The book itself is very handsome and well put together. However, this bible is chocked full of commentaries, including many right in the text, which make it very difficult to read. Also, unless you have a very strict fundamentalist background (Pat Robertson is one of the authors of the commentaries) you will quickly become annoyed with the substance of these commentaries, because they present sometimes contorted interpretations of the text as indisputable fact. Only buy this book if you want someone else to do the thinking for you, instead of trying to read and learn the Word for yourself (which is a big mistake, in my opinion).

This Bible is excellent. It is practical in the commentary it offers you, expanding the true sense of a single word or phrase clearly so you can apply it to your daily life.

At the beginning of each book there is a section that details who wrote it, why, when, where, how it applies to us today, what we see of Jesus in the book and so on - these sections are excellent and give you just enough background to understand the text even more.

It is clear that that the authors of the commentaries are not just theologians - they are in love with Jesus, and this comes through in their writing. Its layout is easy to understand and full of references that can take you on your own study throught the bible.

The translation has meant that very little is lost, though sometimes I have find it hard to lay hold of all that is being said as the vocab has not been overly simplified. You could argue, however, that there nothing wrong with that!

I find it hard to find much to fault this Bible. The simplicity of the layout and the useful insertions and commentaries have made it so easy to read and ENJOY the Bible!

P.S.Used in conjunction with a New Living Translation (NLT) the text becomes even more clear and applicable to your life!

When I shopped for a Bible with study helps to assist me in bridging the cultural, linguistic, and geographical gaps between now and then, I compared many texts. Most had theological opinions in them which are not in accordance with what the Scriptures speak! This study Bible I found to be objective and exegetical and truly helpful in nurturing a devotional life while not misleading the reader into dispensationalism like Scofield and all the rest. My favorite!!

I read a review of the book in a industry magazine and it described it as useful for a professional financial advisor, as the title also implies. It turned out to be a pretty basic educational book with general but basic financial information. A good book for a beginner or someone who is just beginning to break into the financial services industry, but not necessarily for a seasoned professional.

Mr. Cloud has joined the club of the misinformed and written a book attacking Dr. White's "The King James Only Controversy" (an excellent book on the translation issues). I asked Dr. White about Cloud's book and he responded:

"Mr. Cloud has been offered numerous opportunities to make his case in public in debate, both on this [King James Onlyism] and on his anti-Reformed polemic, and refuses to do so. He has nothing new to add to what has already been shown to be without merit."

Dr. White has exposed the deceptions and poor scholarship of this crowd again and again (you can see several of his responses on his website at aomin.org). Why do you think Mr. Cloud is afraid to debate Dr. White?

Dr. White certainly seems to have evidence, history, and the facts on his side. He is also a man of God who has led many to Christ and is very active in battling the cults. The last resort of the prideful men who refuse to accept correction is inevitably the old name calling routine (usually "heretic" or "Satans serpent" or something to do with hissing).

If the naive "experts" out there promoting known errors & deceptions would just humble themselves for a minute, maybe we could end the insanity of forcing a 17th century translation on modern Americans who haven't the foggiest idea what words like astonied, bolled, chapiter, eyeservice, handstaves, hungerbitten, magnifical, nitre, phylacteries, sodpdoiler, winebibber, and wot just to name a few that do not even appear in my dictionary, even mean. Not to mention all of the perplexing phrases ("superfluity of naughtiness," "at your hand," "taken with the manner," and "in the gate", "compass about") and even common words that have changed definitions over the last several hundred years (readers, even pastors sometimes, THINK they know the definition, but they actually do not). God does not want confusion, he wants a clear presentation of the WHOLE truth, from Jesus Christ who died for our sins so that anyone that believes in him will be saved; to Revelation, and all the way back to Genesis. We should learn and love God's Word, and give it to EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, in the LANGUAGE THAT THEY SPEAK.

You will find the truth on the KJV controversy in Dr. Whites Book, carefully explained, and well documented for further study. Dr. White is rational enough to actually provide SOLID EVIDENCE for what he believes as opposed to the weak unconvincing arguments of the "Clouds" in this debate.

The reputable, excellent modern translations such as NIV, NKJV, and NASB all support the same fundamental doctrines as the King James translation but do so in a way that any modern American can fully comprehend.

Acutally, I've grown quite weary of the argument over whether or not God's Word is inerrent and inherent in King James' Version of the Bible. I have been studying the Bible for almost 30 years, notably using the King James Version as my main bible. However, it is ignorant and foolish to discount other VERSIONS (as is the KJV) of the Bible as being inferior or unworthy of use. Anyone who would claim that the Phillips, the Revised Standard or even the New KJV is inferior to the KJV, and that the KJV is the final authoritative translation and rules above all others, are idolators at best. The King James' Version was written for a certain generation. Some modern versions bring language up to date while preserving content most admirably and adequately. Finally, my brethren, is it not now most apparent that since the argument continues to rage, and the battle lines have been drawn so fiercely, that the teachings of Jesus have had little effect and affect on our characters? Does it surpass us, in our understanding, that the TRUE Word of God, exists not merely on paper spread with ink, but indeed and truly is the RHEMA, the Word that gives us life and makes us new again? If God, through His esteemed Word, teaches us, admonishes us and demostrates His love to us, then are we not to view that Word as the bond that permits us brotherhood and an element of peace? IS HIS WORD ALIVE IN YOU!?

Cloud points out the weak and innacurate arguments in James White's "The King James Only Controversy." Indeed, White didn't address much of the strong evidence against the "modern" versions--Cloud points this out.

While I do recommend this as the "other side of the coin" to anyone who has read White, I think there are some better and more informative choices out there too. Cloud has a couple of other books with vastly more information. I'd especially recommend "8 Myths of Modern Bible Versions."

One negative criticism I had of Cloud's book is that he spent about 30 pages (the whole book is only about 140!) describing in detail the heretical views of various individuals involved in the modern "evangelical" movement, and the wickedness of ecumenism. While I agree with Cloud 100%, I think much of what he was saying wasn't necessarily relevant to the topic of White's book. It could have been condensed into at least 10 pages, if not less. Much of what he was saying was, if memory serves correctly, verbatim out of some of his other writings.

The other thing I might mention is that it seemed at times Cloud was maybe a little strong in his PERSONAL criticism of White. I've read another book of White's, and in general I agree with him on a lot of things (except textual criticism, of course). I believe that White wrote his book with a sincere and caring (though misguided) heart. I think Cloud would probably disagree.