Updated. This Bible study post was originally published on May 6, 2020.
What tools do you really need to study the Bible? Honestly, you really only need a Bible and the Holy Spirit. If you don’t have a Bible, you can’t study it, and if you don’t have the Holy Spirit, you won’t understand it.
But beyond that, there are a few essentials you need if you want to really dive into the passage. As we move through this series, I will add the tools you need for each step. I know you want to know them all now, but you may decide to only work through step 3, so you won’t need the tools for step 4. To begin, though, let’s talk about the basics.
Which Bible Translation Should You Use?
This is a very personal decision. Bible translations are not the same as Bible paraphrases. There is a continuum of Bibles ranging from word-for-word translations to thought-for-thought paraphrases. It isn’t an issue of which is better, but it is an issue of understanding what you are using.
A word-for-word translation attempts to get as close as possible to the original language. A thought-for-thought paraphrase interprets the original language and writes it in a way that might be more familiar to you. It is up to you to decide if you want a Bible that might require a little more work to understand versus one in which someone else tells you what the passage means.
Which Bible Type Should You Use?
Should you get a study Bible? Should you get a journaling Bible? Should you get a large-print Bible? It depends on the outcome you want and what works best for you.
Study Bibles have great notes and cross-references. They tend to be bigger and heavier, and they can also be a bit more expensive. Unless you like hardcopy Bibles, you might prefer to access a lot of the notes online.
If your goal is to write in your Bible and take extensive notes, you should choose a Bible that has wide margins or a lot of white space on the page. And if you are a little nervous about writing in your Bible, getting a journaling Bible specifically for this exercise might be just the ticket you need to give yourself permission to mark up the pages.
Since I know you will ask, I have an ESV Study Bible I use for the notes and the cross-references. I have an ESV Single Column Journaling Bible I purchased when I started this study method. I also reference several other Bibles including the Study Bible for Women HCSB version, the CSB She Reads Truth Bible, the KJV Scoffield Bible, and the Reina Valera Spanish translation (yes, I have accumulated quite the collection of Bibles over the past 40 years).
Should You Get a Fancy Journal?
No, don’t go buy a fancy notebook. One of the biggest roadblocks to diligent Bible study is being afraid to ruin a beautiful notebook with your scribblings. And you will scribble. The goal isn’t to write the next great Bible commentary, but to have a place to jot down your thoughts, prayers, reactions, and research. Start with a notebook in which you are not afraid to write.
Make sure you choose a paper notebook and not an app on your phone or a document on your computer. There is something that happens in the brain when you physically connect pen to paper. As you watch your hand write the words, they become part of you. Since the end result you desire is to grow closer to God by studying His Word, it makes sense that you make the words part of yourself.
Which Pen Is Best?
Do not put too much importance on the pen. I have used a cheap Bic pen, Sharpie pens, PaperMate Ink Joy pens, erasable pens, and they all have their pros and cons. For this first step, while you’re still taking notes, the pen doesn’t matter. When you get to step 6 where you will write in your Bible, we will revisit this question.
This series is designed so you can stop the overwhelm of Bible study. You can end the study of a passage at any step in this process. Always start with step 1, but go only as far as you want to go. If you would rather download the process in a FREE workbook, you can enter your information below, and it will be delivered directly to your email.
I am such a note-taker!! haha! Thank you for the information!!
this will be a big help as we are going to be doing our own home church due to my husband’s work schedule. since I am called to preach will be working on sermons for us around my husband’s work schedule.