Coming off the heels of yet another divisive ugly heart bible discussion ...
I actually do have and use this study Bible you mentioned brother. I cannot either recommend it nor not recommend it ... I can only tell you that I like John MacArthur and yet still draw constantly from all these waters that we swim in here. I am not even entirely sure I even agree with him on all points but something rather strange happened some time ago and hardly even recognized the fact; I quit paying any attention to the study notes, it was almost a subconscious effort not to appeal to them as if I didn't want to know what his thoughts were ... Ah, hard to express this.
Whatever you do, get down into the marrow of the book until it gets into you. I would say use commentaries sparingly or at best take them back to where you are in the scriptures. Anybody here. All of the Brethren collectively, all of the past 'greats' here ... [i]Don't take our word for it[/i]! I plead you.
Glean from these sources and don't get caught up in certain constructs nor attempt to be build one of your own out of them. Just test [i]all[/i] things and keep on testing them, especially your own thoughts, these minds are deceivers, always playing tricks on us, be suspicious of it without paranoia.
Derive pure m e a n i n g.
Brother I am convinced, come to the scriptures daily with a fresh un-opinionated attitude, as if for the very first time every time. You will be just astounded at what you will learn and how much there is yet to learn.
I am not quite comfortable with that mention about using commentaries sparingly ... Learn the Lords voice in the small, personal intimations, ask, ask how He would have you go, where He would have you read, praying always. You can know when things are for yet another day, when they are beyond the grasp of the moment. Be always ready even anticipating surprises of where He might lead. Sorry if I am speaking presumptuously, sometimes I need to hear my own words coming back at me as reminders.
i have a study bible in my own languge, but i dont like when the margin says things are in a different way then they are
Wish I could be more helpful and to read your comment again, here would be my concerns.
"Reliance" and "distraction". It can be a snare to have embedded right next to the text a ... "explanation" that might cause you to unwittingly be drawn in a particular direction. Also found upon reflection now, that earlier times with this there would be a lot of bouncing back and forth between the scriptures and the margins ... distracted. It takes away from just contemplating slowly over what you are reading and hopefully re-reading, finding the context of wherever you may be.
It can be a help, but I guess it just depends on your particular temperament.