02-08-2009, 03:19 PM
Many are being faced with a new challenge of no longer attending a church, or are currently seeking one that is Biblically sound. In the meantime, it is important to dig and study God's Word. For some who are used to a weekly service, it is a bit disconcerting to study on one's own. Many search for resources and helps, especially on the internet and find it can be somewhat likened to this. 
We need to remember that God promised if we seek Him we will find Him and He will give the wisdom and understanding we need.
Matthew 7:7-9 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
James 1:3-7 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
We have the promise that the Holy Spirit will teach us and give us understanding. It is about depending on Him not man's wisdom.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Having said that, many are unsure what resources are available that will actually be of help. It's important to keep in mind that many resources have a denominational or other purpose or bias behind them. Commentaries and such will carry those biases etc. So, if using any, double check them against other sources and most importantly against the Scriptures themselves.
Now for some resources. I used to use Power Bible CD, and Quick Verse (which was a free download), as I needed something to be able to copy/paste verses into my articles. I had discovered that I kept making mistakes when typing them -how sad is that.
With Power Bible I also purchased some of the versions for comparison purposes.
http://www.powerbible.com/
I then got onto E-sword, which is what I now use for online work, and quite often simply to read. It is a free download, that has both free downloadable bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, etc. and purchase bibles etc. Rick Meyers has the site and accepts donations but does not charge for the program.
http://www.e-sword.net/
With esword, I use KJV, KJV + (with Strong's numbers); --and have some of the free other versions for comparison--rarely used except when I do an article concerning a version, such as the Bible charts.
For interlinears there is IHOT -Hebrew Old Testament Interlinear
IGNT +--Greek New testament Interlinear
You can get a lot of commentaries and dictionaries, maps, and such. I don't tend to use them much, UNLESS I am researching something in particular historically or some other reason.
I also use KJConcordance
KJDictionary
Strong's Concordance
BDB--Brown-Driver-Brigg's Hebrew Definitions
Thayer- Thayer's Greek Definitions
TSK-Treasurey of Scriptural Knowledge which provides some cross references
BTW I use KJV for the practicality of it on my website--there is no copyright to worry about prohibiting use of it extensively. I also prefer it and feel it is the best english Bible translation.
In esword, there is a section where you can set up a bible study reading schedule, as well as Study Notes and Topic notes you can add to.
Well that's a start. How about the rest of you? :anyone:
We need to remember that God promised if we seek Him we will find Him and He will give the wisdom and understanding we need.
Matthew 7:7-9 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
James 1:3-7 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
We have the promise that the Holy Spirit will teach us and give us understanding. It is about depending on Him not man's wisdom.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Having said that, many are unsure what resources are available that will actually be of help. It's important to keep in mind that many resources have a denominational or other purpose or bias behind them. Commentaries and such will carry those biases etc. So, if using any, double check them against other sources and most importantly against the Scriptures themselves.
Now for some resources. I used to use Power Bible CD, and Quick Verse (which was a free download), as I needed something to be able to copy/paste verses into my articles. I had discovered that I kept making mistakes when typing them -how sad is that.
With Power Bible I also purchased some of the versions for comparison purposes. http://www.powerbible.com/
I then got onto E-sword, which is what I now use for online work, and quite often simply to read. It is a free download, that has both free downloadable bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, etc. and purchase bibles etc. Rick Meyers has the site and accepts donations but does not charge for the program.
http://www.e-sword.net/
With esword, I use KJV, KJV + (with Strong's numbers); --and have some of the free other versions for comparison--rarely used except when I do an article concerning a version, such as the Bible charts.
For interlinears there is IHOT -Hebrew Old Testament Interlinear
IGNT +--Greek New testament Interlinear
You can get a lot of commentaries and dictionaries, maps, and such. I don't tend to use them much, UNLESS I am researching something in particular historically or some other reason.
I also use KJConcordance
KJDictionary
Strong's Concordance
BDB--Brown-Driver-Brigg's Hebrew Definitions
Thayer- Thayer's Greek Definitions
TSK-Treasurey of Scriptural Knowledge which provides some cross references
BTW I use KJV for the practicality of it on my website--there is no copyright to worry about prohibiting use of it extensively. I also prefer it and feel it is the best english Bible translation.
In esword, there is a section where you can set up a bible study reading schedule, as well as Study Notes and Topic notes you can add to.
Well that's a start. How about the rest of you? :anyone:
The purpose of this thread was to give ideas of useful resources for studying the Bible. Quite frankly commentaries are the person's opinion of the Bible. Scolfield did not publish his opinion as a separate commentary as most do. It was included in the pages of the KJV and is presented as a reference Bible. For many his notes are elevated as Scripture or equal to or above Scripture-- because some content can be shown contradicts what the apostles were given to write, and is taken over their doctrine. 
