Five Useful Bible Study Tools

This post is meant to be an introduction to more in depth Bible study/word study methods.  I thought it would be helpful to begin with my main resources with doing Bible study.  Due to that, simplicity is the focus.  When I first started doing regular Bible study, I found it best not being bogged down by a lot of books and references.  The first three items on this list are my old faithfuls, and I get a lot done with just them alone.  If nothing else, I highly recommend starting with just the first three, and then when your budget allows, or you get comfortable using them regularly, start incorporating the others.



{source}



1.  A Bible.  Kind of a no brainer, but you have to start some where.  I prefer a direct translation such as the NASB, ESV, NKJV, or KJV.  My favorite one I use is an NASB with a wide-margin that allows for notes.  Sometimes having a couple of translations can be beneficial when you hit a passage that is difficult to understand.  It's usually best to stick to one or two that you're most familiar with for the sake of consistency.  When I was just starting out with Bible study as a brand new Christian, all I did was read my Bible every day, then I built off of that habit.



{source}

 2.  Strong's Concordance.  If possible, try to get the one that matches your preferred translation of the Bible.  There are many different versions available, but not all Bible translations have been done.  If you can't find the translation of choice with Strong's, then try and find a concordance which does correspond.







{source}

 3.  Vine's Expository Dictionary.  They make one that matches up to the numbering system in Strong's, which I find the most useful.  It's the main reason why I use Strong's versus another concordance.  I really like the combination of the two because Vine's goes into more detail while Strong's gives a basic summary of the Greek/Hebrew words.  The cover shown here is the one that matches up with the Strong's numbering.





OF NOTE: if you want a cheaper option (or one that takes up minimal space) for Strong's and Vine's, there's an incredible website called Blue Letter Bible.  They have a full concordance and use the Strong's and Vine's definitions of words when you click on the Greek or Hebrew word.  In the future I will do a brief post on how to use Blue Letter Bible for word studies.

{source}

4.  John MacArthur Study Bible.  When I got more and more involved with my Bible study I began wanting deeper explanations of some of the passages I was going through.  This was where a study Bible came in handy.  I highly regard John MacArthur, and his study Bible was the first one I ever got (a gift from my husband).  As such, I prefer his as I'm very familiar with it and I trust JM's interpretation of the Bible.  However, there are many good options out there depending on your preference.  Just make sure you do your research to find one that is Biblically solid.  And yes, I do prefer for a study Bible to match the translation of the Bible I'm using regularly.  In my case, the NASB.

{source}

5.  A commentary.  There are many options out there.  It's easiest to find commentaries on just the New Testament.  Try and find a whole Bible commentary for your first commentary, if possible.  Matthew Henry does a lovely one that is very respected.  Again, do your research.  This is a long term investment so take the time to make sure it's one that will really edify you and your family.  That's why there's not as much of a rush with getting this one, but it's completely worth it when you find the right one.




Howabout all of you?  Are there any Bible study tools that you feel should be added, or have really deepened your understanding of the Bible?  I'd love to hear about them.

**Disclaimer: None of the links provided are affiliate links, and I am not receiving any sort of compensation for these recommendations.  I am simply providing feedback for what I consider to be excellent resources.**