Bible Study Tools Series: Tool #1
There are numerous tools today that help us study the Bible. And in this series, I will be attempting to cover as many as I can. Please note that these tools are not presented in any particular order. You can use them in any order or extent you wish.
The first tool is a Study Bible. It is probably the most widely used.
What is a Study Bible?
Well, the answer is in the name; It is the Bible that helps us in our study of it. (This is my definition 😀) A more refined definition is this one: “A study Bible is simply a Bible with explanatory notes printed along with the text of Scripture. Many Bibles have footnotes with cross-references or very brief notes that may clarify the definition of a word, but a study Bible has much more extensive notes and may also include maps, charts, illustrations, and photos. A study Bible is like a Bible and commentary all in one.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/study-Bible.html)
Trivia: Did you know that the 1st Study Bible to be printed was not in the 1900s, the 1800s, the 1700s, or the 1600s? It dates back to the 1500s. It was named the Geneva Bible and was first printed in 1560.
Most of these Study Bibles are mini commentaries. One passage is expanded and explained in a brief article-like format. Some Study Bibles have a verse-by-verse commentary. However, most address the passage.
These Study Bibles are available in hardcopy as well as in softcopy. They might be a little more costly than regular Bibles, but they ultimately prove to be a promising investment. While there are literally hundreds of them to choose from, it is best to go for those released by major Bible translations like ESV, NIV, KJV, etc.
I want to keep this email short, so I’ll end it here. Here are some of the ones that are widely accepted and suggested: (You can click on the image to buy them from Christian Bookstore)
That’s it for this issue. See you soon in the next. Till then, keep on reading His Word.
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