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Once we understand why studying the Bible matters and why context is so important, the next question is practical: how do we actually dig deeper into a passage? In Part 4 of the How to Study the Bible series, we look at some of the tools that can help us follow Scripture through Scripture – cross-references, a Harmony of the Gospels, cultural study notes, interlinear Bibles and Strong’s Concordance. You do not need a theological degree or a shelf full of expensive books to begin. Many of these resources are freely available online, and even a Bible with good cross-references can open up an extraordinary amount of additional understanding. Most importantly, though, Bible study begins with prayer – asking God for wisdom and understanding as we approach His Word.
One of the simplest and most useful tools is the cross-reference system already included in many Bibles. Starting with John 1:1-2 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” – we can follow references into passages such as Genesis 1, Colossians 1 and 1 John 1. Instead of treating John 1 as an isolated statement, we see that those passages help us see a much larger biblical picture. Colossians tells us that all things were created through Christ and for Him, while 1 John speaks about the One who was from the beginning, whom the apostles heard, saw and touched. Cross-references allow Scripture to illuminate Scripture and help us see connections we might easily miss when reading one verse at a time.
There are other tools we can add as we become more confident. A Harmony of the Gospels places parallel passages from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John side by side, helping us see what each Gospel writer records about the same events. A cultural study Bible can help answer questions about the people, customs and circumstances behind a passage. An interlinear Bible allows us to see the underlying Hebrew or Greek alongside an English translation, while Strong’s Concordance helps us trace particular words and see how they are used elsewhere in Scripture. These tools are not there to make Bible study unnecessarily complicated. They help us ask better questions, check our assumptions and understand more clearly what the biblical writer is communicating.
But all of those tools serve a greater purpose. As the study of John 1 unfolds, the cross-references continually bring us back to Jesus Christ – the Word who was with God in the beginning and who is revealed throughout Scripture. Bible study is not simply about collecting information, learning Greek numbers or filling margins with notes. We want the truth of God to take root. For those who have wandered, stumbled or perhaps returned to Scripture after many years, there is hope here too. God’s Word continually points us back to Christ, repentance, forgiveness and grace. So use whatever study system works for you – write in your Bible, keep a notebook, follow references or use online tools – but above all, come prayerfully and humbly, asking the Lord to give you understanding and to shape your life through what He has revealed.
