Understanding the Bible is not as difficult as it may seem.  With many bible tools such as commentaries, dictionaries, concordances as well as more modern translations, you are now better to understand what the Book as all about.

Inspired by God

The Bible was inspired by God even though written by human hands.

"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.”  2 Timothy 3:16

Some of the major writers of the Bible were: King David (the Psalms), King Solomon (the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon) and Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy).  If you read in certain parts of Exodus, God told Moses what to write:

Israel’s defeat of the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16)

“Then the Lord instructed Moses, write this down as a permanent record…”  Exodus 17:14

The Lord’s Covenant (Exodus 24)

 “Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord’s instructions” (Exodus 24:4)

 We also see that the words of the Prophets were also inspired by God.

“Above all you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy.  It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God.”  2 Peter 1: 20-21

Bible Tools

Using other Bible references can help you understand the bible a whole lot better.  Listed below are some tools you can use.

•  Other Translations

The Bible was first translated into English via the King James Version.  The wording then was certainly different to what is in use now.  So using a more modern translation is more beneficial.

There are many versions of the Bible today so how do you know which is the best one to use?

The King James Version was a literal or word for word translation from the Hebrew and Greek texts.  Some of the more modern versions are thought for thought translations. Some bibles come with different versions side by side and these might be better and more economical instead of buying three or four bibles.

The New International Version is a popular version as well as the New King James.  My personal favourite is the New Living Translation.  In the end it is a personal choice.

• Concordances

A concordance is a book that is a compilation of verses pertaining to a certain word in the bible.  It will give you the verses from where the word first appears in the bible right down to where it appears last.  A concordance is good to use if you’re looking for a particular verse but don’t know where exactly to find it.

There are many types of concordances from small versions to exhaustive like Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

•  Dictionaries

Some bible dictionaries, apart from giving you what a word means in biblical times also gives you information on people, places and doctrines.  Dictionaries and encyclopedias are good when you want more information or an idea on a particular place or person in the bible.

• Computer Bibles

There are numerous bible software available today.  You can get CD-ROMs with different versions, commentaries, concordances, maps and even sermons all in one CD.

Free Bible Software

Spiritual Guidance

Another more important way to understand the bible is to seek guidance from the One who inspired it in the first place – God himself.  One way to do this is to actually do what the Bible says.  You must live the bible.

“And remember it is a message to obey not just to listen to.  If you don’t obey you are only fooling yourself.  For if you just listen and don’t obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance.  You see yourself, walk away and forget what you look like.  But if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law – the law that sets you free – and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”  James 1:22-25

The more we do what the bible teaches, the more understanding God grants us.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, all who follow his precepts have good understanding.”  Psalm 111:10 (NIV)

Bible Research Made Easy From various translations of the Bible itself to the vast amount of information available on the internet, this full-color, 64 page book outlines and briefly explains the host of resources available for researching scripture's complex and sometimes confusing passages. A 7-panel fold-out surveys how to effectively use the internet for Bible study.

How Do We Know the Bible Is True? DVD Set How did the Bible come to be? What is the significance of Jesus' death? Join Brian Edwards in this essential primer on Christian apologetics. You'll learn about the origins and canonicity of Scripture, meet Bible translator William Tyndale, and encounter Jesus of Nazareth. Perfect for family devotions, group study, and more! Four DVDs, approx. 3 hours total. DVDs Included: Scripture under Scrutiny Why 66? The Canon of Scripture The Life of William Tyndale The Authentic Christ

The Illustrated Bible Dictionary Written especially for the average, everyday Bible student, this full color dictionary provides clear, concise entries for more than 3,400 of the people, places, things, and doctrines of scripture. Concordance entries are supplied for key Bible words and phrases, and more than 120 color illustrations help bring the text to life. A map section, with coordinates cross-referenced to the text, makes this an all-in-one resource for everyday Bible study. Handy size (4 3/8" x 6 1/2").