Gospel of Matthew: With Introduction, Commentary, and Notes and With Study Questions

Rating:
Summary: The perfect tool for Catholic bible study
Review: Finally, a reliable Catholic Study Bible is here. Granted, it's only the first volume, but if Hahn and Mitch can maintain this high quality in future volumes, the Ignatius Study Bible will become a landmark in Catholic Bible publishing for centuries to come.

It has everything: outlines, maps, cross references, and commentary that opens up the doctrinal and spiritual and apologetic significance of key texts. What stands out as the best feature is the constant recourse to Old Testament texts and traditions. The typology reminds me of Jerome and Augustine. The use of patristic interpretations is my favorite part, by far.

While I appreciate the Navarre Bible, the Ignatius Study Bible is MUCH better.

A few criticisms are in order. For one thing, the side margins are way too small. People who use Study Bibles (like me), also write in their Bibles. There's no room. Besides, the layout of the pages looks much too crowded without wider margins. Second, it looks too much like a pamphlet; instead, it ought to be bound like a booklet, with a real spine with title and author. That way, we can know what we're pulling off the shelf. One more thing, the authors' names (Hahn and Mitch) ought to be on the cover, like all other Study Bibles.

Rating:
Summary: Great Catholic Bible study series
Review: For the past year or so, I have been searching for a good Catholic Bible study series. The "Ignatius Catholic Study Bible" by Scott Hahn & Curtis Mitch is the best that I have found. The series contains lots of great information, but does not get bogged down with excessively long footnotes or essays. It is completely faithful to Catholic doctrine, and it includes many references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I found it to be a great guide for someone (like me) who is just beginning to study the Bible, and wants a trustworthy guide.

The format of the series is as follows: Each volume begins by explaining what the Catholic Church teaches about the Bible -- including the inspired and inerrant nature of the Bible, the four senses of Scripture, and guidelines for Biblical interpretation. Following this general introduction is a brief introduction to the particular book of the Bible (e.g., the Gospel of Matthew). Next comes the actual text, with the Biblical text at the top of each page, study notes at the bottom, and a list of scriptural cross-references sandwiched in the middle. On average, each page consists of roughly half Biblical text and half study notes. In addition there are occasional one-page essays (e.g., "Who Are the Pharisees?"), occasional one-paragraph word studies, and a few relevant maps scattered throughout the volume. Each volume closes with several pages of study questions.

The biggest disadvantage of this series is that it is still a work in progress. As of June 2002, there are only three volumes -- Matthew, Mark, and Luke. (Update, October 2004: Since I wrote this review, the series has expanded, and now includes Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts of the Apostles, Romans, and 1 & 2 Corinthians.)

Rating:
Summary: Great Catholic Bible study series
Review: For the past year or so, I have been searching for a good Catholic Bible study series. The "Ignatius Catholic Study Bible" by Scott Hahn & Curtis Mitch is the best that I have found. The series contains lots of great information, but does not get bogged down with excessively long footnotes or essays. It is completely faithful to authentic Catholic doctrine, and includes many references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I found it to be a great guide for someone (like me) who is just beginning to study the Bible, and wants a trustworthy guide.

The format of the series is as follows: Each volume begins by explaining what the Catholic Church teaches about the Bible -- including the inspired and inerrant nature of the Bible, the four senses of scripture, and guidelines for Biblical interpretation. Following this general introduction is a brief introduction to the particular book of the Bible (e.g., the Gospel of Matthew). Next comes the actual text, with the Biblical text at the top of each page, study notes at the bottom, and a list of scriptural cross-references sandwiched in the middle. On average, each page consists of roughly half Biblical text and half study notes. In addition there are occasional one-page essays (e.g., "Who Are the Pharisees?") and occasional one-paragraph word studies scattered throughout the volume. Each volume closes with several pages of study questions.

The biggest disadvantage of this series is that it is still a work in progress. As of June 2002, there are only three volumes -- Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Rating:
Summary: Great Catholic Bible study series
Review: For the past year or so, I have been searching for a good Catholic Bible study series. The "Ignatius Catholic Study Bible" by Scott Hahn & Curtis Mitch is the best that I have found. The series contains lots of great information, but does not get bogged down with excessively long footnotes or essays. It is completely faithful to authentic Catholic doctrine, and includes many references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I found it to be a great guide for someone (like me) who is just beginning to study the Bible, and wants a trustworthy guide.

The format of the series is as follows: Each volume begins by explaining what the Catholic Church teaches about the Bible -- including the inspired and inerrant nature of the Bible, the four senses of scripture, and guidelines for Biblical interpretation. Following this general introduction is a brief introduction to the particular book of the Bible (e.g., the Gospel of Matthew). Next comes the actual text, with the Biblical text at the top of each page, study notes at the bottom, and a list of scriptural cross-references sandwiched in the middle. On average, each page consists of roughly half Biblical text and half study notes. In addition there are occasional one-page essays (e.g., "Who Are the Pharisees?") and occasional one-paragraph word studies scattered throughout the volume. Each volume closes with several pages of study questions.

The biggest disadvantage of this series is that it is still a work in progress. As of June 2002, there are only three volumes -- Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Rating:
Summary: The Correct Way to Study The Bible
Review: Steeped in the writings of the Church Fathers and the Catechism of the Catholic Church(CCC), Dr. Hahn and Mr. Mitch do an exceptional job at presenting a study of this first Gospel.

Even though I am not Roman Catholic (Anglo-Catholic!), I use this to lead a teen Bible Study. Why? Precisely because this uses the Church Fathers and the CCC as the foundation of understanding the meaning and application of portions of the Gospel. While I may not agree with all that is within the CCC, the vast majority of it is good theology representing reasonable development of basic theological principals found the the early Fathers of the Church.

Why did I not give this a five? First, because I rarely rate anything at its maximum (probably good I don't judge skating competitions), and secondly because of a little bit of frustration at the cross references to portions of the completed Ignatius Study Bible that don't exist yet! I wouldn't have them not issue these studies as they are completed, but I hate running across a reference to a word study in Luke, and that portion hasn't been published yet.

Rating:
Summary: Catholic Bible Study
Review: The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible is a great tool for small groups seeking to understand the Bible from a Catholic perspective.

This slim, 86-page paperback, is composed of five major sections:
- Introduction to the Ignatius Study Bible
- Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew
- Outline of the Gospel According to Matthew
- Gospel with Commentary by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch
- Study Questions by Dennis Walters

The commentary includes historical background, with maps, and categorized notes. The notes have symbols next to them indicating whether they are:
- content and unity
- living tradition
- analogy of faith

The study questions are grouped by chapter, and then broken down into two sections per chapter: "For understanding" and "For application." The understanding questions are textual analysis questions. " The application questions are pertinent for the spiritual lives of Catholics. However, space was not provided within the questions themselves for notes. There are several notes pages at the end of the book, but white space was not allotted within the questions themselves.

Overall, the organization of this study guide makes it an effective tool for novices, and challenging for for more knowledgeable Catholics.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Start
Review: Wow. A Catholic study Bible which doesn't seem dry and academic. That's a first. Congratulations to all involved on an impressive job. A concur with another reviewer's comments: it needs bigger margins! Otherwise, a nice design. I am glad the authors names are NOT on the cover, and I hope they include a few essays from other experts to give it a broader base. It would be ironic if Catholics--known for bashing Protestants as followers of individuals--started being seen toting around The Scott Hahn Study Bible.

...To print the final version... Oxford Press would be a good choice--their work is always first class.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Start
Review: Wow. A Catholic study Bible which doesn't seem dry and academic. That's a first. Congratulations to all involved on an impressive job. I concur with another reviewer's comments: it needs bigger margins. Otherwise, a nice design. I am glad the authors names are NOT on the cover, and I hope they include a few essays from other experts to give it a broader base. It would be ironic if Catholics--known for bashing Protestants as followers of individuals--started being seen toting around The Scott Hahn Study Bible.

Also, as to printing the final version, Oxford Press would be a good choice--their work is always first class. I'm not sure a smaller press like Ignatius can pull it off; Crossway's mediocre printing of the ESV should serve as a cautionary sfenario.