Bible Study Tools overview Part 1

Understanding what the Bible says is something we all struggle with from time to time. A lot of times, that struggle gets in the way of us studying the Bible. As a student of the Bible, I am learning how to study the Bible in a way that I can understand it.

You don’t have to go to seminary to learn how to study the Bible, even though if you get a chance to go, I would take advantage of the opportunity.

You have to have the right tools to help you.

What would be some tools that would help in studying the Bible?

Here is a list to start. . . . .

1.Bible
2. Notebook (pens, highlighters, etc.)
3.Dictionary
4. Bible Concordance
5. Maps
6. Bible Handbook
7. Bible Commentaries


In this post, we will go through part of this list and finish up in the next post (Bible Study Tools overview Part 2.)

1.Bible
I guess you would say that the Bible is an obvious tool that we need. But this could get a little complicated because it’s important to choose the right Bible for you. Especially the right translation. Some translations are hard to read and understand. Then add the book of Leviticus in the mix, and you will be lost. So it is essential to find a translation that you can read and understand to study that Bible.

There are many translations to choose from.

Just pick one and start reading. See if you can understand what it is saying.

Here are a few suggestions to look at. . .

English Standard Version (ESV)
New Living Translation (NLT)
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)


And the great thing is that you can go to websites such as

Bible Gateway, Bible Hub, Blue Letter Bible, or Bible Study Tools
All of these sites have the afore mention Bible translations and more.

So find a Bible translation that you can read and understand


2. Notebook (pens, highlighters, etc.)
Why a notebook? The notebook is for you to write down insights as you read and study the Bible. It is important to capture these points because we are called not just to listen and hear the Word, but we must also be doers of the Word.

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” James 1:22-25 NLT

This could be applied to us just studying the Word, and not letting what we study change us to be more like Christ.

A notebook will help you record the things that the Holy Spirit reveals to you that you might need to change, start practicing, or something that speaks to you if you are experiencing a difficult time.
So in the weeks and months to follow, you can read back over what God has shown us through His Word. It can be a reminder to you to continue to mature in your faith.


3.Dictionary
Yes, you see it right, a dictionary. As you know, the Bible is a book, and books are made up of words. If you don’t understand what those words mean, you will not understand what you are reading.

When you read, you need to look up words you do not know the meaning. When you understand all of the words, you understand what the text is stating. So as you read the Bible, I encourage you to look up words you don’t know the meaning. If you are new to reading the Bible, you might not know what “righteousness” means or “blasphemy.”

Having an English and a Bible dictionary will help.

Here are a few suggestions you can look up.

Unger’s Bible dictionary
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary


You can again also always go to online resources like Bible Gateway, Bible Hub, Blue Letter Bible, Bible Study Tools


They have dictionaries online for you to use. Often, I like to sit down with a book instead of a screen, but that’s just me.

Knowing how to study the Bible is only part of the battle; we have to have the right tools to help in our understanding of God’s Word.

It is only after we understand that we know what to do to apply it to our lives.

Pray this was helpful. Please come back next week for the rest of the list!