I am not sure how many Bibles I own…personal Bibles going back to when I was age 14, in college, then university, then for the past 43 years teaching at three universities–plus various translations, study Bibles, and on and on it goes–KJV, ASV, RSV, JPS, EV, NIV, Jerusalem Bible…and about 20 more…
I have to sneak them in the house lest I hear the comment from the family, “Another Bible? What’s with that?”
However, I can say with some confidence, that IF you want an English Bible that contains the Hebrew Bible (O.T.), Apocrypha, and New Testament, with all the extra features of a truly academic Study Bible, this is it! It has no “theological” slant in the notes, whether Jewish or Christian, and the approach to all the texts is scholarly and historical. There are various versions of the Oxford Annotated Bible but you want get this one–the Fifth Edition–I call it for short NOABA5…don’t you love the sound of that? Here are the Amazon links–both to make sure you get the right one–as there are various older editions that have similar names, and by using these links Amazon gives me a credit for recommending you, with no extra cost for you–so I can buy more Bibles…Ha!
The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha New Revised Standard Version: Fifth Edition
The link above is to the leather edition-half price on Amazon right now. I highly recommend it. I love the feel of it, and the superior quality. If you prefer the hardcover here is the link: NOABA Hardcover. Because of size and durability, I would not recommend the paperback, but if you want it: NOABA Paperback.
This Bible is 2386 pages plus maps…but the paper is superior high quality, so it is only two inches thick, wonderfully bound, with the most extraordinary historical and textual notes, maps splashed across the pages throughout, and the best set of Oxford Bible Maps you have ever seen. In addition it has chronological charts, historical essays, bibliography, and index. Click on these images and read some of the notes. You will be hooked. I particularly love the textual notes you see at the bottom of each page, so you get readings from the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint (LXX), Syriac, Samaritan, various New Testament manuscripts variants, and so forth. It is truly extraordinary!
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