Tip 014 – Use Your Study Bible

You bought a study Bible. Now are you actually using it?

Many of us purchase a study Bible because we want to understand Scripture more deeply, but then we end up using it exactly like a regular Bible. We read the biblical text, glance at an occasional note, close it, and move on. Meanwhile, hundreds of pages of resources designed to help us understand Scripture remain almost completely untouched.

A good study Bible is essentially a Bible study toolbox. Book introductions can introduce you to the historical setting. Cross-references can connect passages across Scripture. Maps can show you where events happened. Charts can organize complicated information. Study notes can help you work through difficult passages.

You don't need to use every tool every time you study. The goal is to become familiar enough with them that you know which tool to reach for when you need it. Here are five ways to start getting more from the study Bible you already own.

1. Read the Book Introduction

Before beginning a new book of the Bible, resist the temptation to immediately jump into chapter one. Start with the book introduction.

A good introduction will usually answer several important questions. Who wrote this book? When was it written? Who was the original audience? What was happening historically? Why was it written? What are some of its major themes?

Think about the impact these answers can change your reading. Understanding the circumstances surrounding one of Paul's letters, for example, gives you a framework for interpreting what he says throughout the letter. Instead of encountering isolated teachings, you begin to understand why Paul is addressing certain issues in the first place.

Make the introduction part of your normal study process. Those few extra minutes can give you context that helps you understand everything that follows.

2. Follow the Cross-References

Those tiny letters and numbers scattered around the biblical text are easy to ignore, but they can lead to some of the most rewarding moments in Bible study.

Cross-references connect the passage you're reading with related passages elsewhere in Scripture. They can show you where an Old Testament passage is quoted in the New Testament, where the same event is recorded elsewhere, where a similar word or theme appears, or where another biblical writer discusses the same subject.

Instead of allowing someone else to immediately explain the passage to you, cross-references allow you to explore more of Scripture for yourself. Scripture is best interpreted by Scripture. Follow a few of them and ask why those passages have been connected.

3. Use the Study Notes Wisely

Study notes are probably the most frequently used feature in a study Bible, but it's important to remember what they are. The biblical text is Scripture. The notes underneath it are someone's explanation of Scripture. That distinction matters.

When you encounter a difficult passage, resist the temptation to immediately look down and read the explanation. Read the biblical text carefully first. Observe what it says. Consider the surrounding context. Ask your own questions and think through the passage before consulting the notes.

Then use the notes as a resource. They may provide historical information, explain an ancient custom, clarify a difficult phrase, discuss the original language, or present different interpretations of a passage.

Study notes should assist your study rather than replace it. Let Scripture have the first word, then allow good scholarship to help you understand what you've read.

4. Explore Maps and Charts

Some questions are easier to answer visually. Where exactly did Paul travel on his missionary journeys? How far was Jerusalem from Jericho? Where were the seven churches of Revelation located? What kingdoms surrounded Israel during a particular period?

This is where maps become incredibly valuable. Geography can help you understand distances, terrain, political boundaries, travel routes, battles, and relationships between different regions.

Charts and timelines serve a similar purpose. They can help organize kings, prophets, covenants, genealogies, historical events, or complicated sequences that might otherwise be difficult to follow.

When you encounter a journey, location, historical sequence, or complicated group of people, see whether your study Bible contains a map, chart, or timeline that can help you visualize what you're reading.

5. Study the Bigger Picture

It's possible to understand individual verses while still missing the larger message of a biblical book. This is where outlines, theme notes, and longer articles in your study Bible become especially useful.

Look at how the book is organized. What themes continue appearing? How does one section lead into another? What argument is the author developing? How does this particular book contribute to the larger story of Scripture?

For example, understanding the overall argument of Romans helps you interpret individual verses within Paul's larger train of thought. Understanding the structure of a Gospel helps you recognize how the author is progressively revealing who Jesus is.

Don't allow your Bible study to become so focused on individual verses that you lose sight of the book surrounding them. Sometimes you need to zoom in, and sometimes you need to zoom out.

Put Your Study Bible to Work

You don't need to completely change the way you study tomorrow. Start with one feature. Before reading a new book, read its introduction. The next time you encounter a cross-reference, follow it. When Scripture mentions an unfamiliar location, find it on a map. When a passage is difficult, study it yourself and then consult the notes.

As you become familiar with these resources, you'll begin instinctively knowing where to look when questions arise. The goal is simple, to become a more capable student of God's Word.

If you're still trying to find the right study Bible, start with Bible Study Tip #013: Choose the Right Study Bible, where I break down five things to look for when selecting one.