A Helpful Guide to Using a Study Bible

Let’s face it, at times the Bible can be hard to understand! A good study Bible, in a translation that you can easily read and understand, is one of the best tools for helping you understand and make sense of the Bible. It is a simple way to get access to historical context and other key insights that may be missed when reading a Bible passage on its own. 

WHAT IS A STUDY BIBLE?

A study Bible contains the full text of the Old and New Testament while bringing together collective research and historical insights discovered by Bible scholars. All the original scripture is intact, but extra notes, maps and references are added to a study Bible to guide the reader in understanding context and meaning within each verse. Here are just a few of the features you’ll often find in a study Bible:

1. Book Introductions - At the beginning of each book is information on the author, audience, culture, history and background of each book. These sections are valuable when studying the Author or History.

2. Study Notes/Commentary - Located usually on the bottom half of each page of a study Bible are verse-by-verse insights carefully curated by groups of Biblical scholars. While not scripture themselves, they typically include research that outlines the history, culture or background of a passage to help you understand the passage more clearly. Because they can help in word studies and point to other passages throughout the Bible that speak on the same topic, study Bible notes are helpful when studying all of CHARA: Context, History, Author, Research, and Apply.

3. Cross References - Often found in the margins around the scripture verses, each verse has cross references to other passages throughout the book or Bible that can help when studying Context, as you can easily find passages that correlate to what you’re studying.

4. Maps/Charts/Diagrams/Timelines - Found throughout a study Bible are maps that show geographical context, plus charts and timelines that help organize large ideas or time frames. Additionally, some study Bibles include diagrams, illustrations, and other visuals to help understand the landscape, history, geography or time period when diving deeper into understanding the History.

5. Concordances - In the back of a study Bible is an alphabetized list of key words along with passage references of where these key words can be located throughout the Bible. This option is great when looking for additional Biblical references to a specific topic.

6. Articles - In some study Bibles are articles written by Biblical scholars to provide historical insight, address theological issues or to help with application of the Bible in our daily lives. They typically reflect the opinions and interpretations of the Bible scholars that helped collaborate on the study Bible, and are not considered scripture themselves.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF A STUDY BIBLE?

While scripture can be read on its own, we see throughout the Bible how the Holy Spirit used people to explain God’s Word to others. We see examples of this in the Bible:

• Acts 8:26-35 - When Philip ran into a Eunuch that did not understand scripture and Philip sat alongside the man to explain what it meant.

• Acts 18:24-26 - When Priscilla and Aquila met a man named Apollos who didn’t understand the message of the gospel and explained it to him.

The study Bible is a way for expert Bible scholars to pass along their knowledge to us, and help us understand God’s Word more clearly, without having to be in the same room as each other.

Note: Study Bibles can be very helpful for a variety of reasons, but the notes and articles in any study Bible are not considered scripture and may represent the opinions of the scholars writing them. When studying the Bible, it is our desire for you to be able to interpret the scripture on your own over time, and determine the purpose of the passage based on the context, history, author, and deeper word study.

WHAT STUDY BIBLES DO WE RECOMMEND?

Here at The Chara Project we have a lot of favorite study Bibles. If you’re interested in viewing or purchasing one from our full list of recommended Bibles, check out the link below!

WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD A STUDY BIBLE?

Don’t have easy access or can’t afford a study Bible? No worries. We believe the Bible was written for everyone and it is our JOY to help as many people as possible access the life-changing Word of God and have created a program just for you.*

We ask that those requesting a Free study Bible for themselves or a friend, to please fill out a form to provide us with more details to fulfill the request.

We have a select number of Bibles available to give away monthly. While we can’t answer every request, we will try our best to fulfill as many requests as possible.

* At this time, the Request a Study Bible Program is only available in the United States.