The Most Comprehensive, Tech-Savvy Bible to Date Now Available

WHEATON, Ill., Oct. 15, 2008—The Book is more than 2,000 years old, but the ESV Study Bible offers a new, high-tech way to study the Bible.  With images and maps developed with NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, an unprecedented collection of color illustrations depicting the latest archaeological findings, commentary from the best biblical scholars and an online version, the ESV (English Standard Version) Study Bible "is the most important resource that has been given to the emerging generation of Bible students and teachers," according to Mark Driscoll, pastor of Seattle's megachurch-Mars Hill.  

Launching online and landing on bookstore shelves today, the ESV Study Bible offers readers an unprecedented repository of resources contained in a single volume, making it the most comprehensive study Bible created to date.

The ESV Study Bible's online, interactive companion-free to all who purchase the print edition-has one-of-a-kind functionality that allows Bible readers to:

• Add personal notes, reflections and links
• Click hyperlinked cross references
• Search by verse, topic or keyword
• Digitally highlight Bible passages with various colors

"What I love about the ESV Study Bible is that it brings together a list of people that have proven over the course of a scholarly lifetime to have been consistent and faithful to Scripture," said Driscoll.

A team of 95 world-class biblical scholars hailing from 10 countries, nearly 20 denominations, and more than 50 prestigious seminaries and universities produced the ESV Study Bible.  It contains more than 2,750 pages-about 500 more pages than the current best-selling study Bible-and is an all-in-one resource that includes:

• More than 200 full-color maps created using NASA's high-resolution digital database, printed throughout the Bible
• More than 100 articles and introductions on topics such as biblical archaeology, theology, ethics, worship, world religions, religious cults, and the Bible's authority, reliability and interpretation

• More than 40 original, detailed illustrations including full-color cross sections of historic sites and artifacts including Solomon's Temple, the Ark of the Covenant, Herod's Temple, the Tabernacle and Jerusalem through its various phases in biblical history
• More than 250 time lines, charts and diagrams that provide at-a-glance information for Bible readers

• More than 20,000 notes that:
• Explain how evangelical Christianity differs from major world religions and cults in a factual, accurate and respectful tone
• Indicate and discuss points of difference in interpretations of passages where significant alternative interpretations exist

Crossway Books & Bibles has printed Christian literature by many of today's most sought-after Christian authors, thinkers and pastors including Max Lucado, Dr. R.C. Sproul, Dr. John MacArthur, Dr. J.I. Packer, Dr. John Piper and Joni Eareckson Tada.

In 2001, Crossway published the highly acclaimed ESV Bible.  A distinguished team of more than 100 Bible scholars and teachers worked for nearly four years to create the ESV Bible-a "word-for-word" Bible translation based on precise comparison with the original language texts and manuscripts.  Consistently among the top five best-selling Bible translations in America, unit sales of the ESV translation have grown by more than 250 percent in the past three years.

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