My 4 Favourite Bible Study Tools
Let’s face it, studying the Bible is exciting for some but daunting for most. That’s why in this post I will be sharing some of my favourite Bible study tools. They have been invaluable to me as I have journeyed through God’s Word and I pray they will be a blessing to you also.
1) A GOOD STUDY BIBLE
Having a good study Bible is important, it can help you to target the key areas that you need help with, and it’s a great way to understand God’s plan for His world.
I recommend a study Bible that has an index by topic, cross-references by verse to other parts of the Bible that are relevant and introductions to each book of the Bible so that you can understand the context of where the Book was written, by whom and for what purpose.
The study Bible I use that was recommended to me by my Pastor is the Life Application Bible. This Bible is available in various versions so you will be able to select one based on your preference.
I have also recently inherited The Handbook of Bible Application which is from the same publishers as the Life Application Bible. I have found it to be a useful reference book when I want to explore a specific topic for example faith. Under each topic, it provides a brief commentary on relevant parts of scripture and other Bible references to look up.
2) LEXICON
Lexicons are a powerful Bible Study tool, and many are free to use. They help you to explore the words of the Bible in their original language and understand at a deeper level what the word means (Greek New Treatment and Hebrew Old Testament). In some cases, this has completely transformed my understanding of certain scriptures.
The two online Lexicon’s I like to use are Biblehub.com and Biblestudytools.com. Biblehub.com is particularly useful as you can use the Strong version of the Bible and click on the words to see the original word and its meaning.
3) YOUVERSION BIBLE APP
Most people are familiar with the YouVersion Bible App which is a rich and free resource including great Bible reading plans, devotionals and the Bible in multiple versions. This is particularly useful when you want to look at the scriptures in different versions. I have found looking at the Bible in the various versions allowed me to understand the scripture and its intended meaning. Together with looking at the original meaning of the word it can move you past a surface level interruption. This app is also great for supporting you to develop the habit of reading the Bible daily.
4) WHAT’S THE BIBLE ALL ABOUT? BOOK
This is a recent discovery for me recommended by a friend. It takes the various books of the Bible and gives a detailed description of the book and its purpose. It includes some interesting facts and has a reading plan for each day of the week. The idea is that you read a chapter a week and then complete the daily readings. This is useful in understanding the Bible not only as 66 separate books but as one story about God’s purposes and plan for humanity.
THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE WE HAVE: THE HOLY SPIRIT
I could not end this post without mentioning the most important resource we have, the Holy Spirit. No matter how many man-made resources we use and how useful they are the best resource we have available to us is the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will open up the scriptures to you as you prayerfully engage with God’s Word with an open heart. The Holy Spirit transcends time and space, making the scriptures relevant to you, personal to you and right on time.
May God bless you as you seek Him and draw closer to Him through His Word.
What Bible study tools do you find useful? Share them in the comment section below.