BIBLE STUDY BY LINKING

BIBLE STUDY BY LINKING

Friday, September 25, 2015

  Long before Bible study cybertooling, there were study Bibles containing methodical systematic chain referencing of verses and passages of Scripture.

  Recommended by my elder mentors, my first was a hardback copy of The Scofield Reference Bible. Over 50 years and I still have and use, duct and surgical tape and all. (I have newer large print leather bound soft cover, but the old beater lays open at-hand to the left of monitor. Why? It’s not just all the handwritten notes, for some reason the pages turn more easily and I can find things easier in it . . . at times knowing “left side top of page” et al.)

  Originally copyrighted in 1909, it remains a fine tool for studying and is still available.

  Using KJV Scofield as an example, how do they work? A few examples:

·         KJV Genesis 1:1 “In the abeginning 1bGod created the heaven and the earth.” Go to “a” in center column and you’ll find John 1:1 referenced: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Go to “1b” in center column and discover “Diety” directing to “Elohim” footnote at bottom of page plus chain reference.

·         The first mention of faith is Genesis 3:20. An italicized h is to the left of “called”. Looking at the center column, I see “h Faith” with the next mention in Gen.4:4. Next to it is “(Gen.3:20; Heb.11:39)”, the first and last mentions of faith in Scripture. Go to Gen.4:4, the next link, and you’ll see “d Faith” with the next reference which is Gen.4:4. Continue linking forward and you will study verses on faith. When you finally arrive at Heb.11:39 you will find “1 d faith” in verse. Go to “1” at bottom of page and find brief topical summary on faith.

  Are there other study Bibles available? There are. Check out your local Bible store or go to http://www.christianbook.com/ or some other Christian literature supplier website. Single volume study Bibles are available in numerous English or other language versions. The Zondervan NIV Study Bible and Moody Press’s NIV Ryrie Study Bible are two. Such Bibles are also available in other languages.

  Using a study Bible to its fullest is a great 2Timothy 2:15 aid . . . and it may even give you more understanding than all your teachers. (Ps.119:99) J EBB4

PS. Scofield was the first study Bible with multiple aids and features. C.I.Scofield was a virtually unknown, but for some unrecorded reason the prestigious Oxford Press took the risk of publishing Scofield. It was soon a top seller and still sells well these days.