Book Review: NKJV Foundation Study Bible

As a young girl growing up, I learned the Bible in the KJV. That was the version that was read during our church services, it was the version my parents taught me from, and it is still the version I "hear" in my mind when I recall Scriptures I learned as a child.

But, for my own family, we are using the NKJV during our family Bible study. I wanted the kids to have a NKJV so they could follow along when I read aloud. The nice thing is that the language of the NKJV does not differ so much from the KJV that I can hardly recognize the verses. The introduction states it this way:

"The full text of the New King James Version is used, in a format that shows paragraphs, poetry, and other special formats. Based on the time-honored King James Version, the NKJV is preferred by many Bible readers for its unparalleled accuracy, beauty, and clarity. The NKJV uses up-to-date English while maintaining the literary quality of the KJV."

This is precisely right and is the reason I requested this Bible for my oldest daughter (almost 13 years old), who is maturing in her faith more and more. She is ready to have a Bible that digs a little deeper, providing her with some background and explanations on the passages of Scripture she's reading.

This Study Bible has a complete listing of the Old Testament and New Testament books with the accompanying page number, and abbreviations as well. There is an introduction to the features of the Bible, as well background and history of the biblical text.

Each book of the Bible begins with that book's name, author's information, timeline dates, key verse and theme. I really appreciate the timeline dates being included because we teach Biblical history as a part of history in general, that the two are not separate and occur on the same timeline. All of history begins with Genesis 1:1 which states, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Within the text, there are subject headers to aid the reader in study, as it highlights what the upcoming passage will focus on. Also included are theological notes on specific verses, which highlight various things from historical background to doctrinal truths. For example, the subject header for Genesis Chapter 1 (and part of Chapter 2) is: "The History of Creation." The theological footnote for Genesis 1:1 explains Creation:

"Biblical revelation begins with a simple, strong, and sublime affirmation. Instead of arguing the existence of God, it declares that the very existence of the universe depends on the creative power of God. The world we live in was created by God and belongs to Him. His absolute ownership requires our faithful stewardship of all things."

In the New Testament, the words of Jesus Christ are printed in red, which is a preference I've come to enjoy in my Bible reading. Located in the back of this Bible are an index to the theological notes by topic and by location, as well as color maps of the land in Biblical times.

This Bible has been a great addition to our study time. It is not overwhelming by interrupting the reader with lots of bells and whistles, such as charts or character profiles. It is straightforward with an easy-to-follow formatting.

**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”