Editorial on the "study Bible"

I found this editorial over at Christianity Today. It's a little blurb on the "study Bible." A little sample...

Only time will tell how evangelicals' Bible-reading and -buying habits will change in coming years, but it's hard not to notice the swell of study Bibles in 2008, and indeed, applaud it. We could do with fewer niche Bibles that—as the NIV Bible for Girls' title reflects—often put individual consumers front and center. Specialty-brand Bibles usually squeeze the Word into ideological categories that make little sense given its original context, and encourage its use as an accessory rather than "the final authority in matters of faith and practice."

Conversely, study Bibles are meant for the whole church—for groups of laypeople seeking maps to the times, places, and cultures in which God revealed himself. A good study Bible bridges the gap between academic and devotional reading methods, relying on scholars' research to guide laypeople through passages that can be hard to understand today.

The editorial goes on to make some interesting points, mainly about the potential misuse of this type of Bible. I personally enjoy the study Bibles I have owned. The contributions from notable figures, the historical insight and context that I don't possess, and the general applications that are presented provide me with an extra avenue to travel down in my walk of faith.

What say you?