Choosing The Best Study Bible For Personal Devotion
Choosing a Study Bible for Personal Devotion
The psalmist's prayer, "Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works" (Psalms 119:27), underscores the importance of understanding Scripture for personal devotion [1]. A study Bible can be a valuable tool in this pursuit.
The value of Scripture study lies in its ability to foster devotion, which is understood as an act of the will influenced by meditation or contemplation. According to Thomas Aquinas, "the intrinsic cause on our part must needs be meditation or contemplation" [2]. This highlights the need for a thoughtful and reflective approach to Bible study.
Protestant traditions emphasize the importance of individual interpretation of Scripture, guided by the principle of perspicuity, or clarity. Charles Hodge notes that "the Bible is a plain book. It is intelligible by the people. And they have the right, and are bound to read and interpret it for themselves" [3]. This perspective suggests that a good study Bible should provide clear explanations and notes to facilitate personal understanding.
Different traditions offer varying approaches to Bible study. Jewish tradition, as represented by Maimonides, emphasizes the importance of Torah study as a lifelong commitment, with a focus on both the obligation to study and the pursuit of deeper understanding [4]. Reformed traditions, as seen in the writings of John Calvin, stress the need for reverence and obedience in approaching Scripture [6].
When choosing a study Bible, several factors should be considered. one tradition notes and commentary should align with one's theological tradition or be ecumenical in scope. The translation should be clear and accurate. Additional features such as introductions to each book, cross-references, and maps can also enhance the study experience.
The early church fathers also valued Scripture study, with Origen encouraging his readers to "study the divine writings deeply, lest we should speak of them faster than we think" [7]. Augustine's exposition on Psalms demonstrates the importance of careful interpretation and reflection on Scripture [5].
Sources
- Psalms “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. -- Psalms 119:27”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Devotion, Art. 3: Article: Whether contemplation or meditation is the cause of devotion? I answer that, The extrinsic and chief cause of devotion is God, of Whom Ambrose, commenting on Lk. 9:55, says that "God calls whom He deigns to call, and whom He wills He makes religious: the profane Samaritans, had He so willed, He would have made devout." But the intrinsic cause on our part must needs be meditation or contemplation. For it was stated above (Article [1]) that devotion is an act of the will to the effect tha”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 44: § 5. Perspicuity of the Scriptures. The Right of Private Judgment. The Bible is a plain book. It is intelligible by the people. And they have the right, and are bound to read and interpret it for themselves; so that their faith may rest on the testimony of the Scriptures, and not on that of the Church. Such is the doctrine of Protestants on this subject. It is not denied that the Scriptures contain many things hard to be understood; that they require diligent study; that all men need the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order to right knowl”
- Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Torah Study 3:6: A person whose heart inspires him to fulfill this mitzvah in a fitting manner 1 As explained in the commentary on Chapter 1, Halachah 8, the Rambam's statements imply that there are two aspects of Torah study:a) The obligation to study Torah, which is incumbent on every individual: the establishment of fixed times for Torah study (Chapter 1, Halachah 8).b) A commitment to devote oneself to Torah study that has no limitations. The first aspect reflects a commitment that takes into consideration man's perspective, and, hence, is limit”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — TO DAVID HIMSELF; FOR UNDERSTANDING. (part 1): 1. To David himself; for understanding; by which it is understood that not by the merits of works, but by the grace of God, man his delivered, confessing his sins. 2. "Blessed are they whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sins are covered" (ver. 1): and whose sins are buried in oblivion. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, nor is there guile in his mouth" (ver. 2): nor has he in his mouth boastings of righteousness, when his conscience is full of sins. 3. "Because I kep”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 2: with reverence the testimony which God hath been pleased therein to deliver concerning himself. For obedience is the source, not only of an absolutely perfect and complete faith, but of all right knowledge of God” ( Inst. 1, 6, 2). In the words of William Cunningham: “In theology there is, of course, no room for originality properly so called, for its whole materials are contained in the actual statements of God’s word; and he is the greatest and best theologian who has most accurately apprehended the meaning of the statements of Sc”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 3. PERSONAL APPEAL.: Do you then, sir, my son, study first of all the divine Scriptures. Study them I say. For we require to study the divine writings deeply, lest we should speak of them faster than we think; and while you study these divine works with a believing and God-pleasing intention, knock at that which is closed in them, and it shall be opened to thee by the porter, of whom Jesus says,(1) "To him the porter openeth." While you attend to this divine reading seek aright and with unwavering faith in God the hidden sense wh”