Review
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Title: Chronological Life Application Study Bible NLT, Second Edition
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream Illinois
Genre: Bible/Study Bible/New Living Translation
Year Published: 2012
Number of Pages: 2448
Binding: Hardcover
Size: 6.8 x 2 x 9.6 inches
Weight: 4.1 lbs.
ISBN10: 1414339275
ISBN13: 978-1414339276
Price: $49.99
Reviewed by Steven Ray Montgomery for the Association for Mormon Letters
If you love study Bibles like I do, then the Chronological Life Application Study Bible has to occupy a top spot on your shelf. There are several reasons. First, as explained in the introductory:
“You want to experience the sweep of history best found in a chronological Bible, the sense of discovery best found in an archaeological Bible, and the solid application of biblical truth best found in a life application study Bible . . . [this] Bible offers you the story of scripture, the sense of discovery, and the life-changing application of Biblical truth in great new study Bible.”
But there is more. Maps. This Bible is chock full of them. Both within the text for specific events or locations and the sixteen general maps at the back.
And still more. All the diagrams, charts, illustrations, Master Index, notes, archaeology findings, dictionary, concordance, etc.
Regarding the Master Index the heading states:
“This is an index to the features of . . . [the] Bible. Every entry concerning a study note has a Bible reference and a page number; every entry concerning a chart, map, personality profile, or archaeology note has a page number. In some instances, a Bible reference is followed by a number in parentheses to indicate that there is more than one note on that particular Scripture. For example, Rv 1:1(2) means that the reader should look up the second note on that verse. Additionally, features from the section introductions, Scripture outline, and the images throughout the Bible are indexed by page number. Following the general index are special indexes: index to Charts, index to Maps, index to Personality Profiles, index to Archaeology Notes and index to Illustrations . . .”
Regarding the chronological approach:
“Although it contains every book of the 66 books of the Bible, this Bible is divided into 10 eras of biblical history, with the books intermingled to help you see how the story actually unfolded.”
And here are the 10 major eras of biblical history:
1. Beginnings. Creation to 2100 B.C.
2. Gods Chosen Family. 2100 to 1800 B.C.
3. The birth of Israel. 1800 to 1406 B.C.
4. Possessing the Land. 1406 to 1050 B.C.
5. United Monarchy. 1050 to 930 B.C.
6. Splintered Nation. 930 to 586 B.C.
7. Exile. 586 to 538 B.C.
8. Return and Diaspora. 538 to 6 B.C.
9. Jesus Christ. 6 B.C. to 30 A.D.
10 The Church. 30 A.D. to Present. [Being a general Christian Bible, it is understandable that the Apostasy, and a need for a Restoration, are not mentioned.]
It took me a while to get used to reading the Bible chronologically. It seemed, at first, unusual. But I quickly got used to it, and now, rather than reading the Bible in canonical order, I prefer reading it in chronological order. The chronological arrangement clearly shows how books in the same time period correspond to each other. For example, David running from King Saul and fleeing to King Achish of Gath in 1 Samuel 21, and David singing about that affair in Psalm 34 are related.
I especially liked the explanatory notes. For instance, the notes regarding Psalm 34 also clearly show how the Psalm is an acrostic where each verse begins with successive letters of the Hebrew Alphabet. There are many other explanatory notes for other Psalms, Proverbs, chapters and verses.
Here is what is contained in Interior Features:
A. Chronological Header System
B. Outline
C. Notes
D. Maps
E. Illustrated Verses
F. Section Introductions: 1. Overview 2. Timeline 3. People and Culture 4. Books in the sections 5. Article 6. Megathemes 7. Maps
G. Timeline
H. Parallel passage indicator
I. Archaeological Notes
J. Charts and Diagrams
K. Personality Disorders
L. Textual Notes and Section Headings
M. Harmony of the Gospels
N. New Full Color Illustrations
Regarding the New Living Translation (NLT):
“The translators . . . kept the concerns of both formal-equivalence and dynamic-equivalence in mind. On the one hand, they translated as simply and literally as possible when that approach yielded an accurate, clear, and natural English text. Many words and phrases were rendered literally and consistently into English, preserving essential literary and rhetorical devices, ancient metaphors, and word choices that give structure to the text and provide echoes of meaning from one passage to the next.”
“On the other hand, the translators rendered the message more dynamically when the literal rendering was hard to understand, was misleading, or yielded archaic or foreign wording. They clarified difficult metaphors and terms to aid in the reader’s understanding. The translators first struggled with the meaning of the words and phrases in the ancient context; then they rendered the message into clear, natural English.”
The translation team consisted of “qualified Biblical scholars; a broad spectrum of denominations, theological perspectives, and background.” This translation is better than most but I confess loving the King James Version (KJV) better, although the NLT utilizes the latest discoveries and historical perspective lacking in the KJV.
But yes, I really like this Bible. I highly recommend it. Every member of the Church ought to read this Bible through at least once. You won’t regret it.