The NIV Study Bible has been revised and updated multiple times throughout its long history. Each of these updates has been completed with the goal of having the study notes and tools reflect the most up-to-date biblical scholarship, so that the NIV Study Bible remains the most comprehensive and complete edition of a study Bible associated with the NIV translation.
My greatest debt of gratitude is owed to God for giving me the privilege of serving as General Editor of the NIV Study Bible. I want to especially note that I am humbly grateful to God for the manner in which he has used this study Bible to bring edification and spiritual enrichment to literally millions of readers and users. My Associate Editors and I pray that many more millions of readers and users will be edified and spiritually enriched through its use.
In 1985, when the first edition of the NIV Study Bible was released, the four Associate Editors were Donald W. Burdick, John H. Stek, Walter W. Wessel and Ronald F. Youngblood. Without their help, it would have been impossible to complete this project in approximately seven years. Please see the Contributors page as well; I gratefully acknowledge their work on the first edition. Of course, these individuals profited immensely from the labors of others, so that we are deeply indebted to all the commentaries and other sources we used in this work.
The following individuals rendered help in various ways: Caroline Blauwkamp, David R. Douglass, Stanley N. Gundry, N. David Hill, Betty Hockenberry, Charles E. Hummel, Alan F. Johnson, Janet Johnston, Donald H. Madvig, Frances Steenwyk and Edward Viening.
In 2002, the NIV Study Bible was extensively revised for the first time since its release. John Stek, Ronald Youngblood, and Walter Wessel continued their work on this project, adding hundreds of new study notes, improving the book introductions and enhancing other helps. Special thanks for the 2002 edition go to Andrew J. Bandstra for providing additional study notes on the book of Revelation.
In 2008 we welcomed Mark L. Strauss as a new Associate Editor. The update of this project added new study notes and charts and brought greater continuity to certain kinds of material.
The 2011 edition of the NIV Study Bible included an adaptation to the 2011 revised NIV text; it was also the first full-color edition.
In 2020, in addition to myself and Mark L. Strauss, the editorial team consisted of Craig L. Blomberg, Jeannine K. Brown and Michael J. Williams. These last three joined Mark as Associate Editors. We conducted a thorough review and revision of all the notes and study tools in the NIV Study Bible. Special appreciation goes to them for the numerous improvements they made. Zondervan Senior Editor Michael A. Vander Klipp joined us for all of our work sessions. He contributed so much that it was almost like having a fifth Associate Editor on the team. Thanks, Mike, for all your help!
Finally, I would be remiss in my Christian duty if I failed to express my profound gratitude to my primary publisher, Zondervan. Ever since I signed my first contract with them at least five decades ago, they have graciously and generously acceded to all my reasonable requests. Thank you, HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Zondervan!
Nehemiah 8:7–8, 12 reads: “The Levites . . . instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read . . . Then all the people went away . . . to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.”
My associates and I will feel amply rewarded if those who use this study Bible have an experience similar to that of God’s people in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Kenneth L. Barker, General Editor