Over the years I’ve used a number of resources in my scriptural study, with my preferences changing as I’ve learned more, have been exposed to different thinkers and interacted with my professors in seminary, my colleagues in ministry and members of the congregations I’ve served. Presently, I have a number of “go to” resources that I consult every week before I sit down to write my sermons. These include The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV with Apocrypha), The New Interpreter’s Study Bible (NRSV with Apocrypha), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, and the ESV Study Bible. Combined with these, depending upon the text, I may look to various commentaries, such as Berit Olam/Sacra Pagina, The New International Commentary, The Brazos Theological Commentary etc…

What I have found is that each of these resources have strengths and weaknesses. From the time I was in college through the end of seminary, I probably preferred the New Oxford Annotated Bible above all others because of its focus on historical context. I appreciated the fact that it left any theological conclusions more or less up to the reader. As I have engaged in pastoral ministry, I’ve come to appreciate the New Interpreter’s Bible much more–and while it’s not a huge thing, I liked the fact that it correctly represented the Anglican “stepped canon” in its introductory material. I’ve also appreciated the ESV Study Bible for it’s solid notes. But the thing I appreciate most about the ESV Study Bible is actually the fact that owning it has given me access to the website http://esvonline.org. While some people may be concerned about the perspectives of the ESV translation and editorial team, they’d be hard pressed to deny that Crossway has been head and shoulders above other Bible publishers when it comes to marketing their translation and–most importantly–providing useful online tools for their readers. I’ve found myself using ESV online as my primary computer bible and note-taking tool. I’m curious to see what others are using… comment away.