ESV Study Bible Goes Back to Press Prior to October 15 Publication Date
Wheaton, IL— With pre-publication demand surpassing the first 100,000 printing, the ESV Study Bible has already gone back to press for a second printing of 50,000 copies, with a 50,000 third printing soon to follow.
Mark Traphagen, Web Sales Manager for Westminster Bookstore in Philadelphia, PA, reports record-breaking sales for the new Study Bible, making it “by far the fastest selling new product in the history of our store.” But industry insiders don’t expect sales of the new study Bible to slow down after the publication buzz subsides. “Early results indicate that this is going to be a very key item for Mardel this Christmas season,” explains Dylan Hillhouse, Bible buyer for the key retail chain.
With more than 2,750 pages and over two million words, the ESV Study Bible is the most comprehensive study Bible ever published. It was created by a team of 95 of the world’s leading biblical scholars, hailing from 10 countries, nearly 20 denominations, and more than 50 colleges, seminaries, and universities. An unprecedented resource, the ESV Study Bible includes:
- More than 200 full-color maps created using the latest NASA-developed satellite technologies—printed right alongside the texts that they illustrate 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 detailed, original illustrations showing 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
- 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
The ESV Study Bible’s 20,000 study notes, written specifically for the project, focus especially on understanding the meaning of the text, giving answers to frequently raised questions, and providing theological, historical, and archaeological background. John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, describes the scope and theological faithfulness of the study Bible notes as “breathtaking.”
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, author and host of Revive Our Hearts Radio, adds, “I especially love the way the notes and articles highlight the great redemptive story and ‘connect the dots’ between the various portions and themes of Scripture.”
The ESV Study Bible also includes the latest in technological advances. Its online, interactive companion—free to all who purchase the print edition—is regularly updated and 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
“I believe the ESV Study Bible is the world’s best single-volume resource for reading, studying, and teaching the Bible,” summarizes Philip Ryken, Senior Minister of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.
In 2001, Crossway published the ESV Bible. The ESV is the fastest-growing Bible in publication today, with worldwide unit sales having quadrupled over the past three years. A distinguished team of more than 100 Bible scholars and teachers worked for nearly four years to create the ESV Bible. Based on precise comparison with the original language texts and manuscripts, the ESV is a “word-for-word” Bible translation that skillfully combines accuracy and literary beauty.
Crossway is a not-for-profit ministry and an international leader in the publication of Christian books, the ESV Bible, and gospel literature. Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, Crossway (also known as Good News Publishers) has distributed more than 2 billion books, Bibles, and gospel tracts since it was founded in 1938.
Visit esvstudybible.org to view sample pages and an overview of the online companion or for more information.
