[You can download a printable PDF of this post here]
1. Why do we study the Bible?
The Bible is a very special book, it has been carried down from generation to generation for thousands of years. A collection of 66 books, written by a wide variety of authors; inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Bible Study does not have to be complicated or difficult, so let us get started.
2. Bible Study Stationary
Pens, highlighters & notebooks are a great help.
I heard someone say that the shortest pencil is longer than the longest memory. In other words? Write stuff down!
I like either A5 or A4 notebooks. You can decorate the cover or buy a more expensive one if you like. Different colour pens are also a nice touch.
Journalling Bibles have a special space on most pages where you can take notes inside your Bible.
3. Bible Study Toolbox
We are blessed today to have many tools available for free online. You can buy printed books, these are often very expensive though.
www.biblestudytools.com has an amazing selection to choose from.
Bible Commentary
Read the insights that others have found in their studies.
www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries
Bible Concordance
This is a book with a list of words and where they can be found in the Bible. You can also use Google search. For example: who killed Goliath verse. www.biblestudytools.com/concordances My favourite one is www.biblestudytools.com/concordances/naves-topical-bible
Bible Dictionary
The Bible was written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. To get a deeper insight it is good to study some of the words using either Strongs or Vines Dictionary. www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries
Bible Encyclopaedia
A wealth of information can be found here. The Bible was not originally written in modern times and the main audience at the time did not have a high level of education. If we can immerse ourselves in the customs, traditions and cultures of the Bible – it will also help us to get a deeper insight. www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe
Bible Maps
How far is Egypt from the promised land of Canaan? One way to tell this is to check on a map. For many studies knowing where something happened can be valuable. For example: following Paul on his missionary journey. You can find a lot of maps here: www.biblestudy.org/maps
Printed books worth mentioning:
- Discover the Power of the Bible by R.N. Frost
- Illustrated Book of Bible Lists by Christopher D. Hudson
- Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods by Rick Warren
- Unlocking the Bible by Dawid Pawson
4. Bible Study Methods
Don’t over complicate things.
Method 1: A Topical Study
Use the Nave’s Topical Bible Concordance to look up a topic like love or faith. This book is very details, so it will take you a while to work through.
Method 2: A Person or Place
Use NAVE’s or ISBE to look up a person and study them. It should take you hours to work through the details listed.
Method 3: SOAP
- Scripture ~ Psalm 23:1
- Observation ~ God is my shepherd, the one who looks after me
- Application ~ Don’t do things without God, ask Him for guidance
- Prayer ~ Thank You Father that You look after and protect me
Method 4: Different Bible Translations:
Read the same passage in different translations, can give you a deeper insight to the meaning.
Translations worth checking are:
New King James Version, English Standard Version, New International Version, Christian Standard Bible, Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version.
Audio Bibles are also a good way to do Bible Study. Some are narrated and even dramatised: www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio