Subject: Favorite Bible study tools? |
Bible Note: The Thompson Chain Reference Bible has been in print a long time, which is attestation enough to its usefulness. I believe it is available only in the King James Version. Am I right? As a follow up to something you said about using no keys for study but the reference system and the Bible text itself. There is, of course, no substitute for reading the Bible itself in as pure and accurate a translation as one can lay hands on. The NASB, in the view of many, is as good as they come. But if you are troubled by study Bibles and commentaries for reasons you outlined, your stand is not without merit. But there are rich and instructive alternate routes one can pursue. I'm thinking about a good, responsible Bible dictionary or other books that give you enlightening, factual background information about Bible lands, customs, people, government, laws and the like. These resource materials are relatively free of doctrinal or intrepretive bias and can, like cross references and maps, be an invaluable aid to the modern reader who finds himself frequently puzzled by the way things were done centuries ago and miles away from our time and place. The Lord be with you in all things. Hank. |