What are the Strengths and Weaknesses of The Grace Bible?

Sometimes, there is a difference between truth and reality. What we think is true, may not be true.

An example: I may think that I am writing the world’s first grace-based study Bible, but is it true?

As far as I know, there are no published commentaries that are easy to read and free from mixture, but I could be wrong. If only there was a super-intelligent reader who was familiar with every study Bible and commentary.

Enter, AI. To assess whether the Grace Bible series meets a need for a grace-based study Bible/commentary, I asked ChatGPT three questions.

Question 1: Recommend some published grace-based Bible commentaries. Exclude those that preach universalism or legalism and those that mix grace with law.

ChatGPT had a long think before recommending three books. The first two books were installments of The Grace Bible. The third book had the word “grace” in its title, but was written by an author known for preaching a mixture of law and grace.

I don’t know how reliable ChatGPT is, but this response confirmed my belief that The Grace Bible is unique.

Question 2: What are the strengths of the Grace Bible series?

ChatGPT identified five strengths:

1. Grace-Centered Theology. The series consistently emphasizes God’s unconditional love, the finished work of Christ, and the believer’s identity in Christ. Passages that often cause fear or confusion (e.g., Romans 9, James 2) are interpreted in the light of the gospel.
2. Verse-by-Verse Commentary. Provides detailed, line-by-line exposition that makes even complex epistles like Romans accessible and devotional. Explains context, word meanings, and theological implications in a way that’s clear and helpful to both pastors and lay readers.
3. Easy to Read. Written in an engaging, conversational style, often with stories, analogies, and modern applications. Avoids academic jargon, making it suitable for a broad audience.
4. Great for Devotional Use and Teaching. Pastors report using the content for sermon prep. Each entry stands alone, making it easy to use as a daily devotional or small group study aid.
5. Corrects Legalism. Clarifies confusing or “mixed” messages often found in mainstream commentaries. Highlights the difference between law and grace, old and new covenants.

Question 3: What are the weaknesses of the Grace Bible series?

Now this was the question I was really keen to ask. ChatGPT identified four weaknesses:

1. Not a Traditional Academic Commentary. Does not follow a scholarly format (e.g., Greek parsing, citations of academic sources). May not satisfy readers looking for in-depth historical-critical analysis.
2. Strong Theological Perspective. Assumes a new covenant, hyper-grace theological framework (e.g., once-for-all forgiveness, no condemnation, radical inclusion). Those from more traditional or Reformed backgrounds may find the interpretation too one-sided.
3. Limited to New Testament Books (so far)
4. Occasional Repetition. Because entries are self-contained, some points are repeated for emphasis or clarity, which may feel redundant to some readers.

On the whole, I felt this was a fair assessment. The Grace Bible is not written for scholars but every day believers. And yes, the series is incomplete. It remains a work in progress.

It did seem strange that having a “strong theological perspective” might be considered a weakness. But I take the point that those who are unfamiliar with the gospel of grace might find The Grace Bible unbalanced and one-sided.

But isn’t that the point?

We don’t need another study Bible or commentary that tries to balance grace with law. We have plenty of those already.

What we need is a study Bible that gives us pure, undiluted grace from start to finish.

In my next article, I will tell you how you can get FREE access to unpublished drafts of forthcoming Grace Bible installments. Stay tuned.

Grace and peace,
Paul

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