BIBLE STUDY BOOKS AND REFERENCE MATERIALS

Bible  study  is  an extremely important part  of  the  spiritual growth  process  for all who have been called  to  salvation.  In order to make the study process efficient, enjoyable, and worthwhile,  a person should  have the proper  tools.  This section presents several helpful publications with short comments as to the information they contain:

There  are many translations of the Bible and  each  has its  own particular strengths and weaknesses. Some  help  clarify difficult scriptures and concepts, while others do the opposite—they introduce heretical teachings. Because there is  no  totally accurate translation of the original text, the admonition of Paul to Timothy becomes very important to those who are serious  about building  a strong spiritual foundation based upon the  word  of God:

"Study  to show yourself approved to God, a workman  that  needs not   to  be  ashamed,  rightly dividing  the  word  of   truth" (2.Tim.2:15).

Although it was written in early modern English in 1611, the King James Authorized Version is a very accurate translation of the original texts. However, because  of this translation's  archaic language, it is helpful to have some modern translations in order to help clarify difficult passages. The New International  Version  and  the Living Bible  can  sometimes  be helpful  in translating  concepts that are difficult  to  understand because of the  language of the King James version.

• The Interlinear Hebrew-Aramaic Old Testament. Green, J.P., Sr.. Maryland,  USA: Hendrickson Publishers,  1984. ISBN 0-913-573-29-9. Three volume set.
• The  Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, Green, J.P., Sr.. Maryland,  USA: Hendrickson Publishers,  1984. ISBN  0-913-573-29-9. One volume.

Both  of  these publications are translated from the Masoretic  and the Received texts and are keyed to the James H. Strong numbering system, with a  word  for word English translation of the original language of the Bible.  They are relatively easy to read  and  understand, and they are  an excellent study aid for  doing  specific subject and word studies.

• The New International Version  Study Bible, Michigan, USA: Zondervan  Bible Publishers.

The NIV is written in modern English, it is easy to read, has many  accurate scriptural  notes and comments and excellent introductions  to  each book. And it has some very good reference charts and maps. It has  some good  translations for a few difficult scriptures; however,  some important additions and omissions have been made to  major  doctrines in order to  conform with today's popular theologies.

• The Living Bible Paraphrased, Illinois, USA: Tyndal House  Publishers. ISBN 8423-2250-7.

Although it is not a word for word translation, the Living  Bible paraphrases scriptures in a way that often clearly  reveals their  true  intent.  As with the NIV, the Living  Bible  is  not correct in many of the major doctrinal areas, and it should not  be used as a basis for doctrine.

• Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Strong, James H. Michigan, USA: Baker Book House.

This  is  an  extremely valuable and easy to use  study  aid.  It contains a dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words with short explanations of their meanings. Although it is not totally accurate in every detail, this concordance has a numbering system that is used  as  a reference key for most other word study  books.  The compact  paper  back version is recommended, because  the hard  cover issue is very large, hard to handle and store, and cumbersome to travel with.

• Theological Word Book of The Old Testament,. Harris,R.L., Archer, G.L., and  Waltke, B.K.. Chicago Illinois, USA:  Moody Press, 1980. ISBN 0-8024-8631-2. Two volumes.

This reference book contains easy to read and understand  explanations of the original language of the Old Testament.

• Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Bromiley, Godfrey W. Michigan, USA: Eerdmans Publishing  Company, 1986. ISBN 0-8028-2404-8.

This is a one volume abridged version of the ten volume Theological  Dictionary of the New Testament; it is easy to read and  has clear definitions of Greek words.

There  are many excellent books that have been written  to  prove the existence of God and the validity of the Bible. Many of these books  are based on historical, geological,  and/or  scientific facts that cannot be disputed. However, some are not; therefore, as with anything that is written, one should exercise caution  in believing  the  information  that is put forth  and measure  it against the empirical standard of the Bible itself.

Below  are  some excellent works, that contain  much  truth  and should help a person to appreciate the grandeur of God's creation and  the  great  care with which he has  guided humanity  toward salvation.

• The  Witness of the Stars, Bullinger, E.W.. Michigan, USA:  Kregel Publications, 1967. ISBN 0-8254-2245-0.
• Glory of the Stars, Capt, E. Raymond. California, USA: Artisan Sales, 1976. ISBN 0-934666-02-4.

Both of these books give many details about how the constellations  and  the Bible interact to reveal God's great  design of and purpose for the heavenly bodies.

• Judah's Scepter and Joseph's Birthright, Allen, J.H.. Massachusetts, USA: Destiny Publishers, 1917.

This is an analysis of the promises to King David and the prophecies  concerning  the  royal family of Judah and  the  Ten  Lost Tribes.

• Kingdom  of  Priests, Merrill,  Eugene H.. Michigan, USA: Baker Book House, 1988. ISBN 0-8010-6220-9.

This book is an excellent, clear, and concise historical overview of  Old  Testament  Israel, and it has a very  accurate  chronology  of events  and dates beginning with the Patriarchs and ending  with the prophet Malachi.

• The  Temple,  Edershime, Alfred. Michigan, USA: Eerdmans Printing Company, 1992. ISBN 0-8028-8133-5.1992

This  book  contains many details about the temple  ministry  and services at the time of Christ.

• Numbers  In  Scripture, Bullinger, E.W..   Michigan, USA: Kregel Publications. ISBN 0-8254-2238-8.

This  book expounds the mathematical design of the Bible  and the  mathematical relationships of the physical,  prophetic,  and spiritual meanings of the scriptures.

• Biblical  Numerology, Davis, John J.. Michigan, USA:  Baker Book House Company, 1968. ISBN 0-8010-2813-2.

This  book  contains  a systematic  analysis,  coordination,  and correlation of important numerical data in the Bible.

• Numeric Greek New Testament, Pannin, Ivan.

This book contains an exhaustive work that expounds the  complex numeric design and structure of the Bible.

• The  Harmony of Science and Scripture, Rimmer, Harry. Michigan, USA: Eerdmans Printing Company, 1996.

This  book explains many scientific principals  and  concepts that are stated in the Bible.

• God Only Wrote One Bible, Ray, Jasper, James. Oregon, USA: The Eye Opener Publishers, 1980.

This work  documents discrepancies and omissions of popular translations  of  the Bible, and it shows the deliberate effort  of  many translators to distort the word of God.