In-Depth Review: Zondervan's Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible by Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton 

You did a great job presenting the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. I have the NRSV Translation in hardcover. I also have the NIV Faithlife Illustrated Study Bible that you mentioned here in this Review. You brought up very good points in relation to deeper study regarding "the Angel of the Lord". NEW Subscriber!

I really appreciate the way you break things down in this video

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like an interesting resource.

It seems like the Zondervan is the most widely reviewed cultural backgrounds study Bible on RU-vid - yet I have yet to find it at a local Christian bookstore where I live! Rather than cover the book in vague generalities, I appreciate the way that you give actual, concrete examples of how it can help and clear up cultural misunderstandings. Yet you admiitted that it has inconsistencies, and that it doesn't have everything, or every possible viewpoint - and so, you seek a second opinion, just like you would when seeking medical treatment.

I’m getting this bible

This has been an excellent review. I too am looking for a version that seems to understand and clarify the insights That M. Heiser discussed with clarity. Time to go look at the Faith Life Edition. :-)

Keep up the good work. I like how you explain the Bible passages,very informative.

picked one up a few weeks ago, haven't really dug into it yet. Gotta get a magnifying sheet...I've been using FaithLife for years though. lots of good material there for sure. I got the Cultural Background bible in the NIV translation bc the NIV is the "least doctrinally contaminated" I've found thus far, by which I mean most other translations are heavily influenced by different denominational/doctrinal stances: the ESV (my daily reader for way too long) is heavily slanted toward Reformed theology. The Christian Standard Bible (formerly the Holman Christian Standard Bible) is Baptist flavored. And so on...None are "wrong" per se, just be aware of inherent biases in EVERY translation and take them into account when studying....much like you did here when noting the 'deficiency' concerning the Angel of the LORD. (I personally always translate angel (malak in hebrew or angelos in Greek) as messenger, since that's what it means. then I don't tend to get the baggage that comes with modern fancies about angels with wings and all that. But I digress... Also got an Oxford Annotated Bible (w/ Apocrypha since there are so many references or allusions to Apocryphal material in the NT). Also need magnification for this...the joy of being an old fart. I expect between the 3: CBB, NOAB, and Faithlife I'll have a decent mini-reference library. I tend to be skeptical of commentaries bc they are also heavily biased by the author's background and doctrinal lenses. I find in the vast majority of The Text, the internal references and allusions (to other bible passages) and to external references and allusions (to cultural elements, like the hot springs of Hieropolis and cold water of Colossae were both brought to water poor Sardis...but all the water was luke warm/tepic by the time it got the 5+ miles from source to Sardis. (cf Re 3). Cultural elements like these help one remember how much of one's own cultural and doctrinal biases are brought to translation and interpretation/understanding. just my VERY humble opinion ymmv

I'm really enjoying and learning from mine. It's NKJV just for something different. I have an NIV I keep in the bathroom to read when I brush my teeth. It's a men's version so there are comments from Christian men we all know. It's 31 years old and pretty beat up. I like my new, lay flat, red letter, leather bound, with red ribbon page marker, Cultural Background version. I hope to be cremated or buried with it. I do use a magnifying glass for the small notes. The notes reveal phrases like "eat in the dark" could mean "they worked from sunup to sundown and ate before and after work". I never would have thought of that.

I think the only print version still available is the NIV at the moment.

I think Dr. Heiser's view on the spiritual realm is more accurate than most.

I really wish I could find a copy of the Faithlife Study Bible. I really do like the Archaeological study Bible though.

Muy interesantes las observaciones, ya que describes puntos buenos de los comentarios, y por el otro lado haces observaciones críticas Del concepto ‘br también creo que el comentarista tiene una preconcepcion y aplica la teoría sociológica funcionalista y del rol social, así también en el comentario “Creation and existence” donde inserta esta teoría del rol social, “…in mesopotamia one way to accomplish this was to name somthing, because a name disagnated a thing’s function or role…” Como se ve el traductor y comentarista aplica en sus notas esa teoría, y pretende hacer ver qué en la antigüedad así se pensaba, es decir bajo la óptica de la teoría del rol social y funcionalista De esta interpretación también nos puede llevar a la teoría (contraria a las escrituras) de q la creación no fue a partir de la nada, sino q simplemente Dios les dio una función a la materia ya pre-existente, lo q resulta antibiblico Saludos y bendiciones hermano

In my opinion, I do not recommend this bible at all. I got one and also read through it. I discovered the editors used cultural explanations to wash away the truths of the Bible. I noticed this in many portions of the bible so I had to discontinue use. Please, examine the bible thoroughly before considering buying. Thank you.

The Bible is a Catholic book ❤️