A study Bible will include, along with the biblical text, several tools you can use to help you understand God's Word. The above picture is a typical page in my NIV Study Bible. Within the text are a lot of little letters. They are there to direct you to information you may find relevant to what you are studying.
The ones that direct you to other scriptures are called cross-references, and they're a great way to navigate your way through the Scriptures.
The ones that direct you to other scriptures are called cross-references, and they're a great way to navigate your way through the Scriptures.
In John chapter 1, verse 1, there is a tiny letter "a" after the word "Word." When you look at the cross-references for 1:1 you'll see that little "a" again. It tells me I might want to look at Isaiah 55:11 and Revelation 19:13 as verses that might shed more light on this one. "In the beginning was the Word,..."
Rev. 19:13, in talking about Jesus, reads "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God." (The cross-reference for this verse, incidentally, points me right back to John 1:1.) As I continue to study the first chapter of John, I will realize that "the Word" is one of the names of Jesus.
Rev. 19:13, in talking about Jesus, reads "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God." (The cross-reference for this verse, incidentally, points me right back to John 1:1.) As I continue to study the first chapter of John, I will realize that "the Word" is one of the names of Jesus.
Sometimes the cross-references will point you to a variety of verses that may help illuminate a particular verse. Verse 2 is seen in the cross-reference as 1:2 and gives you six more verses you can look at. The first one, Genesis 1:1, reads "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Our verse here, speaking of the Word, says "He was with God in the beginning." When we put both verses together we start to understand that Jesus existed along with God at the time when everything was first created.
In this particular study Bible, the cross-reference letters are all italicized, meaning they look like this a not like this a.
The letters that aren't italicized are meant to point you toward a footnote. This footnote is giving an alternate way to translate this particular verse. While the translation they used was "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." the translaters also feel the verse could be translated "This was the true light that gives light to every man who comes into the world."
The different ways of translating changes the meaning slightly, so they want you to be aware of both ways of reading it.
The letters that aren't italicized are meant to point you toward a footnote. This footnote is giving an alternate way to translate this particular verse. While the translation they used was "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." the translaters also feel the verse could be translated "This was the true light that gives light to every man who comes into the world."
The different ways of translating changes the meaning slightly, so they want you to be aware of both ways of reading it.
Also useful in your study Bible is the commentary. Commentaries are usually written by Biblical scholars, and they help explain the text, or give you background that might help you understand it. The commentary above is for John 1:1 and it is specifically talking about the words "In the beginning." And sending you to Genesis 1:1.
Commentaries are useful, however they are not the Word of God as the scriptures are. They are more like having a really good Bible teacher with you, but if you're not quite sure about their background or interpretation, you can do a little more research on your own.
Notice the little leaf icon next to the 1:1.
Commentaries are useful, however they are not the Word of God as the scriptures are. They are more like having a really good Bible teacher with you, but if you're not quite sure about their background or interpretation, you can do a little more research on your own.
Notice the little leaf icon next to the 1:1.
Study Bibles have a little section near the front telling you how they have arranged the materials to help you. This little icon is supposed to call my attention to Scripture references containing study notes that have practical principles that I can apply to my life.
If I saw the little shovel instead, it would be pointing to archaeological information.
If you do not have a study Bible, you can purchase the some of the reference materials common to these bibles separately. There are many commentaries available, as well as concordances, atlases, Bible dictionaries, etc. All of these tools are meant to help you understand God's Word, but they do not replace God's Word.
Have fun exploring your Bible.
If I saw the little shovel instead, it would be pointing to archaeological information.
If you do not have a study Bible, you can purchase the some of the reference materials common to these bibles separately. There are many commentaries available, as well as concordances, atlases, Bible dictionaries, etc. All of these tools are meant to help you understand God's Word, but they do not replace God's Word.
Have fun exploring your Bible.
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