Please note this post includes affiliate links.
Abide NET Bible Review
I love a great Bible. For over 10 years my HCSB Study Bible (no longer in print) has been my go-to Bible. It travels with me to church and speaking engagements. It’s what I use for my daily quiet time and deep study of God’s Word. While I love the study notes, I had to train myself not to look at them. It was so easy to peek and see what scholars thought before I spent time with the Holy Spirit as my teacher.
When the opportunity to review the new Abide NET Bible became available, I jumped at the opportunity. I was intrigued by the layout, journal prompts, prayer prompts, and using a different translation. (The NET translation is a newer thought-for-thought translation released in 2005. Most find thought-for-thought translations easier to read.)
The word “abide” drew me in too. Over 12 years ago, John 15: 4 (Abide in Me) was our women’s ministry theme for the year. That year I discovered the beauty of abiding in Christ. I want to Abide in Him and I want every woman our women’s ministry touches to have that same desire too.
The Abide Bible is designed to help you experience the peace, hope, and growth that comes from encountering the voice and presence of God in Scripture.
Every feature in Abide is designed to teach and develop Scripture-engagement habits that help you know the power and spiritual nourishment of abiding in Christ.
I’ve spent the last month using the Abide Bible in my daily quiet time to take it for a test drive. In this post, I share the features and benefits of this new Bible option.
Features and Benefits
Created in partnership with Bible Gateway and the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement, The Abide Bible’s features include articles, book introductions, and practical Scripture engagement prompts based on five ways of engaging deeply with the Bible:
- Praying Scripture: Pattern your prayers after biblical texts, personalizing the prayer and gaining language for the thoughts and emotions you want to express.
- Picture It: Place yourself in a biblical narrative as a bystander or participant in important events.
- Journaling: Focus and reflect on Scripture and its meaning for your life, opening yourself to God’s voice as you ponder.
- Engage Through Art: Consider a classic piece of art—photograph, sculpture, painting—and let it deepen your meditations on scriptural truths.
- Contemplate: Follow the church’s longstanding practice of reading, meditating on, praying, and contemplating a passage of Scripture in order to experience God’s presence through the words of the Bible.
These five prompts are placed throughout every book of the Bible encouraging the reader to pause, engage, journal, and pray. If you love to journal or would like to journal but don’t know where to start, you’ll find these prompts lead you into deeper contemplation of God’s Word.
When it comes to Bibles there are two very superficial things I long for:
- A Bible cover that will last for years.
- A font I can easily read.
I graduated to readers several years ago, however, one of the thought-for-thought Bibles I use for comparison has a font size so small that even with my readers on I struggle to read it! I was thankful that was not the case with the Abide Bible. The font size is 9. While the prompts are in a smaller font, they are still easy to see.
The cover is a beautiful soft stone leathersoft™ with stitching around the edges and a gold design imprinted on the front. It’s so soft, yet durable. The Abide Bible is also available in hardback and other colors including blue and brown here. It arrives in a colorful gift box protecting the edges from any accidental damage during shipping.
All options come with two ribbons – which I find so useful in keeping my place for my daily reading. The Bible is not small, it’s 10 in high by 6.75 inches wide.
This video below gives you a glimpse inside.
Additional features of the Abide Bible include:
- Bible book introductions provide a concise overview of the background and historical context of the book about to be read
- 365-Day Bible Reading Plan guiding you through the entire Bible in a year
- Line-matched, single-column Scripture text for improved readability
- Smyth-sewn binding lays flat in your hand or on your desk
While there is some space on some of the Bible pages to journal your answers, the Abide Bible is not a journaling Bible. If you want to keep your thoughts and scripture together, you’ll love the NET Abide Bible Journals. You can purchase them as sets here or you can purchase each journal individually. The same prompts you’ll find in the Abide Bible are recorded in the Abide Bible Journals.
Free Devotional and Download
Thomas Nelson is providing a sneak peek and a free devotional for you to check out the Abide Bible.
The Abide Experience: 21 Days in John, a FREE Video Devotion featuring Dr. Phil Collins, general editor of the Abide Bible. The 21 Days in John FREE Video Devotion also provides a free download of the book of John from the Abide Bible.
The Abide Experience is FREE and includes 21 Video devotions delivered by email and a full download of the book of John from The Abide Bible!
Click here to access this free devotional and download of the book of John.
A Fresh and New Approach to God’s Word
If you are looking for a new way to engage with God’s Word, the Abide NET Bible is for you.
The prompts will propel you to respond to God’s Word in new ways, through prayer, journaling, and meditating on God’s Word. It’s an invitation to look at scripture through multiple lenses, ones you may not have thought of on your own.
Transform your personal Bible devotions into intimate, ongoing conversations with God with various Scripture engagement approaches that keep Bible reading fresh and new.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Bibles for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.
I would love to receive the Abide study Bible. Thank you for all your helpful info. It sounds like you enjoy it and I know I would too.
Blessings,
Georgy Charland
I’m so sorry, this giveaway has already ended. <3
What a great way to help us dig into God’s Word.
are you selling this Bible now
If you click the link in the post, you’ll see where you can purchase it on Amazon or you can search for it at other retailers.
Thank you for the opportunity to win the Abide NET Bible. I have been looking for a new Study Bible. I am interested in this one.
Merry Christmas
Debbie
Thanks for the review of the new bible. Font size is huge for me since I have trouble reading small font size so I need a large font. Thanks again!
I have just signed up to receive the 21 day devotional from Abide. I am looking forward to getting a taste of the Abide Bible.
Thank you for the detailed review. I’m looking forward to the 21 days in John.
I am excited to watch the video and discover this “new to me” translation of the Bible. Thanks so much for the opportunity to be “introduced “ to it through the video. I would love adding the Abide NET to the Bibles I use when facilitating women’s studies. And the format of this Bible is intriguing to me too!
Amazing! Would be incredible to read and use in my Womens ministry….
The last two years the focus God gave me for our women’s ministry was all about self-care. Part of self-care is learning how to Abide with God. Thank you for sharing your review.
Thank you for taking the time to share your review. Sounds like a wonderful new Bible. I’m looking forward to the praying scripture prompts, this is something I’ve always wanted to be better at doing. As a visual person, the picture it sounds very exciting. And I like the idea of trying a new version of the Bible. In the past I have studied out of several versions and it’s always a beautiful challenge to try a new one and be able to compare. It definitely helps strengthen my biblical literacy which is so important to me.
Thank you for the review. Sounds like a great Bible.
I have not heard of the Abide Bible before. Looks interesting and can’t wait to study from it.
I have been looking for a good study Bible. The features of this Bible are intriguing. I especially like.the journal prompt feature as I have just started verse mapping.
I long to know more and I know studying this Bible will increase my understanding and draw .e closer to God.
I am excited to try the 21 days in John to get a feel for the Abide NET Bible. Thank you for your review, Cyndee.
Thank you for such a detailed review of the Abide Bible. From your input, it will be on my wish list and I love to journal so I jus might have to purchase the companion journals. I purchased my first Net translation Bible a few years ago and I love it. Although I’m a KJV girl, I enjoy reading different translation. Thanks again for the insight. Blessings
Thank you for your post about the new Abide Bible. What a thorough review of this publication. The Bible sounds like it would be great for someone wanting not only to read the Word but also be drawn closer to God. Very comprehensive!
I am truly looking forward to have the opportunity to have the NET bible in hand. And be able to dissect this bible.
This bible looks like a great study tool and devotional bible! I am familiar with the NET translation and I find it to be very readable and reliable.
I’m eager to view the new Bible. The book of John is very timely for me as I’m teaching lessons right now on that book!
Thanks!
I love the Message Bible so this will be interesting to try!
I am currently needing a new Bible and have been researching different ones and this Is one I will check into…. Thank you for the information.
sounds awesome. This will help me get a better understanding of the scripture when you take it a vs. at a time. Thanks.
Looks beautiful!! Can’t wait to check it out!
My husband (a pastor) is starting the Gospel of John this Sunday!!! I’ve already set up a group of women to study it with me using your R.E.A.D plan 🙂 Looking forward to using the free NET downloadable of John! I would love to have a copy of the entire NET Bible!
I would love to receive the Bible.
Love the ABIDE bible layout, excited to give it a try….
I have really begun to fall in love with the NET lately! Would love a printed copy!
I would love this Bible. Very interested to read the prompts.
What a wonderful review of the new Abide bible! Can’t wait to have my own copy! Thank you for all you do your Christian Women in Leadership roles in Christian churches.
I’d love to win this Bible! I already like reading the NET online, but it would be great to have a paper copy, especially with the added features for deeper engagement. And “Abide” is a key word for me right now!
I really like what the Abide Bible offers. It would be a pleasure to have a new Bible that is different from my 20 year old Bible.
I love the prompts this Bible gives that provide a way to enhance Bible study. Whoever receives this Bible will be blessed. Thank you for the opportunity
The NET Abide Bible with it’s special features intrigues me. I’d love the opportunity to engage more fully with Gods Word by using it!
Thank you for the opportunity to win a new bible. This sounds like It would help me.
I had not seen this one and I too love the “abide”. I just used this word in my small group on Sunday. I would love to have one.
Would love this Bible!