When should I use Bible Study Resources to Aid My Study?

An incredible abundance of Bible study resources is available to us today. Between websites, apps, and good old-fashioned books, we have access to a wide range of resources and information. But resources can also be overwhelming and distracting, and we don’t need them as much as you might think.

Christians have constant access to the best Bible study teacher in the world, the Holy Spirit. If you have entered into a saving relationship with Jesus, the Spirit of God lives in you. He helps us understand spiritual truths, reminds us of what we already know of God and His Word, and gives us wisdom to apply it all. (See “How the Holy Spirit Helps Us in Bible Study.”)

We don’t need to run to resources every time we read our Bibles. In fact, I encourage people to work through the study process first, without referring to anything other than the Bible. Observe the text to see what it says. Use the proper interpretation tools to discover God’s original meaning, eternal truths, and spiritual principles. Ask the Holy Spirit how to apply those truths and principles to your life. We can do all that without referring to outside resources. (See “The 4 R Bible Study Method for Every Day Use.”)

5 Times to Use Bible Study Resources

Don’t get me wrong. I use resources often. But I want to give God the opportunity to teach me and speak to me through His Word before referring to resources

So, when should we use resources? The following list is not a comprehensive, but the following are situations when you almost always want to turn to outside resources for help.

1. Before you start reading or studying a new Bible book – Perhaps you’re going to be going through an entire book of the Bible using a reading or study plan. Background information like the author, date of writing, audience, and historical and cultural situation helps us establish the proper context for the book. And the right context is vital for full and correct understanding of the book itself. For more on the need for this knowledge and where to find it, see “First Steps to Study a Bible Book.”
2. To get information on the historical and cultural context – The general background for a book is not the only time we will need help understanding the context. Every book of the Bible was written during a very different time, place, and culture. Every book mentions situations and circumstances we can’t properly understand without knowing more about that time and culture. The original audience didn’t need any explanation. They were living in it. But we often need help. Study Bibles, Bible dictionaries, and commentaries can help with this kind of information. My favorite resource for historical and cultural information is the two volumes of the IVP Bible Background Commentaries. (See the New Testament and Old Testament volumes on Amazon.)
3. For definitions and explanations of the original language –Your English Bible is a translation of the original. If you want to find out more about a key word in a passage, try looking up the definition of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. Looking deeper into the meaning and broader usage of the original words God chose to use can broaden our understanding of His Word. The good news is, these tools are available to everyone. And many of them are free! For a list of resources and how to use them, see “Resources to Study the Original Languages.”
4. To make the best use of your time – Sometimes the passage we’re reading mentions a person, thing, or topic we aren’t familiar with. Rather than searching the whole Bible for information, which would derail us from our current passage, we can quickly look it up in an outside resource. For instance, if your passage mentions the “Feast of Tabernacle” and you haven’t a clue that that is, rather than scouring the Old Testament look it up in a Bible dictionary.
5. When you’re stuck or confused – Sometimes, no matter how much we work through the passage using good study techniques, there’s something we just don’t understand. It happens. Thankfully we have easy access to the wisdom of biblical scholars. When you do refer to a trustworthy commentary, keep in mind that these resources are not divinely inspired or free from error. (See “4 Tips for Handling Difficult Bible Passages.“)

Suggested Resources

You don’t have to have a big home library for successful Bible study. A combination of reliable online sources and a handful of printed resources will cover most needs for the lay Bible student. Check out the following for my recommendations:

• Five Bible Study Resources for Your Home Library
• Ten Online Bible Study Resources
• Resources to Study the Bible’s Greek and Hebrew Words

What are your favorite Bible Study Resources?