(I’m taking a brief hiatus from the Wise Words series to share about a fantastic new resource that has just been released that I think you’ll want to know about.)
Can I just be honest? I’m not a huge fan of women’s study Bibles. All of us, women and men, are beloved children of our Father. We all need to hear His word. That word is not different for women than it is for men.
But…
But, if we think about it, women often notice different things or have different questions than men. Several years ago, I was privileged to be asked to write some of the study notes to a new women’s study Bible. As part of that task, the editors asked all of the contributors to focus on issues and questions of particular interest to women. What do women find particularly encouraging? What do we find troubling?
Our task was somewhat limited. This Bible does not have exhaustive notes on all the technical issues. We had to be selective. (That means you’ll still need/want other resources, but that’s really true of any study Bible.)
Is it really for everyone?!
Yes! If you think I’m crazy, listen to James-Michael Smith’s review on YouTube.
As this review suggests, men can benefit from hearing the questions and perspectives that women bring to the table. Maybe you are a pastor who would benefit from hearing what questions women may have about the passage you will be preaching on. Maybe you’re a father with a daughter who is struggling with something in Scripture that just doesn’t seem concerning to you. Maybe you’re a son who doesn’t understand why your mother is so upset about a particular interpretation she has heard. I’m not promising that this Bible will address your particular issue, but it might. Or it might point to ideas and perspectives you have never considered.
If you’re wondering if the notes are trustworthy, I can say that I know a number of the women who wrote the study notes personally. They are committed followers of Jesus with strong academic backgrounds. As always, that’s not to say that we fully agree on every point of interpretation. Instead I’m saying that I trust that these women are seeking to build up Christ’s body with faithful (and prayerful!) interpretation. They are strong scholars who have studied for years, sometimes decades. So yes, I believe they are trustworthy.
You can buy it from Tyndale here (with a 25% discount right now) or from Amazon here. (The Tyndale link also tells you a bit more about the project.)
So, check it out! And if you get a copy, let me know what your favorite things about it are!
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Life Beyond #Blessed 
Jen, Yours was the first email I saw on launch day for the Bible! And YOU were the first scholar I met. Getting to know you and be at your hooding (is that the right name?) ceremony and meet you and your husband in Utah are highlights of this project for me. As I told someone I work with a lot at Tyndale, I adore you, and am so thankful for you. Most of all, I feel privileged to call you friend. Thank you for taking the time to share about your experience of this Bible. And I loved the examples of why men would benefit from this. Frank and I came home from an unsettling sermon just a few weeks ago, on our way home saying, “We have to go look at the Every Woman’s Bible.” We did, and Lynn Cohick’s study notes on Corinthians were SUCH a gift. Thankful for YOU!!!!! Naomi
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Getting to know you and Frank has been a joy, Naomi! And I am so thankful for the opportunity to work on this project. I appreciated it at the time, but even more so now. Like Carmen, it seemed a bit odd to me at first to focus on what women would notice instead of just interpreting the text for everyone. But the more I grow and the more I teach, the more I realize women notice different things and ask different questions. Not better or worse, just different. We also notice different things, which can result coming to different answers. (I’m so glad Lynn’s notes were helpful. She’s a gift to the church and to the women in it.) I am so thankful to have been able to play a small role. Thank you for the work and years you and the Tyndale team have invested. I appreciate all of you and hope that this Bible serves the entire church well!
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