Great to own, but don't buy too expensive - Rated 
I'm a moderate reader of the Bible who goes through spells of faithfulness, sometimes even intensity, and then drifts away for a while. I establish this so that, when I say the pages are starting to fall out of my ten-year-old Life Application Study Bible, you'll know that I'm not a really heavy user of it and yet it's showing its mortality despite its immortal subject matter.
So, when you buy one ... not "if", but when ... then I wouldn't suggest a really fancy leather version. The hardback is fine.
As other reviewers have noted, the text is clear, has a lot of helpful additional information, is well cross-referenced with commentary, concordance, and maps. I, too, own about half-a-dozen Bibles: NASB, NIV, Amplified, an NIV Jesus Bible, a CEV Knowledge Bible, a NKJV Children's Ministry Resource Bible, etc., but when I'm doing my own personal Bible study and reading, I always pick the Life Application Study Bible. It just 'splains things better.
That's why I'm planning to buy another one, after I trot along to the bookstore to thumb through some hard copies before making my decision about which translation of LASB I want to buy this time.
A Great Study Bible - Rated
I've had my NIV Life Application Bible now for six years. As I look at it sitting there on the desk beside me, it's pretty worn out - the dust jacket is in pieces and the hard cover has become separated from the pages (which thankfully are all still there). Besides this there are numerous coffee stains and thousands of hand-written notes on the dog-eared pages. In short this Bible and I have been through a lot together. Not only is the text the wonderfully clear and readable NIV but the notes themselves have enabled me to understand and apply the text to my everyday life situation. As I flick through the pages I smile as I remember God speaking to me through those timeless and all-important words. In my role as a pastor I have found the notes to be invaluable, not only in producing sermons that people can relate to and understand, but also in pretty much every area and aspect of ministry.
I probably have ten or more Bibles on the shelf and around the house. This is the one I use more than any other. I highly recommend it.
A superb study bible - Rated
I bought this as I was embarking on a series of bible studies at my church. Being somewhat inexperienced in my faith I surveyed a number of more accomplished scholars at the church and found that this study bible was the most popular and easily the most informative. There are simply thousands of useful and easily understood references within this version and it has become my primary reference whatever the nature of my biblical question. The explanation panels on each page are clearly refenced to the main text and the useful intro to each book is a great help in understanding from a geographical, historical and social perspective the book that follows.
Best Bible ever! - Rated
I can't recommend this Bible enough! An excellent resource for historical and geographical facts, apart from anything else, but the BEST thing about it is the extensive explanations that are given about the text. Each page is divided in half, with the scriptures on the top half and the explanations in the part underneath. So, if you read something and want to have it clarified, you just glance down the page and all is explained! Absolutely fabulous! I own a lot of Bibles, but this is the one I use every day and the one I love the best. A great study tool as well. I recommend this Bible to everyone. If you are only ever going to buy ONE family Bible, THIS is the one to buy!
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