Living by the Book/Living by the Book Workbook Set (61 page)

The New King James Version
(
NKJV
). The NKJV was produced “to preserve the original intended purity of the King James Version in its communication of God’s Word to man.” If you like the King James but struggle with its Elizabethan English, this is a very helpful translation.

The New Revised Standard Version
(
NRSV
). The NRSV updates the RSV, based on linguistic and archaeological developments such as the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls in the 1940s. Its English is clear and is noteworthy for its attempt at gender-neutral renderings.

The New Testament in Modern English
(
Revised Edition
). This paraphrase by J. B. Phillips is one of my favorites. It is extremely readable and lively, excellent for getting a preliminary overview of a book.

The Revised Standard Version
(
RSV
). Published in 1952 by the National Council of Churches, the RSV gained its title from the fact that it revised
The American Standard Version
of 1901, which in turn was a revision of the King James. This translation will be familiar to many in the mainline denominations. It is not a bad piece of work, but there are now better translations available.

The Ryrie Study Bible, expanded edition.
With over 2 million copies in print, the Ryrie Study Bible has equipped a generation of Bible students and teachers with over 10,000 practical and historical notes and a wealth of theological insights. Now expanded with new sections covering church history, the history of the Bible, and Bible doctrine summaries, this resource offers an amazing array of uses for personal use and in-depth teaching.

The Scofield Reference Bible.
C. I. Scofield was a turn-of-the-century pastor, teacher, writer, and lecturer who wanted to “facilitate the study and intelligent use of the Bible.” To that end, he packaged a comprehensive system
of footnotes, cross-references, headings, and other helps with the biblical text. The result was an enormously popular volume that has become the grandfather of study Bibles. The Scofield Bible is synonymous with dispensational theology, the theological system he used to interpret Scripture.

The Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible.
A classic for Bible students, the Thompson Chain Reference system contains over 100,000 topical references in over 8,000 chain topics, helping make detailed topical study and teaching preparation higher in quality and efficiency. This popular study Bible is also known for its excellent archaeological supplements, charts, diagrams, and illustrations.

Today’s New International Version
(
TNIV
). A 2005 revision of the highly popular NIV text, the TNIV is based on advancements in biblical scholarship, clarity, and gender accuracy to engage the 18- to 34-year-old age segment with the mystery and wonder of the Bible.

Tomie dePaola’s Book of Bible Stories.
An internationally known illustrator of more than two hundred children’s books, Tomie dePaola lends his inimitable style to this fine collection of Bible stories for children. The text is the NIV translation, and the illustrations are in color. This is an excellent way to help your children to start reading Scripture.

Mortimer Adler and Mark Van Doren,
How to Read a Book.
This is a classic that you can’t afford not to read (see pages 68–69). Adler covers the rules of reading various kinds of literature. You’ll approach Bible study from an altogether different perspective after reading this guide.

E. W. Bullinger,
Figures of Speech Used in the Bible.
As I pointed out in
chapter 36
, figurative language can trip up the uninformed reader. Bullinger simplifies things by giving a comprehensive overview of the kinds of figures used in Scripture. Turn to this useful, 1,100-page guide if you find yourself mystified by biblical imagery.

Alfred Edersheim,
The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.
A nineteenth-century Oxford scholar, Edersheim devoted seven uninterrupted years to researching the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day. Though this work is not light reading, it is accessible to the average person. If you are studying the gospels, his information and insights prove invaluable. This was originally published as two volumes; Eerdmans has reprinted it in one.

Norman Lewis,
How to Read Better and Faster,
4th edition.
This is a superb workbook for upgrading your reading skills. Filled with exercises to improve reading speed and comprehension, it makes a good companion to Adler’s
How to Read a Book.

Leland Ryken,
The Literature of the Bible.
A professor of English at Wheaton College, Ryken (who consulted on the ESV) has probably done more than anyone else to make modern-day Bible students aware of the literary dimensions of Scripture. This book will change the way you look at the Bible by introducing you to the crucial importance of genre.

Most major Bible translations
(
such as the RSV, NRSV, NIV, NAS, NKJV
)
have their own concordances.
If you can’t find one for the version you are using, check with the publisher. Most translations are also online with a concordance keyword search at
www.biblegateway.com.

The NKJV MacArthur Topical Bible.
This work includes over 100,000 passages, 20,000 topics, all cross-referenced with subheadings for an enormous wealth of material for topical searching.

Nelson Phrase Concordance of the Bible.
This interesting volume from Thomas Nelson Publishers is a twist on the concordance genre. Rather than list individual words, it gives you Bible phrases keyed to five major translations. That can be a timesaver when you are searching for a phrase rather than an individual word.

The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
The work of James Strong, this and Young’s are the two concordances that Bible students
have traditionally used. However, if you are using a modern translation, you need to find a concordance for that version (Thomas Nelson, 1990).

Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible.
Robert Young’s one-volume commentary is one of the classic reference works of Bible study.

What Does the Bible Say About . . . The Ultimate A to Z Resource.
A modernized phrase “concordance” offering a unique approach, this A-to-Z guide includes several contemporary topical listings such as “ecology” and “bottom line.” Users will find it most helpful for illustrative purposes and unearthing details on current event topics.

Wordsearch Computer Bible.
This is a “turbocharged” concordance that will appeal to you if you have a computer. It allows you to search for up to nine words and phrases simultaneously. Wordsearch can be a tremendous timesaver. It heralds a new generation of Bible study tools based on electronic technology. Available for both MS-DOS and Macintosh.

An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.
The product of W. E. Vine’s lifetime work, this dictionary is extremely valuable for word studies. Vine lists the English words (from the KJV and RSV), and gives the Greek words from which they are translated. He comments on the usages to explain their meanings in context.

The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Revised and Expanded.
The Holman Bible Dictionary
edited by Trent C. Butler has become one of the best-selling Bible reference tools since its publication in 1991. This updated and expanded version includes over 700 full-color graphics, excellent articles, summaries, and easy-to-read Bible maps.

Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary.
This fine reference work was edited by Herbert Lockyer, known for his “all” studies, such as
All the Men of the Bible, All the Miracles of the Bible,
and
All the Occupations of the Bible.
Written in simple, readable English, the articles include four-color photographs.

The New Bible Dictionary
(
Revised
). This excellent reference, originally edited by J. D. Douglas, was revised in 1980. It is really an encyclopedia of biblical studies, and includes illustrations, genealogical tables, maps, plans, and other information that brings the text alive.

The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Revised and Expanded.
With over 67,000 entries and 1,400 pages of research, including color photography, comprehensive Bible land maps, and detailed essays, this updated classic is a must for serious Bible students.

The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary
(
Revised
). Edited by Wheaton scholar Merrill Tenney, this volume contains the expertise of more than sixty-five contributors. It offers information on the biographical, chronological, geographical, and historical context of the biblical subjects.

The Book of Life.
This twenty-four-volume set by Gil Beers is ideal for young people. Featuring color illustrations and photographs, it takes the reader through the entire Bible in a captivating, informative way. It includes the entire NIV translation in large print and a comprehensive index for quick reference. If you have children or grandchildren, I recommend this encyclopedic resource as an outstanding gift.

Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible.
Edited by David Alexander, this 680-page work is illustrated in color. It’s an excellent one-volume reference work on the background of the biblical world.

Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties.
Gleason Archer deals with the apparent contradictions in Scripture. If you come across something that puzzles you, turn to this book for insight and background information.

Halley’s Bible Handbook.
It was Henry Halley’s conviction that everyone ought to read the Bible daily, and to that end he put together
Halley’s Bible Handbook
as an introduction to the Scriptures. It’s a useful, compact pocket guide to biblical studies.

The Handbook of Bible Application
(
for the
Life Application Bible
). This handbook, by Neil Wilson and the editors of the
Life Application Bible,
provides excellent topical summaries and outlines on hundreds of issues both ancient and contemporary. With extensive cross-referencing and citations of multiple translations, this book serves as a great application and support resource for personal and group Bible study preparation.

The Handbook of Life in Bible Times.
This concise work by J. A. Thompson includes both color illustrations and maps.

The MacArthur Bible Handbook.
An excellent yet concise work, John MacArthur’s handbook includes the fundamental facts about each book, its context, author, theme and purpose, its contribution to the Bible as a whole, a detailed outline of the book, and how Christ is presented. It also offers numerous charts, maps, graphs, and reading plans on key topics.

The New Unger’s Bible Handbook.
Completely revised with Gary Larson, this new version includes 750 pages providing detailed entries, hundreds of full-color illustrations, photographs, maps, diagrams, and charts, making it one of the most comprehensive single volumes available today.

The World of the Bible.
A. S. Van Der Woude and others have put together a fine encyclopedia on the history and culture of the biblical world. This makes a terrific background study for understanding the context of biblical passages.