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Cross References

The first place to look is within the Bible itself. That is, what God has to say throughout His Word about a certain subject, command, etc. This is what is called a Cross-Reference, or “Treasury of Scripture.” It is the way Old Testament books and New Testament books connect with themselves across chapters and within other books of the Bible. It is incredible and powerful to see the inter-connectivity of God’s Word. It is also helpful in diving deeper into God’s Word.

Book Introductions

Book introductions are typically a few paragraphs to a few pages that set the stage for the book. It contains useful contextual information like author, date of writing, historical context, and much more. This helps us as the reader enter in to the time period, as if we were the people of God receiving such words at the time of writing.

Concordances

The concordances of import are Hebrew and Greek Concordances. These are the source languages the Old and New Testaments were originally written in respectively. These concordances contain definitions of words, where else words have been used, tense, part of speech, etc. Words matter. The meaning of words matter. The tense of the word matters. We have have access to such like no previous generation. It is resource often neglected, leading to missing the depths of the words God purposefully used to speak to us today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.

Study Bibles

Study Bibles are solid investments, especially in the technological age of our day, as they contain the three tools of the trade above. Also, in the age of distraction in the form of push notifications, having a physical Study Bible can serve as protection (as long as you keep all technological devices at a safe distance). Plus, there is natural and supernatural gravity in holding the physical Word of God in your hands. We highly recommend investing in one. Some features to look for:

• Cross-references

• Book Introductions

• Greek and Hebrew Concordance

Digital Resources

If you are looking for a completely digital resource that has all the above, we would recommend checking out Bible Hub. It is a completely free resource online that has a wide-array of resources that we have found extremely useful.

Commentaries, Monographs, and Theology Books

Commentaries, books (monographs) written about the Bible, and/or Biblical or Systematic Theology are assets to be sure. However, we have found in our time at Seminary, talking to others (pastors, teachers, professors, students, etc.) over the last decade, that more emphasis is being placed in what a commentator, book author, and/or theologian says about God’s Word than God Himself. Commentators, book authors, and theologians are human and fallible. God is not. This is why, we are so passionate about such resources coming second.

To that end, we have included a list of beneficial commentaries and other theological books if you would like to avail yourself to these. Please use them as a resource only after utilizing the above first.

Commentary Series

• Preaching the Word

• The New American Commentary

*A brief note on commentaries. The one’s above align most with MTC Communication’s convictions (or faith lane). However, sometimes it is beneficial and can provide a more well-rounded perspective to also read a commentary that you may not agree with and/or one that falls somewhere in the middle. Ultimately, you are not after what the commentator has to say but what God wants to say through the commentator.

Theological Books

• Jesus and The Gospels, Craig Blomberg

• Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation, David DeSilva

• The Old Testament, Richard Hess

• How to Read the Bible for All its Worth, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

• Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, William Klein, Craig Blomberg, and Robert Hubbard, Jr.

• Evangelical Theology, Michael Bird

*There are many other theological books out there. We have found that these are the easiest to understand and it doesn’t take a doctorate to read.