Swiss-army Bookshelf

Every Christian who loves the Word of God is going to need some help understanding the Word of God.  Reading devotionally or reading for depth or even preparation for writing essays or preaching, you are going to eventually need some reference books to help you understand the tougher verses. Over the years what was a pile of books on my bedside has become a shelf. These are my first books to grab for in the morning when I am having my quiet time with the Word and run into a verse that I want to be sure of before just reading on. I post these here to encourage all my readers to go deep and to perhaps give you a suggested library to edify you as you read. I have put three stars next to the books I have found the most useful and would highly recommend these for a start.

(As they are numbered in the photo)…

FINDING THINGS

5 NIV Concordance ***

This is a very easy to use concordance for when I can remember a key word but not a full scripture reference. Also handy to see where else that particular word has been used in scripture and how many times and in what context.

1 The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge – R A Torrey

With more than 500 000 Scripture references and parallel passages, this reference work contains the most exhaustive listing of biblical cross-references available. Incredibly compact, abbreviated and dense  - it takes some getting used to but it is exhaustive. Post-t notes help

USEFUL BIBLES

3 King James Bible

Simple authorised version as a basic no frills translation.

6 ESV Study Bible (Crossway)

I simply love this translation but the study notes are very helpful too.

11 Life Application Study Bible NIV (by Tyndale Pub.)

My oldest bible (I bound it in wood and leather medieval style). The notes can be helpful though sometimes too vague.

16 NASB Zondervan Study Bible - Barker and Burdick

A great translation with good notes.

13 Hebrew – Greek Keyword study Bible NASB – Zodhiates and Baker

This one has a Greek and Hebrew dictionary built into the back with Strongs numbers. There are multiple other useful features in this book (which I also rebound in wood and leather). This is not an easy Bible to read with all the numbering and notes but I use it for deep study not wide reading.

2 Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words - W E Vine

This book helps you study the meaning of over 6,000 key biblical words in the original languages-without spending years learning Greek or Hebrew.

COMMENTARIES

(I have listed them in order of which I have found the most helpful over the years)

9 The MacArthur Bible Commentary – J MacArthur ***

8 Commentary on the Whole Bible – Jamieson, Fausset and Brown ***

10 Hard Sayings of the Bible –  Kaiser, Davids, Bruce and Brauch ***

Not really a commentary but so useful for difficult bible verses.

7 New Bible Commentary – Carson, France, Motyer and Wenham

12 Believers Bible Commentary – W MacDonald

17 New Bible Commentary – Guthrie, Motyer, Stibbs and Wiseman

14 Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible - M Henry

MISCELLANEOUS REFERENCES

15 Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary - Douglas and Tenney ***

4 Systematic Theology – L Berkhof

Please note – my actual main bible is not here as it generally goes where I go (it is an NIV note-takers Bible)