The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version 5th Edition

Because Amazon scrambles so many reviews into each other, let me make clear that I am writing about the fifth edition of the New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, leather bound, published in 2018.Physically, this is a gorgeous book. The leather is supple and of good quality, lettered in gold. The sewn binding will last for a generation of heavy use without shaking loose. Even for so large a book—over two inches thick—it feels comfortable to the hand. It is a pleasure to hold. The pages are tipped in gold. Plus, there are index tabs to make finding the individual books easy.There has been much discussion here about the paper. I myself see nothing wrong. This is not what people mean by “Bible Paper.” In fact, the paper of the fifth edition is thicker than that of the fourth (2010), with even less show-through. This new edition has snow white paper, not cheapish recycled gray destined to last only a few years (see the recent printings of the NAB), a paper of a reasonable thickness for a volume of over 2,400 pages. It is perfectly capable of being annotated in pencil (though ink might bleed through).Many of the annotations are new, and virtually all have undergone some touching up, reflecting a changing generation of scholars. In general, I would say that the new annotations are slightly more conservative than those of earlier editions (e.g., the introduction to Matthew, where the authorial question is handled with considerable deftness). But the usual essays, maps, and charts are all still here, and now even more of them (e.g., gospel parallels of John with the synoptics). The editors continue their helpful process (from the 3rd ed, I believe) of placing many of these features in their appropriate places in the text for ease of reference. When reading, for example, the wanderings of the Hebrews after the Exodus, there are facing maps of the route, camps, and settlements of the tribes; moreover, there is a chart comparing the Decalogue in the various places it appears and of the disparate numbering among faiths. Likewise, separate maps follow Paul’s three journeys in Acts. There is much more to discover here. A more syncritic collection of full-color maps (chosen from the Oxford Bible Atlas) is conveniently bound at the back.The Bible is, of course, a monument of literature as well as the foundation for several world religions. But like many important books—think Shakespeare, War and Peace, the Koran, or the Bhagavad Gita—it is not a self-interpreting text. There is much the reader needs to know about history and culture to understand it properly. The Oxford Annotated supplies this information in a concise, accurate, non-intrusive manner. Like a quality edition of Shakespeare, the NOAB guides the reader along with a group of well-chosen scholars by your side. I consider it indispensable for my own independent study. And even my aging eyes can read the clear type for long periods with no difficulty.If you’re looking for a reliable study Bible, you may be confident that the NOAB will suit your needs. If you like beautiful books, this leather edition will satisfy your aesthetic sense. If you, like me, need to update your old copy with a newer edition, you’ll be satisfied with this latest, fifth edition.So, bravo to Oxford and this splendid new edition. I am sure millions of readers will agree. A heartily recommended purchase.

I have a LOT of study Bibles, but didn’t yet have an NRSV, and decided to go with this edition with the Apocrypha, and the ecumenical study notes from Oxford. Got the edition with leather cover and thumb index, and it is amazing quality for the money. Because of my desire to study both for personal worship and for academic study, this is replacing my ESV study Bible as my first go-to study Bible for an academic deep dive (the ESV study Bible is thorough and mostly great, except it is extremely biased in its notes, as Crossway is a deeply evangelical organization). Definitely recommend this Bible to any serious student, whether a believer or not, but especially to believers, to get an unbiased, ecumenical perspective on Biblical history and translation.

I'm really impressed with the bible so far. I love Oxford University Press, and I've read other books by the author as well (old & new Testament textbooks) that I was really impressed by. I was going to get the standard paperback version, but couldn't pass up a leather bound version.In case anyone is wondering, it's not a hardcover book that's been bound in leather. It's endboards are hardened leather, but it's still flexible & supple. The gilding on the edges are nice, and there's tabs cut out into the edges so you can quickly navigate to whatever chapter you're interested in reading. There's also a nice gold ribbon attached to the spine for saving your space. It feels sturdy, and well bound.As for the content, it's got great footnotes, with a detailed description before each if the books I've looked at. I'm agnostic, and primarily read religious texts as a piece of literature (as opposed to it being a God-derived scripture); however, I think there's a lot to be gained by both secular and religious readers. Coogan does a great job explaining what content is commonly agreed upon in the religious community, and elaborates on contextual details supported by archaeologists & historians. Readers at both ends of the spectrum can receive an enriched understanding of not just the content in the bible, but also why it's still important millennia after canonization.

Love it. Appreciate that it has indexing tabs. Look forward to the new edition comming out. Footnote commentary is insightful. I Use it in combination with the NASB study bible.

I would describe myself as a conservative (academically) Evangelical who is open to different, responsible approaches of reading Scripture. The NRSV for a long-time has been shunned by conservative Evangelicals for being the "mainline Protestant" Bible. Even still, it is a responsible translation done by a team of scholars who undertook their work with a spirit of excellence. Though I am not aligned theologically with all of the scholars who translated and put together these study notes, I believe this Bible is worth owning and reading. As a graduate student studying Scripture at an Evangelical seminary, I believe this Bible does an excellent job at providing academic notes that reflect contemporary archaeological findings and methods for studying Scripture. It has been a huge resource for me in my studying. Pair it with the ESV Study Bible (which could be considered on the other end of the spectrum) and you'll have a wide-perspective for your study of Scripture.For this edition, I really like what they have done. The cover is nice even if it feels more like synthetic leather than genuine leather. The layout, the indexing, the font, all of it has a very classic feel. I'm a fan. I think it is worth paying the extra to have this edition over the hardback version.