ESV Study Bible vs. CSB Study Bible: Which One Should You Buy?

If you were only going to buy one study Bible and the choice came down to the ESV Study Bible or the CSB Study Bible, which one should you get?

That's a reasonable question. Both are substantial study Bibles. Both contain thousands of study notes, cross-references, maps, articles, introductions, charts, and other resources designed to help you better understand the Bible. I have used both, and some time ago Josiah and I spent several months using them before discussing our impressions on the Salty Believer podcast.

But there was a problem with doing that comparison on a podcast. You couldn't see the Bibles. So I put together a video that does exactly that. I opened both study Bibles and put them side by side. We look at them by the numbers, and then we look at the actual pages.

ESV Study Bible and CSB Study Bible by the Numbers

Both Bibles pack a lot into their pages. The ESV Study Bible advertises 20,000 study notes and 80,000 cross-references. It also contains a large collection of charts, timelines, maps, illustrations, and more than 50 articles.

The CSB Study Bible advertises more than 16,000 study notes. It also contains 368 Hebrew and Greek word studies, 60 timelines, 55 maps, more than 100 photographs, paintings, reconstructions, charts, and 34 articles.

Those numbers tell us something, but they don't tell us everything. A study Bible with more notes is not necessarily more helpful. A map is only useful if it helps you understand the geography of the biblical Text. A cross-reference is useful when it helps you see legitimate connections in Scripture. And a study note is useful when it helps you understand what the Bible says rather than simply giving you another paragraph to read.

That is why I wanted to open these Bibles up. Check out the video to see the page layout, design, maps, notes, cross references, introduction, and so much more.

So Which One Should You Buy?

It depends on how you study. If you want a dense reference tool with extensive notes, cross-references, maps, charts, introductory material, and substantial theological articles, the ESV Study Bible has a lot to offer.

If you prefer a more visual presentation with color, photographs, artwork, timelines, maps, and especially dedicated Hebrew and Greek word studies, the CSB Study Bible has some excellent features that the ESV does not really attempt to duplicate.

I like both. Either one can be a useful tool for serious Bible study. But remember what a study Bible is. The study notes aren't inspired. The articles aren't inspired. The charts aren't inspired. The people who wrote them can be wrong. A study Bible is useful only insofar as it helps us better understand the Bible.

That's the point. Use the maps. Follow the cross-references. Read the introductions. Consult the notes when you're stuck. Learn from faithful scholars who have spent years studying these texts. Then keep reading the Bible.

Buy the ESV Study Bible:
https://amzn.to/4yluYpL

Buy the CSB Study Bible:
https://amzn.to/467NjuF