Recommended: Study Bibles
The Bible itself is sufficient and clear. However, faithful tools can help us read it more carefully, notice things we might miss, and connect the dots across the story of redemption. A good study Bible can serve as a guide: giving historical background, cross-references, and theological notes, all while keeping Scripture central.
The best study Bibles are not neutral. They each carry a theological perspective, and that’s not a bad thing, but it does mean we should choose carefully. For those of us in the evangelical tradition, several study Bibles stand out for their clarity, faithfulness, and usefulness in both personal devotion and teaching.
ESV Study Bible (Crossway)
Perhaps the most comprehensive evangelical study Bible available. Rich notes, maps, charts, and theological articles from trusted Reformed and evangelical scholars. Designed to be a one-volume library for serious Bible readers.
Reformation Study Bible (Ligonier Ministries, ed. R.C. Sproul)
Produced under R.C. Sproul’s leadership, this study Bible is unapologetically Reformed in perspective. Its notes emphasize God’s sovereignty, covenant theology, and Christ-centered interpretation. A superb choice for those who want explicitly Reformed commentary.
MacArthur Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, ed. John MacArthur)
Built from MacArthur’s decades of expository preaching, this study Bible provides concise, verse-by-verse notes. Strongly conservative and Calvinistic, though with dispensational leanings in eschatology.
ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible (Crossway, ed. Bryan Chapell & Dane Ortlund)
Formerly published as the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible, this resource emphasizes how every passage points to Christ and the gospel. Especially helpful for devotion and teaching with a redemptive-historical lens.
NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (Zondervan, ed. D.A. Carson)
Originally the NIV Gospel Transformation Bible, this edition highlights how the storyline of Scripture develops across the canon. Strongly evangelical, with contributors from a broadly Reformed frame.
CSB Spurgeon Study Bible (Holman, ed. Alistair Begg)
Features excerpts from Spurgeon’s sermons alongside the biblical text. Less comprehensive than the ESV or Reformation study Bibles, but uniquely devotional and Christ-centered.
The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (Reformation Heritage Books, ed. Joel Beeke)
A confessionally Reformed study Bible based on the King James Version. Rich notes, catechism helps, family worship guides, and doctrinal introductions make this especially useful in a confessional Reformed setting.
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Disclaimer: The resources listed here have been selected because they offer particular value for Christian growth and understanding. Their inclusion does not imply full agreement with every statement or position taken by the authors. As with any book outside of Scripture, readers should exercise discernment, testing all things by the Word of God (Acts 17:11).