Well, this past Sunday I probably rushed in where angels fear to tread. I began a series entitled, Hard Questions, in which I answer questions submitted by the congregation. These questions cover a host of topics and issues and include questions about specific passages of Scripture, relationships, doctrine, current events, and much more. While I am enjoying the study required to give the most biblical answers possible, I am reminded that when it comes to the hard questions of life, a person can’t simply rely on his or her pastor for the answers. They also need to do their own study and draw their own conclusions and convictions. It is that need for personal study that is the focus of today’s post.
In Acts 17, verses 10 and 11 we read these words, “The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Do you see what is being commended and encouraged in this passage? The Bereans engaged in the personal study of God’s Word. They didn’t simply accept all that Paul and Silas had to say. They searched the Scriptures for themselves to confirm that what was being said to them was indeed God’s word and God’s truth. What a great model for every believer to follow.
Thankfully I have some Bereans in my church, people who do their own study and who check out what their pastor has told them. After answering hard questions about election (God’s choosing of those who will be saved) this past Sunday, one of the women of my church asked me to recommend some study tools and materials so that she could engage in her own study of hard questions. Perhaps it is a lack of resources or not knowing where to turn, that has hindered you in your personal study of God’s Word. If so, here are some of the Bible study tools that I find helpful.
1. A reliable translation of God’s Word.
To do good Bible study requires a translation that is a word for word translation of the original languages. Some of the better translations include the English Standard Version (ESV), the New American Standard Version (NASB), the New King James Version (NKJV) and the King James Version (KJV). This is not to say that other versions are bad, but these seek to capture the precise wording of the original text not just the ideas and concepts.
2. An exhaustive Bible concordance
An exhaustive concordance provides a list of all the words in the Bible and the references where they are found. This is a very helpful tool when doing word studies. I own two concordances, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, which is based on the KJV and New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance, which is based on the NASB. There are many others but you will find the most help if you own a concordance based upon the Bible translation you study from.
3. Nave’s Topical Bible
This tool provides Bible passages arranged by topic. For example, if you want to do a study on the love of God, you simply look up, “God – Love of” and there you will find the verses that speak of God’s love.
4. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology
This tool provides a wealth of information on doctrinal issues, theologians and their perspectives, and much, much more. If you wan to explore doctrine and the views of various people this is an invaluable reference book.
5. Bible Dictionary and Bible Encyclopedia
These tools provide meanings for people, places, and things, in the Bible. I would recommend several reference works that fit under this category: The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible.
6. A reliable commentary
Bible commentaries come in many sizes, from one or two volumes that cover the entire Bible, to multi-volume sets that address the books of the Bible in far greater detail. I find that the single volume commentaries provide only general information. For more intensive study you really need to own a multi-volume set. Two I would recommend are The New American Commentary (Old and New Testament) and The MacArthur New Testament Commentary.
There are a host of other books and resources that I draw upon, but these that I have listed are certainly worth owning and will provide a great deal of assistance when studying the Bible. Of course the other great tool for doing Bible study is personal discipline, making the time and effort to do it. If you give that time and effort, not only will you find answers to the hard questions and issues that you are facing, but God will transform your life in the process. So how about it, will you be a Berean? The Bible has the answers, all you have to do is go there and start finding them. I encourage you to dig in and discover the joy and growth that personal Bible study brings.
In Acts 17, verses 10 and 11 we read these words, “The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Do you see what is being commended and encouraged in this passage? The Bereans engaged in the personal study of God’s Word. They didn’t simply accept all that Paul and Silas had to say. They searched the Scriptures for themselves to confirm that what was being said to them was indeed God’s word and God’s truth. What a great model for every believer to follow.
Thankfully I have some Bereans in my church, people who do their own study and who check out what their pastor has told them. After answering hard questions about election (God’s choosing of those who will be saved) this past Sunday, one of the women of my church asked me to recommend some study tools and materials so that she could engage in her own study of hard questions. Perhaps it is a lack of resources or not knowing where to turn, that has hindered you in your personal study of God’s Word. If so, here are some of the Bible study tools that I find helpful.
1. A reliable translation of God’s Word.
To do good Bible study requires a translation that is a word for word translation of the original languages. Some of the better translations include the English Standard Version (ESV), the New American Standard Version (NASB), the New King James Version (NKJV) and the King James Version (KJV). This is not to say that other versions are bad, but these seek to capture the precise wording of the original text not just the ideas and concepts.
2. An exhaustive Bible concordance
An exhaustive concordance provides a list of all the words in the Bible and the references where they are found. This is a very helpful tool when doing word studies. I own two concordances, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, which is based on the KJV and New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance, which is based on the NASB. There are many others but you will find the most help if you own a concordance based upon the Bible translation you study from.
3. Nave’s Topical Bible
This tool provides Bible passages arranged by topic. For example, if you want to do a study on the love of God, you simply look up, “God – Love of” and there you will find the verses that speak of God’s love.
4. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology
This tool provides a wealth of information on doctrinal issues, theologians and their perspectives, and much, much more. If you wan to explore doctrine and the views of various people this is an invaluable reference book.
5. Bible Dictionary and Bible Encyclopedia
These tools provide meanings for people, places, and things, in the Bible. I would recommend several reference works that fit under this category: The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible.
6. A reliable commentary
Bible commentaries come in many sizes, from one or two volumes that cover the entire Bible, to multi-volume sets that address the books of the Bible in far greater detail. I find that the single volume commentaries provide only general information. For more intensive study you really need to own a multi-volume set. Two I would recommend are The New American Commentary (Old and New Testament) and The MacArthur New Testament Commentary.
There are a host of other books and resources that I draw upon, but these that I have listed are certainly worth owning and will provide a great deal of assistance when studying the Bible. Of course the other great tool for doing Bible study is personal discipline, making the time and effort to do it. If you give that time and effort, not only will you find answers to the hard questions and issues that you are facing, but God will transform your life in the process. So how about it, will you be a Berean? The Bible has the answers, all you have to do is go there and start finding them. I encourage you to dig in and discover the joy and growth that personal Bible study brings.
Great references Ken, I also like to use the Wilmingtons guide to the Bible.
ReplyDeleteGood start Pastor. I would also like to put a few that I would never want to be without. I find these very helpful:
ReplyDeleteAcross The Spectrum, Boyd & Eddy-ISBN:9780801037931. This book covers topics that are of debate within the evangelical realm, giving strengths, objections and biblical arguments for each view on each subject. Subject such as: Genesis, Inerrancy, Salvation, Women, Eternal Security, Foreknowledge, etc...(17 topics in all)
Theology For Today, Towns-ISBN:9780155161382. This book took 40 years to complete and hits on all the major theological themes. Towns states, "Theology is at the core of allowing God and His plan into our lives."
Explore The Book, Baxter-ISBN:0310206200. A exegetical walk through all the books of the Bible as if spoken from the pulpit or classroom.
Intro: "No man's education is complete if he does not know the Bible. No Christian minister is really qualified for the ministry of the Christian Church without a thorough study of the Bible. No Christian worker can be fully effective without a ready knowledge of the Bible. No Christian believer can live a Christian life to the full without an adequate grasp of the Bible."
Zondervan's New International Bible Dictionary, Douglas & Tenney-ISBN:9780310331902. There are many Bible dictionaries out there but none compare to the thoroughness of this one. This one is based on the nov text and cross-referenced with the KJV. Simply one of the best out on the market.
Pillar New Testament Commentaries, various authors-ISBN:978851117492 (John). A thorough and accurate commentary on each book of the New Testament. A verse by verse exegesis and exposition for serious pastors and teachers of the Bible. A great tool for me in my studies in theology and themed paper writing.