Book Review: NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Great for new Christian or for easy to read translation.

Review: NLT Illustrated Study Bible

When I received this Bible in the mail, I was excited about looking it over.  Translation wise my view of the New Living Translation is that it is a good thought for thought translation; meaning it is not word by word to the original Hebrew (OT) or original Greek (NT), as would be the case with KJV, NASB, ESV (and some other translations). It does a good job with its thought for thought at bringing the original meaning into each verse in a much easier reading style.  This Bible is my choice for a new Christian. When I came to faith in Christ in 1975, I wish a Bible like this existed, as when I became a Christian it was all so new to me and my first two Bibles were not study Bibles.  A study Bible like this would have been so helpful to me. 

As to the name "Illustrated" in the title, I was really interested in how "illustrated" this Bible would be, as I have many good Bibles with pictures, charts and illustrations.  Would this Bible be different?  This Bible has a good amount of illustrations.  As far as color pictures, this Bible may be the most beautiful Bible I own. Also, some of the photos taken at actual Bible sites are amazing and give you a little more feel for the environment of that time period. 

One of my favorite features of this Bible is the detailed information "Features Index" provided on every main person in the Bible, as well as detailed information on every key event, situation or term that needs explaining. These are inserted throughout the Bible (usually when the subject first comes up in the Bible), and this is even before you get to all the Bible Study notes that take up approximately the bottom half of most pages.  The Bible notes are good to cover most things, but also fairly general in their explanations.  Definitely sufficient and helpful - not my favorite Bible in study notes - though still very good.

This Bible has great reference material in the back starting at page 2378 and going through 2557 including (but not limited to): Hebrew & Greek Word Studies (over 200), Features Index, Notes Index, Dictionary/Concordance, and in the very back colored maps.

From cover to cover this Bible has over 2600 pages and weighs 4.7 pounds (so it's pretty big and heavy).

I own other NLT Bibles, but this is my first Study Bible of the NLT.  I'm excited to have it.  I hope this review was helpful to you in your endeavor for the right Bible for you as you read God's Holy Word, the BIBLE.

I only gave it 4 stars overall, but for a new Christian or someone who needs an easy to read study Bible, I would give it 5 stars.

Best price I found was at: www.christianbook.com  $26.99 (Retail $49.99)

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a free copy of this Bible in exchange for my honest review.  I was in no way required to write anything positive, and the thoughts and opinions expressed here are completely my own.