My only regret was that I could have used more blank spaces to make notes, etc. Also, did not have the Apocryphal books included, but other than that, I don't know if there is a better study Bible. great maps, explanations, prefaces to the books, historical background facts, whatever - good stuff. Definitely a good study bible though for in-depth reading, rather than a quick refernce for quick inspiration.

The Good:

The ESV Study Bible itself is fantastic. Notes are wonderful and the translatoin is my favorite because it balances literal translation with readbility. It also included great maps and essays on many topics.

The Bad:

The leather quality is a major let down. Not at all premium. Very thin and not top or whole grain. Plus the stitching around the edge in uneven in many spots. Wanted to return and maybe exchange it but got really busy. Such a shame to be calling this a premium Bible. Feels deseptive and coming from a Bible producing company this does not sit will with me.

Overall:

Great content, very disapointing form factor largely due to cheap leather and workmanship. Sadly this seems to be the nicest ESV study Bible availible which is disappointing. I am only selecting that I would recomend this becasue it is currenly all that there is

You may have heard that the bible is sharper than any two-edged sword. While this may be true in the spiritual sense, you can also actually use this bible as a weapon. If the devil comes after you with this thing, give this thing a swing and he'll be knocked out for a good two hours. This study bible is filled to the brim with content.

On a serious note, the bible is of pretty nice quality. I hope that that means it'll last. It comes with a warranty from crossway, so you should be good no matter what. The essays and study notes are clearly evangelical, but no particular affiliation to a specific theology is felt. I enjoy the comments and perspectives from the inerrancy perspective and feel they are at least compelling to consider. This is by no means what you'll be reading for reading's sake. There are pages with only a couple of verses and the rest of the page is full of notes. Definitely only a bible for when you are seriously studying specific scriptures or topics. That said, I've learned quite a bit from the study notes and essays and look forward to continuing use of this bible.

To begin with, the ESV is a great translation. This Bible fills the blanks and is great at explaining the writers and books of the Bible. A classic.

I gave this gift to a friend and had a monogram engraved on the front. It was beautiful. It's a heavy book, but filled with helpful info, especially for a new learner. I might buy one for myself ;)