The Second Bible Study Resource You Need (after the Bible)

“If I could only have one Bible study resource, what should it be?”

I get this question often from people who are new to Bible study or want to commit to understanding the Word of God better for themselves. Of course, there are so many good options to choose from—from handbooks to introductions to Bible guides—and all help believers new and old uncover the meaning and message of the Old and New Testaments.

Yes, there are tons of Bible study resources one could start with—but many people also want to know which ones they can even trust. Looking at the loads of recommendations on sites like Goodreads, it’s not surprising that many people are scared off from starting their path into deeper Bible study. I get it! There’s a lot of people who have a lot to say about the Bible, and we should “test them all; hold on to what is good” (1 Thess 5:21).

My go-to answer is to get a good, comprehensive study Bible. Study Bibles bring together running commentary on the biblical texts and short introductions to each book of the Bible (and sometimes to the intertestamental period). The best of these also provide short essays at the end of the biblical text that help more inquisitive readers dig deeper into certain topics.

I’ve recommended several good study Bibles to folks, but there’s a new one that I will start commending to those who ask: the NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible, published by Zondervan. With an editorial team led by the respected president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, R. Albert Mohler Jr., this study Bible gathers together a who’s-who of evangelical scholars who provide doctrinally rich analysis of the biblical text. The list of contributors includes “scholar pastors” such as Jason Meyer, Danny Akin, Simon Gathercole, Ray Ortlund, and more.

As with any resource, the NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible is enhanced when you use it in your Logos Bible Software. Quickly compare notes between your favorite study Bibles and the biblical text with custom layouts. Do a word study on an English word in the text and learn more about its Greek or Hebrew roots. With Logos, your study Bibles do the work for you without having to pour over your books looking for the information you need now.