This is (in my opinion) the best all-around Bible for the person who does not want to own lots of commentaries, but who would like to have a single all-in-one resource that will give great help with exegesis and understanding difficult passages. It is the Bible I most recommend to people.

My first ever study Bible was a New Geneva Study Bible, which was later modified and renamed to the ESV Reformation Study Bible. I have a very high opinion of this Study Bible, and anyone would do well to have either this or the ESV Study Bible, honestly.

Although this Bible is not advertised as such, I think it is a fantastic resource if one is looking for solid pastoral commentary from those in church history’s past. The editors of each book certainly have their favorites *cough*matthewhenry*cough*, but it really is a magnificent resource for someone who wants almost a devotional-type commentary to read along with their Scripture.

This is a Bible that (at times) can be light on information in some parts, and in some parts the notes are overwhelming and nearly always very interesting. This is a Bible for the person who constantly finds themselves reading Scripture and thinking, “I wonder if they’ve found this place,” or “I wonder if they really made alabaster jars like that,” for example. I consider the notes in this Study Bible to be invaluable to much of my sermon preparation – especially from narrative portions of Scripture.