News on Ignatius Study Bible NT

(New Info at Bottom of Post)

According to the Ignatius Insight blog, the complete Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament will be available in April. As you know, it utilizes the RSV-2CE and has been almost ten years in the making. Here is the complete announcement:

Commentary by Scott Hahn, Curtis Mitch, and Dennis Walters

Available April 2010

The only Catholic Study Bible based on the Revised Standard Version 2nd Catholic Edition, the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament brings together all of the books of the New Testament and the penetrating study tools developed by renowned Bible teachers Dr. Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch.

This volume presents the written Word of God in a highly readable, accurate translation, excellent for personal and group study. Extensive study notes, topical essays and word studies provide fresh and faithful insights informed by time-tested, authentically Catholic interpretations from the Fathers of the Church and other scholars. Commentaries include the best insights of ancient, medieval and modern scholarship, and follow the Church’s guidelines for biblical interpretation.

Plus, each New Testament book is outlined and introduced with an essay covering questions of authorship, date of composition, intended audience and general themes. The Ignatius Study Bible also includes handy reference materials such as a doctrinal index, a concise concordance, a helpful cross-reference system, and various maps and charts.

Like many of you, I am very excited about this publication and hope that the complete, OT and NT, version will be out in the near future as well. It is really nice to see that they are including a concise concordance in this edition, and presumably in the complete edition whenever it is published. Although I don't always feel it is necessary, I do think a concise concordance can be a very handy feature, particularly if you lead Bible studies. The doctrinal index should also be helpful as well. The last time I saw one of those was in an old St. Joseph's NAB that I own.

Overall, it looks promising. I wonder if they will include the study questions that are found in the back of the single volume editions? Also, I wonder if there this edition will be published in different covers? While I wouldn't necessarily expect any premium leather editions, it would be nice to see it in some of the high quality synthetic/Duo-Tone/Premium Ultra-Soft covers. I also think they should develop a specific website for this study Bible, which would serve not only to promote the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, but also to be a place to find additional study helps including an online version of the RSV-2CE. Wouldn't that be nice?

You can pre-order the paperback edition here.

UPDATE:

Some additional information about the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament from Mark Brumley of Ignatius Press, in response to some specific questions:

Wide margins, indeed.

Mostly the same commentary and notes as the individual NT volumes, but some changes,

revisions, etc. Plus, some new essays.

Doctrinal index, concise concordance, other study helps, including new full-color maps.

OT books slated to begin pub in Fall 2010. We'll see how much faster the OT books will come out--certainly faster than NT.

All of this is very good to hear. I like that there will be some additional essays, and new full-color maps. It is also encouraging that they plan to produce the OT books at a quicker pace. Excellent!