NIV Essentials Study Bible

The NIV Essentials Study Bible is a Bible that offers some of the most comprehensive study tools all in one place. The NIV Essentials Study Bible takes some of the best features from a variety of Bibles, such as the NIV Student Bible, NIV Archaeological Study Bible, The Great Rescue Bible, and the NIV Quest Study Bible. One of my favorite features of this Bible is the "People in Focus" tool. This tool appears in a half-page box throughout the Bible, focusing on a particular Biblical figure. What I really liked about this feature is that it focused on some not so widely known Biblical figures, such as Abiathar, Ahab, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel.

Another feature of this Bible that I thought was really helpful was the "Q & A" section. This is another small box that appears throughout the pages of this Bible, and offers answers to common questions that relate to the reading. Questions such as, why the Bible repeats material covered in other places, how God judged the Kings, how we can handle guilt, and whether it is wrong to be angry with God. These are placed perfectly within the pages of this Bible so that they tie in to the teachings perfectly, and it is easy to find the Biblical response to these questions. 

There are many, many other features in this Bible, such as maps, in depth chapter overviews at the beginning of each chapter, insights that offer helpful advice on handling particular situations (for example, the "Insight" in Job 6 discusses what not to say to a hurting person), extensive footnotes throughout the Bible, and "Reflect and Respond" sections that offer in depth analysis of events that occur.

Overall, I would give this Bible a 5/5. The amount of amazingly helpful tools that are packed into its pages makes it my new favorite Bible for studying God's word. I love all of the awesome ways that this Bible makes me find a whole new understanding of Biblical events and people. If you are a person who really wants to get more out of the Bible, this is definitely for you. Tons of explanations and analysis really help get a completely different experience from reading the Bible. Awesome.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com's blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.