Book Review :: NIV Integrated Study Bible

The NIV Integrated Study Bible (NIVISB) is a fantastic blend of a chronological bible and side-by-side parallel passages. (By "parallel passages" I mean similar events and/or concepts. The verses are all from the NIV translation.)

The NIVISB is organized into seven sections of history: Creation Through the Patriarchs, Exodus to Conquest, Conquest Through United Kingdom, Divided Kingdom and Exile, Return to the Land, The Life of Jesus, and The Early Church. The historical sections are introduced with 2-3 pages of background information and a large-overview timeline. (These introductions are the main "study" portion of the NIVISB.) At the bottom of each page there is a general timeline (that spans the two-page spread) to give you a good idea generally where in history you are.

If you are looking for a particular passage, you can turn to the Scripture Index (which starts on page 1447) and it will direct you to the page that the passage you are looking for is on. (There are some passages that are included more than once - for example once as part of the running text of the Old Testament and once as a parallel concept in the New Testament.)

The NIVISB probably will take some getting used to, but there is a great breakdown at the beginning that explains the layout (and it even gives you page number to look at for what they are explaining - I really appreciate that).

Overall, I think this is a great study tool and well worth purchasing.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through BookSneeze®. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.