Inquiring Minds want to Know

Pam, of a rustling of leaves, posts an interesting survey.  Here are my answers.  Why don't you share yours?  If you do, leave a note for Pam in her comments on the post so we can all find them.

Inquiring minds want to know --

1. What Bible is your preference?

I prefer the NKJ version.  I love the beauty and familiarity of the phrasing.  Most of my early scripture memorization was in KJV, so the NKJ still "sounds" best to me. 

a. Do you care whether it is a red-letter or not?

No, not really.  Mine has red letters, but it wouldn't bother me if it didn't.

b. Study Bible with notes or do you prefer a Bible with no notes?  

I have a Reformation Study Bible with notes, however, when I study a passage, I only read the comments after I have read the text for myself and examined it in it's context.

c. Hard-cover, leather, metal?  

Hard-cover.  I'd love to have a leather Bible but it's out of my price range.

d. Wide-margin?

No, but that doesn't keep me from taking notes!  : )

e. Versions?

My primary Bible is NKJ but I always read the ESV and NASB as well when I am studying.  Our church uses the ESV and so I have really taken a liking to it, too.

f. Do you carry the same Bible to Church as you use to study with?

Yes, but I don't carry them all.  I carry my Reformation Study Bible.

2. What is your Bible marking method?

Oh, dear.  That would be telling, wouldn't it?  I don't think I could explain it to another person.  I am a book marker, but I mark my Bible differently than regular books because I also mark during sermons.

3. What Concordance do you like?  

Strongs.

4. Do you use Bible Study software and if so, what? 

I use the ESV online Bible extensively.

5. Do you use a Palm or other device to transport Study helps & notes?

Yes, I have a Bible on my Palm and use it for study. One of the things I like best about having a Bible on my Palm is that when I am studying or doing lesson preparation, and my table is spread with lots of books, I can have one less book on the table.  Also, when I am reading along in a book and there is a Biblical reference, it is very easy to pull up the verse and then make a note of it.

a. Do you then carry this along to Church or other places?

Yes, I do take it with me, but I don't use it during the sermon because I can take hand written notes faster.

b. What program works best for your needs?

I use "Bible with You" ESV with concordance on my Palm.

c. What device do you currently use?

I have a Palm Tungsten E.

6. Do you study alone or with a friend or friends or both?

Both.  I study alone, with my husband, with a Ladies Small Group and with a Couples small group.

7. How much time do you spend a week in Bible Study?

That's hard to say.  I spend 4 or 6 hours per week just preparing for the study that I lead.  Not all of that is strictly Bible Study, though.  It also involves reading sermons and preparing with the use of systematics.  I use Berhof's Systematic Theology and Reymond's New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith.  If you add it all together, it would add up to ten or twelve hours a week, I would guess.

8. What are you currently studying? 

This year I started reading through the books of the Bible 20x.  I have finished Jude and 3rd John.  Right now I am (still) in 2 Peter.  Our small group Bible Study is going through the book of Ephesians, so I am studying a passage each week and also reading the entire book at least once a week.  I am also beginnning to prepare some lessons in the book of Esther for my Sunday School class of 4th and 5th graders.  And the study of "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God" has me in and out of many books.

9. What is your favorite Bible Study help?

Hmmm.  That's hard to pin down.  I guess I'd have to say the ESV online because I can search and copy and paste and print my studies.  I do a lot of my study online--more and more all the time.

10. Do you have more than one Commentary set?

Yes, I have Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary and D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones 8 volume commentary on the book of Ephesians.  My husband and I also like Sinclair Ferguson's commentaries.

11. What online study aid do you use? 

I guess I've already answered that in one way.  I use several websites; The Highway and Monergism extensively, as well as the Christian Classic Ethereal Library (CCEL).  I also use a free download program, Reformed Confessions.  Once you download it, it's right there on your computer. 

12. Are you an Inductive Study method person?

To a degree, but I think that there are weaknesses in the methodology so I don't use it exclusively.

13. What method works best for you?  

Mine.  : )

14. Do you refer to Hebrew/Greek in any form to help you clarify what you are studying?

Occasionally, but not as much as I used to.  I learned that without a working knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, my ideas about what I think I am gleaning from the Greek or Hebrew words are frequently just that--my ideas, and so I leave it up to those who know what they are doing to inform me instead.  I do use my Strongs when I do a word study, though, because it helps me to compare passages that actually use the same word in the Hebrew or Greek.  Beyond that, I have learned not to try to do too much. . .

15. Do you have a file system of past studies, notes, etc.

Yes, I do.  Here's a picture of it.  (click to enlarge)  Or at least what is currently filed.  There's another stack that needs to be filed.  Which reminds me, I need another milk carton. .

16. Do you have a special place where you study?

Yes. My whole house.  (But especially my leather chair)

Comments

[Pam]

OK, Woman! -- I want your file and your chair!
;-)))

[Dave]

Hey Kim,

:) I'm not going to fill out the whole survey, but I will share a little. :)

I currently have gravitated back to the NIV.

I find that even though it is not as literal as the NASB, I like reading it better.

But the top four English translations that I prefer, I would have to say are; the NASB, the NKJV, the ESV and the NIV.

The KJV and ASV are great translations but, a little dated for my taste.

For serious study, I will use all four of these translations. I like to get a good idea of how others have translated the original texts.

I don't really do 'studies' per say. But I do study. :) I kinda just jump around though. If I see something that interests me while I'm reading the Bible or another book, I'll stop and try to break it down.

My favorite commentaries are Hendriksen, Wiersbe, Life Application and Henry's and Gill's. I do look at Calvin's also.

My favorite Study Bible used to be Life in the Spirit and Reformation Study Bible, But I've gone back to the Life Application Study Bible.

So the Bible that I use now most of the time is my genuine leather, burgundy, NIV, Life Application Study Bible.

My favorite online study sights are BibleGateway and Monergism.com

Some of my favorite authors are Jerry Bridges, C.S.Lewis, Stott, Schaeffer and Lloyd Jones. :)

I am a firm supporter of extra Biblical aid, the Bible isn't easy to understand.

But I'm also a firm supporter of being open minded. :)

Well that's my 2 cents worth..... a little different then it would have been a year or so ago. :) But I've changed a little, hopefully in the direction of Christ's likeness. :)

In His grace

Dave.