Product Description

The ScofieldRG Study Bible III offers an unparalleled package of reference tools designed to enrich the study of God's unchanging Word. It has been augmented (not revised) with a wealth of factual information that is clearly displayed in charts and sidebar articles. These add depth and richness to study time, making the ideas underlying the Scofield's annotations clearer to modern readers.
This edition features the English Standard Version, an "essentially literal" translation of the Bible that emphasizes word-for-word accuracy and precision along with literary beauty and readability.
Enhanced book introductions, accurate in-text maps, authoritative full-color maps, and page-bottom notes broaden the context of the reader's understanding. Everything about this volume has been designed to encourage serious Bible study. First-time students and seasoned believers alike will find it to be a trustworthy guide to the panorama of God's plan of salvation.

* An exclusive, subject-based topical chain reference system.
* Over 100 boxed factual articles and lists.
* Expanded introductions with detailed outlines of each book.
* An expanded Subject index.
* Study not biblical references are in "chapter-and-verse" format.
* Side-column references are grouped by chapter and verse.
* Over 550 in-text definitions of proper nouns for people and place names.
* Nearly 70 in-text black and white maps and charts.
* In-text articles of nearly 250 notes crucial to understanding the ScofieldRG.
* Indexes to Proper Nouns, Chain References, and Subjects.
* 16 pages of accurate, full color New Oxford Bible Maps (with index of places and natural features).
* Bottom-of-the-page study notes.
* Sectional headings.
* Select ESV Concordance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1201024 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Leather Bound
• 1968 pages

Customer Reviews

Good Quality Bible, even if you are not dispy
I love this Bible. Of the dozens of Bibles I have owned, and the ten or so "premium" Bibles I have used, this is my favorite.

The English Standard Version is a very accurate and readable translation. In the few months I have been using it, it has become my favorite translation. It is about as literal as New American Standard (my old favorite for study) and flows about as smoothly as the New International Version (my old favorite for reading). In fact, in a very large number of passages, it strikes me as the best of all three no matter what you want to use it for.

The type is very clear, the paper is high quality, and the binding is excellent for a bonded leather version. The Bible text is larger than most of my NASB or NIV study Bibles, which is nice as I age. I don't mind thumb indexing, because even though I know where the books are relative to each other, figuring "page distances" is vexing for me, especially when a pastor has you flipping from Romans to Habakkuk to Ezra to 1 John. Plus, I'm not too proud to admit that there is the occassional "senior moment" when I mix up Hosea and Haggai.

Now as for the study notes, I think that they are generally pretty good. I say that even though I am not a Dispensationalist, nor a Pretrib-Premillenialist. The vast majority of the notes have nothing to do with escatology or in what sense the Church took over Israel's promise (or did not). I have no problem reading the commentary as simply a commentary, and not on par with the Scripture it exposits.

In some places, the commentary is actually quite insiteful. For example in Matthew 13, a handy means of interpreting the parables is suggested: if the parables that Jesus does explain have to do with fruitful believers mixed with non-believers, then why not interpret those which he does not explain in the same way? The maps and other study aids (such as comparisons of Jesus's miracles across the gospels, orders of how the disciples are listed in the gospels, etc.) are well-done, interesting and informative.

Within its context, Scofield ESV is an excellent study Bible
The problem with most reviewers of the Scofield Study Bible is that they are narrow minded. Each study Bible has its strengths and weaknesses, and just because one takes on a particular theological slant, does not make it bad. I own a variety of study Bibles from the Oxford Annotated Study Bible to the Archaelogical Study Bible to MacArthur's Study Bible to the Scofield, and several others. All have their good points and points where I disagree.

The Scofield Study Bible III ESV provides good information from a conservative, orthodox Christian standpoint. The dispensationalism is there, but not emphasized. If one has a problem with dispensationalism, simply ignore it. It is only a theory of biblical interpretation, and nothing to get heated over.

Binding, leather, maps, and typeface are all excellent. I generally very much dislike "bonded leather" Bibles. However, Oxford's bonded leather is very well made and I actually bought this Bible with bonded leather, as that was the only way I could get it in burgundy. It has the feel of a well made top grain leather Bible. My only pet peeve is the red letters. If a publisher wishes to use red letters (which I think are not at all necessary), I wish they would use a dark red, not a bright red like Oxford, that is so distracting to the eyes.

High quality, excellent translation, good notes - solid all around
Right out of the box, there were several good features of this particular bible, which I will note first:

1. The leather used for the cover is high quality, not the cheap thin leather used on so many other bibles. The binding is also of very high quality and will likely last for many, many years. The outer leather is also well bonded to a thick cover, which doesn't seem to get bent easily, and the book cover doesn't stay open after the bible is closed. In comparison to the Crossway bibles (I own one of the compact ESV versions from Crossway), the Scofield Bible III is far and away superior. The pages are thicker and less glossy, and the printing is of better quality. Don't waste your money on a Crossway bible - spend less and get a higher quality bible printed by the Oxford Press.

2. The translation is the best available. The English Standard Version (ESV) is one of about four modern "essentially literal" English translations currently published. The others are the NASB, NRSV, and NKJV. The ESV is literally reliable, word-for-word, so you are reading the most accurate translation of the original words. There is a glaring difference between the word-for-word 'essentially literal' translations and the thought-for-thought 'dynamically equivalent' translations, such as the NIV, NLT, etc. The ESV translation also reads extremely easily, with solid grammatical structure and ease of understanding.

3. This bible contains the Scofield study notes (third revision, 2006 I believe), which are quite helpful and not as intrusive as other bibles. There are areas where the notes are sparse, so having a Bible commentary (I suggest the Expositor's Commentary) is useful. The notes that are listed are well thought out and detailed. The referencing system (in the margins) is also thorough, allowing for quick study of related passages.

4. This bible contains 'personal pages' at the front, including spaces for marriages, deaths, kids, etc. I find this useful if you intend to keep this bible in the family for years to come. The paper used in this section is very high quality and textured.

5. The gold guild is nice, and not too bright. Also, the pages don't stick together when you first read through this bible like other guilded-edge bibles do.

6. The print size is good, and is presented in a double-column format. Words of Christ are in red.

7. There is a short concordance in the back. It's nowhere near as complete as a separate concordance (like Strong's), but it is good for an 'appendix-type' addition.

I own about 10 Bibles of various translations and types, and this is by far the best one I have ever owned. The translation is, in my opinion, the best available, and the quality of this bible is superb. An excellent purchase for surprisingly cheap.