Bible Study Tools (part 1)

Standard, Reference and Study Bibles

1. Standard Bible
A standard Bible is simply the Bible text without the bells and whistles of much or any help at all. This would be very useful because it is just the text alone without ‘headings’ or ‘outlines’ which could potentially shade your own conclusions.

2. Reference Bible
A reference Bible contains many types of helps in addition to the Bible text. To an extent, most basic reference Bibles contain these tools:
a. Cross references – these help link a verse (or verses) to another verse.
b. Chapter heading and dates.
c. Concordance – these help you find the exact verse by utilizing a word within the verse.
d. Dictionary – some reference Bibles have a short Bible dictionary which gives a short description of a word, and suggests other texts to look at.
e. Some reference Bibles have indexes, and glossaries. (Very helpful)

3. Study Bible
A Study Bible usually has many of the features that are already noted in a reference Bible, and perhaps many other materials:
a. Maps and charts
b. Introductions and Outlines of each book of the Bible
c. Notes and Commentaries on particular passages
d. Topical, Chronological, or Prophetic studies
e. A more elaborate Dictionary and Concordance

Some things to note about “Study Bibles”
1. Many “Study Bibles” advocate critical texts and promote a Bibliology that accomodates modernism.
2. Some “Study Bibles” contain false doctrine. Just remember we are here to study what God has said, not what man says God said.