what study bible?

what study bible in english languge would you dear saints recomend? im considering the John Macarthur Study bible, but i want to look at other options, anyone have it? i have a study bible in my own languge, but i dont like when the margin says things are in a different way then they are, so now im looking at english ones.... but there are quite a few to choose from...... witch one???

Actually brother, I would suggest Matthew Henry's Commentary as a "study bible" of sorts to read along with the King James Version.
The Lord bless you and your family as you draw near to Him...
richie

Great question.Ormly's and Yeshuaboy's suggestions are excellent and Matthew Henry's is also available in a one volume studybible.As well as the Thompson Chain bible.I really enjoy the Ryrie study bible and use it daily.If your looking the software end of it E-Sword is downloadable online and it's fantastic.Enjoy your search!! :-)

I would reccomend a KJV, without alot of notes, perhaps just cross references. Then get the five volume Matthew Henry Commentary as it has much more "meat" than the single volume. I have had both, and can attest to the fact there is much more in the five volume set.

Ormly wrote:
It doesn't get better than this. I have used it for years. It's now free.

It is the Thompson Chain reference collection and has 7 Bible translations on it. It's real value could well be 600-700US. You will love it!

BTW, It has Matthew Henry with it among many other helps.

http://www.wordsearchbible.com/freewordsearch3.htm

Orm

i downloaded it, i use e-sword...but this is, wooow and free too!!!! this is a great program!!! thanks, but im still looking for a portable version :) one book bible,

Coming off the heels of yet another divisive ugly heart bible discussion ...

I actually do have and use this study Bible you mentioned brother. I cannot either recommend it nor not recommend it ... I can only tell you that I like John MacArthur and yet still draw constantly from all these waters that we swim in here. I am not even entirely sure I even agree with him on all points but something rather strange happened some time ago and hardly even recognized the fact; I quit paying any attention to the study notes, it was almost a subconscious effort not to appeal to them as if I didn't want to know what his thoughts were ... Ah, hard to express this.

Whatever you do, get down into the marrow of the book until it gets into you. I would say use commentaries sparingly or at best take them back to where you are in the scriptures. Anybody here. All of the Brethren collectively, all of the past 'greats' here ... [i]Don't take our word for it[/i]! I plead you.

Glean from these sources and don't get caught up in certain constructs nor attempt to be build one of your own out of them. Just test [i]all[/i] things and keep on testing them, especially your own thoughts, these minds are deceivers, always playing tricks on us, be suspicious of it without paranoia.

Derive pure m e a n i n g.

Brother I am convinced, come to the scriptures daily with a fresh un-opinionated attitude, as if for the very first time every time. You will be just astounded at what you will learn and how much there is yet to learn.

I am not quite comfortable with that mention about using commentaries sparingly ... Learn the Lords voice in the small, personal intimations, ask, ask how He would have you go, where He would have you read, praying always. You can know when things are for yet another day, when they are beyond the grasp of the moment. Be always ready even anticipating surprises of where He might lead. Sorry if I am speaking presumptuously, sometimes I need to hear my own words coming back at me as reminders.

i have a study bible in my own languge, but i dont like when the margin says things are in a different way then they are

Wish I could be more helpful and to read your comment again, here would be my concerns.

"Reliance" and "distraction". It can be a snare to have embedded right next to the text a ... "explanation" that might cause you to unwittingly be drawn in a particular direction. Also found upon reflection now, that earlier times with this there would be a lot of bouncing back and forth between the scriptures and the margins ... distracted. It takes away from just contemplating slowly over what you are reading and hopefully re-reading, finding the context of wherever you may be.

It can be a help, but I guess it just depends on your particular temperament.

Ormly wrote:
What do mean you by "portable" -- one book Bible?

i meen one i can bring everywhere, the five vol set of matthew henry might be good but rather heavy to bring, well, Brother crsschk made me re think things, what i ment by the margin says things are in a different way then they are, i meent that in that bible the margin notes question severel letters paul wrote, and says he dident write them, i dont know that he did, but i belive he did... hope you understand what i meen,

maybe i just get a good "reference" bible and spend more time on my knees, i wont need commentarys, id just figured wuldent it be great to get one bible whit great references and good commentaries in the same book...

I use a Scofield study bible. I like it because he doesn't really have very many notes and when he does it is very brief. There are also a lot of cross references. He is also a hardcore dispensationalist so he has the date that is thouht to be when portions were written on every page.

Learn God's`word, write your own commentary.

Like that Orm!

If you want references, A treasury of scriptural knowledge is wonderful.
If you want the authors name, is should be in E-sword.

As far as a study bible is concerned, I do not think you can buy one that comes with all of the good commentaries and add notes available. So, I advise (though take my advice with caution that it is far from the expedient way, just the lawful), that you buy a plain(no reference) bible. I use KJV. Then get your bible dictionaries(Ungler, Brown, Orr et all). Then get your references ( Treasury of scriptural knowledge, scotfield, et). If have trouble with the KJV words, save up for a Webster’s 1828 dictionary; commentaries ( Hally, Ungler, Matthew Henry, John Wesley, et all). What I almost and am currently doing is just getting every study book outline in E-sword.

But above all things brother, re-read what crsskk suggested. Not to exalt him, earn his kudos, or even become buddies with him, but what he suggested was seriously the honest truth. I have over nine study books, and everyday for the last couple of weeks God has taken me through the NT and not allowed me to even look at Matthew Henry. I have battles with my conscience every other devotion because I want so badly to turn to Matthew or Ungler when I run across a verse I don't understand. Learn from my compromises brother, take the walk to the chair; then, be content to finish the book in ignorance rather than filled with another mans interpretation. I for one will say that currently I am not strong enough to do this, but I hope soon I will be. God bless and guide you.

God has taken me through the NT and not allowed me to even look at Matthew Henry. I have battles with my conscience every other devotion because I want so badly to turn to Matthew or Ungler when I run across a verse I don't understand. Learn from my compromises brother, take the walk to the chair; then, be content to finish the book in ignorance rather than filled with another mans interpretation. I for one will say that currently I am not strong enough to do this, but I hope soon I will be.

Very admirable advice, brother. You are on the right path. It is gratifying to withstand the immediate urge to look up a scripture in Henry's commentary, instead surrendering with clear conscience and waiting on God Himself for the personal unveiling. Receiving directly from God is a wholly different experience from second-hand exposure from Henry - if you receive it directly from God, it'll immediately transform you. But the real gratifying part comes [i]after[/i] you've received the Spirit's unveiling and you take it to Henry to discover your interpretation and his is one and the same. A little "bonus" from God. Ah, it makes all your study time worthtwhile when you discover the Holy Spirit is giving you the same type of scriptural wisdom the great Puritans received! It really gives you a sense of growth and progress. God has the most effective ways of encouraging, rewarding, and increasing. The secret is waiting on Him with clean hands and a pure heart.

Brother Paul

PaulWest wrote:

. The secret is waiting on Him with clean hands and a pure heart.

Brother Paul

there one of my problems right there, waiting, how hard is this sometimes? im quite young and a part of this "microwave" society where we get everything instant, waiting on God is hard, but something "pricked" me in the heart wile reading this,

im very grateful for alll of your advice, it has been very helpful and i will pray over this, even if i get a study bible or whatever. ive relised i need to wait on god more, to hear from him first hand....

Ormly said :

Also, anti-Pentecostal and he changes the words of verses. Though it is perceived to be KJV. It's not.

Where did you hear that? I have used it for about a year and read it with friends with their different KJVs and there has never been a difference. Also there are a few times in his notes that such as in Leviticus 11:6, where it says that the Hare cheweth the cud. He makes the point that Hares do not chew the cud, so it must be some type of ancient animal. He does not change the word there. There are also other places where he points out imperfect (in his opinion) translations.
But if you have any evidence for this please let me know about it.

Also there are a few times in his notes that such as in Leviticus 11:6, where it says that the Hare cheweth the cud. He makes the point that Hares do not chew the cud, so it must be some type of ancient animal.

Check this out.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v20/i4/rabbits.asp

hhhmmm,

I think I have read all the posts on this thread so what I am going to say will not be redundant...

Have you ever considered using the Inductive Method of Bible Study? All you need here is a good Bible translation, notebook, pen aqnd perhaps a good Bible dictionary. AND the Holy Spirit. I was taught this in Bible School and have used it ever since. It taught me a method of thinking which for the most part will render a commentary ...... Our instructor told us if we learn these principles well, we will be able to write a commentary! He is right! The difference is the joy, the pleasure you get when you gain these insights all on your own! This has its own rich rewards.

Now where can I direct you to who has these materials? I have to look. I was taught it in 1967 and then we used no texts, just outlines the instructor compiled himself. Will do a search and then come back later. Or perhaps someone else knows and they can suggest something.

Blessings....

ginnyrose

I use:

John MacArthur Study Bible (NASB)
The Reformtation Study Bible (ESV)
Matthew Henry Study Bible (KJV)

Plus for more indepth study many commentaries :-)

hhhmmm,
I did a search on the web for resources to assist you in this type of study. There were many and all I looked at had merit although none were as good as the course I took in 1967. So I suggest you do a search of your own and you should be able to find one that will suit your needs.

Basically it means you Observe, then Interpret, then make application. But when you get to the interpretation you will ask yourself also "what does this tell me about God?"

When you do all this, you will want to be conscience of the law of first mention. When you are ignorant of a 'term' or word or its implication, take your concordance and look up the word and checkout the places where it appears in the Bible and read it, noting the context wherein it is found. For example, take the word "blood" and beginning in Genesis read what the Bible says about it. You will soon develop a real appreciation for the term and what all it entails by the time you get to the New Testament.

Christian, it is a method that will require little financial investment; it is simple, and once you get used to studying this way, you will have a tool that will work for you in many other ways.

Blessings,
ginnyrose