Tips for How To Use a Study Bible

Whether you’re new to the Bible or a seasoned veteran of biblical study, learning how to effectively use your new study Bible will take time. Study Bibles are meant to make it easier to connect themes for research or for high-quality lectures and sermons. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the numbers, letters, and extra materials, let our tips for how to use a study Bible ease you through the new experience.

Use the Reference Indexes

First things first, the most unique and useful part of your study Bible will be the reference numbers, words, and letters stuffed within the margins or text of the book. Learning how to use these may seem like a challenge at first, but once you put them to use, they’ll make studying the Bible easier. Many King James Version study Bibles include the Thompson Chain-Reference, which has indexes listing useful topics. Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles list around 8,000 themes, each designated with passage numbers. Sometimes, the topics will have the passages written out within the index itself, though this is not often the case. Within the text of the Bible itself, the margins will hold the numbered topic, any other relevant topic that may connect to that passage, and important definitions. In addition, the location of the next instance of that topic will be listed (if there is one).

Sword study Bibles are a bit different from Thompsons in that they separate topics into three main segments: God (G), Plan (P), and Man (M). These numbered topics can be a bit broader than those in Thompson study Bibles; there may also be fewer topics in total. Once you have the letter and number of the topic you wish to study, important passages will be listed throughout the index and marked by vertical lines in the margin of the page. The next instance of that theme will be marked on the side as well.

Take Notes

The idea of taking notes is always relevant when you’re conducting any scholarly research, and that concept still applies with these tips for how to use a study Bible. Your notes don’t need to match those of a graduate theology student—whatever helps you remember important passages for yourself or others will suffice. If you prefer keeping your notes within the Bible itself, consider a wide-margin KJV Bible from our collection at The KJV Store. Study Bibles that provide note-taking space offer you the best tools for focusing on the connections made by scholars in reference Bibles.

Make Good Use of the Extra Materials

The extra features found at the back of the Bible provide excellent study material. Your study Bible may provide maps, a concordance, and even character profiles, and it will often come with passage numbers to where these are relevant.