Bible Study in 2012

Here is a re-posting of a Bible Study blog that I wrote last year with some updates.  I hope you plan on making the living and active word of God a part of your new year.

Keeping up to date with the new and different ways to study the Bible is a challenging task as there are so many wide and divergent ways that people go about studying God's word. To keep this as simple as possible let's ask a few questions.

First, are you content to read an actual Bible, or do you prefer to look up things online?

That alone will make a difference in what you should do next. For instance, if your Bible study is restricted to one Bible, then the choice of that Bible is crucial. This is a good place to talk about versions. What's the deal with so many and what's the point? The point of course is to get as much as you can out of Bible study as possible. That is to say, when Paul said to Timothy to study to show yourselves approved, it benefits not only the believer, but also God's Church! Hover over this reference, 2 Timothy 2: 15 and consider the value of study for the believer as well as the purpose of God.

King James Version. (KJV)

This version has worked well for over 400 years! 2011 marked the 400 year anniversary of this great text. Many of us have a King James memory, as we studied only this version while we were being disciple. The problem is, however, language usage has changed in 400 years and there are some passages that are difficult to negotiate.

New International Version. (NIV)

This is the most popular and widely used version in the last 30 years. It has found its place into our teaching/preaching and discipleship materials. The NIV illustrates the perpetual challenge that translators face in trying to bring the original text of Hebrew and Greek into modern day language usage. As such, they rely on a method of translation that focuses on the "concept" of Scripture rather than the actual words. The translators in 1979 did a fantastic job of staying faithful to the original text, (KJV only detractors notwithstanding) and this translation has been a blessing to the Church. The problem? The NIV is changing. Several years ago, Zondervan produced the TNIV (today's New International Version) one if its "features" was the removal of gender specific language for God. For example, referring to God as a male was discouraged even when the male personal pronouns were used in the original. This is not good.  The future will show those looking for the "original" NIV.  None of the "gender neutral for God" language made it into the new NIV in 2011.  The Assemblies of God chose it as their version along with New King James for the Kid's Fire Bible.  It is not the 1984 version that most are accustomed to, so hold on to that old NIV!  

New American Standard. (NASB)

This is a fantastic version that rather than use the "dynamic equivalence" approach of the NIV translators, focused on word for word translation. The faithful work of these scholars has stood the test of time and the NASB still exists as the gold standard of translation work. The problem of course is the readability of the text. This is why it never took hold in church use.

English Standard Version  (ESV)

The ESV is a triumph of biblical scholarship. Focusing on a word for word translation and using the latest in textual analysis tools, the scholars of the ESV have produced an amazing translation that is not only readable but focuses on conveying the word for word standard of the King James and NASB. This is the version that I use in the pulpit as well as the classroom.  Consider this from the preface to the ESV to help illustrate my enthusiasm for this version:

We know that no Bible translation is perfect or final; but we also know that God uses imperfect and inadequate things to his honor and praise. So to our triune God and to his people we offer what we have done, with our prayers that it may prove useful, with gratitude for much help given, and with ongoing wonder that our God should ever have entrusted to us so momentous a task.

Soli Deo Gloria!—To God alone be the glory!

New Living Translation  (NLT)

If you remember the Living Bible, then you can appreciate what the New Living Translation has done. This is an amazingly relevant translation that will span the test of time. Many churches have adopted its use rather than the ESV because of its amazing readability. What's the issue? It follows, like the NIV, the dynamic equivalence approach of translation. Personally, I have no problem with this, but you cannot interpret the NIV or the NLT without doing exegesis or word studies on the text.

Holman Christan Standard Bible  (HCSB)

This Bible is a direct translation from Broadman and Holman publishers. (The Baptists) This publishing house is owned by the Southern Baptist convention. The Assemblies of God has yet to come up with their own version of the Bible, but thankfullythe HCSB is a faithful word for word translation on the lines of the KJV, ESV, and NASB. It has shown up mostly in theme oriented Bibles for children, youth, and professions.

As I continue, let me simply say that if you study your Bible with paper only. You should invest in a study Bible. My recommendation is the ESV Study Bible. You can find it at www.mardel.com ; sometimes cheaper at www.christianbook.com or the publisher's site itself: www.crossway.com The ESV Study Bible has 20000 notes and resources that are a wonderful introduction to all that is good in Christian Theology. With the purchase of any ESV Bible, they also give you a code where you can search online and find many other resources for FREE.

If you prefer to use online and/or phone Bibles, an amazing world of learning and adventure awaits you.

If you are interested in indepth study of Scripture using your computer, Then allow me to direct you to 4 different options. As you look at these, think of them the way you think of automobiles. You don't need them all, you only need 1. 

E-Sword. This is free and amazing. If you want to save the most money and get the most value, stop here. www.e-sword.com

The next bang for your buck with an amazing interface and many conservative resources is BibleSoft

The next resource is Wordsearch. It has many features with the ability to expand your library as well as a great interface. It has recently been purchased by Lifeway.  

The best….by far….is Logos. It's the same in features and price as the ones already mentioned, but you might prefer the interface or focus of the others. As you add resources, however, it becomes more powerful and more expensive: way more expensive. The people at Logos are committed to the primacy of Scripture and have created ways to search and study the Bible that are not available anywhere else (they simply built a better mouse trap) and they charge $$$$ for it. Logos is available for the PC, MAC, the iPhone, Android phones and tablets as well.


I dare you to ask me about Logos Bible Software :-)

If you are a mac user then I think your problem is solved with logos, but you also might like accordance

If you are a crazy original language study person and refuse to use logos then you should take a look at Bibleworks

Then there's the question of Phones.

If you have a smartphone. You have the ability to read the Bible, your devotions, do word studies and have a Bible reading plan. The question is what kind of phone do you have? If it's an Iphone, you have a wide array of choices. If you use a blackberry or android based phone you can find a Bible and reading plan for your device at:

www.olivetree.com

This developer has the most vast and easy to use resources for phones and tablets.

My favorite is

www.logos.com instant word studies on your phone….do I need to say more? J

many users like:

www.youversion.com

for a nice dramatic Bible,

www.bible.is

There are MANY others. I've just listed the ones I'm aware of. The amazing thing to me is the ability to customize Bible reading plans. This can be done with the top three Bible software programs and some of the phone apps.

E-Readers

If you use an e-reader like Kindle or Nook you used to have to purchase individual Bibles. Not anymore. I'm personally partial to Nook Color as it is IN COLOR, and has the capacity mark up text, attach notes, and keep your place as well as recommend what you read through facebook, and twitter. 
 Now, in 2012 there are a number of tablets available.  The latest is the Kindle Fire which is in COLOR.   As I mentioned above, both Olive Tree and Logos have Bibles for devices running on the Android platform.  

Finally, there is the question of Bible searching

The hands down most popular online searching interface is Bible Gateway. Using "the cloud" keeps you from having to have the Bible on a device like a desktop, laptop, or smartphone, and meets the needs of most people for Bible searching. My preference is being able to search across several versions, which I'm not sure you can do. Bible Gateway has the most online features it appears.

Bible.logos.com I think has the future in view but no customizable reading plans like Bible Gateway

However you study the Bible does not matter, what matters is whether or not, you are studying Scripture.  Technology has obviously made it easier for all of us, the question remains whether or not we will. 


Consider this great encouragement from a writer of Scripture himself.

Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," ¹⁸ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹ And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, ²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. ²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:16–21 (ESV)

May the Lord bless you as you study His word.