The Bible: A Revelation Of God

The Bible is a Revelation from God It is a heavenly book, written in human language. It is written to and for the Jews, Gentiles, and the Church.

God's Purpose: (Ephesians 3:9-10) To manifest His manifold wisdom to principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places (rulers of darkness) by producing sons from fallen man.

God's Objective

• To Save the lost: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John.3:16

To destroy the works of the devil

God's Desire

Sonship: To extend the Godhead to include the sons of God.

To begat a family: Ephesians 3:14-15; For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named

God's Plan

• Faith, which is the operation of the Holy Ghost (Hebrews 11:1)

• Redemption (Hebrews 5:1)

• The Dispensation of Grace and Truth

Study Tools

Thompson Chain-Reference

This Bible is the most unique and complete Topical Reference Study Bible in print. 8,000 Topical Listings The Thompson Study System, enables the student to follow a single Biblical topic from Genesis to Revelation. The more than 100,000 marginal references enable the student to quickly discover the primary concepts of any Biblical passage.

UNDERSTANDING THE MARGINS, INDEXES, AND THE OTHER BIBLE HELPS

MARGINAL NOTES.

1. The information contained in the marginal notes is key to the effective use of this bible.

2. Topic titles found alongside a verse represent the primary themes found within that verse.

3. For example, the most important topics found in Psalm 23:1 are “God’s Sheep,” “Christ Shepherd,” and “Providence (1).”

4. Each topic has been assigned a unique number called the Topic Number.

THE TOPIC NUMBER

1. Each of the 4,451 topics in the Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible has its own unique number.

2. The Topic Number is found within the margin, to the left of its corresponding topic.

3. The Topic Number is most important, for wherever a particular topic is found throughout the Bible, its related Topic Number is also found.

4. In following a topic through the Bible, noting the corresponding Topic Number is essential.

5. Topic Numbers continue to be used in ascending order throughout the Comprehensive Bible Helps.

6. The last Topic Number is 4451, “The Hebrew Calendar.”

7. Knowing the Topic Number, the student can find all the references associated with its related topic by referring to

the Topical Index.

THE FORWARD REFERENCE

• The reference cited to the right of the topic in the Marginal Notes indicates the next text of the chain.
• When topics are found with no Forward Reference, the student knows that while that particular verse contains the topic, it has not been included within the chain.
• To discover the first verse of the chain, as well as all other verses related to a certain topic, one should consult the Topical Index.

PARALLEL PASSAGES

1. Parallel Passages are indicated in the margin with the abbreviation “p.p.”

2. These supplemental verses do not form part of the chain, but may provide added insight into the text. See Psalm 23:3, as an example.

3. A Number in Parenthesis, to the right of the marginal topic, refers to a subdivision of the topic.

4. A complete listing of the various subdivisions of a given topic is found in the Topical Index. See Psalm 23:1-2, where Providence

(1) and Providence (2) are found.

5. Note that each is an independent topic, and thus possesses its own unique Topic Number.

USING THE CHAIN REFERENCE

In the case of Christ Shepherd (1)

the Topical Index indicates that Psalm 23:1-2 is the first reference.

Turning to the text itself, the student will discover what Psalm 23:1-2 specifically teaches on the topic of Christ as a Shepherd. There the Forward Reference is given such as Isaiah 40:11.

Tracing this topic through the complete chain, the student will encounter Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:11, 37:24; Zechariah 13:7; John 10:2, 10:11; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25, 5:4; and Revelation 7:17.

Each of these key chain verses can be studied in detail. Study of the

topic within the text enables the student to study not only the chain verse but also the context of each verse. It also will provide the basis for a series of teaching, giving a balanced overview of the topic.

TO STUDY A BOOK

The Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible has extensive material for those who wish to have a panoramic view of a particular book. Summary Statements are given before each chapter.

The author, date, purpose, suggested recipients, main theme, key verse, prominent people and other significant data are noted. The Bible Book Outlines are most helpful. Detailed outlines of the books are provided. These enable the student to easily envision the overall structure of the book and the major divisions. This is especially helpful to those who teach and preach chapter by chapter through a book.

The outlines provide a natural lesson and preaching plan.

TO STUDY A CHAPTER

The primary divisions of each chapter are highlighted in bold print in the Marginal Notes. This provides the teacher with an excellent teaching tool. In essence, the chapter is already in outline form.

For example, John 17 contains eight critical divisions:

1. Christ the Great Intercessor

2. Definition of Eternal Life

3. Prayer for Restoration to Former Glory

4. Special Prayer for the Church

5. Prayer for the Keeping of the Saints

6. Prayer that the Church May be Kept Pure

7. Prayer for the Unity of the Church

8. The Exaltation of the Church.

TO STUDY A PASSAGE AND VERSE

• Each chapter is analyzed in even greater detail.

• Important topics found within each verse are located in the Marginal Notes.

• These expository topics illumine the meaning of the verse and provide the minister with significant guidelines for public exposition.

TO STUDY BIBLE PERSONALITIES

Character Studies (4289-4300)

• Extended outlines of twelve heroes of the Old Testament are provided.

The events of their lives accompany other important facts.

• The student is directed to the Topical Index, where Dr. Thompson has listed the major characteristics of not just the twelve men of the Character Studies, but of many more men and women.

Prominent Bible Characters (4300a)

• Highlights the meanings of Biblical names.

• The accompanying Topic Number directs the student to the Topical Index, where all primary texts of the Biblical personality can be located.

The Outline History of the Apostles (4300b)

Life Trees of Moses (4307), Christ (4308), and Paul (4309)

Journey Maps

TO STUDY IS TO SEEK OUT TRUTH

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. You must regard it as such. In order to truly study the Bible, you must approach it with the right mindset. This means you must believe in your heart that the Father inspired all those who authored the scriptures. This is important because there are historical events which were written by those who were not present at the time. These writers wrote by the breathed in knowledge (inspiration), they received from the Father. Moses is an example of such a writer. He wrote the first five books of the Bible, which includes the Creation and the lives of Adam and Eve. The only way he could have given us this account of events taking place many hundreds of years before his birth, is that the Lord inspired or revealed these things to him. If you are not convinced that the Bible is the Word of God, then you will not be true to your own study. I say this to those who are born again because, you have the evidence of the scriptures within you.

You have the witness of the Holy Spirit in your inner man. If that is not enough to convince you of the truth of the script then nothing else will. Paul said, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Co 2:14). When you go into the Word of God, you should go looking for God and what it is He wants to say to you. Even in character studies, chapter and book studies, there is a message for you. You will find that bible study is the meat you need to spiritually survive in this world. It is so fulfilling and fascinating. The Word is endless. You will never know all that is to be known. But you will find study to be intoxicating and addictive. Bible study is a soul seeking communion with God. It is the fulfilling of a hunger and thirst for righteousness.

IN CONCLUSION...

Dr. Frank Thompson said, “The delivery person on a bakery truck may handle a thousand loaves of bread a day, and yet go home hungry at night; so Bible readers may peruse large portions of the Word of God with little profit unless they make it their own and feed on it.” You must make the Word of God law for your life. If that is not the case, then you will always be hungry and void of the very thing that would satisfy your soul. However, you must not neglect searching the scriptures yourself. Don’t simply depend on what is taught from the pulpits, crusades, or conferences. If so, you will become one who simply echoes the view of others.

Matthew 22:29

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Go into the Word for yourself and prove that which you have heard.

Go into the Word and open your heart to receive any increase the

Lord will give you that builds upon that which you have been taught.

VINE’S COMPLETE EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY

This book allows you to easily access the alphabetized English equivalents of the Greek or Hebrew words from which they are translated. It renders a descriptive explanation of the words displayed.

The most significant biblical words are illustrated by Scripture passages, comments, cross-references, ancient and modern meanings, precise etymologies, historical notes, and clearly

defined technical information. Each original language is indexed, and the addition of a topical index allows you to access all the dictionary entries pertinent to specific New Testament ideas and teachings keyed to Strong’s.

HEBREW-GREEK KEY WORD STUDY BIBLE

The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible identifies the key words of the original languages and presents clear, precise explanations of their meaning and usage.

The key words are coded to Strong’s numbers, and Bible dictionaries with definitions that can be found at the back of the book.

Key Words are identified and their original meanings are explained. Helpful footnotes and Center-column Cross-references.

Be watchful that any commentary footnotes are in the boundaries of the Faith.