About the Study Bible
The New International Version of the Bible is unsurpassed in accuracy, clarity
and literary grace. The commitments that led to the completion of this version later
guided several of its translators to spearhead publication of The NIV Study Bible.
Their purpose was unchanged: to communicate the word of God to the hearts of people.
Like the NIV itself, The NIV Study Bible is the work of a transdenominational
team of Biblical scholars. All confess the authority of the Bible as God’s infallible word
to humanity. They have sought to clarify understanding of, develop appreciation for, and
provide insight into that word.
But why a study Bible when the NIV text itself is so clearly written? Surely there
is no substitute for the reading of the text itself; nothing people write about
God’s word can be on a level with the word itself. Further, it is the Holy Spirit alone-not
fallible human beings-who can open the human mind to the divine message.
However, the Spirit also uses people to explain God’s word to others. It was the
Spirit who led Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch’s chariot, where he asked, "Do you
understand what you are reading?" (Ac 8:31). "How can I," the Ethiopian
replied, "unless someone explains it tome?" Philip then showed him how an Old
Testament passage in Isaiah related to the good news of Jesus.
This interrelationship of the Scriptures-so essential to understanding the
complete Biblical message-is a major theme of the Study Bible notes.
Doctrinally, the Study Bible reflects traditional evangelical theology. Where
editors were aware of significant differences of opinion on key passages or doctrines,
they tried to follow an evenhanded approach by indicating those differences (e.g. see
note on Rev 20:2). In finding solutions to problems mentioned in the book introductions,
they went only as far as evidence (Biblical and non-Biblical) could carry them.
The result is a study Bible that can be used profitably by all Christians who
want to be serious Bible students.
Features of the NIV Study Bible
The NIV Study Bible features the text of the New International Version,
study notes keyed to and listed with Bible verses, introductions and outlines to books of
the Bible, text notes, a cross-reference system (100,000 entries), parallel passages, a
concordance (over 35,000 references), charts, maps, essays and comprehensive indexes.
The text of the NIV, which is divided into paragraphs as well as verses, is
organized into sections with headings.
Study Notes
The outstanding feature of this Study Bible is its nearly 20,000 study notes
located on the same pages as the verses and passages they explain.
The study notes provide new information to supplement that found in the
NIV text notes. Among other things, they
1. explain important words and concepts (see note on Lev 11:44 about
"holiness");
2. interpret "difficult verses" (see notes on Mal 1:3 and Lk
14:26 for the concept of "hating" your parents);
3. draw parallels between specific people and events (see note on Ex
32:30 for the parallels between Moses and Christ as mediators);
4. describe historical and textual contexts of passages (see note on
1Co 8:1 for the practice of eating meat sacrificed to idols); and
5. demonstrate how one passage sheds light on another (see note on Ps
26:8 for how the presence of God’s glory marked his presence in the tabernacle, in the
temple, and finally in Jesus Christ himself).
Some elements of style should be noted:
1. Study notes on a passage precede notes on individual verses
within that passage.
2. When a book of the Bible is referred to within a note on that book,
the book name is not repeated. For example, a reference to 2 Timothy 2:18 within the notes
on 2 Timothy is written 2:18, not 2Ti 2:18.
3. In lists of references within a note, references from the book under
discussion are placed first. The rest appear in Biblical order.
Introductions to Books
Each introduction to each book of the Bible is different. Introductions vary
in length and reflect both the nature of the material itself and the strengths and interests
of contributing editors.
An introduction frequently reports on a book’s title, author, and date of
writing. It details the book’s background and purpose, explores themes and theological
significance, and points out special problems and distinctive literary features. Where
appropriate, such as in Paul’s letters to the churches, it describes the original recipients
of a book and the city in which they lived.
A complete outline of the book’s content is provided in each introduction
(except for the introduction to Psalms). For Genesis, two outlines-a literary and a
thematic-are given. Pairs of books that were originally one literary work, such as 1 and
2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles, are outlined together.
Text Notes
NIV text notes are indicated by raised, bold-faced letters following the words
or phrases they explain. They examine such things as alternate translations, meanings of
Hebrew and Greek terms, Old Testament quotations, and variant readings in ancient Biblical
manuscripts. Text notes appear at the bottom of the right-hand column, preceded by their
bold letters and verse numbers.
Cross-Reference System
The cross-reference system, developed over many years by June Gunden, John
R. Kohlenberger III (OT) and Donald H. Madvig (NT), can be used to explore concepts, as well
as specific words. For example, one can either study "angels as protectors" (see
Mt 18:10) or focus on the word "angel" (see Jn 20:12).
The NIV cross-reference system resembles a series of interlocking chains with
many links. The head, or organizing, link in each concept chain is indicated by the letter
"S" (short for "See"). The appearance of a head link in a list of
references usually signals another list of references that will cover a slightly different
aspect of the concept or word being studied. The various chains in the cross-reference
system-which is virtually inexhaustible-continually intersect and diverge.
Cross references are indicated by raised light-italic letters. When a single
word is addressed by both text notes and cross references, the bold NIV text-note letter
comes first. The cross references normally appear in the center column and, when necessary,
continue at the bottom of the right-hand column preceding the NIV text notes.
The lists of references are in Biblical order with one exception: If reference
is made to a verse within the same chapter, that verse (indicated by "ver") is
listed first. If an Old Testament verse is quoted in the New Testament, the New Testament
reference is marked with an asterisk (*).
Genesis 1:1 provides a good example of the resources of the cross-reference
system.
The four lists of references all relate to creation, but each takes a different
perspective. Note a takes up the time of creation: "in the beginning."
Note b lists three other occurrences of the word "created" in Genesis
1:2. Note c focuses on "the heavens" as God’s creation. Because note
d is attached to the end of the verse as well as to the word "earth,"
it deals with the word "earth," with the phrase "the heavens and the
earth" and with creation itself (the whole verse).
Parallel Passages
When two or more passages of Scripture are nearly identical or deal with the
same event, this "parallel" is noted at the sectional headings for those passages.
Such passages are especially common in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and in Samuel, Kings
and Chronicles.
Identical or nearly identical passages are noted with "pp." Similar
passages-those not dealing with the same event-are noted with "Ref."
To conserve space and avoid repetition, when a parallel passage is noted at
a sectional heading, no further parallels are listed in the cross-reference system.
Concordance
The concordance, compiled and edited by John R. Kohlenberger III and Edward
W. Goodrick, is the largest ever bound together with an English Bible. By looking up key
words, you can find verses for which you remember a word or two but not their location.
For example, to find the verse that states that the word God is "sharper than any
double-edged sword," you could look in the concordance under either "sharper,"
"double-edged," or "sword."
Maps
The Study Bible includes 57 maps: 13 full color and 44 black and white. The 13
full-color maps at the end of this Bible cover nearly 4,000 years of history, from the
patriarchs to Christianity in the world today.
Strategically placed throughout the text are almost four dozen blank-and-white
maps specially designed for the Study Bible. The Contents contains a complete list of the
topics covered.
The cities of Damascus, Rome, Corinth, Ephesus and Philippi have been
reconstructed as they might have been in New Testament times. These recreations allow Bible
students to visualize the places through which Paul traveled on his missionary journeys.
Charts
Complementing the study notes are 35 charts, diagrams and drawings designed
specifically for the Study Bible. Two full-color time lines, located in the front of this
Bible, pinpoint significant dates in the Old and New Testaments. Other charts, carefully
placed within the text, give detailed information about ancient non-Biblical texts, about
Old Testament covenants, sacrifices, and feast days, about Jewish sects, and about major
archeological finds relating to the New Testament.
Essays
Four brief essays give additional information on specific sections of the
Bible: the Minor Prophets, the Synoptic Gospels, the Pastoral Letters, and the General
Letters.
A fifth essay details the history, literature and social developments of the
400 years between the Old and New Testaments.
Subject and Map Indexes
The subject index pinpoints other references to persons, places, events and
topics mentioned in the Study Bible notes.
Two map indexes help in locating place-names on a map.
Taken from The NIV STUDY BIBLE by INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY. Copyright ©1985 by the Zondervan Corporation.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House (www.zondervan.com).