For those seeking a deeper understanding of the Bible, I highly recommend the Authorized King James Bible. An even more comprehensive option is The Companion Bible, which includes the Authorized King James text along with side columns, indexes, and detailed explanations.

The importance of the Authorized King James Bible is because it is compatible with the Strong’s Concordance. This concordance allows you to trace any word in the Bible back to its original Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic roots using a unique numbering system. By doing so, you can uncover accurate meanings that give you a better understanding of the Scriptures.

Why is precise interpretation important? Consider this example: the Bible instructs you to “honor your father and mother,” yet Jesus is also quoted as saying that you must “hate your father and mother” to follow Him. This appears contradictory, until you examine the original meaning. Using the Strong’s Concordance, you’ll find that the word “hate” in this context means “love less.” Thus, the passage conveys that Jesus is asking you to prioritize your love for Him above all else, including your parents. Proper translations resolve these apparent contradictions and prevent misunderstandings that can cause significant confusion or harm.

In addition to the tools I mentioned, I also recommend the Smith’s Bible Dictionary. This dictionary provides more than just definitions of Biblical terms. It gives details about the Bible’s history, the setting where the verse took place, the geography of the region at the time, the personality of the characters, and the doctrines that apply. It gives the background information necessary for a well-rounded understanding of life during Biblical times.

While more advanced tools are available for scholars, the ones listed here are needed to uncover the truth within Scripture.

Are the Bible study tools I just mentioned perfect? Not at all. Anything translated by man is subject to misinterpretation and mistranslation. However, the more a person studies Scripture, the better equipped they become to know what is accurate and what is not.

By using the recommended study tools to study the Bible, it will become easier to know and find the truth. That way you don’t need to rely on what others say. You will have the tools to study more accurately and learn the truth for yourself.

For those seeking to grow in their knowledge of the Bible, I recommend studying with a church or group that teaches by reading Scripture chapter by chapter, verse by verse. It is important to understand who is speaking, to whom they are speaking, and the language being used.

Recognizing whether Scripture is written in the common language of the time or contains metaphors, idioms, parables, or symbolism is vital. Understanding these distinctions brings clarity to the text.

Additionally, learning to identify the subject, object, and article in each verse helps reveal the true meaning. Most importantly, whoever you choose to study with should teach in the same way as the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia did in Biblical times.

If you take Bible study seriously and use the right tools, you will learn more and feel more confident. You’ll also gain a clearer understanding of what is true.