8 Essential Tools for Your Next Bible Study
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Do you desire to go beyond your daily reading of scripture, and dive into a deeper study of a biblical text, but aren’t sure where to start? Are you looking for something more meaningful and robust than a google or chat GPT search?
Studying scripture can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to!
Below are different Bible study tools to help you effectively study the Bible on your own and awaken your inner theologian:
1. Study Bible
Study Bibles combine the Bible with multiple study tools that usually include a Bible dictionary, commentary and atlas. Study Bibles are a great way to begin your study of scripture, but it’s worth noting that the notes and commentary that expound on scripture are more concise and condensed to fit nicely into one volume.
Recommendations:
NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
NLT Life Application Study Bible
NKJV Comfort Print Full Color Study Bible
2. Bible Dictionary
Bible dictionaries are similar to English dictionaries. Instead of providing modern definitions, they describe what a given word means when used in the Bible.
Recommendations:
Lexham Bible Dictionary
The Tyndale Bible Dictionary
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
3. Bible encyclopedia
Bible encyclopedias are similar to Bible dictionaries, with one exception– length. Bible encyclopedias provide longer articles related to people, places, events, and objects found in scripture. They also provide more historical and cultural details than dictionaries.
Recommendations:
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible
4. Commentaries
Commentaries offer explanations, insights, historical background, and practical applications for scripture. They are featured next to each and every verse of the Bible, or passage by passage. It follows the book, chapter and verse structure of the biblical text.
Recommendations:
High Definition Commentary Collection
5. Concordance
A concordance lists every word in the Bible, based on the original languages and every passage where that word appears. Using a concordance, you can look up a particular word in a passage and find it everywhere it appears in the Bible.
Recommendations:
Everyday Access: Your Bible Concordance
6. Bible atlas
Bible atlases offer a valuable perspective on biblical geography, providing collections of maps that illustrate the world as it was during biblical times. These resources are incredibly helpful for understanding how different locations fit together in context.
Recommendations:
New Bible Atlas
Zondervan Atlas of the Bible
7. Logos software
Logos is a Bible study platform that equips you to go deeper into scripture through a fusion of content and powerful technology. Logos offers all of the essential Bible study tools we’ve mentioned so far in this article, plus a whole lot more! You can choose what plan works best for you and begin your free trial here.
8. The Bible Project
The Bible project provides free articles, guides, videos, podcasts and courses to help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. It’s engaging, easy-to-use, and entirely free. Click here to explore.
Get the most out of your daily Bible-reading with the Seek First Journal. Click here to order yours now.