Study Tools: Recommended Resources

Rather than assigning a specific textbook (which you will use for Bible Journey and then donate to the rummage sale), this course is encouraging you to build your own library of resources (print or digital) that you will continue to use whenever you read the Bible. It is suggested especially that you invest in a good or a resource that similarly provides an introduction to and overview of each book of the Bible.

Study

A good study Bible will include an introduction to each book that addresses authorship, date, audience, historical context, genre, content, and similar issues. It will also include study notes for most verses or units to give helpful linguistic, cultural, biblical, or other relevant information to help the reader better understand the text. Some study Bibles also include sidebars or additional articles to provide deeper understanding of specific topics.

NIV (or NRSV) Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, ed. John Walton and Craig Keener (, 2016). Angle: Moderately conservative. Strengths: Focuses on archaeology and the cultural background, giving insights otherwise difficult for a modern reader to know. Also includes articles, images, maps, and a concordance. Other info: The introductions are briefer than in other study Bibles. The NIV text is the 2011 NIV, which is an update from the 1984 NIV and uses more gender-inclusive language. This study Bible also has recently been published in an NRSV version, which is the translation used at St. Matthew.

The CEB Study Bible, ed. Joel Green (2013). Angle: Mainline. Strengths: Good introductions and study notes that are from various denominations and attempt to present a range of views. Includes some visuals. Other info: The CEB () is a recent translation, intended to be read in mainline churches. In an attempt to be understandable in modern English, it has some quirky or less-familiar readings. This study Bible is recommended for its study materials, not for its base translation. It is suggested that you read this alongside another translation.

The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, ed. Walter Harrelson (2003). Angle: Mainline; multiple traditions. Strengths: Good introductions and study notes, with sidebars. Attempts to present a range of views. Other info: Uses the NRSV translation, the version used at St. Matthew. Includes the Apocrypha (part of Catholic Bibles, but not Protestant). Has some overlap in study content with the CEB Study Bible, but the two are not identical. This Bible has a slightly more scholarly feel of the two and lacks the visuals.

Book-by-Book Introductions

This kind of introduction or overview is like a collection of the introductions to each book of the Bible that you would find in a good study Bible (addressing authorship, date, audience, historical context, genre, content, and similar issues). In that sense, it makes a good supplement to a regular Bible, especially if you do not have a study Bible. Similar resources can be found both in print and online.

Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible Book by Book (Zondervan, 2002). Angle: Moderately conservative. Strengths: For each book of the Bible, it provides background information, an overview, and advice for reading the book; similar to a collection of Cliff’s Notes. Other info: Written as a companion to their popular book How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, which addresses each genre in the Bible and focuses on interpretation.

Diane Jacobson and Robert Kysar, A Beginner’s Guide to the Books of the Bible (Augsburg, 1991). Angle: Lutheran (ELCA). Strengths: Provides a brief introduction to each book of the Bible, addressing background and content. Other info: This doesn’t provide much more than a good study Bible, and in some ways less. Similar information can be found online. 1

Enter the Bible (https://www.enterthebible.org/). Angle: Lutheran (ELCA). Strengths: Provides background information, overview, and outline for each book of the Bible, as well as some articles and videos on specific topics. Other info: Written by professors at Luther Seminary. Format is not phone friendly, but increase in size for better viewing.

NIV Study Bible (https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/). Angle: Moderately conservative. Strengths: Provides introductions to sections and books of the Bible, from the NIV Study Bible.

The Bible Project (https://thebibleproject.com/). Angle: Moderately conservative. Strengths: For people who are more visual, this provides a video and poster giving an overview of each book of the Bible. There are also videos and podcasts on specific themes and passages. Other info: Made locally in Portland. The project is funded through crowd funding, so some videos include an advertisement at the end.

Bible Handbooks

A Bible handbook is similar to the study materials found in a study Bible, but in one volume and without the biblical text. A good handbook will include valuable information for each book of the Bible as well as additional sidebars and articles on specific topics. Like study Bibles, handbooks can tend to be very heavy books, so they are better as reference works that you consult at home.

Commentaries

If you have moved past an introductory level for a given book of the Bible and want to dig deeper than you can go with the notes in a study Bible, you should consult a commentary. There are endless commentaries available on every book of the Bible. There are some in St. Matthew’s library, as well as in the public libraries and in local religious or university libraries (which you usually must use in the library rather than being able to check out). There are also some one-volume commentaries available, which include the entire Bible in one volume; these are necessarily less detailed and are similar to the content of a study Bible, although sometimes more cohesive and linear.

Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Concordances, and Other Reference Books

With the advent of the internet, it is less important for readers to own a copy of dictionaries and similar reference works, since so much information is available online. For the average reader, the content available online is sufficient for reading and understanding the Bible. For the more advanced reader or teacher, however, it is helpful to have access to the best and most recent resources, which are often not available for free online. See the list of online resources for more information.

A general overview: • Bible dictionaries typically do more than simply define words; they are similar to encyclopedias by including full articles on different topics, sometimes with bibliography or discussions of most occurrences of the term in the Bible. • Bible encyclopedias are therefore similar to dictionaries but often include more extensive articles, sometimes more selectively, on fewer topics than a dictionary. • Concordances list out the occurrences of a given word in the Bible, but the same can be accomplished for English Bibles by doing a word search at a Bible website. Thus, concordances are most valuable when they are based on the Hebrew and Greek, such as Strong’s Concordance (available at Blue Letter Bible and Logos websites/apps). • Another helpful resource for reading the Bible is a text on interpretation that discusses how to read the Bible or different ways of interpreting it. (How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Fee and Stuart is a standard text on genre and interpretation.) • Textbooks can also function similar to a Bible handbook by providing a basic overview of different books or parts of the Bible.

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Electronic and Digital Bible Versions and Resources

About Free Online Resources

An important thing to know about Bible commentaries, dictionaries, and so forth that you can find for free online is that these typically are rather old, and out of date in the sense that newer research and scholarship has brought newer insights into the biblical text. Because of copyrights, only books in the public domain (that is, published prior to a certain date) can be offered for free. (In some instances, however, publishers have made newer resources available for free, such as the IVP NT Commentary at Bible Gateway [https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/ivp-nt/toc/], the NIV Study Bible at Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/], or the Faithlife Study Bible through Faithlife [https://bible.faithlife.com].)

There are many, many resources available for the Bible, from over 2000 years of study, so be discerning, and be gracious when you disagree with their point of view. If you encounter a resource or teacher with whom you are unfamiliar, it is helpful to do an online search and find out some background information.

Bible Websites

These websites, similar to the apps, provide along with other study resources. (For study resources alone, see information under “Book-by-Book Introductions.”)

Site Bible Versions Study Resources Other Bible Gateway Includes most of the recent Limited resources available for Recommended; also has an English translations (and older free through Bible Gateway Plus; app ones), as well as a number of several study Bibles available foreign languages; also audio through paid version Blue Letter Bible Several recent (and older) This is a good site for Greek and Resources lean conservative; versions and translations in Hebrew word studies; other also has an app other languages resources are dated Bible Study Tools Many recent (and older) Study resources are dated, but Advertises articles on versions and translations in this site allows for easily parallel Christian topics, and some other languages comparison between versions lean conservative

Bible Software

If you’re likely to invest in the best Bible texts and study resources, but you prefer to have them on your computer rather than on a bookshelf, then Bible software programs can allow you to purchase major reference works on the Bible and theology in digital format. However, such programs tend to be pricey, but not necessarily any more pricey than purchasing all of those books in print form. This type of resource tends to be mostly for scholars, pastors, students, and hard-core Bible studiers. The primary software sources are Logos (https://www.logos.com/) and Accordance (https://www.accordancebible.com/), with Olive Tree (https://www.olivetree.com/) and Bible Gateway (https://www.biblegateway.com/) offering similar resources but on a more limited scale.

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Bible Apps

Bible Apps are generally more limited than websites. It is good to remember that many apps also have online versions. If your phone is capable of accessing the internet through a web browser, you may be better off using the online version of the site rather than the app. (Try both and see which one works better for you.) Also be aware, however, that some websites function in a more limited capacity on a phone than on a computer and may send you to the app version instead of allowing you to use the full website.

App Bible Versions Study Resources Bible Reading Other Plans YouVersion English and foreign, Limited (videos) A key feature of this Links to videos such as audio app; includes Lumo and the Bible devotions Project; best for devotional use Bible Gateway English and foreign, Some decent Some Includes Scripture audio commentaries for free Engagement Exercises; (IVP, Asbury, NIV); many also check out online modern study Bibles for version monthly subscription Logos Limited English Lexham Bible Dictionary (none?) Includes the Faithlife (ESV, NLT, LEB, and Faithlife Study Bible; Study Bible, which also but not NIV or some other decent has a separate app; good NRSV) and foreign, resources for free, but resources for Greek and Greek, audio (LEB) many are dated; many Hebrew, word studies, more books available for and topical studies purchase Olive Tree Limited English ESV Global Study Bible; (none?) A simpler version of a tool (NIV, ESV, but no limited other resources like Logos NRSV) and foreign for free; more books for purchase Blue Letter Bible Limited English Study resources are (none?) Best used for (NIV, NLT, EST, but dated or lean Greek/Hebrew and word no NRSV) and conservative; good studies foreign resources for Greek/Hebrew and word studies

Summary for Bible Journey Classes

1. Build a library of these resources: • A good study Bible or • A basic Bible and a book-by-book introduction (print or online)

2. Supplement by purchasing, downloading, or bookmarking other helpful resources, such as a Bible website, a Bible app, a Bible handbook, a one-volume commentary, etc.

3. Find a good way to keep lasting notes as you study the Bible: a journal, a notebook, a Bible app that allows note-taking, a journaling Bible, a Bible with margins you can write in, etc. 4

Recommended Bible Resources in St. Matthew’s Library

(Note on using the library: We do not currently have a librarian, so please be respectful in using the card in the back to check out your book, and when you return it, in a timely manner, be sure to return the card to the book and reshelve the book in the right place.)

Individual Commentary Volumes Interpretation Commentary Series (222, in order by author’s name), (Westminster John Knox, 1982-2011): written for pastors and teachers Anchor Bible Commentary Series (220.7 Bib; OT blue covers, NT red), (Doubleday/Yale): tends to be more scholarly and mainline; many of the volumes we own have been revised or replaced in newer volumes in the series for Everyone Commentary Series (226 Wri), by N.T. Wright (Westminster John Knox, c. 2008): a more popular level of writing; one of the more recent series we own

Reference Set The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary (220.7 Bib; black and green covers), 12 vols. (Abingdon, 1998): represents a mix of different theological traditions (as indicated in List of Contributors); includes parallel biblical text, NIV and NRSV; leans toward scholars and pastors

Introduction/Overview Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology (225.6 Ach), ed. Achtemeier, Green, and Thompson (Eerdmans, 2001): a standard textbook for undergrads and seminary students

Additional Resources

Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (220.3), 5 vols., ed. G. Buttrick (Abingdon, 1962) Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (220.3 Ryk), ed. L. Ryken et al. (IVP, 1998) New International Bible Dictionary (220.3 Ten), ed. M. Tenney (Zondervan, 1963)

Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary (220.7 Bar), ed. Barker & Kohlenberger (Zondervan, 1994): an abridgement of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary The Jerome Biblical Commentary (220.7 Bro), ed. Brown, Fitzmyer, Murphy (Prentice-Hall, 1968): Catholic, so follows Catholic Bible; includes other topics The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (220.7 Gae), 12 vols., ed. F. Gaebelein (Zondervan, 1981)

Introducing the Old Testament (221.6 Dra), ed. J. Drane (HarperSanFrancisco, 1987) Old Testament Survey: , Form, and Background of the Old Testament (221.6 La), ed. Lasor et al., 2nd ed. (Eerdmans, 1996)

The Text of the New Testament (225.4 Met), by B. Metzger, 2nd ed. (Oxford, 1968): a standard overview of New Testament textual criticism; a more recent edition is available, co-edited by B. Ehrman Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Abridged in One Volume (225.4), ed. Kittel & Friedrich, G. Bromiley (Eermans, 1985): a condensed version of a massive, multi-volume work; organized by Greek word (in transliteration) Introduction to the New Testament (225.95 Koe), 2 vols., by H. Koester (Fortress, 1982)

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Other Regional Libraries

The Washington County and Multnomah County libraries do contain some commentaries and reference works, to check out or in reference sections. For books they do not carry, you can also request them through interlibrary loan. You can also visit local university libraries, especially Portland Seminary, George Fox, the University of Portland, Concordia University, and Multnomah University (or, further out, Mt. Angel Seminary and the University of Oregon). You can use any of their books while in the library. Some schools will also allow local residents or alumni to purchase a short-term library card for borrowing.

Information on Christian Publishers

One way to discern between resources is to identify the publisher and their theological bent or primary audience. While this will not always tell you exactly the angle of the author or resource, it will help provide some direction. The sources below are roughly ordered from more mainline (or denominational) to more conservative.

Augsburg/Fortress: Lutheran (ELCA) Concordia: Lutheran (Missouri Synod) Abingdon/CEB: United Methodist Westminster John Knox: Presbyterian Ignatius: Catholic Paraclete: Catholic/Mainline Eerdmans: Mainline/Reformed/Evangelical Wipf & Stock/Cascade: Mainline/Evangelical (out of Eugene) Baker/Brazos: Evangelical (Brazos imprint includes some Catholic commentary series and other non-evangelical authors) Zondervan/NIV: Reformed/Evangelical (now owned by HarperCollins) Thomas Nelson: Evangelical (now owned by HarperCollins) InterVarsity/IVP: Evangelical Logos/Lexham/Faithlife: Evangelical (out of Bellingham, WA) Tyndale/NLT: Evangelical Crossway/ESV: Evangelical Holman/Broadman & Holman/B&H/Lifeway: Southern Baptist

Books by universities (Yale, Cambridge, Oxford) tend to have a more scholarly audience. Books by secular publishers (HarperCollins, Penguin) tend to have a more popular-level audience or a more secular bent.

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