5 Tools for Bible Study
Studying the Bible can feel like a daunting task, especially when done alone. Having a foundation on how to approach the text is of the utmost importance. Hopefully, you are under the discipleship of a Pastor, mentor, a spiritually mature peer, or even involved in a Bible-driven small group. These human resources can help you build this foundation, if you feel it’s missing, (or you can click here). Even with a solid hermeneutic approach to reading the Bible, there is always room to grow deeper in intimacy with God through His Word. Below, are 5 tools that I believe can be beneficial as you “grow down into Him” (Col. 2:6-7) through devotional time in His Word.
1. Bible Commentaries & Study Bibles
We’ve all read a passage of Scripture (especially Jesus’ words) and questioned, “What the heck does that mean?” (Don’t worry, the twelve disciples did this often enough too). Commentaries are usually written ideas of comprehension, interpretation, and sometimes application of any particular Biblical text by a qualified expert or theologian. These theologians often give insight that the average reader may not have. Having a commentary is like having your Pastor with you as you read – it can offer you historical and cultural context, or it can explain in their words what the writer of the Biblical text is saying.
Commentaries are most commonly known to come as writing on one particular book of the Bible at a time. One may have studied the book of Hebrews throughout their time in seminary or getting their PhD, which would make that person quite qualified to give their insight on the book of Hebrews. Yet, we have Study Bibles as well. Study Bibles are essentially just Bibles with commentaries built in. Some study Bibles have one commentator (The John MacArthur Study Bible, The Tony Evans Study Bible, etc.). Others have multiple commentators that all work together to provide commentary on different passages and concepts in the Bible (The Apologetics Study Bible, etc.).
2. Bible Concordance
While commentaries are essentially verse-by-verse studies, concordances are word-by-word studies. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek… Oh, and some Aramaic too. As English speakers, we use Bibles that have been translated into English. That includes translations such as, KJV, NIV, ESV, NASB, and more! Each may translate the Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic slightly differently. Translating the Bible can be very tricky and if not careful, dangerous. Again, don’t worry, Jesus used a translated copy of Scripture too… called the Septuagint – a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (The Old Testament).
That being said, what is important when doing a “word study” is that we understand the original language that was used as best we can. That is what a concordance does! It takes the English word that appears in your specific Bible translation and reveals the Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic word (and definition) that was used originally (or in the earliest Biblical manuscript we have). This can be important when English words don’t translate well. For example, Jesus is called the “Word” in John, chapter 1. The concordance tells us the original Greek word here is “Logos.” Which can be defined as “the embodiment of an idea.” So, in the context of that passage, we understand that Jesus is the embodiment or the fulfillment of all that the Scriptures reveal, teach, and command… and of course it communicates His divinity. This is a great word study to participate in, it teaches us that Jesus is at the very center of every word in the Bible (Luke 24:27).
3. Logos Bible Software
Living in a digital age is not all bad for the Christian Church. It has awarded us tools at our fingertips that otherwise we’d either have to spend hundreds of dollars to buy or thousands of dollars for a seminary education which would get us access to their library. The Logos Bible Software (named in reference to our friendly and familiar passage in John 1), is a software which can be utilized via its website or mobile application. It is a collection of tools itself, which includes a Bible, a built-in concordance, a library of commentaries, dictionaries, lexicons, a library of study Bibles, Bible reading plans, and more. At the basic (free) level of the website/mobile app you have access to up to 95 resources. If you plan on enrolling in seminary soon or plan on writing sermons week-after-week, you can purchase different packages that give you access to more study resources and tools.
You can utilize these tools at www.logos.com or download the ‘Logos Bible Study Tools’ mobile application onto your preferred mobile device.
4. The Bible App
Obviously another popular benefit of the digital age is the YouVersion Bible app. This has become the most popular and potentially the thing that is most agreed upon within the Christian Church. (That was meant to be a joke but ended up hitting a little too close to the truth… ugh!) This mobile application has actually connected fellow churchgoers and has been effective in creating accountability in the spiritual discipline of Bible reading. There are many Bible apps out there, in fact, Logos is essentially a better version of it – especially if you are looking to dig and pick Scripture apart for deeper understanding.
However, the YouVersion Bible app is great for keeping you encouraged and reminded to get in the Word. You don’t have to “go deep” every time you open the Bible, and sometimes all you need is a little reminder of the simple truths of Scripture to get you through the day.
5. Google
GOOGLE! Yes, Google. Though I suggest you proceed with caution, it can be a very useful tool, especially if you are firmly rooted in systematic theology and can discern right teaching from err. The beauty of Google is the danger of Google… you can find anything on the web. I have found original letters of theologians and their Biblical reflections and I have found obvious false teaching. It is a tool that does not deserve much weight, but it is a tool nonetheless. I always like to mention it, because I do not expect everyone to have a desire to open a concordance, but I know most are willing to use Google. Especially youth and teens who often in my experience wouldn’t be able to find a Bible verse in a physical Bible and may be embarrassed to have the Bible app on their phones – Google is a great way for them to look up a verse if need be.