This Bible truly is the Champ when it comes to Study Bibles! I bought the Genuine Leather Bible because it best suited my budget. It is printed and made in the USA! Good quality leather, 2 ribbon markers, sewn binding. Then you have the good stuff, solid translation, super in depth chapter introductions and notes and a really great section in the back which provides help in sharing the Good News, counseling guides to help encourage when someone is facing the storms of life and more. This Bible has truly been a game changer in my study life back when it originally made it's debut and this Custom Edition is truly awesome.

I feel compelled to share my thoughts regarding The ESV Study Bible (ISBN 9781433548116). I ordered this Bible for my 15 year old daughter who is going to a Lutheran High School. Part of the curriculum includes classes on Biblical Overview. She is required to use an ESV Bible. I wanted to present the Bible to her on Easter as she is growing in her knowledge of the Bible and I wanted to give her a resource to help deepen her understanding of what she reads. As the ESB Study Bible had been on back order for so long, I went ahead and cancelled it and I purchased from Concordia Publishing House the Lutheran Study Bible which was also Genuine Leather and thumb indexed (ISBN 978-0-7586-1765-1).

Out of the blue, the (cancelled) back ordered ESV Study Bible arrived! I contacted Customer Service and they promptly responded that they apologized for the mix-up and would gladly accept the return (postage paid) should I not want it when it arrived. That says something about a company. I reviewed both Bibles side by side. I must admit, they are both excellent Bibles so I was totally unsure of which one would be best for her. So, out of necessity, I had to spoil the surprise gift. I let her review both Bibles to determine which one she would prefer as she has to be comfortable with it and want to enjoy reading it. The below features of the ESV Study Bible shone as superior in her eyes over the alternate Lutheran Study Bible:

1. Presentation Page, Documentation Pages for Marriage, Births/Adoptions and Deaths. She felt the inclusion of these pages made the Bible feel like it would be the one for her for life. The Lutheran Study Bible only had a presentation page.

2. Information at the beginning of each Bible Chapter. She particularly felt the ESV Study Bible was more informative, easier to understand, clear timelines and comprehensive outlines.

3. Study Notes. We read several passages and compared the notes in each Bible. The ESV Study Bible was much clearer and more in-depth (but no over her head).

4. On-Line Study Bible Access.

5. Color Maps (The Lutheran Study Bible had black and white maps/diagrams)

6. Ribbon Marker (No ribbon marker in The Lutheran Study Bible)

The only negative with the ESV Study Bible is it is not a red letter edition for Jesus' text.

Perhaps it was divine intervention that caused the cancelled back ordered ESV Study Bible to ship to us; as she absolutely feels it is the Bible for her. Now, she wants me to purchase a Bible carrying case to keep it protected! In a few years my 10 year old son will be ready for a more mature study Bible and this one will be my choice for him also. I will also be purchasing this as an 8th grade graduation gift for my niece.

And what of the alternate Lutheran Study Bible? I will keep it for myself. As I said at the beginning of the review, both are excellent; however, I think for young adults after comparing the two, the ESV Study Bible is the best choice,

God's Blessings to you and your company!

I received this as a gift, so I bought another to give away. One of the best study bibles ever. Wonderful sections on history, context, and commentary notes. Concordance could be a little more robust. Overall, a great way to study God's word in-depth.

I've had this bible for about 1 year. This study bible is PACKED with so much information. The articles and additional resources available is a fantastic tool to help develop a more biblical understanding of

doctrine, teaches on world religions and cults, as well as numerous ethical issues that concern our culture/society today. The introduction to each chapter is detailed and lengthy which I find fascinatingly informative. This bible allows you to go as deep as you want in your studies. Not to mention it's a beautiful looking bible. The cover is soft and smooth. Pretty heavy but it doesn't stop me from carrying it around to church and bible study. Also serves a dual purpose for saving myself a seat ;) This bible was worth every penny.

Pros:

I have had this Bible for about three years now and I love it. The notes and commentary are great. My favorite is all the maps. Most Bibles have maps in the back (and so does this one), but the ESV Study Bible does a great job of incorporating small maps as you read, which makes it very easy to follow along. It also has little diagrams as you read along that help in understanding things like the ark of the covenant, for example. Each book is introduced and explained in the commentary as well as the old and new testaments.

Cons:

As some have said, yes, the pages are thin, and sometimes they fold over and you may need to straighten them out. However, I have never had one rip. I do take very good care of it, however.

I do wish that it had red letter print for the words of Christ. But then again, the whole Bible is the Word of God.

*On a side note:

For those of you who own, or are considering buying, this Bible, I highly recommend White Dove Designs Deluxe Organizer with Study Kit Bible Cover, size Extra Large. After I bought the ESV Study Bible, I had a difficult time finding a suitable organizer case. I know I am not the only person who has had this problem. The Deluxe Organizer is the perfect fit, almost as if it were made specifically for the ESV Study Bible. If interested, you can find it on christianbook.com here:

http://biblegateway.christianbook.com/deluxe-organizer-cover-black-extra-large/pd/9006XL?event=PRREV