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Pastor Dan's Bible Recommendations

Bible Versions

I’ve found the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and the New International Version (NIV) to be solid translations that are very readable to modern ears. There’s also a tNIV (with more inclusive language) and an NIrV (for elementary-age children or beginning readers).

I prefer the NRSV translation (and it is what we use in worship). The difference between the NRSV and NIV translations is fairly minor, but the difference in study notes between the two versions is dramatic—with NRSV study Bibles generally having vastly superior scholarship in their notes.

Have Two Study Bibles

I recommend all adults have at least two study Bibles: one focused on helping the reader approach the Bible devotionally, and another providing notes that explain difficult passages, describe historical and cultural background, and offer cross-references to other parts of scripture.

  1. A good devotional Bible. These Bibles help the reader approach scripture for spiritual sustenance and guidance.
  2. A study Bible with good notes. These Bibles provide historical, cultural, and theological background to better understand individual passages. All study Bibles do interpretation; the recommendations below are based on scholarship and theology that I trust.

The Serendipity Study Bible for Groups

A great NIV study Bible from a different angle. Rather than offering explanatory notes, it places questions in the margins of each page—moving from opening questions to progressively deeper ones on each text. Intended for use with small groups but also helpful for devotional reading, it is great for understanding how passages of scripture speak into our lives. It also includes strong study plans for planning your approach to reading scripture.

The Life with God Bible

This study Bible blends devotional reading with helpful commentary and user-friendly visuals. It includes an opening essay encouraging readers to see the entire Bible as the unfolding story of God’s plan for an intimate relationship with our Creator, plus additional essays addressing seasons and stages of faith. It also offers spiritual exercises, profiles of key biblical figures, and discussions of spiritual disciplines like prayer and worship.

Study Bibles with Good Notes

The first three options below are best for readers who are relatively new to Bible study for several reasons:

  • They don’t assume familiarity with academic approaches (or the terminology that comes with them).

  • They provide helpful context while still supporting devotional reading, without introducing interpretive frameworks that may be unhelpful for early stages of learning.

  • They typically have fewer notes, which helps keep attention on the scripture itself.

The Discipleship Study Bible (NRSV)

The most accessible NRSV study Bible with full notes on each chapter. This is my top recommendation for most people who have not yet read the majority of the Bible. Its editors are solid academicians, but they write at an easy-to-understand level and limit exposure to scholarship that may confuse newer readers.

​The Access Bible (NRSV)

Marketed as “a resource for beginning Bible students,” and that fits well. Compared to the Discipleship Study Bible, it may be a bit more targeted to a beginning reader who also wants a little more to chew on academically. Note: the newest version only comes in paperback.

​The Student Bible (NRSV)

Though it has been out for quite a few years, it is also available in an NRSV edition. By name, it may appeal more to teens and twenty-somethings. It includes helpful reading plans and good (but short) introductions to each book. Notes on each chapter are very limited.

Study Bibles to Really Sink Your Teeth Into

These options draw strongly from current scholarship. Their academic approach could be distracting for a devotional reader. However, for readers who have become familiar enough with scripture to notice differences between the gospels, shifts in perspective or writing style, and other tensions within the texts, having one of these study Bibles becomes a “must.” All three have excellent scholarship and commentary.

New Interpreter’s Study Bible (NRSV)

Draws from the New Interpreter’s Bible commentary series to provide outstanding study notes. This Bible includes some of the longest note sections you’ll find—so if you want the most commentary you can buy in a Bible, this is probably the one for you.

HarperCollins Study Bible (NRSV)

Perhaps the most accessible of the more academic NRSV study Bibles for those who are newer to deeper study.

New Oxford Annotated Study Bible (NRSV, 4th Edition)

An NRSV study Bible with very strong academic notes. The New Oxford has been a standard for Presbyterian seminary students and professors for many years. I received my first copy (then an RSV) as a gift from my parents on my 20th birthday—and I’m on my third copy now.

BibleStudyTools.com is an online searchable Bible that provides most translations. (On that site, the New Revised Standard Version is listed as “New Revised Standard.”) Other top choices there would include the New International Version and Today’s New International Version (a more gender-inclusive NIV).

Tip: If you’re using an online tool, consider pairing it with an NRSV study Bible for stronger study notes.

Rooted in the Word

Step more deeply into God’s story as you open the pages of scripture and listen for the Spirit’s voice; whether you are reading devotionally in the quiet of the morning or studying with curiosity and care, know that you do not journey alone. As a church family, we are growing together in faith, understanding, and love — trusting that God’s Word continues to shape us, challenge us, and send us into the world to live Christ’s mission with courage and grace.