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Feed Yourself Lesson Fifteen

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Bible Study Tools

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15

A workman needs tools. It has been the focus of these lessons to emphasize the two most important tools in studying the Bible for yourself: The Bible and a good concordance. In this lesson we will look at some other basic tools to help you in your Bible study. I am referring to free works on the Internet since I know you will all be able to access them. Most of them are based on physical books.

It is highly recommended that these helps be consulted only AFTER you have completed your own Bible Study. They can add a wealth of information and also be used to confirm your own findings. But please remember, Bible Helps ARE NOT Divinely inspired - they may contain errors. Everything must be judged by the Word of God alone.

Always do your own study first, then use helps to confirm what you have learned or to add depth and richness to your own study.

Bible Dictionaries

Bible Dictionaries give detailed information about people, places, and other words which are used in the Bible. For example, look up the word "Jerusalem" in the Easton's Bible Dictionary. You will discover what other names it has been called, what its name means, its history, and much more.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary simply gives a short definition of the what the name means, although there are often links to more detailed information. Other Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias add additional information.

For those who use the King James Version of the Bible, the KJV Dictionary lists over 800 words which have changed their meaning from when the KJV was originally written.

For example, the word “conversation” to us means to talk with people, but in the time when the KJV was written, it meant your entire lifestyle. Verses was talk about our conversation are not limited to simply what we are talking about but cover how we live our entire life.

Commentaries

Commentaries give the thoughts of others on particular Bible verses or sections of verses. It is best to develop your own thoughts first, then go to reliable commentaries for confirmation and additional information.

Matthew Henry is a well-respected commentary, but can be wordy and hard to understand. Just keep in mind that commentaries, along with all Bible helps, are not divinely inspired. They must be judged by Scripture in context.

Concordances

We have already spent time with Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Nave's Topical Bible is very helpful when you are researching a specific topic. For example, if we look up "Jerusalem" in Nave's Topical Bible we find a list of every Biblical reference to Jerusalem including its other names and other words which reference it. Torrey's Textbook is like Nave's but not quite as detailed.

History

Josephus was a Jewish historian living shortly after Christ. His Antiquities Of The Jews follows Jewish history. In many ways it parallels the Old Testament. Also included is the history during the "400 Silent Years" between the Testaments. His Wars Of The Jews covers the rebellion of the Jews against Rome to the destruction of the temple in AD 70. Josephus lived during this time and was an eyewitness to many of these horrible events. It can be hard reading, but it is important as I feel much of the Book of Revelation - as well as other portions of Scripture - was predicting these events.

Maps

Bible Maps and Atlas' help us visualize where places are, distances between places, the type of geography and more.

WEEK FIFTEEN PROJECT

1. Spend time familiarizing yourself with the different Bible Tools. Choose one of the following and using the different tools find out as much information as you can about it: Bethal, Corinth, Jericho, or Rome.

2. Continue with your daily reading/memorization program.

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Reference Works Used In This Course:

Bible Study Methods by Mrs. Shirley Davis

The International Inductive Study Bible by Harvest House Publishers

Effective Bible Study by Howard F. Vos, Zondervan

How To Understand Your Bible by T. Norton Sterrett, IVP

How To Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur, Harvest House

Independent Bible Study by Irving L. Jensen, Moody

How To Study The Bible For Yourself by Tim LaHaye, Harvest House

Return to Feed Yourself Lessons.

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