'NIV First-Century Study Bible', with notes by Kent Dobson (Zondervan, 1850 pages, £34.99, available from St Andrew's Bookshop for £31.49, also available on Amazon)

This is an amazing resource for any serious student of the Bible. It contains even more information and guidance than most already on the market. Its main claim is to be a first-century study Bible, in that it enables readers to explore Scripture in its original Jewish and early Christian context. To this end it is extremely successful.

As well as the usual charts, maps and introductions to the Biblical books, it contains several articles and word studies interspersed directly into the text. The articles are of two kinds: textual, which explain some background to the chapters nearby, and 'day in the life' articles on topics such as shepherds, family life, soldiers, farmers, and various religious groups.

The Word Studies (Hebrew and Greek) provide short but penetrating insights into key terms found in the text nearby. As usual there are explanatory footnotes, but more plentiful and informative than typically provided. At the end there are Endnotes, a Bibliography, Glossary and Concordance. It seems everything has been thought of!

This is an amazing resource for any Bible student, containing even more information and guidance than most already on the market.

Inevitably this is a large book, one for the study rather than carrying around (it weighs around 3lb 6oz, or just over 1.5kg). The pages are colourful and clearly laid out and, perhaps surprisingly, not that thin for a book of this size. They can easily be turned and there is no fear they will soon become torn or scruffy.

In a study Bible the level of scholarship is important. Here it is of a high quality and up-to-date. The notes have been provided by Kent Dobson, the teaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Michigan, who has an impressive list of qualifications and credentials to back up his love of Biblical studies. His background includes time spent in Israel, where he still leads study tours, and opportunities taken to learn from both Jewish and Christian scholars.

It seems everything has been thought of – which inevitably makes for a large book, but one that is clearly laid out with pages that are not too thin.

Overall, this is a very worthwhile investment that will enhance general reading as well as more advanced studies. It is to be highly commended.