Choosing and Using the Right Study Bible

Bible students today are probably the most privileged disciples in the history of Christianity because of the availability of so many reference tools they can use in their study of the Scriptures. Among the materials that are readily available today are the reference Bibles that can greatly benefit any student of the Bible.

Study Bibles are Bibles that have been cross-referenced and annotated by scholars and professors from as early as the days of the Reformation to the present time. They are products of years of study and translation into various languages.

Study Bibles usually possess some if not all of these tools:
Cross-references - these are notes, usually in the middle of the page, containing a verse or verses that are related to one another. Cross references are a very handy tool for impromptu discussions.
Footnotes - are annotations made by the author concerning a certain word, phrase, verse, or chapter that is deemed in need of clarification.
Book summary - provides the necessary input concerning the book, and usually contains authorship, date of writing, historical background, and theme. A book summary is usually found at the beginning of the book, under its heading.
Charts and illustrations - are added for greater visualization of events and things and ideas. The author may provide maps, lists or comparisons so the Bible student can get a grasp of the subject at hand.
Concordance - lists the most commonly used verses that contain a certain word or group of words, and is usually found at the back of the reference Bible.
Dictionary - placed at the back of the Bible, it provides a definition of the most commonly used words.
Cyclopedia - provides a short explanation of things and places.

Available Reference Bibles

Despite the growing number of reference Bibles in the market, only a handful of them are regarded as truly useful and beneficial for Bible students.

Scofield Study Bible

The Scofield Study Bible was the work of Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843-1921). The first edition was published in 1909 and revised in 1917. The New Scofield Study Bible was published in 1967 and was revised by well known dispensational Bible scholars. It has sold millions of copies worldwide.

The Scofield Reference contains excellent cross references connecting key topics in the Bible, a very helpful concordance, and conservative notes and comment. It provides dates of events on the top of every page, and has a dictionary of Bible names at the back. Also, the indexes and maps at the back are very good.

Thompson Chain Reference Bible

The Thompson Chain Reference Bible was compiled by Frank Charles Thompson with the help of his wife, Laura. He worked for 31 years on this study Bible. The 5th edition is by far the most complete ever published.

The Chain Reference is an extensive system of inter-connected Bible texts with references and marginal notes. It provides an analysis of every book in the Bible, and extensive Topical studies, about 8,000 of them, biographical studies, a harmony of the Gospels, Bible atlas and land studies, dictionary of old English words and a helpful concordance.

It also provides archaeological studies of ancient sites and how they reflect on the Bible’s accounts. The life and times of important Bible characters are traced in very helpful charts.

Ryrie’s Study Bible

The Ryrie Study Bible was the work of Cr. Charles Caldwell Ryrie, a noted theologian and former Dallas Theological Seminary professor. It is sometimes called the “Scholar’s Study Bible” for its excellent quality and content.

This study Bible contains excellent outlines, book introductions and quality notes. It also provides a synopsis of Bible doctrines in the back. It has good cross references, concordance, color maps, harmony of the Gospes, topical studies, summary of Bible doctrine, prophecies, and miracles and parables of Christ.

The notes of the Ryrie Study Bible is basically dispensational in viewpoint.

King James Study Bible

The King James Study Bible is also known as Liberty Annotated Study Bible and was the product of Liberty University. It is a fundamentally Baptist study Bible.

This study Bible contains footnotes, especially marked doctrinal notes, personality profiles and archaeological sites. The doctrinal footnotes all have a description, an illustration and an application to the Christian’s life. It has excellent charts, indexes, a concordance, and maps.

Use with Caution

Study Bibles can greatly increase and speed up one’s learning of the Bible’s contents. However, these are not the only means, nor are do they all contain everything that is necessary to know God’s Word. Those who prepared these references laboured in order to share what they have learned by themselves.

The greatest and most important teacher we have is the Holy Spirit who promised to guide us and reveal to us the whole truth. Also, we must not put aside the important part that the prophet-messenger of our day plays.

I believe that God has restored His people back to the original teachings of the Bibles as delivered to His prophets and apostles. It our duty to hold fast to the prophetic word that has shone in our time, as light that shines in a dark place until the day star arises in our heart.