Midweek: MacArthur Study Bible, LSB (Premier Collection)

Hang on to your sleigh, Folks, Christmas is just over the next snowbank! And, in preparation for the Gift-Giving Season, I'd like to recommend Thomas Nelson's Premier Collection MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition, due to be released November 12, 2024. The complimentary copy I received is a Legacy Standard Bible translation, adapted from the New American Standard 95 version. Full disclosure, I don't know much about the Legacy Standard Bible version, but I do know that if it is coming from the MacArthur camp, it is thoroughly researched and authenticated. My copy has a premium goatskin leather cover, art-gilded edges, three (!) satin bookmarkers, and comes elegantly wrapped, tucked inside a sturdy box. There are hardcover editions that retail for quite a bit less, but this one is priced at $289; though preorders at Christianbook.com are listed at $189.99.

So, what can you expect when you open this beautiful copy of the Scriptures? Well, it's big! It weighs two pounds, but it is packed with study helps and, as I've mentioned in other reviews, the durable leather cover is less cumbersome than the hardcovers. There are no markings on the front or back covers, so you may find yourself opening this Bible upside down and at the back from time to time. Eight full-color maps compose part of the backmatter, but there are in-text maps as well. Likewise, various charts are contained in the Appendix (Monetary Units, and Weights & Measurements) and in the text as well. Diagrams also add depth and understanding of meanings, themes, teachings, people, and places, as they appear alongside the text. A handy Index of Charts and Maps, located just after the Table of Contents in the front of the book, helping to locate these supplementary resources. There is a brief Introduction to the Bible, Personal notes from John MacArthur, and an explanation of How We Got the Bible. A chart explains the Progress of Revelation, noting the approximate date each book of the Bible was written and its author. An article, How to Study the Bible, is just one of many assets to facilitate better understanding of the Scriptures and why they were written. Another interesting feature, and one I've never seen before, is a Harmony of the Books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. Before actually landing at the beginning of the Book of Genesis, there is a Chronology of Old Testament Patriarchs and Judges, and a Chronology of Old Testament Kings and Prophets. Individual Bible book introductions provide an overview of the background and historical context of the book about to be read. Over 72,000 cross-references and countless study notes accompany the biblical text putting power-packed study at your fingertips. Between the Old and New Testaments are the Introduction to the Intertestamental Period, the Introduction to the New Testament, the Chronology of the New Testament, a Harmony of the Gospels, a chart of Prophecies of the Messiah Fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and a Brief Overview of Christ's Life and Ministry, supplemented by a (somewhat strange) list of the Passovers of Christ's Ministry and a timeline of Christ's Passion Week. At the end of Revelation is a short article on The Character of Genuine Saving Faith. An Overview of Theology follows a one-year reading plan. Two final items for study are an Index to Key Bible Doctrines, and a concordance. That's a lot! 

So, what do I think? This Bible is beautiful! If you are looking for a "premier" or "legacy" type of gift for someone special, this will surely wow! them. If you rock your study "old school," this has everything you could need. However, this is a heavy Bible with an equally heavy price tag: in a world with internet almost everywhere we go, the question needs to be asked, "Do we need all of this in one text?" I think it largely depends on your study needs. As I mentioned before, if it's from John MacArthur, I believe it to be trustworthy while not everything on the internet is. Either way, it is a lovely gift to get and would be a lovely gift to receive!