The Holman Illustrated Study Bible: Holman Christian Standard Bible

I bought this bible to use mostly for comparison to my KJV and my NIV Study Bible. Plus, I like the Idea this version restores the Name of our Creator God, YaHWeH, in selected verses, something most modern versions are afraid to do -- for some reason? The Bible I purchased for $20 is leather bound and is a fantastic copy. I love this Bible and find I am refering to it more and more. I read a review where one found the yellow highlighting of the notes disturbing. I, on the other hand, find the yellow highlighting of the notes at the bottom of the pages rather cool, and guess what, it makes the small print easier to read -- the illustrations and photo presentations are excellent. It has the usual, small concordance in the back. It has a brief 22 page Appendix packed with information. What I particularly like is the 6 page "Millennial Prespectives on Revelation" -- this feature give a comparison of the different points of view concerning the interpretation of the Book of Revelation by the various groups at odds with one another -- under the headings, "Amillennial", "Historical Premillennial" and "Dispensational Premillennial". For the most part this division explains the majority positions being taught and fought over among the Evengelicals and others. The print is easy to read and in laid out in reader style (single column across page), notes and references at the bottom of the page -- bullets are used to mark certain times and you will find these in the back of the bible as definitions of the term, or word marked by the bullet mark. Illustrations throughout, most in color. I would recommend this Bible as a good reading Bible -- it is not a full blown STUDY Bible, like the New King Games Study Bible or the NIV Study Bible, just keep that in mind.

For some reason, when Holman decided to drop this edition in favor of the HCSB Study Bible, they dropped that section on the history between the Testaments (I have two versions of the HCSB Study Bible). That is really too bad, and then they added it back in the newer CSB Study Bible I think. BUT, anyway, this older edition is much easier to hold and read, and it does have so many pictures, charts, maps and other little articles inside. All in the right places. I find it is my favorite bible, and believe me I have seen and have owned and do own Bibles. After owning this several years, I just bought another copy used here on AMAZON in order to have a backup, as the hardcovers seems to rip at the top of the spine, like so many heavy books will do after awhile when you shelve them. Sometimes the HSCB rendering is a bit awkward, but in general I like it, and I don't quibble about certain passages etc., because the average reader is interested in the overall picture. I have to say that for everyday reading and not anything study-wise, I love the NLT bible as well, and for poetry and accuracy, there is the NASB, and just for old time's sake, the KJV, but more and more the KJV is dated and so many words are not remotely the same after all this passage of time since 1611. :)

I am a bit of a Bible collector, and the Holman Illustrated Study Bible is my favorite. The one I purchased recently is actually a replacement of one I have had for a number of years. I like this Bible not only because it is filled with informative charts and maps and beautiful photos, but what makes this particular Bible better than any of the others is the fact that it includes variant readings in footnotes and bracketed sections, rather than simply leave them out, as most modern versions do today. Among several others, this includes as Acts 8:37 (which they include in the text but is bracketed), and Romans 14:6b (which they have included as a footnote), and Deuteronomy 32:8, for which they show a variant reading in the footnotes from the Septuagint and Dead Sea Scrolls. All of this is very valuable information which should be included in all Bibles, as not all of us agree that the oldest manuscripts are necessarily the best, as it is entirely possible that the best and most accurate manuscripts were the very ones which were used, wore out, and regularly replaced (as I did with this Bible), rather than those that were set aside and unused due to their inferiority (like other Bibles on my bookshelf). But whatever opinion is held in regards to this, the text which you prefer is here in the Holman's Illustrated Study Bible, in one way or another, just as it should be.

It pains me to give this bible a 3 star review because I like it so much. Why 3 stars? Let's retreat to my review title for context. First, I'll go on the record and say that the Holman Christian Standard Bible might be the single best English translation we possess. The reasons are too many to enumerate here. (Do your homework like I did. No one explained it to me either.) I did extensive reading in a wide variety of places but Rick Mansfield's blog was the clincher for me. It is shocking that Holman hasn't done more to draw attention to it's excellence. Believe me, it's well warranted. The HISB content is so useful and pleasing to the eye; visuals galore without looking childish. Here are a couple of things I like about it. Its paragraphed and in single column format. The footnotes are highlighted in yellow. For me, it makes the notes stand out better though they are of a little smaller print size. For somebody like myself whose eyesight is slowly diminishing (an effect of the fall!) you can see why I appreciate this color highlighting feature. Here's why I'm so disappointed. The HISB was in my possession a mere month before the binding started to crack! It aged right before my eyes! I know it would have been more expensive to produce but if Holman could've issued this bible with larger print like their Apologetics Study Bible, it might have captured a bigger market share. If you're seriously considering this bible for purchase, you might look at another binding but you better decide soon. I have it from Holman themselves that they will not be issuing this edition with the 2010 updates. All indicators point to Holman dropping it.

What an absolutely wonderful work of love this Bible is.OK, it's got no fancy gilt edges or flexible goatskin cover, but it is quite simply a pleasure to read. I can't wait to pick it up and enjoy it. The Word of God has been treated so beautifully. The text is easy-on-the-eye, single-column. Psalms aren't cut off mid-flow. Footnotes by the translators, highlighted in yellow, are amongst the most interesting and insightful I've ever read. An abundance of illustrations truly bring the worlds of both Testaments alive. The introductions to each book, the tables and articles scattered throughout the Bible are incredibly concise. (These are a reference source worth the price of the Bible alone. For in a few well-chosen sentences, they speak volumes). Refreshingly, Holman show a real reverence of Our Father and the additional information appears quite uninfluenced of particular doctrine or man-centred evangelism.The HCSB translation is perfect for modern, expressive, clearly understandable reading whether from a pulpit or in Bible study groups. It feels very natural and - as far as my studies have uncovered - seems very trustworthy and Spirit-led. It may be called a Study Bible, but far more than any other Study Bible (and I've read and possessed a few) Holman have allowed the Divine Word speak up for itself, rather than cluttering their Bible with lengthy commentaries or opinions. Such care has been taken in providing a worthy example of publishing excellence! An honour to Scripture. I can't recommend this enough.

have gone through several bible versions over the years, including this one. found it so good i bought this copy as a birthday present for a friend. 'user-friendly' with lots of information & pics you don't get in other bibles, especially inter-testamental period. would be even better if it had proper referencing as this would enhance its use as a study bible.