Many people read the bible daily, and that is a good thing.  If you are one of those folks I want to applaud your consistency in reading and becoming familiar with God’s word.

If your bible study goes no farther than that I want to challenge you to dig a little deeper.  While a consistent reading habit is beneficial, there is so much more you can discover about the bible that will help you live a transformed life.

Today, I want to help you begin to set up a personal library of resources that will help remove some of the obstacles present when trying to interpret and understand the bible.  All of the resources I recommend below are resources that I have in my personal library.  I know there are other materials that could be mentioned, but the books listed here are ones I use and like.  If you find similar resources that are better, cheaper, more highly recommended that is okay.  The important thing is that you begin to build a small library of resources to aid in your study of the bible.

Here are a few items that I think are necessary for your library:

1. Basic Supplies: Pen/pencil, notebook/journal, highlighter.  Some folks have graduated to only working electronically in their study of the bible.  I have tried that, but always come back to needing these old fashioned items.  I am constantly scribbling notes that need to be followed up with.  I also find that I like having some notes constantly in front of me without bouncing between screens.
2. Different Bible Translations:  It is always best to have a variety of bible translations to refer to.  Here is a guide to some popular translations to help you decide what you like best.  Everyone has their own preference when it comes to translations.  I find that I like to have the following translations on hand: New American Standard Bible (NASB), Amplified (AMP), New Living Translation (NLT), New International Version (NIV), and The Message.  This gives me a mixture of translations with a different focus.  Some are focused on providing clarity; giving focus to the meaning of the text, while others are focused on providing a word for word translation.
3. Concordance:  A bible concordance is an alphabetized list of the words used in the Old and New Testaments and details each time the word is used throughout the entire text of the bible.  Investigating a word will allow you to cross reference words across books of the bible to gain a better understanding of it usage and proper context.  You will also be able to look up each word in the original Greek and Hebrew to get a better understanding of the word’s meaning before it was translated into English.  You can pick up a copy of a concordance at your local Christian bookstore, but if you no longer have a bookstore in your area due to the closing of Family Christian Stores nationwide, you can purchase a copy from Amazon.  Here are a few listings for different translations:  NIV Exhaustive Bible Concordance, The Strongest NASB Exhaustive Concordance or The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.
4. Bible Dictionary:  A bible dictionary has a wealth of information to complement personal bible study.  It is an alphabetical listing of people, places, and things that are referenced in the bible as well as giving insight into matters of culture, politics, economics, and a whole lot more. I personally use the Revell Bible Dictionary. I also find it helpful to read and study the material separate from a formal bible study, as it provides insight and understanding that adds depth to my regular bible reading.
5. Study Bible:  There is no shortage of study bibles on the market, and in most cases you can get your preferred study bible in most of the popular translations.  A good study bible will offer you many resources and includes elements of some of the resources we have mentioned.  In my opinion, here are a few important sections:  biblical commentary (an explanation of the text), an introduction to the books of the bible (an overview of book including the author, who it was written to, date written, important cultural events, key characters, etc…),  maps,  biographical information (detailed analysis of  key characters), and cultural and historical facts (sometimes this information is found in the commentary portion and other times it is inserted as entire sections), Admittedly, it is nearly impossible to read and review every study bible available.  Feel free to ask a friend or your pastor for recommendations, then see if you can browse through theirs to see if you like it.  Many years ago I was introduced to the Life Application Study Bible and it remains my favorite study bible.  I also use the Archaeological Study Bible and the NKJV Study Bible.  Each one lends itself to a different purpose and approach to a passage of Scripture and allows me to see it from different angles.
6. Commentary:  A commentary is another persons explanation of the Scripture.  You can purchase them as a one volume set or you can find them in multi volume sets with an entire volume dedicated to each individual book of the bible.  Again, there is no shortage of commentaries available.  Just keep in mind that every commentary has it pros and cons;  in some way, it represents the theological bias of the writer.  This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it forces each of us to wrestle with our own thoughts and beliefs and come to terms with what we really believe.  If you are looking for an inexpensive commentary to start with I would recommend Adam Clarkes Commentary of the Bible, which is sold as a one volume set.  The commentary I use most often in my study is the Beacon Bible Commentary, but if you are looking for a more expensive set, you may want to check with your pastor for recommendations.    No matter what you choose, be reminded that your commentary is no replacement for the Word of God.  As you do the hard work of understanding the bible, you will find that there are sometimes disagreements in regards to meaning and application of certain texts.  You must do your best to draw meaning from the text of Scripture and not someone’s interpretation of it.
7. Prayer:  Okay, I know this is not something you can purchase for you personal library, but it is indispensable when it come to growing in your understanding of the bible.  Especially, if you goal is to be different and not just gather information.  Take a few moments before you open the first page or write the first word, and ask God to open your mind to what He would have you learn. Ask Him to grant you wisdom and understanding.  God’s presence is your best tool for growing into the person God wants you to be.

A good library is priceless.  Set some money aside and invest in a few tools that will help you dig deeper into God’s Word.  It will be worth the investment. (Side Note: if you are comfortable using the computer, some of these resources can be found and used for free at http://biblestudytools.com.)

One way to kill one bird with two stones, is to get two or three versions of the bible in a study bible format.  This way you will get the benefit of the different translations and the benefit of different thought perspectives.  Also, in the short term, a good study bible can be a substitute to purchasing a commentary, until you are ready to invest money in a multi volume set.

In this series we want to walk you through some helpful elements of the bible study process.  What we will share with you is not meant to be comprehensive nor should it be perceived that there is only one approach to studying the bible.  We do believe however, that there will be great value in the elements that we will teach you over the next several weeks.

Next week we will choose a portion of Scripture to begin working through and also talk about the process of choosing a text for personal study.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”