The Process of Doing Bible Research

Edward D. Andrews

Contents
Basic Bible Study Tools.................................................................................................................................. 4
Study Bible ................................................................................................................................................ 4
Cross References: .................................................................................................................................. 4
Study Notes: .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Glossary of Bible Terms:........................................................................................................................ 5
Maps and Archaeology: ........................................................................................................................ 5
Choosing a Bible: ................................................................................................................................... 5
Bible Dictionary ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Bible Encyclopedia .................................................................................................................................... 5
Bible Concordance .................................................................................................................................... 5
Bible Study Software ................................................................................................................................. 6
Logos Bible Software:............................................................................................................................ 6
Accordance Bible Software : ................................................................................................................. 6
BibleWorks: ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Handle God’s Word Aright ............................................................................................................................ 6
Wise King Solomon, also known as the Teacher or Preacher, “taught the people knowledge, and
he pondered and made a thorough search in order to arrange many proverbs. The Teacher sought
to find delightful words and to record accurate words of truth.” (Eccl. 12:9-10) Luke, the author
of our third Gospel, “followed all things accurately from the beginning” (Luke 1:3), as he compiled
the life and times of Jesus Christ. Both of these men of God were doing research.
Research is the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to
establish facts and reach conclusions. So, Bible research would be the systematic investigation into
and Word of God and Bible study materials (word dictionaries, commentaries, historical setting,
Bible backgrounds, Bible encyclopedias), in order to establish facts and reach conclusions.
Research should be a part of every Christin’s life and personal study. There is a difference between
Bible study and Bible research. Bible study is the devotion of time and attention to acquiring
knowledge of God’s Word, especially by means of Bible study tools like a commentary, among
others. Bible research is a systematic investigation in order to establish facts, so as to reach a
conclusion. What might move a Christian from Bible study into the Bible research mode? During
your Bible study, you come across some biblical terms that you do not fully understand. During
your personal study, you come across a Christian quality that you need to strengthen, like patience.
Someone raises a Bible question to you and you want to discover the answer, so as to make a reply.
A Bible critic might have challenged you online, ask a difficult Bible question. While you are not
trying to necessarily win over the Bible critics that likely has a closed mind, you are trying to
provide a response to those that see the critics question, so that they know there is an answer.
Who our audience is a very important factor in the type of Bible study tools that we might look at.
Do they have a basic understanding of God’s Word? What do they need to know? You then need
to identify the objective. Are you trying to explain? Are you trying to convince? Are you trying to
refute something? Are you trying to reason? Are you trying to overturn false reasoning? Are you
trying to motivate? Are you seeking to convert this one to the faith? Are you trying to leave a
biblical thought as a planted seed?
Explaining involves giving your listener more information so as to make it clear. It may be that
they understand the basic facts, so you may need to expound more on the when or how of what
was stated. In order to convince, you must give them reasonable and rational reasons, outlining
why something is so and why what you are saying is true. Thus, this is a presentation of evidence.
If you are refuting something, this will mean that you must have a thorough knowledge of what
you know to be true as well as the other sides opposing arguments, having previously made a
careful analysis of the evidence. You are not just looking for strong arguments but how you can
present them respectfully, so as to not cause offense, but rather to motivate. It means you are
reaching the heart of your listener, reasoning with them, maybe even overturning false beliefs, so
as to move them to research the subject objectively (not influenced by personal feelings or opinions
in considering and representing facts) as opposed to subjectively (based on or influenced by
personal feelings, tastes, or opinions).
Now that we have who our audience is, what is next? Who we are talking to will determine just
how much information will be needed to convince. Then, we have to consider how much time we
have in order to research thoroughly. Are you on the internet where you have but minutes as
discussions pass quickly? Or is this a person you will see again and you have plenty of time to pull
your research together. A word of caution and the right perspective on presenting evidence. You
are researching for more than your listener. You are also researching for your benefit, as it
strengthens your faith as well, and this information will be needed again and again because some
Bible questions are often asked. The word of caution is this, many time you put hours into
researching something; then, you present it well, and the listener just blows it off without even
really listening or reading what you prepared. This may make you feel like, ‘Why do I even try?’
Nevertheless, remember, the information benefit you too.
What Bible study tools will we need in our lifetime of research? If our budget is low, we can get
things as we can. Be very cautious of the outdated tools from the 1800s that are free on the internet.
Something like R. A. Torrey’s books on Bible difficulties might be very good but a dictionary or
an encyclopedia might have inaccurate information because our understanding of the original
language words has advanced over the last 150 years. Software is a way to grow your library
without having to have all of those physical books. Basically, you need Bible dictionaries, Bible
word study books, Bible encyclopedias, Bible background books, Bible commentaries, Bible atlas,
and so on.
However, you need to read and study other kinds of books as well. You will need to read books
on Christian apologetics, which help you to understand how to reason from the Scriptures. You
need to read an apologetic book on things like inerrancy of Scripture, Bible difficulties, reasoning
from the Scriptures and so on. You will need to read books on how to interpret the Bible. A word
of caution here too. Not all Christian authors are equal. The vast majority of Bible scholars today
are liberal to moderate, meaning they doubt parts of the Bible, they have liberal social positions,
and they are using higher criticism in their interpretive process, which tears the Bible apart, giving
you the author’s views, not what the original authors, inerrant, authoritative Bible author said or
meant.
So, as you build your library, you need to be very cautious as you compile it. Always, remember
that a literal translation of God’s Word is truth. (John 17:17) Jesus is the central person in the
fulfillment of the Father’s will and purposes. Therefore, Colossians 2:3 says of Jesus: “in whom
are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” You need to stay with truly conservative
resources and conservative authors. How can you know who is conservative and who is not? One
way is to ask your pastor. Another is to become friends on social media with Bible scholars that
are conservative. Therein, you can ask, “what book would you recommend for biblical
interpretation, textual criticism, the history of the church, and so on. Aside from basic Bible study
tools, you need to have a foundational understanding of some important subject areas. Apologetics,
biblical archaeology, biblical interpretation, how to study, Christian living, Christian evangelism,
textual criticism, translation process, and philosophy, among others.

Basic Bible Study Tools

We have only mentioned some of the basic tools; now we need to spend a brief moment talking
about them. Again, many of the Christian publishing houses today offer books by conservative,
moderate and liberal authors. Therefore, as Forest Gump might say, “it is like a box of Chocolate,
you never know what you are going to get.”[3]

Study Bible
The most important tool in your study chest is the study Bible. The goal and purpose of the
upcoming Updated American Standard Version (UASV) are as follows. “Our primary purpose is
to give the Bible readers what God said by way of his human authors, not what a translator thinks
God meant in its place, Truth Matters! Our primary goal is to be accurate and faithful to the original
text. The meaning of a word is the responsibility of the interpreter (i.e., reader), not the translator.],
Translating Truth! The Updated American Standard Version will be one of the most faithful and
accurate translations to date.”[4] There is no other translation to date that stays faithful to these
translation principles. Yes, a few have these principles, but they also abandon them quite often
during their translation process. Thus, follow the link below to the UASV website. Know when it
is coming available. In the meantime, these other translation are still worthy of your attention. It
is recommended that you use The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text
Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News
Publishers. We also recommend The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible
Publishers.
Cross References:
In the translation, you will find a column of cross references. The verses that they take you to
might be based on the verse as a whole, a section of the verse, even a particular word within the
verse. This gives you other verses in the Bible that use the same term. Keep in mind; the translator
may not have chosen the cross reference verse with the same intention of why you are looking at
it.
Study Notes:
The study note are normally at the bottom of the page. The study notes may be brief, say a sentence
or two, as well extensive, a paragraph or two. The study notes will cover such things as the Bible
background, historical setting, original language word meaning, textual, as well doctrinal. A word
of caution here as well. The translator is offering his doctrinal position when it comes to the
doctrinal footnotes. Never assume he is correct.
Subject or Topical Index: Some study Bible have a subject or topical index at the back of the Bible,
some in the front of the Bible. This will offer you brief information on persons, places, and things
within God’s Word.
Glossary of Bible Terms:
Some study Bibles have a glossary of Bible terms that will give you brief definitions of such terms
as confession, sin, righteousness, adultery, antichrist, and son. These definitions may be a simple
sentence or even two paragraphs or more. The glossary helps the reader understand selected words
according to their Bible-specific usage.
Maps and Archaeology:
Almost all Bible have maps at the end of the Bible. Some study Bibles have archaeological sections
near the maps, which will introduce the readers to significant archaeological finds over the last
two-hundred years.
Choosing a Bible:
You must have a very good literal translation that is the Word of God in English. The upcoming
Updated American Standard Version (UASV) will be your best choice in the near future. Until
then, the English Standard Version (ESV) of 2001 or the Christian Standard Bible of 2017 is your
best choices for a study Bible. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) of 1995 is your best
choice for a literal translation for now. If you use an interpretive translation as an aid to your literal
translation, such as the (CEB, NIV, CEV, ERV, GNT, NLT), just know that they are mini
commentaries, and are not to serve as a translation.

Bible Dictionary
We also need a very good Bible dictionary. A trusted Bible dictionary is found in Chad Brand et
al., eds., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003).
Another is by Walter A. Elwell and Philip Wesley Comfort, Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Tyndale
Reference Library (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001).

Bible Encyclopedia
Christians who want to dig a little deeper, you may want to invest in a Bible encyclopedia. If you
are looking for something a little more extensive yet still very easy for the non-academics to
understand, it will be by Hobert K. Farrell, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Book House, 1988), 270. Another long trusted source would be by D. H. Engelhard,
Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B.
Eerdmans, 1979–1988).

Bible Concordance
Robert L. Thomas, The Lockman Foundation, New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance
of the Bible: Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).
Bible Study Software
This is a lifetime investment. It is a digital library that offers you deeper research, faster, and easier
than you have ever imagined.
Logos Bible Software:
Logos Bible Software (https://www.logos.com/) is a digital library application designed for
electronic Bible study. In addition to basic eBook functionality, it includes extensive resource
linking, note-taking functionality, and linguistic analysis for study of the Bible both in translation
and in its original languages. It is developed by Faithlife Corporation. As of February 2017, Logos
Bible Software is in its seventh version. Logos Bible Software is compatible with more than 43,000
titles related to the Bible from 200 publishers, including Baker, Bantam, Catholic University of
America Press, Eerdmans, Harvest House, Merriam Webster, Moody Press, Oxford University
Press, Thomas Nelson, Tyndale House, and Zondervan. Logos also recently published its own
Lexham Bible Reference series, featuring new scholarship on the original Biblical languages.
Accordance Bible Software :
Accordance Bible Software (http://www.accordancebible.com/): it is a Bible study program for
Apple Macintosh and iPhone, and now Windows developed by OakTree Software, Inc. The
program is used for both private and academic study.
BibleWorks:
BibleWorks (http://bibleworks.com/): Whether you’re preparing a sermon, doing complex
morphological analysis, or writing a seminary paper, scholars agree that BibleWorks is
indispensable. You’ll find everything you need for close exegesis of the original text in its 200+
Bible translations in 40 languages, 50+ original language texts and morphology databases, dozens
of lexical-grammatical references, plus a wealth of practical reference works! Instead of providing
a loose collection of books, BibleWorks tightly integrates its databases with the most powerful
morphology and analysis tools.

Handle God’s Word Aright

2 Timothy 2:15 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly handling[5] the word of truth.
If we are teaching ourselves, regular and diligent personal study of the Bible is vital, no matter
how long we have been serving God.
On 2 Timothy 2:15, New Testament Bible scholar Knute Larson writes,
Timothy, by contrast, must do his best to present [himself] to God as one approved, a workman
who does not need to be ashamed. Timothy, and all who follow Christ, are to consecrate
themselves to God, working diligently for his approval. The teacher whom God approves has no
need of shame in his presence.
God bestows his approval on the one who exhibits truth, love, and godliness in daily living, and
who correctly handles the word of truth. The false teachers were mishandling God’s words, using
them for their own benefit. Timothy was commissioned to handle the words of God correctly. All
preaching should present the truth clearly, cutting through erroneous ideas or inaccurate opinions.
(Larson 2000, p. 286)
The English Standard Version renders the participial clause of 2:15 “rightly handling the word of
truth,” while the Holman Christian Standard Bible renders it “correctly teaching the word of truth,”
and the New American Standard Bible, “accurately handling the word of truth.” The Greek word,
orthotomeo, means “to give accurate instruction—‘to teach correctly, to expound rightly.’ … ‘do
your best … to teach the word of truth correctly’ 2 Tm 2:15.”[6] This is all that can be asked of any
Christian, that ‘we do our best to teach the word of truth correctly.’
What can help us to teach the word of truth correctly? If we are to teach another, we must correctly
and clearly understand the Word ourselves. When we clearly understand something, we are able
to give reasons as to why it is so. Moreover, we are able to express it in our own words. If we are
to understand the Bible correctly, we must read it within the context of the verses that surround it,
the chapter it is within, the Bible book it is within, the Testament that it is in, and the Bible as a
whole. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, immediate context (i.e., of a word, phrase,
clause or sentence) is “the words that are used with a certain word or phrase and that help to explain
its meaning.”[7] The meaning of a text is what the author meant by the words that he used. On this
Robert H. Stein writes,
Great confusion can result if we do not pay careful attention to context. For instance, both Paul
(Rom. 4:1–25) and James (2:14–26) use the term “faith” (pistis). Yet we will misunderstand both
if we assume that by faith they mean “a body of beliefs.” We will misunderstand Paul if we assume
that he means “a mere mental assent to a fact,” and we will misunderstand James if we assume
that he means “a wholehearted trust.” It is evident from the context that Paul means the latter (cf.
Rom. 4:3, 5) and that James means the former (cf. 2:14, 19). (Stein 1994, p. 59)
Stein also wrote, “A context is valuable because it assists the reader in understanding the meaning
the author has given the text.” Another example would be Paul’s statement at Galatians 5:13
(ESV), “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity
for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” If we were looking at this verse alone, not
considering what is before and after, we would be asking, what does Paul mean by “freedom”?
Was he speaking of freedom from sin and death, freedom from being enslaved to false beliefs,
freedom from corruption, or was it something entirely different? If we consider the context, we
get our answer. The context tells us the “freedom” that Paul spoke of was our being freed from
“the curse of the law,” as Christ became the curse for us. (Gal. 3:13, 19-24; 4:1-5) If we look at
Galatians 3:10, “Paul quotes Deuteronomy 27:26 to prove that, contrary to what the Judaizers
claimed, the law cannot justify and save. It can only condemn. The breaking of any aspect of the
law brought a curse on the person who broke the law. Since no one can keep the law perfectly, we
are all cursed. Paul, with this argument, destroys the Judaizers’ belief that a person is saved through
the law.”[8] Thus, Paul was referring to the freedom that Christians possess. Just because we are
not under the Mosaic Law, a law that imperfect man cannot keep perfectly, this is no excuse to use
our “freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.” Rather, if we truly understand and value our
freedom, we will slave for one another because of our love for one another. However, those in the
Galatian congregation who lacked that love were engaged in vicious infighting and quarreling.–
Galatians 5:15.
There is another meaning of the word “context,” i.e., background, conditions, historical setting,
and situation. Some call the surrounding text context and the historical setting context. Either way,
the second meaning here is just as important. The background information that must be considered
is, who penned the book, when and where was it written and under what historical setting. Why
was the author moved to pen the book, or more realistically, why did God move him to write the
book? Within any book on Bible backgrounds, the author will discuss the social, moral, and
religious practices of the time Bible book was written.
Correctly handling the word of truth goes deeper than simply explaining a biblical truth accurately.
We do not want to use our knowledge of God’s Word in an intimidating way. Of course, we want
to defend the truth offensively and defensively, following the example of Jesus, who used Scripture
to defeat Satan the Devil when under temptation. Nevertheless, figuratively speaking, we do not
use the Bible to club others over the head. (Deut. 6:16; 8:3; 10:20; Matt. 4:4, 7, 10) Rather, we
want to follow counsel that Peter gave, “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being
prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do
it with gentleness and respect.”–1 Peter 3:15.
New Testament Bible scholar Richard L. Pratt Jr. offered the following on 2 Corinthians 10:3-5,
Paul responded by reminding the Corinthians that his ministry was successful warfare. He had
previously described his gospel ministry as a parade of victory in war, and he used similar military
analogies elsewhere as well. His apostolic effort was a war he was sure to win.
Paul admitted that he and his company live[d] in the world, but insisted that they did not wage war
as the world does. They did not employ the intimidation, coercion, and violence normally
associated with worldly authorities. Instead of employing the weapons of the world, Paul relied on
divine power. These weapons appeared weak by worldly standards, but they were actually very
powerful. The preaching of the cross brought great displays of God’s power in the lives of believers
everywhere, including Corinth.
Consequently, Paul was certain that he was on a course to demolish the strongholds or fortifications
of arguments and every pretension that anyone set up against the knowledge of God. As Paul
traveled the world proclaiming the gospel of Christ, he encountered pretentious disbelief supported
by clever arguments and powerful personalities. But through the “weakness” of preaching Christ,
Paul went about taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (Pratt Jr 2000, p. 417)
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh [9] but powerful to God for destroying
strongholds.[10]
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God,
and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

[1]The Hebrew word rendered here as “discernment” (tevunah) is related to the word binah,
translated “understanding.” Both appear at Proverbs 2:3.
[2] See 2.2 ftn.
[3] life is like a box of chocolates – Wiktionary (Saturday, September 02, 2017)
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/life_is_like_a_box_of_chocolates
[4] http://www.uasvbible.org/
[5] Or accurately handling the word of truth; correctly teaching the word of truth
[6]
Louw, Johannes P.; Nida, Eugene A. (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on
Semantic Domains)
[7] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/context (Sunday, September 03, 2017)
[8]
(Anders, Holman New Testament Commentary: vol. 8, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians,
Colossians 1999, p. 37)
[9] That is merely human
[10] That is tearing down false arguments