Studying the Bible can sound like a daunting task. It is likely the longest book in your personal library after all! However, the best way to study the Bible is through the Bible. It should always be your primary resource.

I find it helpful to utilize other tools when studying, but certainly not a necessity. If you are looking to branch out beyond your Bible, these are great things to consider.

A Second Bible

I suppose saying that we need a Bible to study it is pretty obvious. But we need to choose a Bible that we understand well, and we need to be aware of the differences between the translations. The King James version is very popular, however I find that it uses outdated sentence construction and vocabulary, so it is not really the one for me. Others who may study or attend church in English, but it is not their native language, may choose a simplified version in English and use a native translation as a second study choice. So, it is important to choose an easily understood Bible translation.

The second consideration in choosing a Bible is which kind of translation it is- they vary from literal word-for-word to phrasal, idea-for-idea and modern or updated translations. All translations are both an understanding of the meaning of the words and the ideas that are being conveyed in the passage. Some stay closer to each word, and others focus more on paraphrasing and even interpretation. There is a place for each of these types, so I am not saying that one is better than another. In fact, I encourage you to choose more than one version for study.

Lastly, choose more than one Bible when you study, so it gives you different perspectives on the Word. Since translations convey not only the meaning of words but also ideas, the ancient cultural references, figures of speech and such can be challenging to comprehend. Choosing to utilize two (or more) versions to read the Bible and study it can open our eyes to the passage being studied.

If you’d like an example, the difference can be seen in the opening verse of the sermon on the mount, Matthew 5:3:

Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]. (AMP)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (NIV)

You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. (MSG)

These examples show how each has value in understanding what Jesus was saying but vary in how it is presented. Having more than one copy on hand may help in our study. I find an online version is often enough and many are available free.

Now that we have looked at the various types of translations, you could also consider different ‘bonus material’ included in your Bible. There are study Bibles for women, for men, those with cultural notes, those with space for journaling or notes. There are also Bibles in every color. Choose whichever one appeals to you, then choose another.

Bible Concordance

A concordance is a listing of all the locations where a specific word is found in a book. For our purposes, the book is the Bible. A Bible concordance lists all the instances where a specific word is found which helps us better understand the meaning of the word itself as well as the relation of the word to the life of a believer. This resource is useful for topical study as well as studying word meaning.

The Strong’s Concordance is very popular and is also known for its link to the meaning of the original word in Hebrew or Greek. These definitions also offer a depth of understanding that can be difficult to discern directly from our Bible translations.

As an example, we can look at 1 Peter 2:9, ‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’ The word chosen is often found on t-shirts and other popular Christian items. The use of the word seems to imply that one is ‘favored’, as indeed we are.

However, the Strong’s includes a note about the usage of the word, ‘of those chosen out by God for the rendering of special service to Him’*, which indeed confirms the remainder of the verse. We who are chosen shall declare praises to him, we have a specific purpose or reason we were called out, elected, or chosen. So, it seems to me while the word does mean ‘favored’ it also means that I have a job to do for God, that he chose me to work with him to achieve his purposes. That favor doesn’t mean I get to sit on the throne all day, but that I get to work side-by-side with Him, doing his work. I see a responsibly in being chosen.

Bible Maps and Charts

Using the Bible maps in the back of your Bible or a special collection of Bible maps helps connect the names of places we read about to space and time. It makes it real rather than staying in our minds only. Many place names have changed over time, so we do not have the luxury of searching for a place name on the internet and seeing where it is.

I’d recommend starting with the maps that come in your Bible. If you would like something more, there are plenty available, many which include charts or timelines that also clarify and condense information that is found across several books into basic two-page spreads. Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Time Lines is a solid choice.

Blank or Lined Journal or Notebook

Studying the Bible often takes referring back to things and making notes and connections as we read. Many methods of Bible study also encourage you to note down what you observe and learn as you read. Also, writing or typing out notes and verses is a memorization aid.

As you read, you may also want to note down other topics or words that you feel called to study. You could also draw out some of the buildings and descriptions as you go along, particularly in the Old Testament. Having a visual representation of what you are studying will help those who learn better visually or kinetically.

A notebook will also help you keep organized and have a central place for your studies to look back over or refer back to what you have learned.

Gather your Tools

Once you have your Bibles, concordance, maps, and journal you have an excellent foundation for studying the Bible. Admittedly, you may still have questions and seek for better understanding, in which case you can see other people’s interpretations in Bible commentaries. They don’t get their own section because they are interpretation rather than God’s word, therefore they should be sparingly used or used just to check understanding rather than to give understanding.

I don’t really have any favorite tools, but often use biblegateway.com for different Bible versions and biblehub.com for an online Strong’s reference. Do you have any preferences? Share them with us in the comments.

* https://biblehub.com/greek/1588.htm