Assembly Instructions: Using Resources in Bible Study

How to Read the Bible, Part 2

Some people find a lot of joy in revamping aspects of their house. I am not one of those people.

Not too long ago, we decided that our living room needed a little facelift—and by “me,” I mean my wife. I begrudgingly got on board.

In all of our work, perhaps the most eventful—for lack of a better word—was the addition of a new TV stand. It took weeks, but “we” (Farra) finally found one that fit the new aesthetic of the living room. Little did we know, it was not going to be easy.

It arrived in a box the size of a small car and contained more pieces than my 6-year-old knows how to count.

Making matters even worse… the assembly instructions were written in another language.

Long story short, I tried to assemble this thing for six hours, ultimately having to deconstruct it three times. Insane!

Finally, I went on YouTube, looked up the TV stand, and guess what? Someone else had the same problem and made an assembly video to help make sense of the process. I owe that dude money!

Guess what else has its origins in other languages? Guess what else is easier to interpret with support? You guessed it…

It’s Okay to Get Help

The Bible is an intricate, multi-layered text, and while you can certainly read it on your own, using the right support tools—like study Bibles, commentaries, Bible dictionaries, concordances, atlas’, etc.—can help you understand it more deeply and accurately, saving you a lot of confusion along the way.

Using resources for Bible study isn’t about admitting defeat; it’s about recognizing that God has blessed us with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom from those who have studied his Word before us. Proverbs 11:14 (ESV) reminds us, "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." Think of these tools as a community of support, helping you navigate the complexities of scripture.

I say all that to say not only is it okay to get help, but I would argue it is essential.

Practical Tips

You wouldn’t try to cook a complicated dish without a recipe, right? Study tools can serve as your “recipe” for interpreting scripture, offering historical context, cultural background, and scholarly insights to deepen your understanding and enrich your study.

Thus, the next logical question is: what resources should I use, and how do I use them? Here is a list of some helpful tools to consider…

• Study Bibles

  • A good study Bible is like having a trusted guide as you read. It includes cross-references, explanations, maps, and notes that can help clarify difficult passages and provide additional context. The ESV Study Bible and the NIV Study Bible are fantastic resources—the notes are detailed enough to be helpful but not so dense that they overwhelm you.

  • [[ For what it’s worth since we are talking about it, I would also recommend using more than one translation of the Bible. This is deserving of a post-all-its-own, but for simplicity's sake, pairing a more word-for-word Bible (like the NASB or ESV) with a more thought-for-thought Bible (like the NLT or Message) can help wrap your head around certain scriptures at a deeper level. ]]

• Commentaries

  • Commentaries are like conversing with a Bible scholar who’s done all the heavy lifting for you. They provide verse-by-verse explanations and insights from experts who have spent years studying the Scriptures.

  • [[ For what it’s worth, make sure you research the author of the commentary. It will help you understand the perspective from which they come and the overall goal of the commentary—that is to say, is it focused on historical context, mythological backgrounds, practical application, etc? Balance in commentaries is critical here! ]]

• Bible Dictionaries

  • A Bible dictionary is like your go-to glossary for all things biblical. It provides definitions and explanations of key terms, names, places, and concepts found in scripture. It helps to clarify words or ideas that may be unfamiliar or culturally significant. For example, if you’re reading about the "Tabernacle" or "Pharisees," a Bible dictionary will give you the historical and theological background you need to understand their importance.

• Concordances

  • A concordance is your roadmap to finding specific words or themes throughout the Bible. It lists every instance of a particular word in scripture, showing where it appears and in what context. This is especially helpful if you’re studying"grace" or "faith" and want to see where these words are used. Strong’s Concordance is a popular and comprehensive option, linking the words to their original Hebrew or Greek meanings.

• Bible Atlas’

  • A Bible atlas provides geographical context, offering maps and details about the places mentioned in scripture. This helps bring the biblical world to life by showing the locations of significant events, journeys, and battles. For example, when you read about Paul's missionary journeys or the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, an atlas can give you a clearer picture of the landscapes they traversed, adding another layer of depth to your study.

Putting It All Together

R.C. Sproul once said, "We are not only to observe what the text says but also to determine what it means by what it says." This is where these tools come in—they help us move from observation to interpretation, ensuring that we’re not just reading the Bible but understanding it as God intended.

In using the resources, you are making space for the Holy Spirit to move in incredible ways that not only consider God’s written word but also the depths of interpretation throughout history. It is such a beautiful journey!

[[ For what it’s worth, be careful not to take this to the extreme. The first place to start is with the Holy Spirit, our counselor. Study is a careful balance of being Spirit-led and informed in light of what we know about the biblical text. ]]

Let’s say you’re reading the parable of the “Good Samaritan” in Luke 10. A study Bible might note the cultural significance of the relationship between Jews and Samaritans, helping you understand why Jesus used a Samaritan as the story's hero. A commentary might delve into the legal expert’s question, "Who is my neighbor?" and explain how Jesus’ answer redefines the concept of neighborliness in radical terms. A Bible dictionary could help you explore the concept of mercy, showing its recurring theme throughout Scripture.

…and so on…

Try It Out!

Here’s another challenge!

This week, pick a passage from the Gospels and use at least one resource—a study Bible, commentary, or anything else mentioned in this post—to dig deeper. Start small, maybe with just a few verses, and see how these tools can open up new layers of understanding.

From there, try to incorporate some of these practices into your everyday Bible study. You’ll eventually develop a library of resources and a disciplined study routine.

Hopefully, That Made Sense

Using tools to study the Bible isn’t about taking shortcuts; it’s about enriching your understanding and getting the most out of your time in the Word. Just like you wouldn’t tackle a complex recipe without a good cookbook or try to build that God-forsaken TV stand with YouTube, don’t feel like you have to navigate the Bible on your own.

There’s a whole world of resources out there designed to help you dive deeper into God’s word and uncover its deeper interpretation.

Until next time,

Petey