Essential Tools for Bible Study

Studying the Bible can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially with so many different resources and methods available. But with the right tools, Bible study can become a truly enriching experience, opening up Scripture in ways you may have never considered before. Every craftsman knows the value of using the proper tools to complete a task, and you too can benefit from using specific resources designed to help you understand God’s Word. Equipping yourself with practical tools for Bible study can deepen your understanding of God’s Word.

Jen Wilkin once said, “The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.”[1] By equipping yourself with these essential tools, you’re setting yourself up not only to understand Scripture but to fall in love with it in new and meaningful ways. In this post, we’ll explore some of the foundational tools for Bible study, how they work, and why they matter for digging deeper into God’s Word. Your faith is only as deep as your understanding of God’s Word.[2]

Why Tools Matter in Bible Study

While the Bible is fully capable of speaking to our hearts on its own, study tools help us dig deeper into the meaning, context, and background of each passage. Tools like concordances, study Bibles, and commentaries provide clarity and help prevent misinterpretation, especially with difficult passages. Viewing Scripture accurately and in humility allows the clarity of Scripture to shines bright and illuminate God’s truth to our spiritual eyes.[3] Using the right Bible study tools to augment our study of the Scripture is a posture of humility that elevates our understanding.

Bible study tools help us handle God’s Word with care and respect, following the wisdom in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Essential Bible Study Tools

As Jen Wilkin said about the believer’s pursuit of God, “We must make a study of Him if we want to become like Him.”[4] A simple Study Bible is a great starting point when building your Bible study toolbox. A good study Bible offers verse-by-verse notes, maps, timelines, and other resources that give context and clarity. Study Bibles often provide valuable cultural, historical, and theological insights that enhance understanding. Look for one that aligns with your theological perspective. Here are some great options if you don’t already have a good study bible: the ESV Study Bible: Large Print, the NIV Study Bible, the Apologetics Study Bible for Teens, and the Quest Study Bible.

Secondly, it is difficult to overstate the importance of a good concordance. A concordance is a powerful tool that helps locate where specific words or themes appear throughout Scripture. Concordances can be especially helpful for word studies, making it easier to trace the consistent message of themes like “grace,” “faith,” or “love” across the Bible. The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is highly recommended.

A Bible dictionary can also be very helpful. Bible Dictionaries provide definitions, explanations, and historical context for names, places, events, and terms in the Bible. This resource is invaluable for understanding cultural nuances and the meaning behind unfamiliar terms, especially for Old Testament studies. A Bible dictionary can be considered your cultural translator for the Bible.

Commentaries are essential to expository Bible study. Commentaries offer expert explanations and interpretations of Scripture, often written by respected theologians or Bible scholars. They help clarify challenging verses and provide insights based on historical and linguistic research. The utilization of commentaries can act as a powerful supplementary resource for Bible study that illuminates the content and context surrounding a passage of Scripture. N.T. Wright says, “If we are to discover a fully rounded—and itself biblical!—meaning of “the authority of scripture,” it will be within this setting. Short-circuiting the question of biblical authority by ignoring these opening moves is one of the root causes of our continuing puzzles and polarizations.”[5] Commentaries can create clarity.

A Bible atlas is a visual tool that helps map out the locations of significant biblical events. By understanding the geography of the ancient world, a greater appreciation is gained for the journeys, battles, and travels described in Scripture. This tool can also provide insights into the distances and landscapes that shaped biblical narratives. Maps help reminds us that the Word of God is a record of real things that happened to real people in real places.

Keeping a journal or notebook during Bible study helps you capture insights, reflect on passages, and track your spiritual growth. It’s a space for personal reflections, prayer points, and even questions that arise during study. Over time, these notes become a testament to how God has spoken to you through His Word. As the old Chinese proverbs says, “The faintest ink is more powerful than the strongest memory.” Ruth Chou Simons makes a strong case in Beholding and Becoming to write down God’s truth so it imprints on your heart and mind.[6] Habakuk 2:2 puts it this way: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it” (NIV).

Practical Tips for Using Bible Study Tools Effectively

Start small. You don’t need every tool at once. Start with one or two, such as a study Bible and concordance, and gradually build your toolkit. Next, take notes. Use a notebook to jot down what you learn from each tool. Whether it’s a new historical insight or a deeper understanding of a word, writing it down helps you retain the knowledge. Then compare translations. Different translations can offer fresh perspectives on a passage. Consider using multiple translations alongside your study Bible. Remember to pray for guidance. As always, pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your study, asking for wisdom and discernment as you apply each tool. Finally, stay focused on the main message. Tools are helpful, but they’re not the end goal. Always bring the focus back to Scripture and the central truth in the text.

The Benefits of Using Bible Study Tools

When used thoughtfully, Bible study tools can enhance our understanding of Scripture in ways that bring us closer to God’s intended meaning. By using resources that provide historical, cultural, and linguistic context, we avoid misinterpretation and deepen our appreciation for the richness of God’s Word.

On his podcast The Crossway Podcast, David Mathis emphasizes that books about the Bible are helpful, but they cannot replace the Bible itself as the authority for Christian living and growth.[7] Bible study tools are resources to help us live fully in Scripture, encouraging us to engage with God’s Word and apply it faithfully. Just remember these are tools to help us understand God’s Word, but they are not Scripture.

Conclusion: Equipping Yourself for a Lifetime of Study

Bible study tools are not just for academics or scholars; they’re for anyone who desires a deeper relationship with God through His Word. By equipping yourself with these resources, you’ll not only gain a better understanding of Scripture but also learn to apply its truths in everyday life. As we continue our journey into Bible study, remember that these tools are simply aids, but they are not replacements for the Bible itself. Our goal is to encounter God’s truth with reverence and accuracy. With the help of these tools, we’re better equipped to handle the Bible faithfully, bringing its wisdom to life in a way that transforms us.

Stay tuned for our next post in the series, How to Approach Different Biblical Genres, where we’ll explore how various types of literature in the Bible require different study approaches. Let’s continue to build our foundation, one tool at a time, in our journey to know God’s Word more fully.

---

Footnotes

[1] Jen Wilkin, Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds, Updated Edition (Wheaton: Crossway, 2019), 32.

[2] Jackie Hill Perry, Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2021), 102.

[3] Sinclair Ferguson, Maturity: Growing Up and Going On in the Christian Life (Orlando, FL: Ligonier Ministries, 2021), 81.

[4] Jen Wilkin, Ten Words to Live By: Delighting in and Doing What God Commands (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 133.

[5] N.T. Wright, Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today (New York: HarperOne, 2013), 20.

[6] Ruth Chou Simons, Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2019), 70.

[7] David Mathis, “How to Read the Bible Every Day in 2020,” interview by Crossway, The Crossway Podcast, January 1, 2020, accessed November 15, 2024, https://www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-how-to-read-the-bible-every-day-in-2020-david-mathis/.

---

Bibliography

Ferguson, Sinclair. Maturity: Growing Up and Going On in the Christian Life. Orlando, FL: Ligonier Ministries, 2021.

Mathis, David. “How to Read the Bible Every Day in 2020.” Interview by Crossway. The Crossway Podcast, January 1, 2020. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-how-to-read-the-bible-every-day-in-2020-david-mathis/.

Perry, Jackie Hill. Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2021.

Simons, Ruth Chou. Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2019.

Wilkin, Jen. Ten Words to Live By: Delighting in and Doing What God Commands. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021.

________. Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds. Updated edition. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019.

Wright, N.T. Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today. New York: HarperOne, 2013.