A Look Inside the MacArthur Study Bible

Whenever I talk about study Bibles, somebody eventually asks about the MacArthur Study Bible. It is one of the better-known study Bibles available, and plenty of Christians have used it for years. So what do I think about it?

There is a lot to like. The MacArthur Study Bible includes study notes, cross-references, maps, timelines, charts, book introductions, outlines, and other resources designed to help readers understand the Bible better. John MacArthur also brings decades of preaching and teaching through Scripture to the notes. But readers should understand an important distinction. Study Bibles such as the ESV Study Bible, CSB Study Bible, and Reformation Study Bible draw from numerous scholars, editors, and contributors. With the MacArthur Study Bible, you are largely getting John MacArthur's interpretation and theological perspective. That does not make it a bad study Bible. It does, however, make it a different kind of study Bible.

In this video, I open up a print copy of the MacArthur Study Bible and look at the notes, cross-references, maps, timelines, introductions, and other features. I also show how I use the MacArthur Study Bible notes digitally with Accordance Bible Software.

The goal is not merely to find the right study Bible. The goal is to study the Bible well. Study Bibles are tools to help us with that goal.

Study on!