HALLEY'S STUDY BIBLE- NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

 

The New International Version of the bible is not my first Bible of choice, though I do have a few copies. But, I love the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION HALLEY’S STUDY BIBLE. 

As a #BibleGatewayPartner, I received a complimentary copy of the New International HALLEY’S STUDY BIBLE in exchange for an honest review but when I started going through the Bible I forgot to write my review! I also forgot that I was not a fan of the NIV Bible translation. (SMH) 

I have owned a Halley’s Bible Dictionary for years. Unfortunately someone has borrowed it indefinitely, this Bible makes up for the loss. 

I love the charts, the pictures, and the words of Yeshua marked in red.  I also appreciate the ribbon that helps me mark a page, though I wish there were at least two. The font is perfect, easy on the eyes, something exclusive to Zondervan. But what I really love is the comments, notes- whatever you want to call them.

HALLEY’S STUDY BIBLE, N.I.V.,  is what a study Bible should be: a combination of factual data and commentary brought together to help the reader learn. 

When HALLEY’S STUDY BIBLE arrived in the mail I was meditating on 1 JOHN 5:14-15 

1 John 5:14-15 New International Version (NIV)

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

The comment for these particular verses read as follows: 

5:14-15 according to his will. The key to knowing that God hears is to pray this way. 

This is what I believe and I was glad to see that my understanding was correct. 

After that I began using the HALLEY’S STUDY BIBLE for more studies, which is why I forgot to post a review. 

There are informational nuggets throughout this Bible which makes it well worth owning. For example: In relation to Psalm 84 there is a nugget entitled: God’s House”  I loved the picture of the “Interior of houses with painted walls in Ephesus.” (page 1614 2 John of my Bible) In the book of Revelation you will find a discussion on THE FIRST BEAST- Revelation 13:1-10. 

If you are looking for a study Bible for a gift or for yourself this is a good one. 

From time to time I give away the Bibles I obtain for review but this one is a keeper! 

If you like this post and think others should know about this Bible please share. Thank you 
                                                                                                           Your  #BibleGatewayPartner.

                                                                                                         Marsha L F Randolph

BIBLE GATEWAY- My review on its' updated website.

 

On July 1, 2020 I received a request to review BIBLE GATEWAY’s updated website. Bible Gateway has been my resource of choice for years even though many people and my church suggest another one. There was nothing wrong with the “classic” site but I decide to give it a try, that is why it has taken me this long to share my opinion.

I have been very irritated with the new site, I am glad it gives me the option of going tot he “classic” view because when I am studying it is important for me to utilize that view. 

Both sites offer the viewer the same thing it is just a matter of choosing a tab on the top of the page or a menu item on the side of the page. 

The classic is brighter, the fonts are lighter but all I want to do is go to my Bible verses.

I use BIBLE GATEWAY to view multiple translations of the same passages. I like to compare the new King James, The Expanded and the Voice- I have a print version of each of these Bibles but I will often add a translation that I don’t have. With the classic website, once I log on, the search tool automatically defaults to the new King James Bible Version and I can add the other two versions in the order that I mentioned. 

Since the update the default is the New International Version, yes I have this in print, I rarely seek the NIV translation. 

Now, it is possible that I could set up the New BIBLE GATEWAY website to accommodate my idiosyncrasies but why? My opinion, when I first looked at the updated site was: They are trying to compete with the other Bible search tools. 

Coca-cola tried to compete with Pepsi by coming up with a “New” Coke and it was not a success. Yes, there were people that liked the flavor but most people chose to stick with the classic. Not everyone is going to switch from Pepsi to coke just because you created a flavor that is similar.

Not everyone is going to come to the New Bible Gateway just because you redesigned your website. BIBLE GATEWAY is perfect for what people who study GOD’s word needs. Perhaps you may get a few new subscribers but as long as mega church leaders promote the other site people are not going to switch, your just aggravating the people who have been with you for years. 

As a #BibleGatewayParner I was informed that the new site has a responsive design (whatever that is) and is easily viewed on whatever format you are using- cell phone, tablet, computer, etcetera.  I did try to use my cell phone to look up a verse but I had the same problem I had before the revamp- let's just assume it is operator error.

I still love Bible Gateway and prefer it over the other Bible resource tools and recommend it to everyone. I prefer the Classic coca-cola and the classic Bible Gateway.  

                                                                                          Written by Marsha L F Randolph