I was interested in this as a three-way approach to studying the Bible. I would love to find a study Bible that I can hand to a young Christian that would teach them how to study God's Word for themselves. It was my hope that this may be one of those Bibles. Each book begins with a summary and how-to-study-this-book. As you read through the individual book, segments are highlighted and explained historically. This suits the book-by-book study advertised.
When it comes to verse-by-verse, I guess I was expecting it to explain how to take a verse and study the definitions of the words. Instead, I think the highlighted segments are supposed to be the "verse-by-verse" study. It may just be me, but it didn't seem to fit very well.
Topic-by-topic is a little wanting. I realize that one needs a completely separate concordance to thoroughly study topically, but I suppose I was expecting more than 21 chosen topics. The topics seem to do well for a young Christian who has no basic knowledge of the Bible and they cover solid, doctrinal issues (like the Bible, the Trinity, sanctification, purpose, etc.), but what about digging even deeper?
So, in conclusion, maybe my expectations of a study Bible were slightly too high. I was hoping that it would be something that would teach someone how to study. Rather, it just hands the reader the information. I do appreciate it; I will likely be using it for a little more background on the history of events and such. I just wished for something slightly deeper.
*I received this book from BookLook Bloggers and happily provided my honest review of the product*
2 comments:
I fumbled around for years trying to study the Bible, sitting under others who lead in Bible studies, and then went to Bible school where I learned a great deal. But when it came to finding out how to study God's Word on my own, I finally realized that I could ask the Holy Spirit to guide me to what God wanted me to know. No more sliding down rabbit holes, chasing everyone's opinion about what a specific verse or passage meant. I prayed.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Then I started reading and praying, praying and reading, from the front cover to the back cover, over and over. After a while, verses from other parts of the Bible started coming to me as I read, and I was able to cross-reference them. Now, finding connections within the Bible to learn more about a topic is an every day event.
Yes, I have a concordance available to help me find verses that pop into my head as I read, and yes I have a copy of Webster's old dictionary available to check on words that I'm not sure of the meaning. We also have the internet to help in those areas. But Who better to teach you how to study your Bible than God Himself?
And when I come to a passage that I just don't understand, and I've prayed about it, and I've waited and the meaning still doesn't come, I let it go. God's not ready to show me that nugget...yet.
@ Sharon - thanks for sharing! I usually just use the Bible as well (with a concordance :) ). So very true about God's Spirit being the One to lead in wisdom and understanding! I love this perspective, though!
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