This is not my favorite translation of the bible but it is an excellent second bible for serious study. The study notes are scholarly yet fairly brief.

I used this edition for a "read through the whole bible" program I did a few years ago and even though I have a degree in biblical studies, I learned a lot.

Some conservative/evangelical readers might find the notes too historical and academic but I'd suggest that this perspective might be a good balance to the "flat book" reading of the bible that is so common in our churches.

The Oxford Study Bible is clearly in the line of the more well-known Oxford Annotated Bibles, with a historical-critical approach that emphasizes original context over devotional application. The editors and contributors consciously reflect a multi-cultural background and present a diversity of views of the text itself. The notes compare well to the NOAB, though I suspect the overall quantity of notes is smaller, with many of the annotations consisting of cross references, especially in the New Testament. The prize here is the REB text, which is a refreshing alternative to the N/RSV line, and the selection of special articles.

Full review at: http://heissufficient.net/2007/12/11/... ( )

bible, catholic, liturgy, prayer ( )