By Joe Slater
We frequently
speak of the importance of individual Bible study. Sermons and group Bible
classes ought to be seen as supplements to personal study, not substitutes for
it. And remember the difference between casual reading and study. Reading alone
will benefit you, but study can open doors that casual reading leaves closed.
Obviously, Bible
study requires that you have a Bible to study! Obtain one with a font size that
makes it easy to read. Center column or side column cross references can be
helpful, but be advised that just because a cross reference takes you to a
certain passage, that passage isn’t necessarily talking about the same thing.
You have to study and think! In that same vein, be extremely cautious with
“study Bibles.” Most have some good material, but also contain abundant false
teaching. Here again, study and think!
I recommend
studying from multiple English translations. Not every translation is reliable,
but often something can be gained even by reading a translation that may not be
the best and shouldn’t be your “go to” Bible. For example, I don’t recommend
the NIV as one’s primary Bible, but on occasion it does a respectable job of
clearing up the meaning of a passage. My personal practice is to read a passage
from my primary version (NKJV), but also from the KJV, ASV, NASB, ESV, and NIV.
A good concordance
can make Bible study easier. A concordance is a listing of words (such as
“faith” or “baptism”) showing the passages where those words are used. I prefer
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, but some like Young’s Analytical Concordance
or some other. If you are computer or internet savvy, many concordances are
available online or in computer programs. Once more, just because two passages
use the same word doesn’t necessarily mean they deal with the same thing. Study
and think!
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