Begg Alistair - KJV Spurgeon Study Bible

The Christian religion rests fundamentally on the belief that God has chosen to reveal Himself to a human race that is estranged from Him. God has done this not only through miraculous signs, sweeping acts of providence, and the life and works of Jesus Christ, but through 66 writings collectively known as the Bible. These books are taken to be nothing less than authoritative communications from God, given through human authors who were led by the Holy Spirit to write down what God would have us know. Among other things, we learn in the Bible that God is the sovereign Creator of all reality. No corner of the universe is outside His rule. We learn that God is love, that His character is steadfast for eternity, that He is in all ways holy, and that He alone is worthy of praise and glory. We also learn that we are sinners in need of reconciliation with God and that this reconciliation comes only through faith in Gods Son, who paid our sin debt on the cross.

Since the Bible conveys such serious matters as these, we must be careful to understand its teachings properly. To misunderstand or misapply the Bible can lead to serious error. Now more than ever the church is gifted with a multitude of teachers who are equipped to provide tools that help readers comprehend the Bible and apply it to their lives. The KJV Study Bible, an adaptation of study material found in the award-winning HCSB Study Bible, represents the work of more than a hundred scholars who have devoted their lives to living and teaching the truths of Scripture. They come from different denominations and diverse backgrounds, and their ministries are based at seminaries, colleges, and churches. What they all share in common is a commitment to the authority and inerrancy of the Holy Bible.

The goal of each tool in this study Biblewhether study notes, essays, book introductions, maps, charts, or the online study component (HolmanKJVStudyBible.com)is to serve the text of Scripture by bringing to light facts that aid comprehension. As servants to the text, the study tools are designed to keep the focus on Scripture and never on the tools themselves. Practically speaking, this approach is demonstrated by the fact that the text of Scripture is never positioned beneath a study tool. The uppermost feature on any given page is the text of Scripture itself. Theologically speaking our text-centric approach is reflected in the fact that each of our contributors honors the Bible as Gods inspired and inerrant Word.

Some of the study notes and essays in this study Bible will encourage you and provide answers to questions you have long pondered. Others will surprise you with information you could not have anticipated and prompt you to ask new questions. Still others will challenge you, possibly even provoke you as you are presented with information that invites you to question your preconceived notions or settled opinions. In all cases our aim is to provide you with tools for engaging Gods Word on a deeper level, which leads to life transformation and true knowledge of God. We endeavor to be even-handed on controversial issues. To help achieve this, each note and essay has been pored over by a team of theological editors. In some cases we will adopt positions that are hotly debated, but we always land in a place that is well represented among biblically committed interpreters and that seeks to honor the intentions of Gods Word.

Our hope is that, in conjunction with other fine study tools that are available, you will use the KJV Study Bible to deepen your walk with the God who has graciously revealed Himself in the Bible.

In the KJV Study Bible, the Scripture is primary. All features and tools are designed to help you understand the Scripture and be transformed by it.

1. CROSS REFERENCES point to other Bible passages that are related to the text on which you are focusing.
2. STUDY NOTES provide historical, cultural, linguistic, and biblical information that enhances your understanding of a given passage. Words in bold are directly from the Scripture text.
3. PHOTOS, like Illustrations and Maps, provide visual context known by the biblical writers and many of their first readers. Being able to see the context is a significant aid to comprehension. Both Cyril of Jerusalem (a.d. 31586) and Jerome (340420) called the land of the Bible the Fifth Gospel. Experiencing the land by photos enriches ones reading and understanding of the Bible.
4. MAPS illuminate the Bible text by showing its geographical context.
5. CHARTS organize information in a way that enable the reader to grasp important connections quickly.
6. ILLUSTRATIONS recreate architectural structures that were part of the landscape in which the Bible was written. Being able to visualize these structures provides a context in which to read and study passages of Scripture. Both the writer of the passage and many of his first readers knew these structures firsthand.
7. INTRODUCTIONS give overviews of books by providing information on Circumstances of Writing including Author and Background, Message and Purpose, Contribution to the Bible, Structure, and Outline.
8. TIMELINES place the book in a chronological framework of biblical events.
9. ESSAYS give in-depth coverage to major biblical/theological issues.

The Study Notes in the KJV Study Bible have gone through numerous levels of editorial review and revision. The Notes as they now appear often differ from the Notes as originally submitted by the contributors. In some few cases, the final form of the Notes may express views that the contributors did not set out to discuss or endorse.