Free Bible Study Tools
The free Bible tools that are available because of the growth of the internet are a tremendous blessing for anyone seeking Biblical information. Thanks to the powers of the web, a person can access free Bible study tools anywhere an internet connection is available and at any time of the day or night. For the minister who is researching information for a Sunday sermon, the Bible study leader wanting additional insights on a specific topic, the student working on a research project, or the layperson seeking an online community, this type of access to such a wide range of information is invaluable.
The Bible itself was written over a span of fifteen to twenty centuries (give or take). The book of Job may be the earliest written text, though no one knows for sure. The events of the book probably took place in the patriarchal age, sometime after Noah's Flood. The author is also a mystery. The last written book, Revelation, was penned by the apostle John in 96 A.D. Because Biblical history covers such a huge, and ancient, time span, the use of additional resource materials helps us understand the teachings of Scripture. By using free Bible study tools, we can research Biblical people, their culture and language. All this information gives additional insights into historical events and mysteries.
By consulting maps and an atlas, the student can trace the travels of the Hebrews as they wandered in the desert between Egypt and Canaan during the forty-year exodus. The Sunday School teacher can print out a map showing how the twelve tribes of Israel divided up the Promised Land for her students to color. They can pinpoint the cities of the Levites, who weren't given land of their own, and the cities of refuge where a person accused of murder could find safety. Someone studying the book of Acts can look up exactly where Paul traveled during his missionary journeys.
Most Bibles have a concordance in the back. This is an alphabetical index of words used in the text and where they can be found. Of course, the concordance in a Bible lists the most relevant words and verses. But online concordances and relevant search engines exist that can help the researcher find all the verses where a particular word can be found. This is especially helpful when someone knows part of a verse, but can't remember where it's located. Commentaries provide explanations of the text. These vary in scope and complexity. The shorter ones give details on authorship, the date of the book's events, the date the book was written, historical background, and significant themes and theological teachings. The more complete ones go more in-depth on these features and also give a verse-by-verse analysis of the original language, koine Greek.
A Bible dictionary defines Biblical words, including character and place names. A timeline helps in understanding the dates of a particular book in the context of historical events. For example, placing the dates of the books of Esther, Nehemiah, and Ezra on a timeline with the dates when the Israelites were exiles in Babylon and their return to Jerusalem provides a greater understanding of the historical backdrop of these texts. There are even sites that show the same passage in several different versions. This side-by-side comparison can be very helpful in understanding a difficult passage.
Other free Bible tools include studies, devotions, lessons, and sermons. These cover the gamut from Genesis to Revelation and everything in between. The study guide may be on one particular book or on a specific topic, such as prayer or the miracles of Jesus. A sermon could be on a short passage or on a broad issue like evangelism or stewardship. A person can find just about any kind of study, devotion, reading plan, or lesson for junior church on the internet.
In addition to all these resources and free Bible study tools, the internet also offers interactive opportunities. Forums and message boards give people the chance to discuss inspirational, theological, and Christian living issues. This is a great way to make new friends, to learn about Scriptures, and to share prayer needs. In fact, there are specific message boards devoted to prayer. Other free Bible tools allow people to sign up to have a Scripture verse delivered to their email addresses on either a daily or weekly basis. Imagine beginning one's day with this email greeting: "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). On other sites, a person can design a Christian e-card and send it to a friend. On these sites, a variety of Scriptures, backgrounds, and even music can be combined to create a custom greeting. Screen savers with Biblical themes can be downloaded from some sites.
An ancient and revered text like the Bible has been read, studied, and written about for centuries. Through the internet, we are able to access resources that are hundreds of years old without leaving our homes. Though at one time, this material was stuck in library shelves, now it's as close as an internet-connected laptop. The works are now in the public domain, which means that they are no longer protected by copyrights. Anyone can post them online or quote from them. Some of these resources include the Geneva Study Bible (1599-1560) and the volumes that make up the Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (early 1700s). Still, the Christian researcher needs to be aware of copyright protection laws and be sure to heed any protections that might apply to a particular work. For example, the New International Version and New King James Version of the Scriptures are protected by copyright.
With such a large variety of free Bible study tools available, every person with internet access, either at home or through the public library system, can research Biblical history, people, culture, and issues. Whether these free Bible tools are accessed for the person's own benefit or to share with others, the commentaries, concordances, sermons, forums, and e-card sites will deepen one's knowledge and understanding of Biblical themes and issues, provide material for teaching others, and open up new avenues for friendship.
The Bible itself was written over a span of fifteen to twenty centuries (give or take). The book of Job may be the earliest written text, though no one knows for sure. The events of the book probably took place in the patriarchal age, sometime after Noah's Flood. The author is also a mystery. The last written book, Revelation, was penned by the apostle John in 96 A.D. Because Biblical history covers such a huge, and ancient, time span, the use of additional resource materials helps us understand the teachings of Scripture. By using free Bible study tools, we can research Biblical people, their culture and language. All this information gives additional insights into historical events and mysteries.
By consulting maps and an atlas, the student can trace the travels of the Hebrews as they wandered in the desert between Egypt and Canaan during the forty-year exodus. The Sunday School teacher can print out a map showing how the twelve tribes of Israel divided up the Promised Land for her students to color. They can pinpoint the cities of the Levites, who weren't given land of their own, and the cities of refuge where a person accused of murder could find safety. Someone studying the book of Acts can look up exactly where Paul traveled during his missionary journeys.
Most Bibles have a concordance in the back. This is an alphabetical index of words used in the text and where they can be found. Of course, the concordance in a Bible lists the most relevant words and verses. But online concordances and relevant search engines exist that can help the researcher find all the verses where a particular word can be found. This is especially helpful when someone knows part of a verse, but can't remember where it's located. Commentaries provide explanations of the text. These vary in scope and complexity. The shorter ones give details on authorship, the date of the book's events, the date the book was written, historical background, and significant themes and theological teachings. The more complete ones go more in-depth on these features and also give a verse-by-verse analysis of the original language, koine Greek.
A Bible dictionary defines Biblical words, including character and place names. A timeline helps in understanding the dates of a particular book in the context of historical events. For example, placing the dates of the books of Esther, Nehemiah, and Ezra on a timeline with the dates when the Israelites were exiles in Babylon and their return to Jerusalem provides a greater understanding of the historical backdrop of these texts. There are even sites that show the same passage in several different versions. This side-by-side comparison can be very helpful in understanding a difficult passage.
Other free Bible tools include studies, devotions, lessons, and sermons. These cover the gamut from Genesis to Revelation and everything in between. The study guide may be on one particular book or on a specific topic, such as prayer or the miracles of Jesus. A sermon could be on a short passage or on a broad issue like evangelism or stewardship. A person can find just about any kind of study, devotion, reading plan, or lesson for junior church on the internet.
In addition to all these resources and free Bible study tools, the internet also offers interactive opportunities. Forums and message boards give people the chance to discuss inspirational, theological, and Christian living issues. This is a great way to make new friends, to learn about Scriptures, and to share prayer needs. In fact, there are specific message boards devoted to prayer. Other free Bible tools allow people to sign up to have a Scripture verse delivered to their email addresses on either a daily or weekly basis. Imagine beginning one's day with this email greeting: "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). On other sites, a person can design a Christian e-card and send it to a friend. On these sites, a variety of Scriptures, backgrounds, and even music can be combined to create a custom greeting. Screen savers with Biblical themes can be downloaded from some sites.
An ancient and revered text like the Bible has been read, studied, and written about for centuries. Through the internet, we are able to access resources that are hundreds of years old without leaving our homes. Though at one time, this material was stuck in library shelves, now it's as close as an internet-connected laptop. The works are now in the public domain, which means that they are no longer protected by copyrights. Anyone can post them online or quote from them. Some of these resources include the Geneva Study Bible (1599-1560) and the volumes that make up the Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (early 1700s). Still, the Christian researcher needs to be aware of copyright protection laws and be sure to heed any protections that might apply to a particular work. For example, the New International Version and New King James Version of the Scriptures are protected by copyright.
With such a large variety of free Bible study tools available, every person with internet access, either at home or through the public library system, can research Biblical history, people, culture, and issues. Whether these free Bible tools are accessed for the person's own benefit or to share with others, the commentaries, concordances, sermons, forums, and e-card sites will deepen one's knowledge and understanding of Biblical themes and issues, provide material for teaching others, and open up new avenues for friendship.
Free Bible Study Tools
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