ESV Global Study Bible :: Introduction: A User’s Guide to the Global Study Bible

Introduction

A User's Guide to the Global Study Bible

Purpose

The ESV Global Study Bible is based on the highly acclaimed original ESV Study Bible, first published in 2008. Study notes have been condensed and new supplementary features have been added to provide a concise but nonetheless extensive resource for people everywhere in the world, who want to know and understand the Bible.

The ESV Global Study Bible was created to help people understand the Bible in a deeper way—that is, to encounter the timeless truth of God's Word as a powerful, compelling, life-changing reality. It combines the best and most recent evangelical scholarship with the ESV Bible text, which, as an "essentially literal" translation, is especially suited for Bible study.

The purpose of the ESV Global Study Bible is first and foremost to honor the Lord: (1) in terms of the excellence, beauty, and accuracy of its content and design, and (2) in terms of helping people come to a fuller understanding of the Bible, of the gospel, and of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. (For a complete list of contributors to the ESV Global Study Bible, see pp. 1979-1984.)

Divine Words and Merely Human Words

The ESV Global Study Bible contains two kinds of words. First, there are the actual words of the Bible—the very words of God to us. These are printed in the larger font at the top of each page. Second, there are the study notes—merely human words. These are printed in the smaller font at the bottom of each page. The difference in font sizes serves to remind readers that the words of the Bible itself are infinitely more valuable than the words of the notes. The words of the Bible are the words of our Creator speaking to us. They are completely truthful (Ps. 119:160; Prov. 30:5; Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18); they are pure (Ps. 12:6); they are powerful (Jer. 23:29; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:23); and they are wise and righteous (Ps. 19:7-11). God's people should read these words with reverence and awe (Deut. 28:58; Ps. 119:74; Isa. 66:2), and with joy and delight (Ps. 19:7-11; 119:14; 97; 103; Jer. 15:16). Through these words God gives us eternal life (John 6:68; 1 Pet. 1:23) and daily nourishes our spiritual lives in this present world (Deut. 32:46; Matt. 4:4). The words of the study notes are useful because they help to explain the words of the Bible, but they must never become a substitute for the Bible itself.

The best way to use a study Bible, therefore, is always to begin and end with the words of the Bible. We should always begin by reading the Bible's actual words, seeking with our hearts and our minds to understand these words and apply them to our lives. Then, after starting with the words of the Bible itself, we can turn to the study notes and many other Bible study resources for information about the background to the text, for the meaning of puzzling words or phrases, and for connections to other parts of the Bible. These notes and resources have been prepared by godly teachers of the Bible and can be of great value as an aid to understanding the truth of God's Word to us as revealed in the words of Scripture. Finally, we should return again to the Bible itself, reading it with a new and deeper understanding, asking God to speak through his Word to our lives and to draw us near to himself.

The Understanding and Teaching of God's Word

The ESV Global Study Bible carries forward a centuries-old tradition of "explaining," "expounding," or "teaching" the Word of God. This process of teaching God's Word is found even within the Bible itself. For example, when Moses spoke the words of Deuteronomy to the people of Israel, he told them, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise" (Deut. 6:7). Similarly, when Ezra and the Levites read the Book of the Law to the exiles who had returned from Babylon, they "helped the people to understand... and they gave the sense, so that the people understood..." (Neh. 8:7-8). In the early church, Philip was sent to the Ethiopian eunuch to help him understand what he was reading from Isaiah (Acts 8:26-40). And the apostle Paul, in city after city, spent his time "teaching the word of God" (Acts 18:11; compare 15:35; 20:20, 27). Likewise, throughout the history of the church, God has raised up people to teach the Word (see 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11).

The ESV Global Study Bible stands within this tradition and was created specifically to provide explanation and teaching—to help people come to a better understanding of God's Word and the gospel, and to provide a resource for the edification and strengthening of God's people.

Doctrinal Perspective

The doctrinal perspective of the ESV Global Study Bible is that of classic evangelical orthodoxy, in the historic stream of the Reformation. The notes are written from the perspective of confidence in the complete truthfulness of the Bible. In passages where errors or contradictions have been alleged, possible solutions to these challenges have been proposed. At times the notes also summarize interpretations that are inconsistent with classic evangelical orthodoxy, indicating how and why such views are in conflict with Scripture. Within that broad tradition of evangelical orthodoxy, the notes have sought to represent fairly the various evangelical positions on disputed topics such as baptism, the Lord's Supper, spiritual gifts, the future of ethnic Israel, and questions concerning the millennium and other events connected with the time of Christ's return.

Special Features of the ESV Global Study Bible

As mentioned, the ESV Global Study Bible is built upon study notes carefully condensed from the 2008 original ESV Study Bible. More specifically, the notes have been reduced to about half their original length to highlight the core insights in each text and to provide a concise survey of the Bible. Other features of this new Global Study Bible include:

• An essential theological "Overview of the Bible," supplemented by more specific theological introductions to the Old and New Testaments.
• Timelines of the Old and New Testaments as well as "snapshot" timelines for each Bible book.
• Brief introductions and basic outlines for each Bible book, along with a "Global Message" applying the teachings of that book to the church around the world today.
• Nine hundred "fact" boxes offering helpful insights into Bible truths and interesting observations about life in ancient times.
• Profiles of key people in the story of the Bible.
• Charts and diagrams giving visual summaries of important concepts.
• Carefully researched illustrations, created specifically for the original ESV Study Bible, showing important biblical structures, cities, and objects in precise, accurate detail.
• More than 100 maps highlighting key events and placing each Bible book in its geographical and historical setting.
• Articles on topics such as the plan of salvation, the nature of the church, and the key issues of biblical doctrine and ethical teachings, written for readers of all ages.
• A glossary of more than 300 important words and phrases.
• Finally, a special supplement of 15 full-color maps. All maps were created with the latest satellite imagery, digital technology, and cartographic techniques.

Cross-Reference System and Concordance

The ESV Global Study Bible includes 80,000 cross-references and an extensive concordance, which together encourage easy location of important words, passages, and biblical themes. There are several kinds of cross-references. References to specific words or phrases appear as, e.g., "ver. 7" (within the same chapter), "ch. 9:6" (within the same book), or "Heb. 4:2." Brackets (e.g., "[ch. 9:6]") denote passages with a similar theme. "See" directs readers to verses that contain a collection of related cross-references (e.g., "See Jn. 8:26"). The phrase "For …, see …" denotes longer passages that closely parallel the current passage (e.g., "For ver. 1-15, see Mark 4:1-12; Luke 8:4-10"). "See" paired with a verse range denotes passages that less closely parallel the current passage but still provide context and/or explanation (e.g., "See Ex. 7:17-24."). "Cited" denotes passages quoted in or from other parts of Scripture. "(Heb.)" or "(Gk.)" indicates that the similarity of a cross-referenced passage is clearer in the original Hebrew or Greek than in English.

Free Online Access

The ESV Global Study Bible is available online for free anywhere there is an Internet connection—on your computer or any mobile device. Crossway's ESV Bible mobile app and the esv.org platform provide free access to the full ESV Bible text, along with the ability to manage personal notes, highlight and share text, and access additional Bible resource content. To learn more about free online access to the ESV Bible text and the ESV Global Study Bible, please visit esv.org.

The ESV Bible and the ESV Global Study Bible

Lastly, as noted above, the ESV Global Study Bible uses the "essentially literal" ESV (English Standard Version) Bible translation as the foundational text for creating the study Bible notes and other features. Emphasizing word-for-word accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning, the ESV Bible is especially suited to be the basic text for a study Bible. First published in 2001, the ESV Bible translation work involved more than 100 Bible scholars and advisors, including: (1) the 14-member Translation Oversight Committee; (2) more than 50 leading Bible Scholars; and (3) a 50-plus-member Advisory Council—all of whom are committed to historic Christian orthodoxy. Many of the ESV translation team also participated in the creation of the original ESV Study Bible on which this Global Study Bible is based. The ESV Bible is available worldwide in more than 150 editions and bindings. (For more information, go to esv.org.)

Goal and Vision

As stated above, the goal and vision of the ESV Global Study Bible is to honor the Lord and his Word in terms of the excellence, beauty, and accuracy of its content and design, and in terms of helping people come to a deeper understanding of the Bible, of the gospel, and of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

We are very aware, however, that anything we do will always be less than perfect and subject to error. Yet we know that God still uses imperfect and inadequate things to his honor and praise. And so to our triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and to his people, we offer our work of creating and publishing the ESV Global Study Bible—with the prayer that our Lord would guard and protect from any error or deficiency that may unintentionally be in these pages; and with the prayer that by God's grace the ESV Global Study Bible may prove useful in bringing many to Christ and for the building up of his church worldwide, for this generation, for generations to come, and for eternity.

Soli Deo Gloria!—To God alone be the glory!