In-Depth Review: Zondervan's Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible by Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton

How can the Zondervan Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible revolutionize your Bible study? Check out this in-depth study Bible review! This unique study Bible digs up the ancient context to help you more clearly understand the message in scripture. Footnotes, commentary and articles from Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton give invaluable insight to help you interpret difficult passages of the Bible. This Bible comes in NKJV, NIV and NRSV versions and is available on Amazon. This review will explain how this Bible can help you uncover details in the Bible that are easily missed plus it will explain the pros and cons.
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Zondervan's Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life The Ancient World of Scripture
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New International Version (NIV), Leather and thumb-indexed: amzn.to/3sY51As
New King James Version (NKJV) Leather, Red Letter Edition: amzn.to/3PkoOkX
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Digital or Hardcover: amzn.to/45QeGaL
New International Version (NIV) Leather but not thumb-indexed: amzn.to/3PEkePP
ALSO: The alternative Bible I recommended in the video can be found here:
Faithlife Study Bible (NIV): amzn.to/3EFelvv
#biblestudy #biblereview

[@naiman4535]

It seems like the Zondervan is the most widely reviewed cultural backgrounds study Bible on KZbin - yet I have yet to find it at a local Christian bookstore where I live! Rather than cover the book in vague generalities, I appreciate the way that you give actual, concrete examples of how it can help and clear up cultural misunderstandings. Yet you admiitted that it has inconsistencies, and that it doesn't have everything, or every possible viewpoint - and so, you seek a second opinion, just like you would when seeking medical treatment.

[@breweryministries]

Thank you! Yeah, I have a similar problem where I live. It's hard to even find commentaries, especially ones that go in-depth. Maybe that sort of study doesn't have a large enough audience? Not sure but it's unfortunate!

[@maryaboyd2667]

I really appreciate the way you break things down in this video

[@reneallen9556]

You did a great job presenting the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. I have the NRSV Translation in hardcover. I also have the NIV Faithlife Illustrated Study Bible that you mentioned here in this Review. You brought up very good points in relation to deeper study regarding "the Angel of the Lord". NEW Subscriber!

[@breweryministries]

Thank you! I still use both but I definitely put more weight on the commentary from Faithlife. That is a great Bible!

[@donaldmartineau8176]

Great bible review. Good advice to use other study bibles. I Use many others as well.

[@endlessnameless7004]

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like an interesting resource.

[@breweryministries]

It is pretty cool! I think right now it's the 2nd best study Bible I have found. The Faithlife study Bible is hard to get in print though, I think it might just be in digital form now.

[@AndreFavron]

This has been an excellent review. I too am looking for a version that seems to understand and clarify the insights That M. Heiser discussed with clarity. Time to go look at the Faith Life Edition. :-)

[@breweryministries]

Thank you! The Faith Life edition is incredible. It's worth it!

[@e.m.8094]

I think the only print version still available is the NIV at the moment.

[@jeffstormer2547]

picked one up a few weeks ago, haven't really dug into it yet. Gotta get a magnifying sheet...I've been using FaithLife for years though. lots of good material there for sure. I got the Cultural Background bible in the NIV translation bc the NIV is the "least doctrinally contaminated" I've found thus far, by which I mean most other translations are heavily influenced by different denominational/doctrinal stances: the ESV (my daily reader for way too long) is heavily slanted toward Reformed theology. The Christian Standard Bible (formerly the Holman Christian Standard Bible) is Baptist flavored. And so on...None are "wrong" per se, just be aware of inherent biases in EVERY translation and take them into account when studying....much like you did here when noting the 'deficiency' concerning the Angel of the LORD. (I personally always translate angel (malak in hebrew or angelos in Greek) as messenger, since that's what it means. then I don't tend to get the baggage that comes with modern fancies about angels with wings and all that. But I digress... Also got an Oxford Annotated Bible (w/ Apocrypha since there are so many references or allusions to Apocryphal material in the NT). Also need magnification for this...the joy of being an old fart. I expect between the 3: CBB, NOAB, and Faithlife I'll have a decent mini-reference library. I tend to be skeptical of commentaries bc they are also heavily biased by the author's background and doctrinal lenses. I find in the vast majority of The Text, the internal references and allusions (to other bible passages) and to external references and allusions (to cultural elements, like the hot springs of Hieropolis and cold water of Colossae were both brought to water poor Sardis...but all the water was luke warm/tepic by the time it got the 5+ miles from source to Sardis. (cf Re 3). Cultural elements like these help one remember how much of one's own cultural and doctrinal biases are brought to translation and interpretation/understanding. just my VERY humble opinion ymmv

[@breweryministries]

That is very interesting about the ESV background. I will have to keep that in mind! I like to check several, sometimes even CEV. But yes, Faithlife Study Bible is excellent!

[@e.m.8094]

I really wish I could find a copy of the Faithlife Study Bible. I really do like the Archaeological study Bible though.

[@breweryministries]

I think you might be able to find a copy still on Amazon. Mine is digital but I have seen a print copy before

[@michaelmeyer7455]

Keep up the good work. I like how you explain the Bible passages,very informative.

[@breweryministries]

Thank you I really appreciate it! I love researching Bible passages.

[@captainnolan5062]

I have the NKJV study Bible. Should I get the NKJV version of the Cultural Backgrounds (so that they "match") or should I get the NIV version of the Cultural Backgrounds so that I have another translation perspective in addition to the other features? The NKJV is much closer to a 'word for word' translation than the NIV, so I am inclined to go with it. (It appears that the NRSV version is not available at this time) Your opinion would be appreciated.

[@breweryministries]

Hello! That's a tough one, you'd probably be okay with either, because the notes will give you the context. But I would say if you like the NKJV translation and you're doing any sort of word study, go with NKJV. You'll be able to spot more links to other passages with it. It looks like the NRSV is still available on Amazon for Kindle, but I know a lot of people prefer to have a physical Bible. But that's a possibility!

[@captainnolan5062]

@@breweryministries I greatly prefer having the physical Bible. Thanks for your advice. I will go with the NKJV!

[@breweryministries]

Me too! Hope you enjoy it!

[@stevefrandsen7897]

I'm really enjoying and learning from mine. It's NKJV just for something different. I have an NIV I keep in the bathroom to read when I brush my teeth. It's a men's version so there are comments from Christian men we all know. It's 31 years old and pretty beat up. I like my new, lay flat, red letter, leather bound, with red ribbon page marker, Cultural Background version. I hope to be cremated or buried with it. I do use a magnifying glass for the small notes. The notes reveal phrases like "eat in the dark" could mean "they worked from sunup to sundown and ate before and after work". I never would have thought of that.

[@elizabethdaniel646]

I’m getting this bible

[@e.m.8094]

I think Dr. Heiser's view on the spiritual realm is more accurate than most.

[@ricardomontoya9480]

Muy interesantes las observaciones, ya que describes puntos buenos de los comentarios, y por el otro lado haces observaciones críticas Del concepto ‘br también creo que el comentarista tiene una preconcepcion y aplica la teoría sociológica funcionalista y del rol social, así también en el comentario “Creation and existence” donde inserta esta teoría del rol social, “…in mesopotamia one way to accomplish this was to name somthing, because a name disagnated a thing’s function or role…” Como se ve el traductor y comentarista aplica en sus notas esa teoría, y pretende hacer ver qué en la antigüedad así se pensaba, es decir bajo la óptica de la teoría del rol social y funcionalista De esta interpretación también nos puede llevar a la teoría (contraria a las escrituras) de q la creación no fue a partir de la nada, sino q simplemente Dios les dio una función a la materia ya pre-existente, lo q resulta antibiblico Saludos y bendiciones hermano

[@kelechiugorji6573]

In my opinion, I do not recommend this bible at all. I got one and also read through it. I discovered the editors used cultural explanations to wash away the truths of the Bible. I noticed this in many portions of the bible so I had to discontinue use. Please, examine the bible thoroughly before considering buying. Thank you.

[@breweryministries]

I did notice that in some places too. I am still finding more examples. I feel like they sometimes settle on interpretations that make less sense overall or don't account for all of the related scriptures. Not sure why, but I would probably have to amend my recommendation and say it's too confusing for a beginner. There might be some good data in it but it could mislead some people who haven't studied some subjects a lot, so it wouldn't be my top recommendation

[@greenbank4800]

I found it to be excellent in framing the world view of the editors' and authors' cultures and it made my faith has an ancient tradition of value.

[@calisteman7126]

Thank you.

[@E-pistol]

The Bible is a Catholic book ❤️

[@JehoJulian]

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD FROM GOD

[@E-pistol]

@@JehoJulian, through Catholics ♥

[@JehoJulian]

@@E-pistol through God only that's word I got , through him. Only , you can't deny that

[@E-pistol]

@@JehoJulian, the Bible was made by Catholics , inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible didn't float down from heaven, have some respect for tradition ♥

[@marlo8456]

Catholic = the Apostolic churches, not just RCs, which I assume is what the poster was trying to infer