A good choice

This is an excellent Bible to keep by your bedside for your nightly devotion. The study helps are very good and brief. The concordance for this size Bible is excellent. The single column format and lack of red letters are major pluses. The overall size of the Bible makes it easy to carry.^M

Long time user

I have been a user of the Harper's Study Bibles since 1977 when I first got the RSV translation. I have had the NRSV since 1991, and find it my favorite. The Harper's Study Bible is laid out in one column. It uses outline headings, has cross-references well displayed in the margin, and it has hundreds of annotations throughout. The concordance is also plentiful to help find the Bible verses needed. Perhaps my favorite feature is the Gospel cross-references.Stories in the gospels are referenced to other gospels where that same story appears. It helps for quick reference to see how the stories are the same or different. As a Lutheran Pastor, this is my first choice for a Bible. I have two copies of the RSV, having worn out my first copy, and I am purchasing a second NRSV translation so I have my favorite when my current Harper's Study Bible finally wears out.

Excellent Study Bible

This is perhaps one of the best bibles I've purchased. Many study bibles are just overwhelming with the number of notes, and while that is nice for serious study, the volume of notes can render them useless. Where the Harper Bible excells is in the number, clarity, and depth of the notes as well as the introductions. The introductions give you exactly that, an introduction, not an extended essay. If you're looking for in-depth discussion of scripture, a commentary is a better tool than a study bible since its more complete. Also, the notes and introductions are written from a solidly evangelical perspective. Perhaps the best feature of this bible is the concordance, along with character profiles. Rather than just list every place the name Timothy appears in the bible, there is an outlined biography with scripture references in the corcordance for the major bible characters.