The ESV Literary Study Bible approaches the Bible as literature and shows how the application of literary tools of analysis helps tremendously in reading and understanding the Bible. Readers are introduced to the literary features of each book of the Bible and to each section within each book.
While traditional Bibles are reference books, this is truly a reader’s Bible. The format (single-column, black-letter, 8.5-point text, no section headings) and commentary make it ideal for private devotional reading, for preachers and Bible teachers, and for use in group Bible studies.
Download a 16-page brochure (1.3MB PDF) with sample pages from The Literary Study Bible.
About The Literary Study Bible
A literary study Bible—what a great idea! Who better to conceive of such a Bible and to provide the notes than Dr. Leland Ryken, author and editor of numerous books explaining the literary forms manifest in the Bible and encouraging us to pay special attention to these forms. The Literary Study Bible represents the culmination of his efforts to aid all who read, study, preach, and teach the Bible. Find your understanding of Scripture improved and your appreciation for its literary beauty heightened.
“Any piece of writing needs to be assimilated and interpreted in terms of the kind of writing that it is,” write the coeditors. “The Bible is a literary book in which theology and history are usually embodied in literary forms. Those forms include genres, the expression of human experience in concrete form, stylistic and rhetorical techniques, and artistry. . . . [The use of these forms] has been inspired by God and [they] need to be granted an importance in keeping with that inspiration.”
The Literary Study Bible employs the English Standard Version translation, for which Dr. Ryken served as literary stylist.
Two Bibles in One
The Literary Study Bible is two Bibles in one. It is a reader’s Bible by virtue of its format, designed to facilitate reading through the Bible. An important feature of that format is the division of the biblical text into units of a length that invites devotional reading day by day, each unit preceded by helpful tips for reading the passage that follows. The Literary Study Bible is also a study Bible. The commentary that appears before each passage contains tips, not only for reading, but also for analysis. Furthermore, the format and commentary make this Bible ideal for use in group Bible studies. Study leaders can use the commentary to help organize their thoughts about a passage and formulate a series of discussion questions.
For Whom Is The Literary Study Bible Intended?
All who love to read the Bible, and especially those who also enjoy good literature, will embrace The Literary Study Bible. Preachers and teachers who want the Bible to come alive in their sanctuaries and classrooms will find here a rich and unique resource. Members of small-group Bible studies will discover the same, and book clubs can use The Literary Study Bible as the basis for discussing individual books of the Bible.
Features of This Reader-Friendly ESV Bible
- A general introduction, including twelve literary features of the Bible
- An introduction to each Bible book, including an overview in chart form
- Tips for reading and analyzing each passage
- Headnotes (not footnotes) introducing each literary section
- Single-column format—this Bible reads like a book!
- Glossary of literary terms
- Plan for reading The Literary Study Bible in one year
When Will The Literary Study Bible Be Available?
The Literary Study Bible will be available in hardcover this fall (2007) for $49.99. Don’t confuse it with the ESV Study Bible, a separate product that’s coming out in late 2008 or early 2009.
I think I’m going to cry. Or at least do the Myposian dance of joy.
Trackback by Boar's Head Tavern — April 13, 2007 @ 10:01 am
The world is becoming a better place. (HT to Matthew at BHT)
Trackback by The ESV Literary Study Bible — April 13, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Coming Soon: The ESV Literary Study Bible. I’ve been waiting for something like this for SO long; however, why did they have to put it in hardback?
Trackback by Meltings — April 13, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
My dream study Bible has been born! I am on the verge of crying and jumping for joy! Crossway has announced that Dr. Leland Ryken (English professor at Wheaton College, noted author of several prominent Biblical literature books,…
Trackback by Celebrate! The ESV Literary Study Bible — April 14, 2007 @ 7:33 am
The English Standard Version will soon have another edition, The Literary Study Bible. Its editors are Leland Ryken and Philip Ryken. They describe its purpose thus:. “Any piece of writing needs to be assimilated and interpreted in…
Trackback by ESV Literary Study Bible — April 14, 2007 @ 7:33 am
The ESV blog posts about Crossway’s forthcoming Literary Study Bible, edited by Leland Ryken and Philip Ryken.
Trackback by Literary Study Bible — April 14, 2007 @ 7:33 am
The ESV blog has an announcement about the forthcoming Literary Study Bible (edited by Leland Ryken and Philip Ryken), about which I’m quite excited!
Trackback by The Literary Study Bible — April 14, 2007 @ 7:33 am
The ESV’s Literary Bible is coming soon.
Trackback by The ESV’s Literary Bible is coming soon. — April 15, 2007 @ 7:32 am
Crossway has is releasing a flood of new formats of the English Standard Version Bible. Here is a short list from the ESV Blog. The ESV Literary Study Bible. Learn more about this new Bible. The ESV Literary Study Bible approaches the…
Trackback by Flood of new ESVs — April 15, 2007 @ 7:32 am
This may be the greatest development since pages and calfskin. I am really excited about this, especially after seeing the sample. I think this will be a valuable resource to all level of Christians. Way to go!…
Trackback by ESV Literary Study Bible Coming Soon! — April 15, 2007 @ 7:32 am
A pastor friend of mine said in his opinion that the ESV is very readable and similar to reading the NIV with a piece of mind of knowing that it is a literal transalation. I agree with him on his estimation of this version. Click here if you would like to read more about this Study Bible coming out soon. I anxiously await this new Study Bible!
Trackback by Ryan - MySpace Blog — April 15, 2007 @ 7:33 am
[IMG ]I literally thank God that this Bible (ESV Literary Study Bible) is soon coming out. Why? Do we really need another study Bible? YES, we do need this particular study Bible. The reason is simple. The Bible is literature. Before anyone panics over this statement, please relax. The Bible is literature, but it is
Trackback by Hammer and Nail — April 15, 2007 @ 7:33 am
…publishers announced the coming … The fact that the LSB (short for Literary Study Bible) will be in single … I continue to be impressed
Trackback by New ESV Bible Coming — April 15, 2007 @ 7:33 am
Justin Taylor posted on his blog a link for a new ESV literary Bible. This Bible will be some great features. Too bad that it still has verse
Trackback by The Bible as literature — April 15, 2007 @ 7:33 am
http://www.esv.org/blog/2007/04/literary.study.bible.coming
Trackback by A New ESV Study Bible to be Released — April 17, 2007 @ 7:38 am
Bible: The ESV blog has interesting information about the upcoming Literary Study Bible.
Trackback by A La Carte (4/16) — April 17, 2007 @ 7:38 am
This new offering is edited by Leland Ryken and Philip Graham Ryken — available in September. The following is extracted from promotional material HERE:…
Trackback by ESV to issue new Literary Study Bible — April 17, 2007 @ 7:38 am
Leland Ryken and his son Phil (of Tenth Pres fame) are editing the forthcoming ESV Literary Study Bible. I love the idea and it already sounds like a winner! If it is anything like Ryken & Ryken’s Handbook to the Bible, then it will definitely find a place into my library…
Trackback by ESV Literary Study Bible — April 17, 2007 @ 7:38 am
New ESV announced, The Literary Study Bible. Check it.
Trackback by Subverting Mediocrity — April 17, 2007 @ 7:39 am
See samples of The Literary Study Bible. Having posted on the Archaeological Study Bible earlier today, I discovered that the ESV will soon be available as The ESV Literary Study Bible! Here is a short blurb on this new study Bible…
Trackback by Just thinking... — April 18, 2007 @ 7:34 am
I’m wanting to buy a new Bible. My last one was given to me…
Trackback by regainingparadise — April 19, 2007 @ 7:34 am
Here’s the forthcoming new Literary Study Bible from ESV. Looks good.
Trackback by Vintage Christianity — April 19, 2007 @ 7:37 am
This looks like a really cool edition of the ESV bible…
Trackback by Workman’s Toolbox — April 21, 2007 @ 7:34 am
Read the announcement of ESV’s upcoming “Literary Study Bible…”
Trackback by The Weekly Town Crier — April 21, 2007 @ 7:34 am
ESV is releasing the new Literary Study Bible which evaluates the Bible as literature. Intriguing…
Trackback by HoldFast — April 22, 2007 @ 7:32 am
I hope this is good: ESV Literary Bible.
Trackback by Kicking the Gourd — April 22, 2007 @ 7:32 am
My friend Tim Hawkins sent me a brochure for a new study Bible due out in September. It is entitled the Literary Study Bible. It is based on English Standard Version and is edited by Leland Ryken and Phillip Graham Ryken. I noticed several nice features about this study Bible, but two really standout…
Trackback by The Road To Emmaus — May 13, 2007 @ 7:35 am
My daddy always encouraged me to collect things that I could later sell at a profit. My Study Bible collection provides dividends of a more valuable kind (at least to me)…
Trackback by The Next Study Bible To Join My Collection — July 1, 2007 @ 7:49 am
A week ago, I received the much-anticipated ESV Literary Study Bible (ESVLSB), and I wanted to post some of my initial reactions to this new study Bible. As many of us know, this is not the first edition of the English Standard Version….
Trackback by Initial Thoughts on the ESV Literary Study Bible — November 1, 2007 @ 7:48 am
A week ago, I received the much-anticipated ESV Literary Study Bible (ESVLSB), and I wanted to post some of my initial reactions to this new study Bible. As many of us know, this is not the first edition of the English Standard Version….
Trackback by Initial Thoughts on the ESV Literary Study Bible — March 1, 2008 @ 7:44 am
My dream study Bible has been born! I am on the verge of crying and jumping for joy! Crossway has announced that Dr. Leland Ryken (English professor at Wheaton College, noted author of several prominent Biblical literature books,…
Trackback by Celebrate! The ESV Literary Study Bible — March 1, 2008 @ 7:44 am