For successful Bible study, one must understand not only the method but also have access to some helpful resources. The resources mentioned below are highly accessible to all and will aid the Bible student in accomplishing critical tasks in their understanding of a text.
[h=2]FOR BACKGROUND[/h]For the New Testament, Carson and Moo’ s Introduction to the New Testament seeks to answer needed historical questions such authorship, date, purpose, and destination. The authors provide a substantial summary of each book’s content, discuss the book’s theological contribution to the overall canon, give a historical survey examining Bible study method through the ages, and give an account of current scholarship on every NT book. The chapter on Paul has been expanded to include an analysis of debates on the “new perspective,” and the discussion of New Testament epistles has been expanded to form a new chapter.
For the Old Testament, Longman and Dillard’ s An Introduction to the Old Testament integrates and interacts with recent developments in Old Testament scholarship. It is thoroughly evangelical in its perspective, it emphasizes ‘special introduction’ and the study of individual books, and it interacts with the historical-critical method. This introduction deals with the meaning of each book, not in isolation, but in a canonical context as it probes the meaning of each book in the setting of its culture. This upper-level introduction to the Old Testament offers students a solid understanding of three key issues: historical background, literary analysis, and theological message.
[h=2]FOR READING [/h]The ESV Study Bible is an excellent Bible to own. As a Literal translation combined with evangelical scholarship, it is uniquely suited for the serious Bible study. The ESV Study Bible contains two kinds of words. As one of the most comprehensive study Bible ever published, with notes, maps, illustrations, charts, timelines, and articles, it is the equivalent of a 20-volume Bible study library.
[h=2] FOR ANALYZING SIGNIFICANT WORDS[/h]For New Testament words, NIDNTTA is an abridgment of Colin Brown’s original four volume work and is arranged with its entries in Greek alphabet order, which makes it easy to find the discussion of a particular word. All Greek words are transliterated into English and linked with their Goodrick/Kohlenberger numbers. This is an indispensable yet accessible resource to study New Testament words in their contexts.
For Old Testament words, The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament includes discussions of every Hebrew word of theological significance in the Old Testament, plus brief definitions of all other words found in the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon. Keyed to Strong’s Concordance, the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament has been a longtime favorite of serious students of the Bible—pastors and laypeople alike The articles focus on theological meanings of importance and do not include lengthy technical linguistic discussions. Virtually exhaustive bibliographies of published material relating to the words discussed are also included, as is a special section of Aramaic words used in the Old Testament.
[h=2] FOR BIBLICAL CONTEXT [/h]The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is comprehensive, user-friendly and versatile, providing the reader with an essential study tool for private devotions, teaching or preaching. Complete with over 500,000 Scripture references and parallel passages, this reference work contains the most exhaustive listing of biblical cross references available anywhere.
FOR CONSULTING OTHERS
As the last step, consulting the wisdom of The New Bible commentary by Wenham, Motyer, Carson, and France is an excellent way to get a brief understanding of the text you are studying. This readable and accessible volume brings together many of the finest scholars of our day to meet the needs of students, teachers and Bible readers. The 21st-century edition of the New Bible Commentary offers 66 solid, concise, evangelical commentaries on each book of the Bible.