Apologetics Study Bible for Students {Review}
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Apologetics Study Bible for Students, Hardcover Indexed by Sean McDowellFind the Author: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
ISBN: 1433616971
Genres: Bibles, Study, Educational Resources
Published by Holman Bible Publishers on July 1st 2015
Pages: 1440
Source: FlyBy Promotions
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The Apologetics Study Bible for Students anchors younger Christians in the truths of Scripture by equipping them with thoughtful and practical responses for whenever the core issues of their faith and life are challenged. Multiple research studies have shown that spiritual focus often weakens among teenagers as they head into the attention-dividing realm of young adulthood. Up to 66 percent of them leave church altogether. The Apologetics Study Bible for Students works against that trend by helping this audience begin to better articulate its beliefs. In addition to the complete HCSB text and dozens of articles collected from today’s most popular youth leaders, including editor Sean McDowell, this new study Bible also includes: Two-color design-intensive layout on every page for the visual generation Sixty “Twisted Scriptures” explanations, fifty “Bones & Dirt” entries (archaeology meets apologetics) Fifty “Notable Quotes”, twenty-five “Tactics” against common anti-Christian arguments Twenty “Personal Stories” of how God has worked in real lives Twenty “Top Five” lists to help remember key apologetics topics
Hard Questions. Straight Answers.
For Students!
I recall back in 2008-2009 or thereabout when I first really heard the term apologetics and I was intrigued as I did not know it. Over the years I have come very familiar with the term and have incorporated it into my own studies as well as the plans for my own studies, young though they now may currently be in our studies with the Apologia What We Believe series. About that same time while participating in a blog tour I was introduced to Apologetics for a New Generation as well as The Unshakable Truth. It was later that I also found a documentary on Netflix and then the release of the Case for Christ Study Bible from Lee Strobel and Apologetics Study Bible, both of those for adults. At the time I reviewed the Apologetics Study Bible I already knew I wanted to get my hands on the Apologetics Study Bible for Students one day and now that day has finally come!
Apologetics may be simply defined as the defense of the Christian faith. The simplicity of this definition, however, masks the complexity of the problem of defining apologetics. It turns out that a diversity of approaches has been taken to defining the meaning, scope, and purpose of apologetics. 2. What is Apologetics? | Bible.org
B&H Bibles using the HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible) translation takes their appropriate to provide a useful tool for every student within the pages of the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, and succeeds. Sean McDowell is a popular speaker at schools, churches, and conferences nationwide. He is the author of the previously mentioned Apologetics for a New Generation book I discovered. Sean is the General Editor and one of more than 45 contributors to articles and features included within the Apologetics Study Bible for Students.
The wonderful people at B&H Publishing Group have partnered with Sean McDowell (son of Josh McDowell, assistant professor, author, co-author, editor, husband, and father of 3) and a host of talented contributors to create The Apologetics Study Bible for Students HCSB. You can learn more about this amazing Bible here. Press Release
It was in 2010 when I first starting using The Apologetics Study Bible as my own go-to for deep session Bible studies. That same year, B&H released the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, but now they have newly for 2015 released a hardcover edition, with ribbon and indexed tabs. This is what I have in my thrilled to the bone hands! This is, indeed, such a valuable resource! Both to parents of students, but also to students alone – be it high school, college, or beyond.
Also, this summer, the gift of Confident Faith is being celebrated with 16 brand new, but energetic and brief videos featuring Sean McDowell, free resources like Bible studies and articles as well as wonderful specials on apps and Bibles. There are new resources every week – a full 16 weeks of resources when it is all done. AND, if that weren’t enough, a Confident Faith Sweepstakes is being offered to give away Bibles, free mini libraries of B&H’s best apologetics resources and even a trip for two to the National Conference on Christian Apologetics (NCCA) being held October 16-17, 2015 in Charlotte, NC where some of the world’s leading thinkers will offer insights and teaching.
My oldest daughter and I sat and watched through a bit of the videos on YouTube and I think they are well done and would work well in youth fellowship meetings. They are definitely discussion starters. Although for our own home studies, I doubt we’d view them more than once. I definitely think they are best for a group setting to grab the attention of youth students.
As I said with the original Apologetics Study Bible, this Bible is gorgeous. I commented then that the jacketed hardcover edition is attractive inside and out and I have the blue one on my wishlist for someday as it is completely gorgeous – then one day it silently showed up and I was ecstatic! (Still am! Still thankful!) This one, the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, indexed edition is gorgeous. Honestly, the cover images online do not do it justice. The colors and hues externally are very attractive with it’s embossed title. The index tabs along the side are just plain awesome-sauce and the interior pages with a soft-tone blue are so pretty/handsome. *quirked grin* Over all this Bible is completely aesthetically appealing to any eye.
No matter your personality for appearances, there is a version of the Apologetics Study Bible for Students for your student!
It has been a few years now and I have become accustom to the HCSB translation (which was new to me in 2010) and I appreciate it. I grew up on NIV and have had NRSV and NRIV on my shelves mostly over the years, but after my college studies where I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies I have tried many translations. This translation is very pleasing to me. There are a couple variances that take some getting used to, as I said in the past, but all and all it is a good translation.
[bctt tweet=” (from TM pg 175) God is your champion as you claim that truth matters and also for your heart and soul as a devoted believer. #ConfidentFaith bit.ly/More2C”]
Just like with The Apologetics Study Bible, to truly tell you in detail all of the features of this Bible it would take an entire website with various pages and links. Luckily B&H Publishing Group already has one of those and I urge you to check it out see what’s inside. Click through and read about some of their featured articles and what-not. (You can see details on the original Bible as well as this delightful Apologetics Study Bible for Students version.) There are also PDF printables and now even apps for your favorite mobile device available.
Tools for a Confident Faith
In addition to the complete HCSB text and dozens of articles collected from today’s most popular youth leaders, including general editor Sean McDowell, this new study Bible also includes:
- Two-color design-intensive layout on every page for the visual generation
- Sixty “Twisted Scriptures” explanations
- Fifty “Bones & Dirt” entries (archaeology meets apologetics)
- Fifty “Notable Quotes”
- Twenty-five “Tactics” against common anti-Christian arguments
- Twenty “Personal Stories” of how God has worked in real lives
- Twenty “Top Five” lists to help remember key apologetics topics
This Bible is really a great find. With my experience of being a perpetual student, this Bible is a fabulous addition to my library and I am delighted to have it on hand for studying now with my students both now as we go through the Apologia What We Believe series and for planning when they do in depth apologetics student in the higher courses. It’s a text book and Bible in one. This Bible edition even interests my Enginerd.
My experience…
As I’ve said in the past, there are so many questions out there – and usually we are fairly equipped with the answer of ” just because” and “it’s by faith”. Yet within the pages of these two Bibles more firm and explainable answers are available for some of the hardest questions of history and science combined. Now you may be wondering if the STUDENT EDITION is just a reprint with a new cover of the other Bible, that’s not the case! While yes, the scripture is the same, the articles, features and insert details are unique. There is a little overlap in some material, but for the most part it is all new and would totally behove you to have the Student Edition for study. Even the illustrations are different or with a different twist. (See the introduction pages of Mark in the image below. The Student Edition is a two-page in-depth spread, while the original is just one page and an image taking up half of it.)
Confident Faith
The placement of the articles and features makes so much sense and is not just another unused appendix or stuck in any place as some “study Bibles” have made do with in the past. To me, this Bible would be great for personal study and I love it for that. I love the idea of this Bible for an apologetics class. This Bible could be it’s own homeschool curriculum. I knew this would be an awesome Bible version even before I had my hands on it, but now I know it to be so! We all need to learn to be able to prove, defend, refute opposing and persuade others for the Christian faith and this, too, is an incredibly valuable tool to use to do so.
The Articles on a vast array of topics can challenge and support you, as well as answer questions you might have. The Twisted Scripture Notes show examples of how people have twisted a scripture and altered it to meet their ultimate needs. The Bones & Dirt Notes provide a deep look at history related to scripture while the Personal Stories provide examples of the life of a Christian and their need for scripture coming to life. The Fast Facts cover the basic and first facts that people often as questions about and there is so much more in these pages. Oddly, one notable difference between the Student Edition and the original is that the Student Edition lacks the insert of charts and maps galore – and that I find odd, especially for students. Yet it still does include the important fabulous introduction to the Holman Christian Standard Bible and Plan of Salvation. Oh and of course! a ribbon book mark is attached as well.
This version of the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, indexed edition is a great tool for indeed reading Real Questions and finding some straight evidence and Biblical based Straight Answers. It is durable, fairly heavy – but totally tote-around-able, filled with images (of the past), testimonies to relate to and learn from, and best of all a readable contemporary English Bible of the 66 books with footnotes. It is truly awesome and feels so good to hold! I think this is one that will last the test of time with lots of study.
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15 Comments
Gena Mayo
My oldest is in high school, so he could really benefit from a good study Bible.
CherryBlossomMJ
Good luck!
CherryBlossomMJ
Good luck! I’m really enjoying it.
Brandy brockhausen
This looks really cool. My middle/high schooler is looking for a new Bible, I think this might be it!
CherryBlossomMJ
Good luck! I think it is a great option. 🙂
CherryBlossomMJ
It really is a great resource! Good luck in the giveaway!
julestwin
I’d love to share this Bible with my two teenage daughters and their teenage friend that are all homeschooled at my house together. They would love this!
CherryBlossomMJ
Thanks for the entry and the best of luck to you!
FIBERONE
I would like to give this Bible to a teen in the Sunday School class. I think it would be beneficial to any teen.
CherryBlossomMJ
That’s a great idea! Good luck!
Janet Lynn Lovely Cunningham
Excellent review!!! This would be a perfect gift for a new Believer who has been saved from the occult. Praise The Lord!!! <3
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Kristi Miller
Great review! I plan to share a link to your review on my website this week as part of our list of resources to expose kids to God’s Truth. I wish Apologetics were taught by more parents and in more schools. Thank you for your great review. This looks like it would make a perfect Christmas gift! God bless. 🙂
CherryBlossomMJ
Thank you! Your comment just made my night.
Kristi Miller
Well deserved. 🙂 You’re welcome. God bless your night.