How to start studying the word of God

How can you start studying the Bible, the world's best-selling book distributed in over 450 languages? What are the best tools and aids to buy for those who are starting to deepen their understanding of the word of God?

When you start your Bible study, God can speak to you directly if you ask him. You can understand the basics of His word for yourself. You don't need a priest, preacher, scholar or church denomination to grasp its basic teachings (sometimes called the "milk" of the Bible). Over time, our Heavenly Father will lead you to an understanding of the "flesh" or spiritually deeper doctrines of his holy word.

In order for God to speak to you through studying His truth in the Bible, however, you must be ready to put aside your preconceptions and dear beliefs that you may have learned. You must be willing to start your research with a fresh mind and be willing to believe what you read.

Have you ever questioned the traditions that the various religions declare come from the Bible? Did they come exclusively from a study of sacred writings or from another place? If you are willing to approach the Bible with an open mind and a willingness to believe what God teaches you, your efforts will open panoramas of truth that will amaze you.

As for the Bible translations to buy, you can never go wrong in getting a King James translation for your studies. Although some of his words are somewhat dated, many reference tools such as Strong's Concordance are adapted to his verses. If you don't have the money to buy a KJV, do a Google search for organizations and outreach activities that provide free copies to the public. You could also try contacting a local church in your area.

Computer software is a great way to help you understand the Bible. There are programs that can give you access to countless tools, reference books, maps, charts, timelines and a whole host of other aids at your fingertips. They allow a person to view several translations simultaneously (great for those who have just started) and have access to the definitions of the Hebrew or Greek text below. A free biblical software package is E-Sword. You can also purchase a more robust study program from WordSearch (formerly known as Quickverse).

People today, unlike any other time in human history, have access to a plethora of books dedicated to helping Bible research. There is an ever growing collection of tools that includes dictionaries, comments, line spacing, word studies, lexicons, biblical maps and more. Although the selection of tools available for the average student is truly amazing, choosing an initial set of basic reference works can seem daunting.

We recommend the following study aids and tools for those who start reading the Bible. We suggest obtaining a copy of Strong's comprehensive concordance, as well as the Hebrew Brown-Driver-Briggs and English lexicon, and the Hebrew and Lexicon caldary of Gesenius in the Old Testament.

We also suggest dictionaries like Unger's or Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. For verbal or topical studies, we recommend Nave's or the International Standard Biblical Encyclopedia. We also recommend basic comments like Halley, Barnes' Notes and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's Commentary.

Finally, you could visit our sections dedicated to beginners. Feel free to read the answers to the questions asked by those who, like you, started their studies. The desire to understand the truth of God is a permanent quest that is worth dedicating time and effort. Do it with all your strength and you will reap eternal rewards!