A Brief Outline of Bible Study Tips and Links Updated 16.09.12

These embedded links below are to free stuff that is online.  These have been helpful resources for me even though I don't necessarily agree with everything or endorse the organization that makes it available.  Check out the website (doctrinal statement, links, sponsoring person or organization, etc.) or Google the person to find out more about them. The important thing is that you understand the perspective and orientation of the source. Be aware of who you are using.  
Precepts Austin has a lot of links to resources in all categories and has helpful information about how to study the Bible.  The Bible Hub also has a collection of translations and tools.

I usually have a five-step approach to commentaries and study tools.

First, I become familiar with the passage.  I look at the larger context by looking at the general setting and reading the passage before and after the one I am focusing on.  Then I read my specific verses several times.  I continue to read the passage in several versions that include more formal or literal translations (Young’s Literal, KJV, RSV, NASB) and some of the more dynamic translations and paraphrases (like the NIV84, Wuest, NET Bible, Amplified, New Living, and The Message).  I like to compare them verse by verse from literal to dynamic making note of the variations.  
Second, I use linguistic/language tools and commentaries to clarify the meaning of the grammar and words.   

Linguistic/language

 Great Treasures allows you to see the kjv, nasb, esv, and niv84 side by side.

• Gateway Bible has many versions and languages of the Bible (many with audio).
• Blue Letter Bible has good word study and grammar identifications/explanations. 
• Download Greek / Hebrew interlinear Bible Software http://www.scripture4all.org/
• Bible Study Tools has a helpful Greek and Hebrew concordance feature.
• Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the New Testament 
• Bill Mounce Greek Dictionary
• NET Bible-- This translation is a little more dynamic than I usually like to base my study on, but I love the copious translation notes (and other resources). 
  Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament 
• Vincent’s Word Studies 
• Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament comments in some detail on almost every verse in the O.T.  You can also access it as a module on the free E-Sword Bible software download.  It is a free extra module you can add to the software.
• There are tons of cross-references in the Treasure of Scripture Knowledge .

Third, I also check cross references and cultural resources to better understand the meaning of the text.  I will typically focus on places where there was greater variation between the translations.  I also like to study parallel passages and allusions the New Testament makes to the Old Testament.  During this phase, I am making notes about questions I have about the passage meaning.

History/culture

• Alfred Edersheim is good on OT Bible history and the Gospels .
• Locations by Bible chapter with Google maps and ISBE articles.  It is temporarily down. Hopefully, it will be back soon. http://www.biblemap.org/
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia 1915--  This older version is still helpful with basic background information. 
• Web Bible Encyclopedia is a good place to look up names, etc… 
• Blue Letter Bible has a multiple Bible dictionary look-up page.    
• The BibleHub.com has a wide range of Bible study tools that include maps, dictionaries, etc.

Fourth, I will refer to a variety of commentaries to get the insights of knowledgeable men on the passage.  I have my favorites, but I try to check commentators from more that one perspective.  It both allows me to see original arguments for the other side of an issue and, most importantly, enrich my understanding and perspective on the passage.  I work from more objective to ones that comment on more subjective aspects of the text.  “Healthy skepticism” are the watchwords when referring to commentaries.

Doctrinal 

• I recommend Dr. Constable's Expository (Bible Study) Notes
• The freebiblecommentary.org features Bob Utley's notes which I have found helpful.
• David Guzik's Enduring Word Commentaries on the Bible are charismatic, but still very good.
•  Bible.org has a lot of articles and commentaries, scholarly, but not overly academic.
• Barne's Notes on the New Testament  This is an older set but pretty thorough.
• The Bible Centre has dispensational general commentaries, etc...
• The Christian Classic Ethereal Library has many old and ancient resources
• Classic Bible Commentaries: Calvin, Darby, Geneva, Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Matthew Henry, Wesley
• David Cox's Online Religious Library
• Easy English Bible features 2,800-word vocabulary translations and commentaries that have all the cookies on the lowest shelf.
• StudyLight.org has a pretty extensive collection of commentaries and other tools.

Finally, I will sometimes refer to commentators with a more devotional and application bent.  They are usually not as helpful for dissecting the meaning of the text but help me think about how the passage applies to everyday living.  Sermons by accomplished preacher are also good for that, and they give helpful ideas for presenting the passage if you are going to have to teach.

Devotional/Homiletical

• Paul Apple Lesson Notes has many good insights.
• Matthew Henry is not dispensational but has tons of good applications. Spurgeon sermons are helpful Charles Spurgeon is helpful for developing homiletic strategies for your text
• One Place has a wealth of popular teachers and preachers (living and dead) from a variety of backgrounds
• Skeptic’s Annotated Bible helps to anticipate criticisms of the Bible text.  Some are pretty bogus, but others point out valid questions.
• The "CARM Bible difficulties" page, the "Defending Inerrancy" Bible difficulty page, and The Skeptic's Annotated Bible Answered  are helpful in addressing many of the substantive objections.  
• Bible.org has some commentaries and many articles that are often very helpful.

 Web sites tend to come and go, so I hope none of these links go to the wrong place.