If I had to use one word to summarize this Bible it would be SHARP!! Published by Zondervan, this beautiful, durable Bible comes with a deep blood red cover (the pictures really don't do it justice), crisp white pages adorned with red accents all through out. The red is extremely eye catching. It also reminds me of the Holy Spirit, who is after all, the one we turn to while studying scripture.
The layout is typical of any NIV Bible as far as the Sacred Text is concerned. What is special about this Bible is that it is marketed towards "Grounding Your Beliefs In The Truth Of Scripture". The features include:
104 Everyday Faith devotions
25 thought-provoking Culture
Connections
40 Living Parables
Commentaries
75 Doctrine 101 articles
12 Up for Debate tables
8 Charts and graphs
In addition to these generous features that are peppered throughout the text, The Understand The Faith Study Bible provides an ample commentary of 156 pages, a subject index and unique to this Bible- Glossary of Theological Terms.
I couldn't open the box fast enough. My first impression of the NIV UTFSB was that it was larger than I expected. That's a good thing! The font size was larger than expected as well. Because it is so large, I wouldn't suggest it to anyone looking for a Bible to bring to church or carry with them. It is very easy on the eyes. The pages are a crispy white and although there is minimal ghosting, it really didn't distract me from the text. Blood red accents draw the eye to chapter headings and special features. I really enjoy the way this bible is layed out. One of the best features of the NIV UTFSB is the 75 Doctrine 101 articles. I believe that this Bible is absolutely perfect for those who are interested in theology or want to learn more about the different sub sects of Christianity. The Doctrine 101 features allows the reader to explore Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant views on selected passages and their meaning. It affords the reader an unbiased portrait of the elements that make a Catholic a Catholic or a Protestant a Protestant. This is extremely helpful in today's world where we may encounter those who share the same belief in Christianity, but have different views on the same theological concepts. In short, Zondervan, with the help of Christianity Today has produced a work of HARMONY.
The only negative thing I have to say about The Understanding The Faith Study Bible is that I wouldn't actually call it a study bible. When I think study bible I think commentary and cross references. This Bible has almost none. That isn't a bad thing, however if someone is looking for that quintessential study bible they may be disappointed. Also, if I had my say there would be a feature index. Sometimes while studying, I like to look up a feature or devotion and go from there. The features are hard to find if you are searching for a specific topic. One positive thing is that most features are linked with other similar features that include the page number.
I would give this Bible 5/5 stars due to the attractive layout and cover, as well as the wealth of information inside. It is a niche Bible in my opinion but paired with the right believer- there is no limit on the information you could glean from it. The layout is easy to navigate and the price point is just right.
I would happily suggest The Understand The Faith Study Bible to a new believer or anyone looking to get to the bottom of why they believe what they believe.
***Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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