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RUSSELL SANDERS
6-24-2022
REFERENCE HELPS – LESSON 6 OF 6
STUDY BIBLES
One of the best things you can do to study, especially if you do not have or cannot get some of the reference helps that I have previously written about, is to obtain a good study bible. It will have many helps included in it such as maps, charts, notes that explain scripture passages, and so forth. There are many such bibles available from various publishers. I will touch on just a few of them, but there are many more. Except where otherwise noted, they will all be in KJV.
Some bibles have what is called a “chain reference” system. This is when there is a key word in a verse, it gives the last previous verse and the next verse where that word is used. This way you can trace that word from Genesis to Revelation to see the various contexts in which it is used. The best known one is the Thompson New Chain Reference Bible originally published in London in 1908 and updated in 1964 by B.B. Kirkbride Bible Company of Indianapolis. It has color maps, a concordance, a large archeology section, character studies, analyses of the bible books, and a cyclopedia of various topics.
My wife Helen’s favorite is the Open Bible published by Nelson. It also has a concordance, an archaeology section, a cyclopedia index, charts, maps, along with a complete bible study guide on various topics including faith, where the bible came from, how to witness and various other subjects. It is available in KJV, NKJV, and NASB. It was first published in 1975.
The bible that I have used for decades is the Scofield Reference Bible originally published in 1909 just after the KJV was updated for the last time in 1908. It has color maps, charts, a concordance, and many great footnotes to the scriptures. I especially like the footnotes that are very informative. However, we must be careful because a very small portion, perhaps one or two percent, contain doctrine with which I do not agree. Yet, I like it and it has been popular for over a century.
A unique bible is the Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible compiled by Spiros Zodhiates, TH.D. Although the other bibles cited above all have a concordance, they are not number keyed to the Strong’s Concordance. This Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible has Strong’s number after key words within the bible verses. Then it has Strong’s dictionary in the back where you can find the original Hebrew or Greek word, along with its meaning. This is the only bible that I know of that includes Strong’s in it. It also has many good footnotes, maps, and a New Testament Lexicon. It is available from various publishers including AMG Publishers (Chattanooga, TN), World Bible Publishers (Iowa City) and possibly others.
Footnotes explain often far beyond what we would normally see in the text. There is one bible that stands out in my opinion above all others for its footnotes. It is the NIV Study Bible published by Zondervan. Although the New International Version omits key passages of scripture and is a perversion, it does make an excellent cross reference to the KJV due to its superior system of footnotes. Whereas other bibles give footnotes randomly, the NIV Study Bible gives an expanded explanatory footnote on virtually every verse from Genesis to Revelation. No other bible that I am aware of does that.
These are just a few suggestions. There are other good study bibles out there as well. They can help expand your knowledge of scripture and your understanding. Find your favorite.
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