The Henry Morris Study Bible

One of the newest study Bibles on the market is The Henry Morris Study Bible (Master Books, New Leaf Publishing Group, 2012). The hardcover lists for $39.99 with a genuine leather edition at almost twice as much. At the present time, ChristianBooks.com is offering them at 35% off list price.

Henry Morris (1918-2006), was the author of classic creationist works such as The Genesis Flood, Evolution and the Modern Christian, Scientific Creationism, and Science and the Bible. He is perhaps best known as the founder of The Institute of Creation Research in 1970.

The goals behind this study Bible are clearly stated in the introduction: “Its annotations explain the Bible’s difficult passages, resolve its alleged contradictions, point out the evidences of its divine origin, confirm its historical accuracy, note its remarkable anticipations of modern science, demonstrate its fulfilled prophecies and in general remove any doubts about its inerrancy, its authority and its ability to meet every human need.” (pg. iv) It is published expressly with the position of a literal 7-day creation understanding of Genesis 1.

The Henry Morris Study Bible is a new creation-apologetic study Bible, not just a reprint of The New Defender’s Study Bible (World Publishing, 2006). The major difference between the two is that The Henry Morris Study Bible has made corrections and contains 50% more notes. The notes are appropriately technical, but are very readable. The appendixes are updated and address such issues as the alternate explanations for age of the earth, notes on theistic evolution, progressive creation, the day-age theory, and the gap theory. Although some of these appendices can cause one to look outside the biblical text, such as the appendix that lists the many Bible-believing scientists in history and “The Creationist Faith of Our Founding Fathers,” they are still useful to the Bible student. The 22 appendices span almost 100 pages and include the chronology of the Patriarchs in Genesis, the internal designs found in the Bible, list of the quotations or allusions to Genesis found in the New Testament, fulfillment of biblical prophecies, and the deity and resurrection of Christ.

The hardcover edition, with a Smyth-Sewn binding, is on the hefty size as Bibles go. With a physical size of 6.5 x 9 x 2.3 inches with 2,215 pages; it weighs in at almost four pounds. It uses a 10 point font and a two column format with each verse starting a new line, with the words of Christ in red. The paper used is not lightweight offset paper but durable Bible study paper. It comes with two ribbon markers.

Some readers would have preferred another version besides the King James, but John MacArthur claims that it is “an invaluable tool for the defense of the Christian faith” (the Morris Study Bible, not just the KJV). Regardless of your feelings towards the KJV, with over 10,000 study notes, no other study Bible offers the comprehensive analysis of biblical creation and authority of Scripture.

While Morris doesn’t condemn all other Bible translations as heresy, he doesn’t cast them in a very favorable light either. In Appendix 21 you will find a cordial defense of the KJV, “A Creationist’s Defense of the King James Bible.”

More likely, if you are of the Reformed tradition, you will have trouble with the general approach to this study Bible theologically. The best description comes from the introduction itself, where he gives you his theological approach to the study Bible itself: “Based on this literal and contextual approach, the notes become what one might call Baptistic in ecclesiology, pre-millennial in eschatology, non-charismatic in pneumatology, and moderately Calvinistic in soteriology.” (pg. v)

This Bible would be an exceptional resource for anyone who is in school (home or not), especially if no other resources on biblical creation are available. If you are taking a science class at the high school or the college level, I would consider this particular study Bible and important addition to your apologetic resources. If you are looking for an everyday study Bible, there are better ones on the market, such as The ESV Study Bible, The Reformation Study Bible, and the Thompson Chain Reference Bible.

Just remember—the best study Bible is the one you read.