Bible Gateway interviewed Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford about the creation of the original NIV Student Bible, and what’s been updated in the newest edition to keep it relevant for today’s college students and young adults. New editions of the NIV Student Bible are now available from Zondervan.

Tell us a little bit of the story of how the NIV Student Bible came to be.

As young men, both of us worked at Campus Life, a Christian magazine for high school students. We were dedicated to communicating the Christian faith to teenagers in a way that was fresh and interesting. At that time the magazine published a Bible that added pictures of teenagers and very brief introductions to the original Living Bible. That Bible, known as The Way, was very successful, but we thought something more serious was needed—a Bible that would truly help young people to read and understand it.

Our surveys and focus groups showed that young people have great respect for the Bible, and want to read it, but keep hitting roadblocks in the process. Philip kickstarted the NIV Student Bible, and later asked Tim to join him.

Tell us a little bit about the three key challenges to Bible reading that you are trying to overcome with the NIV Student Bible. How do the features that were developed help overcome the three challenges to Bible reading?

In interviewing young people about the problems they encountered in reading the Bible, we heard three statements repeatedly: “I get discouraged,” “I can’t understand it,” and “I can’t find it.” Many young people earnestly wanted to read the Bible, but these problems dragged them down. We applied our journalistic skills to eliminating these barriers.

“I get discouraged” reflects the fact that the Bible is a very big book. People of all ages start with enthusiasm but get bogged down, usually by Numbers or Deuteronomy.

Our answer was the 3-Track Reading Plan, which lets a reader start at a doable level of commitment and builds gradually on success. From our interviews with beginning Bible readers, we learned that most could hardly imagine a daily commitment of more than two weeks. As a result, the first track requires just two weeks to begin, guiding a reader to some of the most readable and significant chapters in the Bible. Track 2 asks a commitment of six months, covering at least one chapter of every book in the Bible and following the Bible story from Genesis to Revelation. Track 3 covers every verse in the Bible but gives you three years to read it. The 3-Track Reading Plan lets a reader gain steam as they gain experience, and helps launch them into some of the most important content.

“I can’t understand it” reflects the difficulty in reading a book that comes from ancient cultures. Names like Abraham and Methusaleh, customs like circumcision—there is a culture gap that can leave readers confused and uncomprehending

Our answer was to add short, practical notes—Introductions and Insights, Profiles and Highlights. These don’t aim at in-depth Bible scholarship, but orientation and background, such as you’d expect in a magazine article. They give readers just enough information to bridge the culture gap, so they can read and understand for themselves.

“I can’t find it” speaks to readers who spend hours flipping through the Bible trying to find something familiar. They know it’s there—maybe they heard it in church—but they’re lost. The Ten Commandments? Daniel in the lion’s den? They can’t find it, which adds to their confusion and discouragement.

Our answer is “Where to Find It,” which includes a subject guide and indexes to help locate familiar psalms, Bible characters, miracles and parables of Jesus, and a capsule history of prophets and kings in the Old Testament.

Who would find the NIV Student Bible helpful?

The NIV Student Bible is ideal for young people in high school or college who don’t know the Bible forward and back. The truth is, however, that many adults struggle with the same issues of discouragement and disorientation when they set out to read the Bible. The NIV Student Bible can help anyone of any age become a regular reader.

How is this study Bible different from others?

We think the NIV Student Bible stands out as readable and thoughtful. Our journalistic backgrounds taught us never to condescend to readers of any age, but to pass on the information they need in an interesting and understandable way. It doesn’t focus on our contemporary culture so much as on the Bible itself. We’ve tried to translate scholarly learning into language that ordinary readers can understand. Study Bibles typically focus on details such as author and date, but don’t really address the barriers that keep people from reading the Bible.

The NIV Student Bible was first released in the 1980s and a lot of things have changed in our world since then. What unique challenges might students face now that they didn’t then?

The distractions have increased. Video games, social media and smart phones barely existed when the NIV Student Bible was first published. And meanwhile, the challenges of living by God’s Word have multiplied in a society increasingly untethered from the Bible. The Bible’s wisdom is needed all the more, but the challenge of making time to find understanding has grown.

What is it like to now see multiple generations now benefit from the NIV Student Bible and consequently read Scripture more deeply?

When we first published the NIV Student Bible we had no idea how it would be received. Frankly, we were almost the only people who believed in it. We’ve watched with astonishment as it’s reached literally millions of people. We’ve talked to innumerable people who credit it with helping them to ground their lives in Scripture. Talk about a happy surprise! Over the years we’ve looked repeatedly for areas that need updating, but the truth is, there’s very little in the NIV Student Bible that gets dated. It’s not geared to the latest cultural phenomena, but to helping bridge gaps in Biblical understanding. That doesn’t really change. We hope that this Bible will speak to another generation yet, and even to generations yet unborn.

What’s new with this updated edition?

It’s been carefully examined for out-of-date language and information, so it reads as fresh and relevant. The cover and interior design are all new with a look that’s dignified yet contemporary.

Why would you say that this study Bible is still relevant for students today?

The Bible is God’s Word. As God is eternal, so is the significance and relevance of what he wants to teach us. The NIV Student Bible enables people to read the Bible and become regular Bible readers. It breaks down barriers that keep people from God’s Word. That never gets old.

Philip Yancey previously served as editor-at-large for Christianity Today magazine. He has written thirteen Gold Medallion Award-winning books and won two ECPA Book of the Year awards, for What’s So Amazing About Grace? and The Jesus I Never Knew. Four of his books have sold over one million copies. He lives with his wife in Colorado.

Tim Stafford is an award-winning author of more than thirty books, and co-editor of the NIV Student Bible. He wrote many of the notes for the NIV Student Bible, especially in the Old Testament portions. Tim and his wife, Popie, have three children and live in Santa Rosa, California.

The NIV Student Bible is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.