Ever Tried These Helpful Online Bible Study Tools?

Online Bible Study Tools

Do you ever use online Bible study tools? These fantastic ditties help fuel our faith, and they often enrich Bible study time so that we’re ready to come back for more. Find several of my go-to study tools in the list below. Perhaps one or more will be helpful. They’re available as online resources, but many are available as apps and in print as well.

How Should a Beginner Study the Bible?

When we’re new to the Christian faith or we’re mentoring someone, we might wonder how a beginner should study the Bible. Here are a few suggestions.

• Read the Bible. Grab a copy of God’s Word and run deep into His beautiful words. The NLT Fresh Start Bible is one of my favorites for beginners, but there are others available as well.
  

NLT Fresh Start Bible, softcover

• Meditate on the scriptures. Find several free graphics and memory verses at the Free Christian Resources page.
  
• Determine a Bible study topic and use some of the resources below to help flesh out that topic.
  
• Study via Bible word studies–one of my favorite methods. Not sure how? Here’s how to do a Bible word study.

• Follow a Bible reading plan. (Starting with the Gospels–Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John–is often recommended. There are many free ones online simply by searching “Bible reading plans” like the ones from Navigators or YouVerion (app) / Bible.com. Some Bibles include them. There are also a few short reading plans here in the Subscriber Library, available free to subscribers.

(Not a subscriber? No problem! Sign up here.)

Ask questions while reading–of God, to others, of self. Sometimes it’s a little slow starting, or maybe our middle sags a bit, but God’s Word is alive and well worth the continuation. There have been many times when it has been light to my feet and nearly tangible. Mind-blowing, actually.

No doubt our loving Father desires that we spend time deep in His words of love, instruction, promise, historical account, thanksgiving, and praise. All in the Bible. And we’ll pick up on more as we study the Bible.

Bible Study Tools for Beginners

There are many Bible study tools for beginners and more seasoned Christians alike. And those are listed below. BUT there’s one tool that’s especially helpful for beginners.

Bible Concordance

Buy a Bible with a concordance in the back. You’ll be glad you did. A Bible concordance is like an appendix of words found in the Bible. Not all words are included, but major ones are. If you want to know what God’s Word says about weeping, flip to the rear, look it up, then flip to the scripture listed. Concordances list words alphabetically. If you want to know about Joshua, major verses with his name are likely listed in a concordance as well.

There are several Bible options and versions available that include this useful tool, such as the Jesus Bible. (Which also includes a nice timeline, by the way.)

The Jesus Bible, ESV Edition–soft leather-look, multi-color/teal

The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is more all-encompassing than a “back-of-the-Bible” concordance. Find out more about it below. Since it’s a little more in-depth, usage of a smaller, back-of-the-Bible concordance is recommended for beginners. But don’t be shy of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, but it’s a FABULOUS tool!

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Bible Gateway

What a terrific, free tool Bible Gateway is. They also have an upgraded version available that offers additional resources. The number one reason I use Bible Gateway is noted below.

Bible Gateway Passage Lookup

Bible Gateway passage lookup is a helpful tool. It allows users to look up any verse or passage in the Bible. For example, type in John 3:16, and check out the result. Change versions, from NIV, a popular version, to AMP, WEB, NLT, or many others. Consider checking out unfamiliar translations, too.

Bible Gateway App

Bible Gateway’s available online at BibleGateway.com or by downloading their app. Choose the one that works best for you–or use both!

Blue Letter Bible

Blue Letter Bible is a keeper. They offer both an app and a website. I prefer to use the website, because it’s easier (for me) to navigate. This site hosts a slew of helpful tools, including audio for Greek and Hebrew interpretation, commentaries, as well as access to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and Bible dictionaries such as Vine’s.

BibleStudyTools.com

Another helpful Bible study site is BibleStudyTools.com. In full disclosure, I’ve written a few pieces for BibleStudyTools.com as well as a few of their sister sites such as Crosswalk.com and iBelieve.com.

BibleStudyTools.com offers scripture look-up as well as commentaries and other Bible tools. One of my favorites commentaries available and one I use often is Matthew Henry’s.

Bible Study Tools Verse of the Day

Helpful for young and mature Christians is their verse of the day. It’s found on their homepage as well as this page.

Bible Study Light

This site’s a more recent addition to my online toolbag. Another favorite Bible commentary, John Wesley’s, is available here along with dictionaries, concordances, and many other helpful tools. Take a little time and peruse BibleStudyLight.org to enhance your Bible study time.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is one of my favorite study tools. It’s limited in the Bible versions it refers to and has a bit of a learning curve, but the benefits of deeper understanding make it worthwhile. I’m not a huge KJV fan because the language style is more difficult for me to understand, but I’ll use it in a heartbeat for usage with Strong’s.

How Do You Use Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance?

Many of the sites listed in this piece include this concordance. I typically rely on BlueLetterBible.org. A quick web search results in other sites that house this information as well.

Here’s a video to help wade into the waters of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

Strong’s Concordance App

If you’re an app user, this may be for you. There are several apps that offer access to Strong’s Concordance. I don’t have personal experience with any of them except Blue Letter Bible, so do your homework and make as wise a decision as possible if you decide to download a Strong’s Concordance app.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Print Version

If you prefer a print copy, here’s an option to consider.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, Updated Edition KJV

Vine’s Expository Dictionary

Dictionaries have their place, don’t they? Vine’s certainly does when it comes to Bible words. Consider this one a sister to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, as its entries are linked to Strong’s numbers, although each Bible study tool can be used independently.

What Is Vine’s Expository Dictionary?

Vine’s Expository Dictionary is simply a dictionary of words found in the Bible. It contains a variety of words from both the New and Old Testaments and offers their definitions.

How Do I Use Vine’s Expository Dictionary?

It’s available online at several sites and in print, below, but one of the easiest sites to use is StudyBible.Info. Keep in mind that this version helps students locate New Testament words, but some sites and print versions include both Old and New Testament lookups.

Print Version

If you’re in the market for a print copy to keep for yourself or to give as a gift, consider this one.

Vine’s Concise Dictionary of the Bible

Websters 1828 Dictionary

Its publication is more recent than biblical times, but Websters 1828 Dictionary can offer help for our Bible study time. Definitions in Websters 1828 Dictionary often mirror those in Vine’s, and it’s handy to use in conjunction with many of the other tools listed above. Simply search for it online (free/for donation), or it can be purchased here:

Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828 Edition

Which Online Bible Study Tools Should I Use?

Regardless of which online Bible study tools we use, devouring God’s Word helps us navigate life. Each tool has its place, and we’ll know which one(s) to turn to the more we become familiar with them through use. They help us deepen our understanding and navigate the Bible a little more confidently, too.

Happy studying, and may His Word dance to life in beautiful ways–and deeper ways yet with the use of these helpful online Bible study tools.