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Reading this New Revised Standard Version of the Bible and its packaging means hearing from other respected Christians as well, including author Virginia Stem Owens, who penned a rousing introduction to the Book of Revelation. "The Lamb's blood is irrevocably bound to beauty," she writes.

The RSFB also includes the Apocrypha (which Luther described as "not equal to the Holy Scriptures," but "profitable and good to read"); essays on what the editors call "with-God life" (a redundancy that emphasizes, rightly, "that the Bible is all about human life 'with God'"); and an index providing biblical references for each spiritual discipline.

Of course, any Bible—even the inspired text sans notes!—can assist in spiritual formation. But learning from mature Christians can help.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

The Reformation Study Bible, the NIV Faith in Action Study Bible, and The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible are available from Christianbook.com and other book retailers.

CT recently discussed Bibles meant to be read quickly.

Other CT articles on Bibles include:

It's a Rap | A new hip-hop Biblezine tries to give God street cred. (Feb. 7, 2006)

Ten Things You Should Know About the New Girls' Biblezine | Agnieszka Tennant's reviews an edition of Biblezine. (September 16, 2003)

God's Own Dictionary | You won't believe the words that didn't exist until the first English translations of the Bible. (Feb. 5, 2003)

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April 2006, Vol. 50, No. 4