Great Holy Bible Study Tools

Every true disciple should endeavor to be a Holy Bible scholar, for the sake of their own salvation and that of others. Be very much aware that liberal elements have weaseled their way into the Church and have “blessed” Christian bookstores with reference works geared to undermine the foundations of our faith. When you buy a book or software for Holy Bible study make sure the author/s wholeheartedly believe the Holy Bible is the Word of God.

The following is a compilation of some trusted tools I have used over the years. They are most likely  still on the market, and probably even improved. These are works by trusted authors, people who knew that the Holy Bible is the Word of God.

These are great tools, but make sure you have a literal translation. The King James is still a trustworthy one, especially for the New Testament (unlike the New International Version which takes too many liberties in translation). The New King James, Young’s Literal Translation, and works by Jay P. Green are excellent choices.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

“Young for the young, Cruden’s for the crude, and Strong’s for the strong,” quipped brother Chester Roberson, one of our professors at Northeast Bible Institute — back in the days when a Holy Bible school was really a Holy Bible school. And, back then, Strong’s Concordance came only in book form. It is a large book too, measuring 28.5cm x 21cm x 6.5cm, with over 1,400 pages. It listed every word in the King James Bible, even, “the,” “a,” from every verse. It also gave the definition of each word. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance was created by James Strong. The image below shows it opened to a random place.

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More recently I was really pleased to find it incorporated into a Bible search program. The one I use is the Online Bible (which you really download) [1]. We need to know precisely what ancient word was used in a given case and discover the shades of meaning between those words. In the program I use, I simply ask it to display the Strong’s reference numbers, click on the number of the word I am interested in, and discover its meaning. You can also see this occur online with the Blue Letter Bible.

So, no longer do we have lug a large book around, flip through pages and check the numbers. Thank God we have this wonderful resource in electronic form.

Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies

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Strong’s is a start, but you will be blessed with Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies which provides great insight into the Hebrew and Aramaic. While I still think Koine Greek is expressive, Wilson’s work, with God’s Holy Spirit, opened my eyes to the riches of the Hebrew and Aramaic. The Greek New Testament has two words that may be translated as “love,” but there are around ten or eleven for the Old Testament.

The beginning of this great reference work has basic information about the Hebrew, which is for me more difficult to understand than Greek. Reading this early portion will give you an appreciation of the hard work of an honest translator.

The edition I have, created by William Wilson, is not copyrighted. It was published by MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, VA.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

Using Thayer’s Greek Lexicon is easier if you get to know the Greek alphabet, but it is certainly worth the effort. This work is a standard among many who are serious about studying the Holy Bible. I will list an easier reference after this, but do try to use this work. I almost deleted this section from this article, but I want to give you a nudge to learn as much as you can.

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This work was created by Joseph Henry Thayer. The copy I have was published by Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Amongst the definitions Thayer points to the usage of many of the Greek words by ancient authors such as Aesop, Plato, and Thucydides. He also has other references in his entries.

Vine’s Dictionary

You will not need to know the Greek alphabet in order to speedily use W. E. Vine’s An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words. You will have to know your own alphabet if the dictionary has been produced in your own language. If not, it can be had in English. There is a work by Vine with both Hebrew and Greek words. 

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In my English language copy, the words are presented in alphabetical order in my tongue. Vine often gives extensive definitions and entries contain Scripture references. In the image above, my copy is opened to the area where he lists the words for “judge.” There are around four of them of which there are some we are commanded to judge. Please see my articles on this. Some so often like to quote, “do not judge.” But there are certain ways we are allowed to, and are fully expected to, judge.

I think this work was originally in four volumes, because the copy I have is one fat book, but divided into four sections as volumes. My edition was Copyrighted 1966 and published by Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, New Jersey.

Smith’s Bible Dictionary

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Gracing my library is a plump paperback book that is almost fifty years old: Smith’s Bible Dictionary by William Smith. Whether it is a biblical person, place, thing, event, or record, this dictionary has it. The print is a little small, but you might be able to find a larger copy somewhere.

My copy has 768 pages. It was published in 1967 by Pyramid Books,  New York, NY, by arrangement with the Fleming H. Revell Company.

James Freeman’s Work

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Manners And Customs Of The Holy Bible by James M. Freeman will definitely give insight into many Holy Bible passages. Not only does Freeman explain various manners and customs, this work contains many illustrations to increase one’s understanding.

Once again, my copy goes back decades and was reprinted in 1972 by Logos International, Plainfield, NJ, from the original printing of Nelson and Phillips, New York. Manners and customs are presented as they occur from Genesis to The Revelation (at least in my copy). So, if you want to find a specific item go to the book’s index which will give you the entry number, not page number, of what you want to find. There is also a Holy Scripture index.

An Atlas Of The Holy Bible

I always did like geography. Having an atlas of the Holy Bible gives understanding in regard to location of places, elevation, length of travel and more. The trip from Nazareth to Jerusalem was not a one day trek. Elijah covered a lot of territory in his ministry.

Image by Dorcas Macinta, and part of author’s collection

I use Baker’s Bible Atlas by Charles F. Pfeiffer. The work entered its eleventh printing in 1973 by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Throughout its 333 pages there are plenty of maps (in color and black and white), pictures, drawings, and chapters of information as the work goes from Genesis to Revelation. In the back there is a time line, geographical gazetteer, and general index.

Computer Programs

Above, I have mentioned the Online Bible and The Blue Letter Bible. I am more familiar with the former so I will comment accordingly though I am sure there are similar programs available.

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Some of the things that can be done is to read a passage in various translations; discover how many times a certain word, word combination or phrase occurs in a chapter, book, either Testament, a portion of the Holy Bible or the whole Holy Bible; discover the actual words in the ancient texts; and run a search of words or phrases. For a recent sermon (message), I discovered that “better” was used twelve times in the book of Hebrews.

The Online Bible is free, but you do not use it online. Instead, you download the basic program. You may also download other translations, commentaries, maps, books and probably a few other things.

Building Your Library

Money is tight for most people today. If I had none of these works, I would start saving money for Vine’s work which includes both Hebrew and Greek words. I would make Thayer’s Lexicon last because the basic information you will need for the Greek would be in Vine’s.

Do not be ashamed to buy used books. All of us need to be equipped with these tools so desperately needed as we approach the end of this age.

Beware And Prepare

It bears repeating: do not use works created by religious liberals, those who do not think the Holy Bible is the Word of God or would make another book equal to the word of God. Thayer might be the exception. I heard he was Unitarian. But I also heard he was intellectually honest and that his lexicon could be trusted.

Serious and in depth Holy Bible study is not just for “official” ministers and teachers. If you are born again, truly in Christ, you are a minister. Permit yourself to be directed by the Holy Spirit in your studies. You do not need a degree, just determination, dedication and perseverance. Study, for the sake of Christ and His kingdom.

Notes:

1 To download the Online Bible, in North America go to http://onlinebible.net/, for other locations try http://www.onlinebible.org/.