“Various surveys in different cultures, over the past half-century, have determined that the number one predictor of a person’s spiritual health is the regular practice of personal Bible reading.
Nothing else comes close.”
– – George H. Guthrie,
A Short Guide to Reading the Bible Better
(Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2022), 7.
Resources
for Studying
The Bible
Links to Amazon.com, Logos.com, and other sources are offered as a convenience to the Bible student for the purposes of product descriptions and price comparisons. Their use here does not constitute agreement with or endorsement of their philosophies, policies, practices, theology, products, or services. Some of these resources can also be found at and are available from other sources (except online study tools and Logos products, which are only available from Logos.com and other Faithlife websites).
Be sure to compare products and prices to make sure you are getting what you need and for the best price. Purchase only those books that you can understand and will use.
Table of Contents
Please report errors, typos, or broken links to tim@thessalonianfaith.org.
Recommended Personal Library
Every follower of Jesus should have a library of resources to help them grow in their knowledge of, relationship in, and service with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Resources in this section are listed in suggested order of purchase and are available in print editions and digital formats (including Kindle and Logos Bible Software).
Fundamental: Basic-level resources that help people establish their life in Christ. (See below for info about and links to these tools and resources.)
- Berean Standard Bible
- What the Bible Says to the Believer: The Believer’s Personal Handbook
- English Standard Version (ESV) Study Bible
Foundational: Intermediate-level resources that help people grow their life in Christ.
- Believer’s Bible Commentary
- Applied New Testament Commentary
- Applied Old Testament Commentary
See additional recommended resources and courses below and HERE, or consult your pastor, Bible teacher, or discipleship mentor for suggestions.
Recommended Study Resources:
NEW: See TRIP MAPs HERE.
Bible Translations
- Formal 1: Berean Standard Bible, A completely new English translation of the Holy Bible based on the best available manuscripts and sources. (This is the default translation used on this website and the lessons associated with it.) [Online] [YouVersion] [Kindle] [Logos] [Print] [Free Downloads] [Bible Hub]
- Functional 2: New Living Translation. A balance of readability and authority, it is easy to understand and accurate to the original Greek and Hebrew text. [Amazon] [Kindle] [Logos] [Bible Hub] [Blue Letter Bible]
- Specialty: Translation for Translators. A specialty translation that makes implied information explicit in the text for readers, students, and translators of the Bible. [Online] [About] [Logos] [Android App] [Downloads]
- Formal: New American Standard Bible, 2020 edition. The New American Standard Bible has been widely embraced as the gold standard among word-for-word translations. Provides a clear understanding of God’s Word through updated English. [Amazon] [Kindle] [Logos] [Publisher] [Blue Letter Bible]
Bible Commentaries
A thorough yet easy-to-read one-volume commentary that turns complicated theology into practical understanding:
A fresh approach to Bible study, connecting great wisdom with your life today:
A harmony of the four Gospels brought together as one chronological narrative with a helpful commentary integrated with the Bible text.
With the online edition of The Four-Fold Gospel, click the menu icon in the top-left corner of the web page. The menu opens up below the icon. The PDF version can be saved on your device.
Study Bibles
- English Standard Version (ESV) Study Bible includes notes, maps, illustrations, charts, timelines, articles, and introductions. [Amazon = Get this large print version – their fonts are small] [Logos = Study notes only; works with any Bible translation in Logos]
- Faithlife Study Bible: Your guide to the ancient world of the Old and New Testaments with study notes, articles, media, and infographics. Works with any Bible translation in Logos. Included with many other great resources in the Free Edition of Logos Bible Software. [About]
Bible Study Software
- Logos Bible Software [About] [Get Free Edition] (Includes many good study tools and resources. Additional tools and other resources are available for purchase or subscription.)
- Get the Free Edition first. Once you are familiar with using it, consider a subscription appropriate for your usage.
- Got Logos Bible Software? Get Logos Link for Chrome browser. Connects web pages to Logos. Detects Bible references, entities, and theology terms — hover for previews, click to open in Logos.
Additional Study Aids
(Listed in order of usefulness, unless there is a specific need to obtain one out of order.)
- What the Bible Says to the Believer: The Believer’s Personal Handbook. A must-have, indispensable resource for every follower of Jesus. See how to use this book HERE. [Amazon] [Kindle] [Logos]
- A notebook/journal for taking notes from sermons, at Bible studies, and your own study of the Bible. (There is a note-taking system built into Logos.)
- Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary [Amazon] [Logos]
- Talk Thru the Bible (An outline and overview of every book in the Bible, plus other study resources.) [Amazon] [Logos]
- Dictionary of Bible Themes (Topical cross references and outlines) [Kindle Edition] [Logos]
- New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Jerome Smith) (Cross references to related passages in the Bible) [Amazon] [Logos]
- Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know [Amazon] [Logos]
Key Online Resources
- BibleRef.com (A commentary on books of the Bible and their passages. Just type in the Bible reference and it will provide a commentary on that verse.)
- Got Questions (Answers to YOUR questions about God, Jesus, the Bible, or theology. Just type in your question, and it will list several articles related to your question.)
- Didn’t find what you are looking for? Try SeekFind.
- GotQuestions Android App
- Compelling Truth (A topical resource for believers growing in their faith and for seekers exploring the truth of Christianity)
- Logos Web App. (Logos Bible Software on a website.)
Online Bible Courses
Blue Letter Bible Institute (Free online basic and intermediate courses)
DTS Global Institute (Free online intermediate and advanced courses)
Other Bible and Ministry Courses available HERE.
More Online Resources
Expedition Bible (Video studies of the Bible and its lands by a Bible archaeologist.)
BibleProject (Video overviews of Bible books and topics)
Blue Letter Bible
- Blue Letter Bible (Various study resources and tools)
- ScriptureMark (An inductive-style Bible study mark-up tool)
- Audio Bible (with transcript)
- Book Summary
- Chapter Summaries
- Study Resources
- Where to turn in the Bible when …
- Common Bible questions answered
- Helpful articles by topic
- Index of study questions (by book)
Others:
- Bible Munch (Bite-sized Bible Studies and Devotionals.)
- Desiring God, Look at the Book Labs (Bible passage analysis videos: Introduction)
- Living Waters (Resources that inspire and equip Christians to fulfill the Great Commission.)
- Our Daily Bread Ministries (Inspirational and informative devotionals)
- Ray Comfort: Just Witnessing (To equip you to share your faith effectively.)
- Sergio & Rhoda in Israel (Videos of Biblical places in Israel)
- StudyLight (Bible Study Resources)
Study Skills
Footnotes:
- Formal Equivalence translations emphasize the linguistic structure of the original text, including sentence structure and word order. These translations aid Bible students in understanding how the original Hebrew and Greek conveyed the Bible’s message.. ↩︎
- Functional Equivalence translations emphasize the original text’s message using relatable words and grammar. These translations enhance clarity, allowing readers to understand how the message was perceived by the original audience. ↩︎
