible: A Personal Study Bible For Holy Living".
I've heard of that one, but never seen it.
Perhaps the second edition can reach entire sanctification.
Have you come across the older Thomas Nelson NKJV Wesley Bible from the 1990s? If so, how does it compare? Perhaps it might warrant an update as well. After all, if you can get two different Lutheran Study Bibles (in the ESV and NRSV, respectively), then why not have two competing Methodist Bibles while you're at it?
No, I've never seen the one by Nelson. Didn't know they did one.
We've been visiting a Wesleyan Church and have been attending New Member classes. Can you recommend a good book on John Wesley? If you have a moment, no rush...Thanks!
13:52
Which translations do you consider the most Arminian friendly?
I think they all are, really. As Arminianism is a hermeneutical rather than translation issue. But the NLT, NRSV, NIV, NKJV, and CEB all seem to be fairly popular with many Arminians. The ESV and NASB are probably the most preferred among Calvinists, from what I have seen anecdotally.
why is the wesley study bible not using wesley's own translation?
I think Wesley only got to the NT (and his goal was to create a revision of the KJV -- a worthy goal, to be sure, but superseded by the RSV and NRSV in that respect).
where are the notes by John Wesley himself?
Wesley's Annotations on the New Testament lean heavily on Johann Bengel's "Gnomon Novi Testamenti" (1742). I know these Annotations are theologically "canonical" for Wesleyan doctrine alongside the Standard Sermons but for the life of me can't figure out why, given the non-Methodist source of a great deal of the material (that doesn't render them useless, but should make us think twice about theoretically committing our clergy to teaching in line with them).
You should also break your rule and check out the Knox bible!
I wish they used better paper and bolder print. it's so hard to read and mark in. and I wish they'd republish the Wesley Bible NKJV too. I keep trying to use it but it's so hard to focus on it with the print. I wish they'd done better and more with it
It’s interesting that the UMC I work for is giving out the CEB Wesley Study bible to confirmands and it’s much more packed with notes than this
Is it a 2nd edition? Or perhaps the CEB Study Bible? This was the original first edition of the Wesley Study Bible that I got when it first came out.
@@DiscipleDojo yeah I think it might be, I’ll try to get my hands on one sometime and let you know
You are an answer to a prayer! Let me explain: I am a Christian first! And a Methodist second. We are a very small, conservative church (recently split from UMC) in N Mississippi, and my college SS class is starting an inductive study of the Bible. A couple of them asked me what Study Bible I would recommend, and as their group leader-I’m in study Bible OVERLOAD! They are also interested in an NASB version. For 3-4 days I have watched review after review of the very few NASB study Bible….and thus-I’m now in a dazed and confused state! Here’s where you come in…and what a testament that God DOES answer prayers-no matter how big or small! Ok, so around 4:30 am yesterday while I was on video 750 (exaggerating) I put my phone down, and ❤grabbed my notebook and wrote…”Lord, please point me in the right direction for these kids and myself. Don’t let me make a mistake and steer them wrong. Direct me to the book-or to a person that can help clear up my confusion that has knowledge of our beliefs.”
And I “stumbled” (God led me!) to you this morning!
So now I ask you…is there one of the NASB study Bibles that you would recommend over the other? I’m also open to other translations to present to them. Here are some things they have expressed that they would like to have, but not necessarily “must have”. At least 9 pt, Red letter, quality leather, Concordance of course, good study info, intro to each chapter, and everything else that makes up a fantastic study Bible!
If you can steer us in a good direction…I will be forever grateful to you!!
Thank you for your time and any recommendations that you have! Have a blessed day!
Hi Roxanne, glad you found the channel. See my Top 7 Recommended Study Bibles for recommendations.
Thanks so much for the honest review. I grew up Methodist, and I am still Methodist. However, pandemic and post-pandemic, I have only attended my current 12-year home church once, when my daughter was getting recognized for graduating high school. Otherwise, I watch my congregation's services on UA-cam.
I received an RSV bible at confirmation, and I got a Youth 88 Today's English Version at the international Methodist gathering at Western Illinois University in August 1988. Somewhere in the 2005-2010 range, I bought the Wesley Study Bible.
It is my go-to bible. I've looked occasionally at the study portion in the past dozen-plus years, but haven't truly taken advantage of it as such. The Sunday School classes I was in pre-2020 always had material planned and focused on,... and the Wesley Study Bible did allow me to interject a Wesley perspective on the topics the class leader was sharing with fellow Methodists.
The weaknesses you point out are spot on, and yet for a Wesley-based Methodist of my level of learning and reflection, this Study-lite offering is sufficient. Could it be better? Sure! However, I have a library of untouched Methodist-related resources from 2 or 3 generations and value knowing they're available.(2 Methodist parents, 4 Methodist grandparents, and likely Methodist heritage earlier) I look forward to reading the bible, and if life ever slows, I'll supplement it with the study resources this version delivers.
But for now, count me as the sweet-spot market for this work. Appreciated!
I find your honest review of this, study bible to be sad.
I know nothing of your faith tradition, and this Study Bible would not help. Just as a curiosity, for general Christian information. I do know what I believe and where I stand doctrinally. I just enjoy comparing different theological views.
I have come to favor your reviews to anyone else.
"And much like our current United Methodist denomination, the Wesley Study Bible just doesn't seem to know what it wants to be."
Ouch.
Thanks for the great review! I was so excited to see a Wesley study Bible being offered for sale. I'm glad I looked up reviews before purchasing this: I'm disappointed in how much fluff it seems to have for a study Bible.
I do think there's a market for this type of Bible, but I wonder how many of them haven't even considered it as they don't want a "study" Bible.
I’m Methodist as well. A conservative Free Methodist tho. Not UMC. I changed my views after studying and growing in my knowledge of the word of God. I’ve always been an Arminian and was previously an Assemblies of God Pentecostal but I’ve grown so much in my studies in Bible college and reading the early church fathers. I changed my views in baptism, I’m a continuationist and pray in tongues but I don’t believe that everyone gets that gift as the initial sign that you’ve received the Holy Spirit. I believe that everyone gets a different gift or two but we don’t all get the same gifts. This is why I’m no longer a Pentecostal but now I am a Methodist
Why - Oh why? - should anyone care one jot about any bible or any other holy book?
Also you were indoctronated as a child into your parent's religion so what does that tell you about that old book's truth?
If you were born in Iraq to Muslim parents, what religion would you be and would you think that one to be the truth?
Not for nothing, Beth Moore deserves a study Bible more than at least one of the men on that list.