A Tale of Two Study Bibles

A review of Crossway’s new ESV Concise Study Bible

In my life as a Christian, I have always owned at least one (but usually more than one) study Bible. The main Study Bible that I have consistently gone to in the past eight to nine years has been Crossway’s ESV Study Bible. The ESV Study Bible is considered, in the circles I run in, to be one of the best, if not the best, study Bible one can own. The only one that has come close is the Reformation Study Bible from Ligonier and the late R.C. Sproul. However, the ESV Study Bible has one major flaw, as do many study Bibles, and that is it is huge. So physically immense, that any version of it, from hardcover to leather, could be used as a weapon in self-defense. And it’s not because it’s large print or anything, it just has a LOT of information in it. It’s practically a single-volume commentary. And I love it. I use it a lot. 

Being a fan of the English Standard Version translation of the Word of God, I have been looking for an ESV Study Bible that rivals the greatness of Crossways magnum opus but isn’t huge. Something more reasonable for carrying around yet has a wealth of information alongside the Scriptures. I bided my time until a member of my church was looking for something similar: A non-bulky, ESV Bible that has study notes. Crossway as a litany of different study Bibles, but none that really rivaled their main ESV Study Bible. Until now. 

The ESV Concise Study Bible (I want to nickname it the ESV-CSB, but I don’t think Lifeway would like that!) is what I have been looking for. Yes, there is much less information (12,000+ notes, 150+ maps and charts, 20 illustrations, and 10 articles as compared to the 20,000+, 200 Maps, 240 Charts, and 50+ articles, respectively), but what is in the Concise Study Bible is gold. It is a grand wonder. I first heard of it when Tony Doppke, from Crossway to me about it at the For the Church National Conference at the campus of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary last month, but he did not have any on hand, so I looked it up online and ordered one (actually, two). And, once they came in, I am really enjoying using this study Bible. And so is the woman from my church to whom I gave one. 

Each book of the Bible has a lot of the same information that the ESVSB has but with fewer details. There are timelines, background information, setting, themes, and outlines for use in better understanding and reading through each book of Scripture. The upper sections of the page are devoted to the Words of Scripture, and the lower sections to notes, having a familiar look to the ESVSB in that sometimes it feels like there are an equal amount of notes as verses on a page! While there are fewer notes and overall information within the Concise Study Bible, the quality of information given is not one iota less than what is contained in its bigger, heftier brother. 

Physically speaking, I have one of the TruTone brown softcover editions, and it feels, holds, and lays quite nicely. With the Smyth-Sewn binding and Crossway’s awesome lifetime guarantee, this is a Bible that I know I will have, and use, for many years to come (unless they come out with a large print edition, hint hint!).

Overall, I give this Bible two thumbs up! There is only one thing that I can see to be improved on it, and it’s something I mentioned a couple of lines north of here: Large Print (or larger print, as it may be). My eyesight isn’t what it used to be, and most Large Print study Bibles are too big, but I think this one would be perfect. Regardless of the font size, however, I highly recommend the ESV Concise Study Bible to anyone and everyone needing a great and highly portable study Bible. Thank you, Crossway, for your continued commitment to excellence in equipping the saints for growth in grace and sanctification through the Word. 

If you would like to purchase a copy of the ESV Concise Study Bible, you can do so by clicking here.

Disclaimer: I purchased this item of my own accord, not with any intention of writing a review. Crossway did not ask me to write this or anything like that.