8 JAN 2005 --- Some have asked which version of the Bible is …



1) Study / Chain Reference Bible of your choice in the version of your choice for Daily use. Remember the study notes are helps, not scripture…. This should be the one you treasure, mark up, carry with you, wear out, etc.

Ryrie New Scofield Thompson Chain Dake's Open Bible Life Application Etc.

2) Multiple Bible translations/paraphrase versions - Inexpensive paperbacks, These will be used to compare to your Study Bible version for additional explanation and expanded meanings of particular passages.

• King James - The standard version against which all others are measured. It can be difficult to read and understand having been translated in the 1600's. It uses the old King's English. Many word meanings and uses have changed versus today's American English.

• New International - The most popular of the newer versions. Easy reading. Good daily use version.

• New American Standard - Most literal translation of the 'modern' translations. Easy reading. Not as 'new' or as popular as the NIV.

• International Standard Version – A new but good translation, becoming a favorite.

• Amplified Bible - A wordy translation that gives the shades and hidden meanings of the original Biblical languages. Good for study. Lousy for reading.

• Phillips - A little known, little used translation. Easy reading. Included as a personal favorite. (This IS my list!)

• Wuest's New Testament - A translation written by an acknowledged Greek scholar. Useful in study.

• Living Bible / The Message - Very easy reading paraphrase. This is a paraphrase and not a translation! As such, it is not the most useful for in depth study. It can help clear up confusion at times, but used alone any paraphrase can also mislead you as it is the author's 'rewording' of a translation

A translation transfers the Bible from the language of the earliest and best available manuscripts to another language. E.G. The KJV, NIV, NASB, etc. (all translations) translated the available Greek / Hebrew / Aramaic / Syriac manuscripts to English.

A paraphrase is a restating (or updating) of previous translations within the same language as the earlier translations. E.G. The Living Bible (a paraphrase), rephrased the Bible in simpler, more current American English using the KJV and other English translations. It did not regularly go back to the available, original language manuscripts for its basis.

3) Children's Bible Story book - Used for quick Bible story synopsis and to find a particular event in the Bible.

A strange #3 recommendation! Use it like you used Classics Illustrated comic books in High School. That is, when you are looking for a quick memory refresher, you are looking for some particular event in the life of a Bible character or when you need to find a particular event in Scripture. Look up the Bible reference in the index or table of contents and read the Scripture - or - read the Bible story in the Children's book and get a fast, easy overview of Bible events and characters. I keep a copy of the Table of Contents in my Bible to help me find where specific stories and events can be found in my Bible.

Egermeier's Etc.

4) Complete concordance - Find all the places a particular word is used in the Bible.

Get a complete or exhaustive concordance in the version of Scripture you regularly use (the same as your study Bible). It will list every occurrence of every English word used in a particular translation and gives the Bible reference of each one. It should be keyed to Strong's numbers. Using Strong's numbers you can look up the original language Greek / Hebrew / Aramaic word and find all the different English words used to translate the original as well as a brief (although often cryptic) definition of the same root word.

Strong's Cruden's Unger's Young's Etc.

5) Naves Topical Bible - Lists Scripture passages categorized by general subject and topics.

6) Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell

Provides Biblical information and reference material. Discusses various issues and answers many of the most frequently asked Bible questions. Be sure you get Volume 1. (Volume 2, while useful, is more for theological study and resource.)

7) Bible Dictionary - Provides name, place, and Bible times information

A good one is more like a small, one volume encyclopedia than a dictionary. It provides a useful source of information and summaries on a wide range of Bible topics and related historical and geographical issues.

Nelson's Erdman's Davis Zondervan's Unger's Etc.

8) Bible Atlas - Provides information regarding peoples, places, and times.

A good one should show Bible lands as they were and as they changed throughout Bible times. It should include short explanations of the maps and charts it contains.

9) Wuest's Word Studies in the Greek New Testament

Gives expanded word meanings and implications of the original Greek words and phrases used in Scripture. These can still be found but are largely out of print today. The complete works is a 4 volume hardbound set. Excerpts are available as soft cover books. Most are written to cover a particular book or passage of the Bible. Some are short topical studies. You could use Wuest as the basis for individual Bible Studies. The set provides insight into Scripture by explaining the implications of the original language grammar and words as used by the Bible writers. This insight gets 'lost in the translation' to English. You may have to special order these.

10) Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament

Gives expanded word meanings and implications of the original Greek words and phrases used in Scripture. The complete works is also a 4 volume hardbound set. This is another resource for the various meanings and interpretations of the original Greek text. Vincent's is written in more of a dictionary style than in a Bible study style. While you could use these as independent Bible studies, I doubt that you would. Vincent writes in New Testament book order rather than by alphabetical word order like a true dictionary.

11) Vines New Testament Dictionary

Provides interpretations of various Greek scholars regarding particular words. Vines is a true dictionary. The major words used in the KJV are listed in alphabetical order. With each word definition is listed the various views and interpretations of prominent Greek language and Biblical translation scholars. This is strictly a reference book. You don't read or study this one by itself.

12) Daily Bible Study series, William Barkley

Provides historical background, information and insight to life in Bible times. These are a series of soft bound, individual study books. Each one covers one or more books of the Bible. Watch out for some of the conclusions and statements made.

13) Halley's Bible Handbook - Resource book of general Biblical information.

A single reference book covering many subjects. This is like an Information Please Almanac for the Bible. Get the earliest edition you can find.

14) A ton of other stuff available in Church and Christian Book stores. Get it as you need it...

There is material and references available on any subject and in any form you choose. I like to get used books. It's cheaper and often comes with notes and markings made by the folk that owned the book originally. Often these notes are as helpful and the stuff printed in the books. Of course, sometimes these markings are confused ramblings........ Ya' pays your money, ya takes your ride.....

MOST OF THE ABOVE MATERIALS ( OR AT LEAST GOOD ALTERNATIVES ) PLUS MANY, MANY MORE USEFUL MATERIALS CAN BE ACQUIRED FOR FREE IF YOU CAN USE A COMPUTER.

RICK MEYERS HAS COLLECTED AND MADE AVAILABLE A TOP QUALITY BIBLE STUDY SOFTWARE PACKAGE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL ON YOUR COMPUTER.

YOU CAN GET IT AT:

3 CLOSING THOUGHTS:

1) WHEN STUDYING SCRIPTURE, IT IS EASY TO FIND YOURSELF PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THE REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT YOU USE THAN TO SCRIPTURE ITSELF. THIS IS WRONG! THESE REFERENCES ARE THE INTERPRETATIONS AND OPINIONS OF OTHERS, WRITTEN TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND AND TO PROVIDE INSIGHT TO SCRIPTURE. THEY WERE NOT INTENDED TO AND SHOULD NOT REPLACE SCRIPTURE.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS YOUR TEACHER, NOT SOME AUTHOR. GOD'S WORD IS YOUR ONLY INFALLIBLE GUIDE, NOT SOME REFERENCE WORK.

YOU MUST FILTER AND MAY EVEN NEED TO REJECT THE VIEWS, INFORMATION, AND OPINIONS OF OTHER REFERENCES IN LIGHT OF WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES AND GOD'S WORD SAYS.

2) EVERYTHING YOU FIND IN A CHRISTIAN BOOK STORE IS NOT NECESSARILY CHRISTIAN. YOU MAY EVEN FIND THINGS THERE THAT ARE CONTRARY TO GOD'S TRUTH AS IT IS REVEALED TO YOU BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THE BIBLE. CHRISTIAN BOOKS STORES COLLECT AND SELL THE STUFF. THEY DON'T CENSOR OR APPROVE' IT. USE THE SUPPORTING MATERIAL YOU GET AS A REFERENCE AID TO GET YOUR OWN CRITICAL THOUGHT PROCESSES WORKING. ONLY THE GOSPEL IS THE GOSPEL!

3) FINALLY, REMEMBER THAT THE PURPOSE OF YOUR STUDY IS TO CHANGE YOU! IT IS INTENDED TO BRING YOU IN LINE WITH GOD'S WAY OF THINKING AND DOING THINGS. IT IS NOT A MENTAL EXERCISE TO INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OR TO ENABLE YOU TO CONVERSE MORE ELOQUENTLY ON BIBLICAL MATTERS. IF YOUR PURPOSE IS TO IMPRESS OTHERS OR MAKE YOURSELF FEEL GOOD, STUDY THE LOCAL PHONE BOOK OR WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY. FAR MORE PEOPLE ARE IMPRESSED BY TRIVIAL KNOWLEDGE THAN BY BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE. IF HOWEVER, YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD PERSONALLY AND WANT TO LIVE LIFE HIS WAY, GET INTO THE BIBLE WITH EVERY RESOURCE YOU CAN GATHER AND LET GOD CHANGE YOU.

• E-Sword Bible Software

• Bible Study notes

• The Times of Israel newspaper

• International SOS Travel/Medical alerts



• Defense News Daily

• The Extinction Protocol

• Disasters

• GDACS

• Center for Disease Control

• North Pole Ice Cap

• Volcano

• USGS Water Watch



• USGS Earthquakes

• USGS Tsunami

• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

• JPL Asteroid Watch

• Space Weather Prediction Center

• SOHO Solar Observatory

• USGS Home Page

• Geophysical Institute of Israel

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