NRSV Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible

Five years in the making, the Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible seeks to recover the dynamics of Scripture for the spiritual transformation of the people of God: past, present, and future. It provides a view of God's community through history, the ups-and-downs, ins-and-outs of a with-God life. While other study Bibles serve as resources for sermon exposition, higher criticism, or personal devotion, the Renovaré Bible helps us capture the reality of living with the Trinitarian community in the ever-present kingdom of God. It recasts the Bible as the primary written resource for informing our minds and transforming our spirits in Christlikeness.

As part of making the Bible more accessible for the process of intentional formation in Christlikeness, the Renovaré Bible includes:

• Major essays and graphic representations highlighting 15 expressions of the With-God Life
• Essays and notes for each book of the Bible
• More than fifty contributors, noted experts on the Bible, and a and a distinguished editorial board
• Fifteen progressive essays on living the "with-God life"
• Introductions and notes for each book of the Bible explaining not only the historical and theological content, but also
• highlighting main themes for spiritual formation
• Spiritual exercises that help incorporate and deepen hat you are encountering in your Bible reading
• Profiles of key biblical characters (with Index)
• A Spiritual Disciplines Index that provides a glossary of Bible references for each Spiritual Discipline
• A Spiritual Formation Bibliography

Other Features:

• 9 point type
• Double-column format
• Black Letter Edition
• Subject headings
• Translation/textual notes
• Study Notes
• Book introductions
• Black & White Maps
• Hardcover
• Black
• Includes Deuterocanonical books
• 6^3/4" x 9^1/2" x 2^1/2"

Average Rating:

8 of 9 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)

Reviewed by Michael Hughes (Douglasville, GA), June 09, 2008

Absolutely loved this Bible. Not as many notes as more traditional Study Bibles but the notes it has are informative enough and the reflective questions are probing.

Reviewed by James Bauers (Chesterfield Township, MI), March 21, 2008

I'm very pleased with my Spiritual Formation Bible! It has, for me, good type and is laid out nicely. I like the translation, having never read it fully before. The articles are very well written. I'm compelled on to the Lord when I read the comments and such. It is big and would be bulky to carry to meetings. But, I refer to these type Bibles as my 'desk' bibles!

Reviewed by Cheryl Rowe (Antigo, WI), January 08, 2008

The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible is an excellent tool for someone seeking to grow in their Christian walk.

Reviewed by LK (Athens, GA), June 09, 2006

This is a heavy Bible. Most versions of Life Application Bible are lighter than this one. However, the quality of the binding and printing is pretty good. The commentaries are very uneven. Some very good, others not. In general, they are too brief compared to many other study bibles. But you won't find this kind of commentaries in any other study bible. NRSV is a fine translation, though sometimes it takes too much liberty on textual issues. It was published about 15 years before the complete TNIV came out. So TNIV does reflect more updated scholarship. TNIV is in general more conservative than NRSV. I use this study bible together with NIV Faith in Action Study Bible. If you need more background information on each book of the Bible, you might want to pick up NIV Archaeological Study Bible. I don't care about NIV that much, and think that HCSB is overall the best conservative translation. But the first study bible featuring HCSB won't come out until Dec 2006.

Reviewed by Carrie Halle (Kokomo, IN), May 01, 2006

I gave this Bible a 5 because I think it has the best type-set/font I've ever seen in a Bible. It is very comfortable to read, the pages are bright and crisp, and the color is even (black or red for words). This Bible is big, but most people cart around the LAB which is huge as well. I enjoy the deuterocanonical books and find them helpful in understanding the times directly preceeding Christ. I fully support their inclusion, since they weren't massively excluded in some protestant Bibles until 1769. Though not inspired, they are a part of our Christian heritage (the early Christians used these books in their Septuagint, even when Christ was walking the earth). I love the fact that there are things for me to do with certain verses. For instance, there is note about thinking on heavenly things, and you're instructed to list those things from above to think on. I like such exercises. Along with these types of exercises (or disciplines), there are plenty of historical comments making this an awesome Bible. I was reserved about the use of the NRSV, but I love it! I find that the English used is better than that of the NIV, but it's more accurate. I also appreciate the usage of gender-inclusive language ONLY when it should be used. It is handled very well. I'm not quite sure why others would prefer the TNIV over this translation, which does a much, more modest job of handling the gender-inclusive language in a God-honoring way. The "With-God" life notes carry us from just knowledge of the text to truly making the Bible apart of our entire life! The intro to this Bible is worth the price alone, as it is a book in itself! One more note about the binding--it's nice. It's black and has a dove imprinted on the lower right hand corner. The front cover is blank, and the side binding is simple. I find it refreshing in a day with over-hip Bible styles that are more distracting/distasteful than God's Word deserves--save the marketing for other books.

Reviewed by Daniel (Wisconsin), October 18, 2005

I had very high hopes for this Bible in light of some the contributors (Foster, Willard etc.). However I was deeply disappointed. First, there is very little commentary of any depth leading one to a deeper understanding of the spiritual disciplines. I personally had the impression that the editors wanted you to turn to Foster's The Celebration of Discipline or Willard's The Spirit of the Disciplines for any serious discussions of the disciplines. There is an appendix in the back which is a simple listing of Bible verses which deal with a particulary discipline but here too there was little commentary or supporting information. Finally, I personally found the introductions of the Bible books to be distracting because of the conservative/liberal hybrid position taken. For example, the editors supported Paul actually penning the pastoral epistles and Peter writing 2Peter yet the position was also taken that Daniel could not have been written by Daniel the prophet because the author must have had historical knowledge of the events described rather than the ability to prophecy future events. My question: If God is so powerless as to be unable/unwilling to reveal future events to the Biblical authors then why should He be trustworthy or present for the spiritual disciplines encouraged by the editors. My suggestion: get Foster's or Willard's book and use it alongside your favorite Bible.

Reviewed by Pastor George Howard (Richmond VA), August 06, 2005

Great Bible for those who understand the fundamentals of "Spiritual Formation" ..But even greater resources for those who have not grasp the blessing of Spiritual Formation. this is a monumental Bible tool. This Bible is packed with exhausted diamonds that will enhance ones' devotional capacity, inspire Christ likeness, increase spiritual maturity and foster Biblical Discipleship. The authors and contributors are among the best and reflect one of the finest team who compiled this thoughtful Renovare' Spiritual Formation Bible. I hope this Bible becomes the next Best seller..hopefully like the book "Purpose Driven Life"

Reviewed by Barb (Mt. Airy, MD), August 01, 2005

I love this Bible ... the only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 is because I could do without all the "extra books" being included. It makes it far too heavy and cumbersome to carry. Otherwise, I really enjoy the "with God" guidance.

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