Best study bible

[Ask Mr. Religion]

Kirkbride's new ESV Thompson Chain-Reference now available:

http://www.kirkbride.com/proddetail.asp?prod=109

Use this code E20BOND for $20 off at checkout.

 

[Dachaser]

T

Kirkbride's new ESV Thompson Chain-Reference now available:

http://www.kirkbride.com/proddetail.asp?prod=109

Use this code E20BOND for $20 off at checkout.

Thanks, just might be getting this bible.

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

Kirkbride's new ESV Thompson Chain-Reference now available:

http://www.kirkbride.com/proddetail.asp?prod=109

Use this code E20BOND for $20 off at checkout.

What makes this Bible special? I never heard of it. It says it comes with portraits of Christ. Did I read that right?

 

[JimmyH]

What makes this Bible special? I never heard of it. It says it comes with portraits of Christ. Did I read that right?

Thompson Chain Reference Bibles are set up as a topical Bible. Not a study system in the same way a MacArthur, an ESV, or an NIV study Bible is in a verse by verse fashion. The 'portraits' referred to are sections with Scripture verses that give an overview of the life of Christ, as well as important individuals, such as the Apostles, various prophets and Kings of Israel. This from Thompson's website ;

The Comprehensive Helps section of your Thompson® Bible contains Portraits of Christ as recorded by Isaiah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter and Revelation. It's an enlightening way to draw closer to the Savior. This fascinating study can be found only in a Thompson® Bible.

The first Thompson Bible was published in the early 1900s and was extremely popular in Protestant denominations throughout the 20th century into the 21st.

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

Thompson Chain Reference Bibles are set up as a topical Bible. Not a study system in the same way a MacArthur, an ESV, or an NIV study Bible is in a verse by verse fashion. The 'portraits' referred to are sections with Scripture verses that give an overview of the life of Christ, as well as important individuals, such as the Apostles, various prophets and Kings of Israel. This from Thompson's website ;

The first Thompson Bible was published in the early 1900s and was extremely popular in Protestant denominations throughout the 20th century into the 21st.

That makes sense. Is it really a good Bible? I'm interested in it now.

 

[Ask Mr. Religion]

That makes sense. Is it really a good Bible? I'm interested in it now.

See:
http://www.kirkbride.com/thompson-story.asp
http://www.kirkbride.com/thompson-how-to.asp
http://www.kirkbride.com/thompson-help-section.asp (many headings on this page are links to other information)


Think of the Thompson Chain-Reference bible with something like the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge book having its cross-references incorporated as "chains" that have been given short labels that appear beside each verse (see second link above). You can follow each chain throughout the Scripture. Add to that hundreds of pages of other summaries and interesting information.

A nice review:
http://biblebuyingguide.com/kirkbride-NKJV-thompson-chain-reference-bible-review/

I assume the ESV will come in a verse-by-verse layout to accommodate the chain reference system, too. The KJV and NKJV I own do so. My only nit is the red letter use, and lack of premium leather bindings, but I can live with that.

 

[Dachaser]

That makes sense. Is it really a good Bible? I'm interested in it now.

It is a very good study bible, as it basically has the scriptures interpret themselves, as you follow a chain refernce system through the entire Bible.so its like the center column references on steroids.

 

[Dachaser]

Thompson Chain Reference Bibles are set up as a topical Bible. Not a study system in the same way a MacArthur, an ESV, or an NIV study Bible is in a verse by verse fashion. The 'portraits' referred to are sections with Scripture verses that give an overview of the life of Christ, as well as important individuals, such as the Apostles, various prophets and Kings of Israel. This from Thompson's website ;

The first Thompson Bible was published in the early 1900s and was extremely popular in Protestant denominations throughout the 20th century into the 21st.

I once had this in the 1984 Niv version, and really like that there were no study notes, as the bible itself was the main emphasis for study.

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

I

It is a very good study bible, as it basically has the scriptures interpret themselves, as you follow a chain refernce system through the entire Bible.so its like the center column references on steroids.

Is it the same reference system crossway uses?

 

[Dachaser]

I

Is it the same reference system crossway uses?

I do not think so, as it uses the system invented last century.

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

I do not think so, as it uses the system invented last century.

Is it from a reformed perspective or does that not matter?

 

[JimmyH]

Is it from a reformed perspective or does that not matter?

It is not, but it is not really from a dispensational, or premil perspective either. Sort of neutral. Frank Thompson, if I remember correctly, made copious notes in his Bible/Bibles, and the Thompson Chain is based on that. I think the first one was published in 1907 and they have had 5 updates over the years. The famed Oxford Long Primer also has a chain reference system, but I believe it is set up differently than the Thompson.
This Wikipedia article notes that it is called The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, not Study Bible. That is a more accurate description/title reflecting what it is.I still have a KJV. Had the NKJV by Nelson with the Signature Series leather binding. I sold it because it was as big as the NYC telephone directory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson_Chain-Reference_Bible
http://www.kirkbride.com/thompson-story.asp

 

[Dachaser]

Is it from a reformed perspective or does that not matter?

Any viewpoint can use this Bible, as it uses scripture itself to interpret scriptures in the chain references, but does seem to have a Covenant theology bent.

 

[Dachaser]

It is not, but it is not really from a dispensational, or premil perspective either. Sort of neutral. Frank Thompson, if I remember correctly, made copious notes in his Bible/Bibles, and the Thompson Chain is based on that. I think the first one was published in 1907 and they have had 5 updates over the years. The famed Oxford Long Primer also has a chain reference system, but I believe it is set up differently than the Thompson.
This Wikipedia article notes that it is called The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, not Study Bible. That is a more accurate description/title reflecting what it is.I still have a KJV. Had the NKJV by Nelson with the Signature Series leather binding. I sold it because it was as big as the NYC telephone directory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson_Chain-Reference_Bible

This Bible can and has been used for profit by Christians of all varying and different theologies since it came out.

 

[Pilgrim]

Here's an old thread on the Thompson that may be helpful. (I thought I had "too many" Study Bibles and other books back then. LOL. I've probably gotten rid of at least 10-12 Study Bibles in the past few years and probably still have a lot more than I did back then.) I'm sure that isn't the only thread. Fred referred to Scripture Truth as being the cheapest. They probably still have very competitive prices if not the cheapest.

I think Thompson was a Methodist, but I don't know to what extent that impacted the notes. Some dispensationalists don't like what he does with prophecy and covenants. My guess is that he was probably some kind of postmil. I have an old hardcover copy, but I never think to use it.

 

[Dachaser]

He was into Covenant theology to some degree, and Kirkbride was in the past producer of very high quality bibles, but their stock seems to have gone down recently.