Finis Dake (1902–1987)

The Dake's Bible is, in a sense, one of the simultaneously modern and ancient wonders of the world. A single man's life's work, virtually every phrase from both the Old and New Testaments are annotated, referenced, cross-referenced, foot-noted, translated, and more fully developed in relation to other parts of the Bible, or in relation to the events of the times in which the phrase was written. While one might differ with Dake on theological principles at times, and modern scholars certainly will scoff at his belief in the primacy and inerrancy of scripture, one can never doubt his sincere effort to provide the reader with the most comprehensive, compelling view ever presented in a single tome of the best selling book of all time. Dake's accomplishment amazes and delights the theological and philosophical mind, whatever the underlying belief system the reader might hold.… (altro)

First off, I should say that I am *not* a Biblical scholar; my religious "training" is solely based on a churchgoing upbringing and liberal arts-oriented (but not religious) education. Even though I'm not a religious scholar by any stretch of the imagination, I do find that I can sort out fact from opinion. As long as you've got some sort of foundation in Christian religion (I specify "Christian" not to exclude other religious but only to make clear the needed background for reading this text), you will most likely be able to make your own judgements regarding Dake's opinions.

***Also, don't forget that opinions DO have their plus side! They make you think, mentally aruge, search for scriptures, and review your own beliefs.***

I find the tremendous amount of annotating to be fascinating. Because of it, I find myself reading each chapter, each verse more carefully and analytically than I have with any other study Bible. Dake's abundance of information as well as his opinionated stance force the reader to read carefully and thoughtfully.

The Greek translations are numerous; if the origins of words do not interest you, I would consider that a reason not to buy this text, simply because there are so many translations. I do like the abundant translations, as I find that they enrich the text. I was just reading in Luke, and it's fascinating (for example) to see how many words this physician uses that are medical in nature.

The cross-referencing is invaluable. The only thing I can think of that rivals it is computer software that allows you to search scripture. The cross-referencing has the advantage of not being merely a word-search but instead referencing similar themes and concepts.

Overall: I would certainly buy this again for myself. I would recommend it to people who are interested in nitpicking (in a good way!) scripture. It's not for the impatient reader or for the reader who would prefer just a statement of facts (as much as a statement of facts can exist, unclouded by opinion). It's not an easy read, and it's not a Bible I would recommend to someone who's beginning Biblical study (something like the HarperCollins NRSV might be better for the individual who's just setting out on Biblical analysis; the footnotes, for one thing, are far less daunting).

One final note, something others have commented on: BUY THE LARGE PRINT EDITION! Being 25, I assumed that the large print version was meant for the farsighted and older individuals. Luckily, I purchased this in a store, where I could compare the large and regular print. The regular print version is tiny, tiny, tiny, and the lines are very close together. You don't lose anything by switching type sizes; both Bibles contain exactly the same amount of information. The only thing you risk losing with the regular print is your sight.

This is a Bible that will present loads of information; some may feel overloaded. You also have to be ready to deal with commentary and interpretation that may not coincide with what you've been taught or have come to believe yourself. However, I repeat that this quality can be a plus, in that it forces you to be analytical about not only Deke's opinions but your own as well. I give this four instead of five stars because I deducted a star for its potential inaccessibility to some audiences and the fact that it could be downright confusing for those not prepared to deal with interpretive commentary.… (altro)