The Reformation Study Bible?

[imfree]

Does anyone have this Bible? What do you think of it? Here is a link:

http://www.reformationstudybible.com/

Blessings,
Marty

[JoelH]

It strictly adheres to the Calvinist side of Reformed theology, which has two big ramifications: salvation and eschatology (Bible prophecy). On salvation it strictly believes in that someone is saved because of predestination (they call it "sovereign grace") and you will never know if you are the "elect" or just a fake until the moment of your death. You can only live as holy as you can, experientially speaking.

On Bible prophecy it hold to amillennialism which in the most consistent form, sums up Jesus' Second Coming as follows: Jesus comes again out of the blue and bang, the earth is burned, then everyone dead is resurrected and have one common judgment: those who are saved go to heaven and the rest hell. Then eternity starts. No tribulation, no literal world dictator as the Antichrist, no rapture, and no physical millennial kingdom in which Jesus rules as king of the world for 1000 years. In other words, it is not even post-trib but rather, no-trib.

So be cautious if you want to use it.:):


YBIC,

Joel

[JIM]

IMFREE,

Its a very good study bible. I love the fact that it has many of the historic confessions and creeds of the christian church in it for easy reference.

Jim

[Warrior Prophet]

I have it's predecessor, The New Geneva Study Bible. It's an awesome study Bible. The notes are a bit more one sided than say the NIV Study Bible but I'd say it doesn't make the claim to be a general study Bible. The 'reformed' perspective on some of the topics has really opened my eyes to another point of view. I'd not totally agree with all they give in the notes but you won't be wasting your money. Overall I'd say it's much better and more intellectually honest than a lot of the so called prophecy study Bibles with various names attatched to them. Those are the ones I'd avoid at all costs.

[imfree]

Thanks for the input. :):

[pilgrimian]

Overall I'd say it's much better and more intellectually honest than a lot of the so called prophecy study Bibles with various names attatched to them. Those are the ones I'd avoid at all costs.

...more intellectually honest? Specifics?

Hmmmmm...

[JustJan]

It strictly adheres to the Calvinist side of Reformed theology, which has two big ramifications: salvation and eschatology (Bible prophecy). On salvation it strictly believes in that someone is saved because of predestination (they call it "sovereign grace") and you will never know if you are the "elect" or just a fake until the moment of your death. You can only live as holy as you can, experientially speaking.

On Bible prophecy it hold to amillennialism which in the most consistent form, sums up Jesus' Second Coming as follows: Jesus comes again out of the blue and bang, the earth is burned, then everyone dead is resurrected and have one common judgment: those who are saved go to heaven and the rest hell. Then eternity starts. No tribulation, no literal world dictator as the Antichrist, no rapture, and no physical millennial kingdom in which Jesus rules as king of the world for 1000 years. In other words, it is not even post-trib but rather, no-trib.

So be cautious if you want to use it.:):


YBIC,

Joel


Where did you get the idea that reformed theology denies the concept of assurance in salvation? I know of no one who is a Calvinist who thinks that they cannot have such an assurance. Those who believe in the notion of election of the saints look to the fruit of the Spirit in their lives as proof of their relationship with God and their standing in Christ.

[JoelH]

I'm sorry, but this is not exactly the Reformed position. For instance, R.C. Sproul says:

"A while back I had one of those moments of acute self-awareness that we have from time to time, and suddenly the question hit me: ‘R.C., what if you are not one of the redeemed? What if your destiny is not heaven after all, but hell?’ Let me tell you that I was flooded in my body with a chill that went from my head to the bottom of my spine. I was terrified.

I tried to grab hold of myself. I thought, ‘Well, it’s a good sign that I’m worried about this. Only true Christians really care about salvation.’ But then I began to take stock of my life, and I looked at my performance. My sins came pouring into my mind, and the more I looked at myself, the worse I felt. I thought, ‘Maybe it’s really true. Maybe I’m not saved after all.’

I went to my room and began to read the Bible. On my knees I said, ‘Well, here I am. I can’t point to my obedience. There’s nothing I can offer. I can rely only on Your atonement for my sins. I can only throw myself on your mercy.’ Even then I knew that some people only flee to the Cross to escape hell, not out of a real turning to God. I could not be sure about my own heart and motivation. Then I remembered John 6:68. Jesus had been giving out hard teaching, and many of His former followers had left Him. When He asked Peter if he was also going to leave, Peter said, ‘Where else can we go? Only You have words of eternal life.’ In other words, Peter was also uncomfortable, but he realized that being uncomfortable with Jesus was better than any other option."

(Taken from "Assurance of Salvation" by R.C. Sproul, from TableTalk, Nov 6, 1989, p. 20)

You can see that according to full 5-point Calvinism, there is no assurance until literally you are at the end of this side of heaven.

YBIC,

Joel

[imfree]

I'm sorry, but this is not exactly the Reformed position. For instance, R.C. Sproul says:

"A while back I had one of those moments of acute self-awareness that we have from time to time, and suddenly the question hit me: ‘R.C., what if you are not one of the redeemed? What if your destiny is not heaven after all, but hell?’ Let me tell you that I was flooded in my body with a chill that went from my head to the bottom of my spine. I was terrified.

I tried to grab hold of myself. I thought, ‘Well, it’s a good sign that I’m worried about this. Only true Christians really care about salvation.’ But then I began to take stock of my life, and I looked at my performance. My sins came pouring into my mind, and the more I looked at myself, the worse I felt. I thought, ‘Maybe it’s really true. Maybe I’m not saved after all.’

I went to my room and began to read the Bible. On my knees I said, ‘Well, here I am. I can’t point to my obedience. There’s nothing I can offer. I can rely only on Your atonement for my sins. I can only throw myself on your mercy.’ Even then I knew that some people only flee to the Cross to escape hell, not out of a real turning to God. I could not be sure about my own heart and motivation. Then I remembered John 6:68. Jesus had been giving out hard teaching, and many of His former followers had left Him. When He asked Peter if he was also going to leave, Peter said, ‘Where else can we go? Only You have words of eternal life.’ In other words, Peter was also uncomfortable, but he realized that being uncomfortable with Jesus was better than any other option."

(Taken from "Assurance of Salvation" by R.C. Sproul, from TableTalk, Nov 6, 1989, p. 20)

You can see that according to full 5-point Calvinism, there is no assurance until literally you are at the end of this side of heaven.

YBIC,

Joel

I'm not sure I follow. Based on what I read in the above I see a man who is taking stock of his life. What is wrong with that? Are we not to examine our lives to see if we are really walking with God?

[Warrior Prophet]

...more intellectually honest? Specifics?

Hmmmmm...

When you look at the New Geneva Study Bible's explanation of the book of Revelation compared to the Left Behind Study Bible you see a huge contrast. Whoever edited the LB Study Bible pretty much dismisses all views but the LB because we know that there is already a huge bias in the purpose behind the Bible. When you have a Bible like the Reformed they have an agenda as well (as far as a different aspect of Christianity), but the reasons given are much more cogent. LaHaye and company basically say in their Bible that Christians started out premillennial (not bothering to mention the differences between historic and dispensational premill views) until guys like Augustine brought in a new heresy that made all scripture symbolic until the 1800's when 'the truth was rediscovered.' History is actually much more complex when dealing with Christian eschatology. Without going to detailed historic premillennialism and amillennialism were both taught in the early church and with guys like Augustine it became the majority view. Then there were pockets of premillennial believers until guys like Darby and Scofield who repackaged that view and made it much more popular.

Plus, and I know I'll get flamed for this but... the guys behind the NIV Study Bible and Reformation are college level doctorate of theology guys. I'd trust them a lot more than I trust John Haggee or someone else who does not have formal theological training. There's a certain... intellectual level that people at that level tend to have. Not the mere pedestrian populist Christianity that is the level may of the prophecy teachers seem to be at.