The NIV Study Bible

The NIV Study Bible is, as its name implies, available only for the New International Bible translation. First published in 1985 by Zondervan Publishing House, this volume builds on the large popularity of the NIV.

As introductory material, the NIV Study Bible includes a full-color chronological table, an introduction, and an overview of ancient texts relating to the Old Testament. Study notes, a cross-referencing system, introductions to each book of the Bible, maps, charts, and a series of essays on Bible topics provide a strong supplement to the Bible text.

The 10th Anniversary Edition, published in 1995, also includes icons to highlight notes on characters, archaelogical information, or personal application.

Following the Bible text are a table of weights and measures, indexes to the subjects, notes, a concordance, and several color maps.

The notes incorporate conservative scholarship without being slanted toward any one person's point of view. If you are looking for solid conservative scholarship without too many frills, and if your preferred translation is the New International Version, you won't go wrong with the NIV Study Bible.