The MacArthur Study Bible is one of the most popular study Bibles in print. It’s available in several translations and is now available in the LSB (Legacy Standard Bible). Like the other MacArthur Study Bibles in Comfort Print, this is the second edition with 40% more maps and charts. I’m reviewing the LSB MacArthur Study Bible in the Premier Collection, with a brown goatskin cover, an edge-lined leather liner, premium European paper, three satin ribbons, and the NASB Comfort Print typeface designed by 2K/Denmark. ISBN: 9781400339778, printed in China.
Thomas Nelson provided this Bible in exchange for an honest review.
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This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
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Table of Contents
- Cover and Binding
- Paper
- Typography
- Footnotes and References
- Introductions
- Study Material
- Concordance
- Maps
- Video Review
- Conclusion
Cover and Binding
The cover is a medium brown goatskin. It’s a thick leather with an elegant grain that looks and feels great. It includes perimeter stitching with nothing is printed on the front. The spine has 4 large hubs and text printed in gold with the title printed horizontally. I love this color and texture.
The calfskin edge-lined leather liner is a darker brown and includes a gold gilt line. Its tab is a touch stiff, but it doesn’t take long to break in. The block is sewn and includes overcast stitching to give it structure. It has three 3/8″ satin ribbons: brown, red, and blue. The overall size is 7.25 x 10 x 1.75″ and it weighs 3 lbs 12.5 oz.
Paper
The paper is 39GSM premium European Bible paper. It’s off-white, highly opaque, smooth, and has no glare under direct light. Even though it’s smooth, it has a texture that makes it easy to turn. The edges are red under gold art gilt. This paper is great for reading.
Typography
The LSB text is presented in double-column, paragraph format with poetry set to stanzas, letters indented, and lists in a list format. Cross-references and footnotes are placed under the text in a single column. Commentary is placed at the bottom of the page in three columns. The header shows the book name, reference, and page number in the outer margin. It contains blue highlights for the section headings, chapter numbers, verse numbers, commentary, etc. Old Testament quotes in the New Testament are in all caps. Supplied words are in italics.
The typeface is a 9.5-point Comfort Print that 2k/Denmark designed for the Zondervan NASB. This is a black-letter text. It’s dark and consistent throughout. It’s printed with line-matching for both the text and the commentary. It has around 10 words per line with a good amount of space between the lines to make it comfortable to read. Poetry is divided well, so it looks balanced. References and footnotes are both marked with letters in the text. References are in a regular type while footnotes are in italics. They’re small, so they may be difficult to see. The text is great for reading and studying. I found it easy enough to read without distractions.
Footnotes and References
Footnotes and cross-references are placed together under the text. They’re small and may be difficult to read. There is extra space between them and between the lines to help make them easier to find. They taper toward the bottom of the page to give them a unique design.
It has the complete set (14,000) of LSB translation footnotes. They include insights into words, alternate renderings, weights and measures, manuscript notifications, etc.
It has the same 72,000 cross-references as the NASB MacArthur Study Bible. They’re helpful for study and sermon prep. Here are some example references to help you compare:
- Genesis 1:1 – Ps 102:25; Isa 40:21; Jn 1:1, 2; Heb 1:10; Ps 89:11; 90:2; Acts 17:24; Rom 1:20; Heb 11:3; Job 38:4; Is 42:5; 45:18; Rev 4:11
- Deuteronomy 6:4 – Matt 22:37; Mk 12:29, 30; Luke 10:27; Deut 4:35, 39; John 10:30; 1 Cor 8:4; Eph 4:6
- Isaiah 9:6 – Is 7:14; 11:1, 2; 53:2; Luke 2:11; Jn 3:16; Matt 28:18; 1 Cor 15:25; Is 22:22; Is 28:29; Deut 10:17; Neh 9:32; Is 10:21; Is 63:16; 64:8; Is 26:3, 12; 54:10; 66:12
- Matthew 28:19 – Mk 16:15; Mt 13:52; Ac 1:8; 14:21; Mt 25:32; Lk 24:47; Ac 2:38; 8:16; Rom 6:3; 1 Cor 1:13, 15; Gal 3:27
- Mark 12:29 – Deut 6:4
- John 1:1 – Gen 1:1; Col 1:17; 1 John 1:1; 1 John 1:14; Rev 19:13; John 17:5; 1 John 1:2; Phil 2:6
- John 3:16 – Rom 5:8, Eph 2:4; 2 Thess 2:16; 1 Jn 4:10; Rev 1:5; Rom 8:32; 1 Jn 4:9; Jn 1:18; 3:18; 1 Jn 4:9; Jn 3:36; 6:40; 11:25
- Acts 2:38 – Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 5:31; 20:21; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 16; 22:16
- 1 John 1:1 – John 1:1f; I John 2:13, 14; Acts 4:20; I John 1:3; John 19:35; 2 Peter 1:16; I John 1:2; John 1:14; I John 4:14; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; John 1, 4
Introductions
It includes detailed introductions to each of the large sections and books. They include a lot of information and Scripture references.
Section introductions – these take several pages and cover the genres of the books in that section. They include the overall themes and how they fit together and within the Bible. A chronological timeline shows the major biblical times. An outline harmonizes the books. Charts cover events, such as a harmony of the Gospels, Passion Week, prophecies fulfilled, Christ’s life, ministry, etc.
Book introductions – these take around 3 pages and include information about the title, author and date, background and setting, historical and theological themes, interpretive challenges, and an outline.
Study Material
This is the second edition that has been redesigned with updated notes, more maps, and more charts. The articles and commentary are separate from the text, so you can use the text without interruption. Like every study Bible and commentary set, I recommend using the commentary for reference and doing your own study. These are the same notes as you’ll find in the NKJV and NASB MacArthur Study Bibles.
Commentary – it has almost 25,000 verse-by-verse study notes. They include in-depth teachings on the text. The commentary has a 7-point font.
In-text Maps, Charts, and Diagrams – it includes 190 in-text maps, charts, and diagrams. They discuss themes, places, people, teachings, etc., and include lists or maps of the context.
Bible Reading Plan – this is a yearly reading plan that takes you through both testaments in standard biblical order. It includes daily readings from the OT and NT. It shows the month, date, and morning and evening readings.
Index to Key Bible Doctrines – this is a 23-page index of the 10 classic doctrines covered in the commentary. They show the topic with references where you can see the Scriptures and commentary on each topic. Some have sub-topics.
Monetary Units, Weights, and Measures – this is a 3-page table with information and how they were used in Scripture. It shows the unit, monetary value, equivalent, and translation.
Articles – these are placed in the front and back. There are only a few, but they’re excellent topics about the Bible. They include:
- Introduction to the Bible
- How We Got the Bible
- How to Study the Bible
- Introduction to the Intertestamental Period
- Overview of Theology in the Holy Scriptures
Concordance
The concordance is 89 pages with 3 columns per page. It includes names, explanatory notes, synonyms, and related words. This is an excellent concordance for study. This is the same concordance used in the LSB Giant Print Reference.
Here are a few example entries with their number of references to help you compare:
- Christ Messiah, Anointed One – 17
- Christian associated with Christ – 3
- Faith – believe, trust – 33
- Faithful – trustworthy, truth, dependable – 17
- Faithfulness trustworthiness, truthfulness– 6
- Faithless unbelieving – 4
- God Deity, Trinity – 37
- God false deity, figure– 7
- Goddess female deity – 3
- Godless without God, pagan, worldly – 7
- Godliness holiness – 5
- Godly piously, of God– 5
- Praise (n) acclimation, honor – 7
- Praise (v) extol, glorify – 19
- Pray ask, worship – 19
- Prayer speaking to God – 15
- YAHWEH – personal covenant name of God
- Yahweh – 6
- Lord Yahweh (Adonia Yahweh) – 6
- Yahweh God (Yahweh Elohim) – 5
- Yah (shortened form of Yahweh) – 9
- Yah–Yahweh – 2
Maps
It includes 8 glossy pages with 7 full-color Zondervan maps. It doesn’t include an index, which would be helpful in a Study Bible. I’d also like to see more maps. They’re fully annotated, making things easy to find. They include topography, distance, routes, borders, possible locations of lost places, battles, elevation, cities, and locations for the events of Jesus’ ministry.
Maps include:
- World of the Patriarchs
- Exodus and Conquest of Canaan
- Land of the Twelve Tribes
- Kingdom of David and Solomon
- Jesus’ Ministry
- Paul’s Missionary Journeys
- Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus
Video Review
Conclusion
The Thomas Nelson LSB MacArthur Study Bible in the Premier Collection is an excellent version of this popular study Bible. Its materials, construction, and design are high-quality. The LSB contains the same commentary, articles, and maps as the other editions, and includes the LSB concordance. All the tools stay out of the way of the text, making it a good choice for reading and studying.
_________________________________________________________
This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
_________________________________________________________
Thomas Nelson provided this Bible in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions are my own.
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