5 important materials to use for personal Bible study

Even before my salvation, reading God’s word was one of my favorite activities. When I read it, I am filled with joy, peace, and an understanding that I can’t explain. Every time I open it, it amazes me, and I’ve discovered that having the right materials can help make the studies more effective and improve understanding and spiritual growth. Here are 5 important materials to use for personal Bible study.

1. The Bible.

Without a Bible, your study will not be a Bible study, so make sure you have one. It is the most important tool. I suggest that you use a physical Bible rather than an app. It’s fine to use your phone, but it’s best to turn it off during your quiet time with God. This is to avoid any potential distractions like messages, phone calls, and other interruptions.

I spend a lot of time on my phone during the day, and I prefer to disconnect from it when spending time with God. This is easier said than done, though, because I always find myself googling the meaning of words. This makes it difficult to avoid using the phone, but perhaps you could simply disable notifications instead of completely shutting it off. But, at the end of the day, it’s about what works for you.

Use a Bible version that you understand.

I personally use the KJV Bible because that’s what I grew up with. But, I’ve recently started using both the KJV and the NIV in my Bible studies. The KJV English can be difficult to grasp at times, and having the NIV on hand allows me to compare what the words mean in other version. If you are new to reading the Bible, I recommend the NIV version because the English is easier to understand. Unless you enjoy a challenge and want your studies to sound poetic, go with the KJV.

2. Bible Dictionary, Concordance, and Commentaries.

A Bible dictionary is useful for your Bible study because it explains Bible words better. Commentaries provide valuable insights into the meaning of the Bible. They provide important insights into the historical background, cultural context, and interpretations of difficult sections. Without the Bible commentary, I wouldn’t know nearly as much about the Bible as I do. Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary, is my favorite commentary and the link to the above dictionary and concordance is: Bible Dictionary & Concordance (Hardcover) – Walmart.com

3. Pens and highlighters are important materials to use for personal Bible study.

If you’ve been a student and have had to study for an exam, you’ve probably used the method where you highlighted your notes to draw attention to the important information in a text.
 
It’s the same thing when you are studying the Bible: use highlighting and underlining to emphasize important passages or to create a personalized reference system. When you see Bible verses that you find interesting, highlight them so that you can easily review or memorize them later.

4. A pen and a note book.

Note-taking is the key to studying the Bible. As you read, you are able to stop and really take in what God is saying. It helps you concentrate more and go deeper into your Bible study. It can help you remember and comprehend more of what you have learned.

5. Flash cards are one of the five most important materials to use for personal Bible study.

Flash cards have been a helpful tool for me when studying in school and in my Bible studies. You can use the flash cards to write down important Bible verses that you want to memorize. Personally, I write them down and learn them later, and over time, they stick in my mind. I acquired this skill from my church; they emphasized the importance of memorizing scripture, and i must say. It truly works.

I hope these 5 important materials to use for personal Bible study will be helpful for you. For more faith content: Faith Archives – I am sheena wodala